Bloomberg – Are you thinking about working remotely from another country? Join the growing segment of unemployed workers: In the United States alone, there are 17.3 million citizens 11% of the workforce now identifies themselves as digital nomadsAnd regular employees and freelancers, which represents an increase of 2% compared to 2022, according to this year’s August report issued by the American personnel management company MBO Partners. In addition, another seventy million intend or are considering becoming digital nomads over the next two to three years.
Thus, the list of interesting places that break the red tape and propose visa regimes for remote work is growing. There are more and more places in the Global North, as industrialized countries are often described. Competitiveness is for long-term talent, not temporary tourists.
Since this year, Spanish residence visa Available to “International Remote Workers”, which allows digital nomads to reside in the land of Don Quixote, Paella and the Mediterranean for up to one year while working remotely for a company founded outside Spanish territory. This can be requested from the Spanish embassy or consulate in the country of origin.
Everyone who is already in Spain on a tourist visa has the possibility to apply for a digital nomad residence card valid for 3 years, renewable for another 2 years.
open to Citizens from outside the European UnionThe requirements for a one-year remote work visa in Spain include, among other things, an income of at least twice the Spanish minimum wage (more than 2,600 euros, or 2,750 US dollars, per month, which is about 33,000 US dollars per year, for a solo traveler, without crime) a register, private health insurance, a one-year employment contract with a company outside Spain and proof of sufficient work experience or a university degree in this field. Expect a period of Fast 20 day processing.
Canada, which has long welcomed digital nomads for stays of up to six months on a visitor visa, announced… Working on new A “technology talent strategy” to attract foreign workers will be launched later this year. The government is consulting with provinces and territories to find ways to promote Canada among digital nomads, and is working to allow new businesses to apply for work permits for up to three years.
“In the long term, we hope that some digital nomads will decide to stay in Canada, looking for job opportunities and contributing their skills to Canadian employers,” he says. Isabelle Dubois, communications consultant and spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In an email statement. “This means applying for a temporary work permit and/or permanent residence, and contributing fully to Canada.”
“Ultimately, the strategy is best suited to… Needs of highly skilled technology workers “Who have the opportunity to work remotely,” Dubois adds. The Office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship confirmed that details regarding Canada’s remote work initiatives will be shared in the coming months.
One of the richest countries in South America Uruguay opened permits Digital Nomad residency in May 2023 for six months with the possibility of extending it to one year. The process is simple, as long as you are not the holder of a passport that requires a visa for entry: complete the online data form, sign an affidavit stating that you can support yourself financially during your stay, and provide a certificate of vaccination. There is an opportunity to apply for temporary or permanent residency after that initial trial period.
Uruguay’s government said in an announcement that it is attracting talent as part of its reputation as a “business and innovation hub” in the region.
the total, Over 60 countries currently offer it Remote work visa programs. He says this trend will accelerate Prithwiraj Chaudhary, an associate professor at Harvard Business School who studies future business trends. “The whole world is moving towards hybrid work.”
Chowdhury says there’s a much bigger reason why Western countries like Spain and Canada are opening their doors to digital nomads, other than taxes and consumer dollars.
“They want to integrate their knowledge-based economies, because if a few hundred smart knowledge workers spend time in the local community, what can happen is connections are formed between these digital nomads and the local population,” he says. The local community will then benefit from the dissemination of knowledge.
Chowdhury adds that this strategy is not new, citing the innovative startup initiative in Chile It started 12 years ago. Although it was not called the Digital Nomad Visa at that time, the opportunity exists for that Foreign businessmen Obtaining an annual visa and spending time in Chile to start their businesses led hundreds of other entrepreneurs to do the same over the course of a decade.
“They hired local people to work in their companies, and many of those locals started their own companies, so Chile now has a vibrant startup scene,” Chowdhury says.
From its inception in 2010 until at least August 2022, Start-UpChile has attracted More than 5,000 entrepreneurs from 88 countries It provided support to 2,200 startup companies, according to an article by Chaudhry.
Spain’s digital nomad visa system is part of a new startup law that aims to boost the country’s business ecosystem and attract innovation and talent. A remote work visa that converts to a green card can count toward permanent residency there, which requires a five-year residency.
It is also permitted to work for a Part time Spanish company Provided that the salary does not exceed 20% of the total foreign income of the remote worker.
Jovana VujinovicThis is indicated by the director of business development at Nomad Capitalist, a UAE-based company that helps entrepreneurs move abroad Taxes are high It may deter Western remote workers, but Canada’s program could be an attractive option for digital nomads from Latin America, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East. He says they are more likely to turn their visa into a regular job opportunity.
Chaudhry sees a similar opportunity for foreign workers who may be denied a U.S. visa or green card renewal, given the annual limit of 65,000 for H-1B U.S. immigrant visas, a three- to six-year temporary permit that allows employers to bring in foreign professionals. In a variety of specialized fields. These employees can move to Canada and work remotely from there for their US company.
Wonderful country Absent from the race By skilled digital nomads: United States. “Just as if it were a talent destination, the U.S. is losing out,” Choudhary says, compared to Canada, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and other places where the cost of living or climate is more favorable.
The ease of obtaining long-term residency or citizenship abroad, specifically through real estate investments with tax exemptions, has also contributed to this. It caused friction in places like Portugal, Wealthy foreigners are blamed for raising the cost of real estate and causing a housing crisis for local residents. . Still so far No country has canceled the remote work visaVoinovich says.
Vujinovic adds that the most common inquiries Nomad Capitalist receives are related to Mexico, Costa Rica, Portugal, United Arab Emirates, Panama, Thailand, and Indonesia. Another continent to consider when it comes to digital nomads: Africa.
“Many African countries are starting to offer digital nomad visas, which I think will be a big step for their economies,” says Voinovich. Namibia is the latest country to open the door for a six-month remote work visa. Other countries include Cape Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles.
What should digital nomads look for when choosing a destination? It depends on your goals, Voinovich says.
“I would recommend researching whether the country offers the lifestyle you want and whether the cost of living is as well [uno] You can pay. Why do you want to move outside your country? “We were always looking for those reasons and trying to match them.”
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