Digital nomads are a new generation of workers who aren’t tied to any specific location. And while the common image of a digital nomad is a laptop-toting 20-something swinging in a hammock on a sun-soaked beach, the reality is that a digital nomad can be from any generation at all, Baby Boomers included.
You also don’t need to launch a new career to join the ranks of these remote workers. If you can do your current job online then—employer permitting—you can do it from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Post pandemic, that’s more people than ever before.
The pandemic also contributed to the rise of the digital ‘slomad’ with travel restrictions meaning remote workers had to spend longer periods in each country. Now it’s not unusual for digital nomads to spend six months or even a year exploring a country before relocating to their next destination.
And, with a growing number of countries offering digital nomad visas, the days of nerve-jangling visa runs and tax confusion are a thing of the past.
More than 50 countries around the world now offer digital nomad visas and that number is growing all the time. Currently Japan, Andorra, and the Philippines are all working on introducing visas for digital nomads.
With a more senior remote worker in mind, here are three digital nomad destinations worth a closer look. As well as a digital nomad visa, each offers excellent health care, English-speaking locals, affordable rentals, warm weather, low crime, and a more mature expat community.
Malta
While the Maltese archipelago (consisting of three main islands) may be small—taking up just 316 square kilometers in the southern Mediterranean—it has a lot to offer. You’ll find a beautiful natural landscape, a warm climate, large expat communities, and friendly locals. Along with Maltese, English is an official language here and is widely and fluently spoken.
Malta’s medical care ranks amongst the best in the world and the island is home to several state-of-the-art facilities, staffed by highly-trained English-speaking personnel.
For digital nomads, Malta offers a Maltese Nomad Residence Permit, which is valid for one year. To be eligible you need to have a work contract from an employer that is registered in a country other than Malta, or be a partner or
shareholder in a company that is registered in a foreign country, or offer freelance services to clients based outside of Malta.
You will also need to show proof of a property rental or purchase agreement, a certificate of good health, and have a clean criminal record.
The application fee for the Maltese Nomad Residence Permit is €300.
Panama
Panama is blessed with beautiful islands, palm-fringed beaches, mountain retreats, and colonial towns. The locals are welcoming, the climate is tropical, and your dollars really stretch here. It’s also home to some of the best and most modern hospitals in Central and South America and is ideally located for travel to the United States and Canada.
In 2021, Panama launched the Remote Worker Visa. Among the criteria required to qualify are an employment letter and a letter of responsibility issued by your contracting company (a non-Panamanian company). You’ll also need a clean criminal record, a certificate of good health, and proof of at least $36,000 a year in income.
The Remote Worker Visa is valid for nine months and can be renewed once, for a further nine months. As Panama has a territorial taxation system, digital nomads are not taxed on any income from outside the country.
The fee is $250 payable to the National Treasury, plus $50 for the visa card.
Malaysia
Rich in history and natural beauty, offering a high standard of living at a low cost, first-rate health care, a low crime rate, and welcoming visa programs, Malaysia has long been one of Southeast Asia’s most appealing retirement havens. Plus, as a former British colony, English is widely spoken, particularly in expat hotspots like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru.
Malaysia’s digital nomad visa launched in 2022. Known as the DE Rantau Nomad Pass or the Professional Visit Pass, the visa allows location independent workers in the digital sphere to stay in Malaysia for up to 12 months, with the possibility of renewing for a further year.
Under the terms of the visa you can work as an employee, business owner, or freelancer for companies or clients outside of Malaysia. To qualify, you need to prove an income of at least $24,000 per year, have a clean criminal record, and have a valid passport with a minimum of 14 months remaining validity and six blank pages.
Under the terms of the visa, a dependent spouse or children can accompany you. A further requirement is health or travel insurance which covers you and any dependents for the duration of your stay.
The visa application can be completed online and costs around $220 for the main applicant. The fee for each dependent is around $110.
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