Digital nomadism allows freelancers to tap into a wider network, while saving money on taxes and the ... [+]
Within the past few years, there has been a surge of professionals and early career starters turning to freelancing as a way to make money online and enjoy a thriving career. Almost simultaneously, freelancers appear to be the ones taking advantage of the remote work revolution the most—with 17.3 million Americans working as digital nomads, and a major percentage of freelancing professionals comprising this number.
But what is a digital nomad anyway?
This relatively new term was coined in 1997 by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners in their book, The Digital Nomad, but was set as more of a futuristic ideal that could be realized with technology. More than 20 years later, and this term has significantly increased in popularity, with a spike in Google Trends (up by 39 points) when compared with April/May 2019 (the year just before the pandemic).
This is unsurprising, granted the fact that professionals began to realize and appreciate the benefits of remote work during the pandemic. Technology such as videoconferencing and AI (artificial intelligence) have become the norm in everyday work, enabling professionals to work flexibly and efficiently anywhere they choose.
Freelancers are at a significant advantage if they decide to become digital nomads, because they are not tethered to an employer and do not need to report specific working hours or location—especially if they are knowledge workers and only needs their laptop to deliver services to their clients.
So long as you are able to stay in a place that has a stable internet connection (or ultrafast signal depending on the type of work you're doing, i.e. video editing and uploading), you can travel to any dream destination in the world.
Benefits Of Being A Digital Nomad As A Freelancer
Other than being able to travel and view the world with new eyes, some of the obvious-and-not-so-obvious benefits of being a digital nomad include:
- Appreciating different cultures and cultivating a diversity-inclusive mindset
- Improved wellbeing, especially for mental health
- Lowered cost of living so your money is able to stretch (depending on the country of course)
- Constant change of work environment, which helps you avoid monotony
- Teaches you adaptability and problem-solving skills, which are so necessary as a freelancer
- Enables you to perform at your best
- Improves work-life balance drastically
- Pushes you out of your comfort zone
- No need to pay tax in the country you're working from (in many cases)
- Potential to meet other freelancers and other industry professionals—even clients—from each new location, which enables you to pick up a string of valuable contacts you have met in person within a short space of time
Traveling and working in a new location builds new skills such as problem-solving and communication
Countries With Digital Nomad Visas
Within recent years, countries around the world have capitalized on the growing fascination of remote workers with travel, and have thrown open their doors to digital nomads in a bid to attract fresh talent, boost their economy, and even build up their populations.
These countries have decided to release what is known as "digital nomad visas," with the very first country opting to provide a temporary home for foreign professionals being Estonia.
The list of countries providing digital nomad visas exceeds this list, and is continually expanding over time, as more countries opt to join the remote work revolution and lend their support. For example, Italy has become the latest country as of April 2024 to join the list and offer digital nomad visas.
- Estonia (of course)
- Georgia (Europe)
- Czechia (Czech Republic)
- Spain
- Italy
- Greece
- Bermuda
- St.Lucia
- Barbados
- Dominica
- The Bahamas
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- Malaysia
- Dubai
- Mauritius
What You Need To Know About Digital Nomad Visas
As a freelancer seeking to work remotely from anywhere in the world, the term "anywhere" has some limitations. You will need to prove that you meet the minimum monthly income requirement, and this threshold can vary depending what country you apply to. Additionally you may need to pay a fee to apply for the digital nomad visa.
Some countries however, like Mauritius, do not have an application fee and the turnaround time for a response to your application can be as little as 48 hours.
Other countries have stringent requirements regarding what trades they are seeking to bring into their region, which means you will need to work in one of those trades to even be considered.
Additionally, you will need to be patient as some countries' application processes can take a couple of weeks to a few months before they are approved or give you a final decision.
Being a digital nomad as a freelancer challenges you outside of your comfort zone
Overall, choosing to get a digital nomad visa is an induction into the experience of a lifetime, one that you will never regret. Traveling can help relieve the mental strain and pressure of being a freelancer, enabling you to enjoy your work more and be more productive.
So the decision is yours: Where will your new "work-from-home" be this year?
