What is a digital nomad? Also called as remote workers or remote freelancers, they are people who primarily conduct their profession online. This gives them the ability to work whenever and wherever they want a.k.a. being location-independent; thus, it naturally makes them lead a nomadic lifestyle in return. (Digital Nomad Visa)
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LAST UPDATE: September 2025
The digital nomad profession is relatively new and a LOT of people covet such an amazing lifestyle — including me! However, even if it offers everyone the freedom to work anytime and anywhere, this kind of career has its own complications.
For instance, working as a digital nomad abroad under a plain tourist visa is technically illegal; nevertheless, a lot of countries turn a blind eye to it (if not regard it as a ‘gray area’) because digital nomads are inherently just working online and are NOT taking away any jobs from the locals.
So sure, even if that issue can be swept under the rug, what happens when a tourist visa expires and the desire to stay longer is apparent? After all, tourist visas run for 90 days at most. Plus, if you hold a weak third world passport like I do, a lot of countries don’t even offer that many days, and extensions are not easy to do!
Well… thankfully, things have started to change.
More governments have truly seen the need to address (if not entice) long-term travelers who can help revitalize their economy and local tourism. As such, established digital nomad visas started to pop up, and they aim to be easy to obtain, with zero tax implications, and without requiring too much paperwork or a work contract.
The icing on the cake? I want to help you save some time and effort researching the countries that already offer — OR are planning to offer — a digital nomad visa to remote workers; so, I have come up with this comprehensive article! Rest assured, I will also try my best to update it regularly.
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It helps to note that not ALL of the visas I’ll be listing below are special programs that are titled and dedicated to digital nomads (though the majority of them are). I say this because there are other kinds of visas that are also applicable for the profession, if not an equivalent, and I think I must include them in this list, too.
NOTE: Programs that provide visas through high-priced purchases, fees, and investments will NOT be included in this list.
Now, without further ado, below is a complete list of countries that are currently offering OR planning to offer a digital nomad visa (or something similar)!
Countries with Digital Nomad Visas
Photo by: Shutterstock
STATUS: • ACTIVE since May 2021
This beautiful archipelago in Africa established a ‘Cabo Verde Remote Working Program’ which serves as a temporary work/tourism visa for interested digital nomads or freelancers.
The application process is super easy to do, too, since you can do everything online.
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STATUS: • ACTIVE since 2024
You’ll be happy to know that Kenya rolled out a Class N – Digital Nomad Visa to attract long-stay remote workers! [link]
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STATUS: • ACTIVE since November 2020
In order to offset the damage caused to tourism due to the wake of COVID-19, Mauritius launched its new ‘Premium Visa’ [link] that is designed for digital nomads, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and retirees.
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STATUS: • ACTIVE since October 2022
If you want to stay in mainland Africa, Namibia is the first to launch this program with a low monthly income threshold! [link]
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STATUS: • ACTIVE since April 2021
This beautiful African archipelago launched its own ‘Seychelles Workcation Program‘ that is pretty easy to apply for with a minimal fee.
It helps to note though that Seychelles already issues 3-month visa-free access to all citizens worldwide; but of course, if you want to stay for a year, this workcation program is great to avail.
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STATUS: PENDING, expected in late 2025
Last February 2021, the Western Cape’s government started talks with the president as well as the Home Affairs minister to introduce a ‘Remote Working Visa’ [link] for South Africa. The City of Cape Town which has been voted as one of the “Best Places for Remote Working in 2021” has even made a comprehensive plan to attract even more digital nomads.
There are no concrete details yet but through an online application, they plan for the visa to have the following details…
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