No doubt you’ve wondered what it would cost to work in another country and how long it would take you to get a visa to go there. If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this post, we will tell you what a digital nomad visa is and what the three easiest ones to get are.
What is a Digital Nomad Visa?
If you’re not really sure what a digital nomad is, or what you have to do to become one, you’ll find everything you need to know in our post, The Digital Nomad: how to be one and make a living.
Once you know what it is, bear in mind that to live in one place or another, you’ll need a visa. Most, if not all, of the countries require a visa, whether for work or a vacation, so knowing how to get one will be helpful.
The digital nomad business has become so popular, that a lot of countries have created special digital nomad visas. They are usually valid for one year and are specific for digital nomads.
After the initial period, you may be allowed to extend it. Each country has its own visa requirements and an extension will depend on that country’s conditions.
This is determined by each country and its laws. Some countries may be more complicated than others, but we’re here to tell you about the three easiest and most effective visas you can get.
A visa is a “permit” the country gives you, so you can stay without becoming a citizen or a permanent resident. This means that you can stay somewhere for a year and then move on.
Requirements for getting a digital nomad visa.
These visas, like all official paperwork, are subject to fees, which can range from 80 USD in Greece and up to 2000 USD in Barbados.
There are also minimum earnings or savings requirements. The amount varies depending on which countries you want to travel to. It can range from 2000 USD to 3000 USD or so per month, or otherwise a minimum of $20,000 savings in an account.
These fees and requirements are to ensure that the person is really coming to work and not for another purpose, because in some countries, these visas are easier to get than other types of visas.
Also, bear in mind that as the laws and visas stand, you need to have been working in a company for a few months or a contract so it can’t be done overnight. This is so the recipient country can make sure the worker will stay for the time period estimated in the digital nomad visa.
If you are considering applying for a digital nomad visa, keep in mind all these requirements before you run into all the expenses and find you can’t pay them. The procedures also take time, so you’ll need to plan ahead months before you leave.
Additionally, be aware that you must take out your own private insurance. In most countries, this is a very important requirement.
Now that we know what digital nomad visas are, let’s see which are the three easiest ones to get!
The three most affordable digital nomad visas
Croatia
Croatia is becoming very popular for digital nomads. This country has one of the cheapest and easiest application procedures. Not only is Croatia a very beautiful country, it is also very cheap. Bear in mind that the average salary is $1000 and the minimum wage is $500.
One of the advantages of Croatia, for digital nomads, is that you get to go to a low-cost country and still earn what you did in your home country.
For the Croatian visa, you need to:
- Pay the fees: $63.39. This is a very low and affordable cost.
- Prove you meet the income requirements: $1955.71. You need to earn at least this much per month, or show that you have enough savings to stay in the country for the duration of the visa.
- Length of stay in Croatia: 1 year. This can be extended, but you must have been in Croatia for at least six months first.
Croatia is one of the easiest countries to get a digital nomad visa. When you are not working, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and experience the local Croatian culture.
Greece
If the movie Mamma Mia gave you a taste for more, and you want to experience the scenery first hand, then Greece is the place for you. Greece is one of the countries that has been hardest hit by recession, and thanks to this type of visa and digital nomads, it can start to lift its economy out of the doldrums. Suffice to say, Greece is a very cheap country and the requirements for getting a visa are few.
- Pay the fees: $74.57. It is a bit more expensive than Croatia, but it is still affordable.
- Prove you meet the income requirements: $3500. You have to prove that you earn at least this much per month. You can’t apply just based on your savings.
- Length of stay in Greece: 1 year. This can be extended up to 3 years.
It is one of the most affordable countries and also one of the ones that allows you to extend your stay up to 3 years in a row.
Costa Rica
If you prefer a more Caribbean setting that is easy to apply for, Costa Rica may be for you. Many people choose Costa Rica to work and end up retiring here, so the country has launched a visa for digital nomads.
If Costa Rica interests you, you need to have a monthly income. If you don’t meet the minimum amount required, you are unlikely to get the visa.
- Pay the fees: $93.22. It is the most expensive country, but is still affordable if you have the required average income.
- Prove you meet the income requirements: $2330.45. You have to prove you earn that much. If you are freelance or self-employment and you don’t earn that on a regular basis, it might be more difficult for you.
- Time of stay in Costa Rica: 1 year. You can reapply.
If by any chance your visa situation gets complicated in Costa Rica, you can always apply somewhere else in Latin America.
Conclusion
Being a digital nomad is a unique experience, but everything needs groundwork and effort. We have described the easiest destinations that offer the fastest visa, but if you have somewhere more specific in mind, there is bound to be something set up for digital nomads.
We’ll tell you everything you need to know for the Spanish and other visas in other posts. Don’t hesitate to look for your destination of choice!
If you end up taking the plunge and becoming a digital nomad, leave us a comment telling us how it went.
