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5 Answers
I must respectfully disagree with FreeBird44's approach. Working on a tourist visa is technically illegal in most countries, even if enforcement is lax. I've been remote working internationally since 2019, and I strongly recommend doing things properly. I use a service called Nomad Immigration Services that handles all my visa applications for about $300 per country, which saves me enormous headaches. The best long-term strategy I've found is establishing tax residency in a country with nomad-friendly policies (I chose Portugal), then using that as your base while traveling on shorter stints. This provides stability while still allowing flexibility.
Hey there! I have been doing the digital nomad thing for about 5 years now. The visa situation is honestly a mess, but there are workarounds. What I typically do is rotate between countries with friendly tourist visas (usually 90 days) and digital nomad visas. Places like Estonia, Croatia, and Portugal have pretty straightforward applications. Pro tip: keep ALL your financial docs super organized - tax returns, proof of income, health insurance, etc. Makes visa apps WAY easier. Also worth joining nomad communities on FB or Reddit where ppl share latest visa changes.
Its really depend on your nationality too. As US passport holder, I have way more options than my colleague from India. We travel together but have totally different visa experiences. Some counties have quotas or special restrictions based on your passport. I recommend the Atlys app to check requirements based on your specific situation. Also worth mentioning that some countries (like Thailand) are cracking down on people who do constant border runs to refresh tourist visas while secretly working. Don't risk deportation and bans.
digital nomad visas are overrated imho. Most countries let you stay on tourist visa for 30-90 days, and nobody asks what you are doing on your laptop. Just don't tell immigration your working. I've been nomading for 2 yrs across SEA and South America without special visas. Save your money, less paperwork!
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