The idea of combining work with travel has changed dramatically over the years, in part thanks to remote work becoming more common: Since 2019, the number of U.S. workers who describe themselves as “digital nomads” has increased 147 percent. A number of countries see the potential of remote workers to positively impact their communities and economies, and now more than 50 countries offer visas for these work-from-anywhere travelers.
Whether you’re looking to explore the Caribbean, Asia, or Europe while you bring in an income, here are 10 attractive places that offer visas for those who want to work remotely.
1. Spain
- Apply for Spain’s digital nomad visa: exteriores.gob.es
In 2023, Spain started offering its digital nomad visa. The visa is valid for up to a year and can be renewed. Check the website for application requirements, which include at least three years of experience in the applicant’s field of work. Remote workers must make at least 200 percent of the Spanish national average annual income. (In 2023, the average annual income was approximately $33,100).
Why you should stay in Spain
Tapas bars, beach trips, driving down the Costa Brava: Spain is a destination full of dreamy vignettes, especially for remote workers working for U.S. companies. The time difference guarantees free mornings in Spain for exploring. Remote workers may want to stay in Gran Canaria: Olga Hannonen, a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, studied how digital nomads were affecting Gran Canaria on the local level, interviewing stakeholders from restaurant owners to local residents. In the case study of the island, one surprise finding was how accepted digital nomads were by locals.
“Our respondents said that, ‘Oh, we became friends with digital nomads,’ or that they have very positive experiences with digital nomads,” she told Afar. “That’s something that has not appeared in other studies [in places like Bali].”
The island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, is making remote work accessible through its visa.
Photo by Kirill Umrikhin/Shutterstock
2. Mauritius
- Apply for Mauritius’s digital nomad visa: residency.mu
Mauritius offers a travel visa for digital nomads hoping to stay more than 180 days in a calendar year. The country’s digital nomad visa offers up to a yearlong stay with the option for renewal. Applicants need to prove they make a minimum amount of $1,500 per month, and that their main source of income is from outside Mauritius.
Why you should stay in Mauritius
Located around 100 miles from Madagascar, Mauritius was once the home of the now-extinct dodo and remains full of nature. It is also home to layered sand dune formations called the Seven Coloured Earths, a rum distillery in the village of Chamarel, and a diverse population that practices a number of religions and cultural traditions.
Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, is a digital nomad–approved place to work remotely.
Photo by xbrchx/Shutterstock
3. Croatia
- Apply for Croatia’s digital nomad visa: mup.gov.hr
Those interested in Croatia’s digital nomad visa can submit an online application. The visa is valid for a year and cannot be extended. However, travelers can apply again for another visa as soon as six months after the expiration of the previous digital nomad visa. Digital nomads need to provide proof that they make approximately $3,100 or more monthly or have a minimum of $37,250 in their bank account.
Why you should stay in Croatia
This country has been offering its digital nomad visa for a few years, giving remote workers the opportunity to see its Game of Thrones settings without the high-season crowds. And because Croatia became a part of Europe’s Schengen Zone in January 2023, having the visa means easy movement across the region.
Writer and digital nomad Steve Tsentserensky recommends staying in the capital: “Zagreb has a number of things that appeal to me. The size of the city is one thing. It’s like 800-ish thousand people. It’s not particularly big; it’s not the smallest either. It’s this nice Goldilock zone for a city,” he tells Afar. “It’s got Austria-Hungarian architectural vibes, and there’s a lot of nature here. There’s a mountain right behind the city.”
Barbados digital nomad visa applicants are required to make an annual income of at least $50,000 over the 12 months they intend to have the Welcome Stamp.
Photo by NAPA/Shutterstock
4. Barbados
- Apply for Barbados’s digital nomad visa: barbadoswelcomestamp.bb
In 2020, Barbados announced the introduction of the Barbados Welcome Stamp, a visa that allows digital nomads to stay in the Caribbean island for 12 months. One of the program’s requirements is that applicants must make an annual income of at least $50,000 during the duration of the Welcome Stamp.
Why you should stay in Barbados
There’s plenty to experience during a year in the country: Take an ATV to the countryside, or learn about the island’s reputation for rum. Take shorter stints in different parts of the country for stays that include all-inclusive resorts and boutique hotels. Bonus: From Barbados you have easy access to other nations in the Caribbean.
According to Iceland’s remote work visa website, applicants must not have the “intention to settle in Iceland.”
Photo by Alexander_Magnum/Shutterstock
5. Iceland
- Apply for Iceland’s digital nomad visa: assets.ctfassets.net
Iceland released its digital nomad visa in 2020, making this Atlantic island an accessible remote work location for up to six months. Applications must be mailed to the Directorate of Immigration, and visas are only valid for 90 to 180 days. Applicants must either be an employee of a foreign company or a self-employed worker. Additionally, digital nomads must prove they make a monthly income of at least $7,500.
Why you should stay in Iceland
There’s a lot to Iceland’s appeal: English is widely spoken, and its geographic location can accommodate time differences between the United States and western Europe. Iceland also boasts a natural landscape that, according to Afar contributor Ali Wunderman, “extends well beyond the bounds of the waterfalls and beaches that repeatedly appear on your friends’ social media profiles.”
Remote workers, no matter if they’re visiting for the first time or consider themselves professional Ring Road drivers, should especially think about timing their visa to maximize the season(s) they will be in Iceland. While September and mid-April are the best months for northern lights chasers, festivals occur throughout the year. Two examples of many: Reykjavík’s Art Festival is held in June, and the Reykjavík Film Festival starts in September.
Curaçao’s capital city, Willemstad, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Photo by Shutterstock
6. Curaçao
- Apply for Curaçao’s digital nomad visa: athomeincuracao.com
Remote workers from across the globe are eligible to apply for the @Home in Curacao program, which allows you to stay for six months, with the option for an extension of six more months for a maximum total of a year. Digital nomad visa applicants don’t have to meet a minimum income requirement.
Why you should stay in Curaçao
Curaçao is well-loved for its candy-colored Dutch architecture and diverse residents who speak Papiamento, a Portuguese-based Creole. The southwest Caribbean island has plenty of ways to stay active beyond remote working, including street art walking tours and an open-air food court serving Curaçaoan cuisine.
This part of the ABC islands is known for its nearly 40 pristine beaches, but travelers can also learn about the region’s history in the transatlantic slave trade at Curaçao’s museums and monuments.
In 2023, Dominica announced plans for the world’s first sperm whale reserve, underscoring its dedication to marine conservation.
Photo by Derek D. Galon/Shutterstock
7. Dominica
- Apply for Dominica’s digital nomad visa: windominica.gov.dm
The Caribbean island of Dominica offers the Work in Nature Extended Stay Visa, which is available for up to 18 months. The program is available to any location-independent individual over 18 years of age who earns more than $50,000 annually.
Why you should stay in Dominica
Coined the “Nature Island of the Caribbean” thanks to its range of mountains and rainforests, Dominica offers long-term visitors the opportunity to explore its emerald natural pools, national parks, and a swimmable coral reef, called Champagne Reef, that emits volcanic bubbles.
There’s plenty to get excited about when it comes to this island, from new luxury resorts to the country’s goal of becoming the world’s first climate-resilient nation by 2030. Afar contributor and solo travel enthusiast Kaitlyn Rosati says Dominica is one of the best places to visit alone, and the island is consistently rated as the safest nation in the Caribbean by the World Citizenship Report.
Hit the beach and embody the essence of dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing.
Photo by Brendan Burden
8. Italy
- Apply for Italy’s digital nomad visa (New York consulate): consnewyork.esteri.it (U.S. citizens can check the consulate website for their consulate)
Italy released its digital nomad/remote work visa in April 2024 to non-EU citizens (including U.S. citizens) who want to work remotely in the country. The visa has two classifications of qualified applicants: One is “digital nomads,” which the visa defines as “freelancers, consultants, or other independent specialists”; the other classification is “remote workers,” who are employees of a company that doesn’t require in-person work.
The visa also states that only “highly skilled workers” are eligible. “Highly skilled” translates to careers that require postsecondary degrees or at least three years’ professional training or experience. The visa is valid for a year and can be renewed.
Why you should stay in Italy
Italy is a bucket-list country for many travelers, including history buffs and food lovers. Popular cities like Venice draw crowds for good reason, but there are plenty of places—and ways—to get off the standard tourist trail and embrace la dolce vita. For many, Italy is the place to enjoy the “work to live” mentality (rather than vice versa)—meal times last hours and rituals like aperitivo encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Busan is a large city in South Korea known for its temples and active nightlife.
Photos by Jun Michael Park
9. South Korea
- Apply for South Korea’s digital nomad visa: overseas.mofa.go.kr
In January 2024, South Korea launched its Workation visa to people who work for a company abroad. Eligible applicants must earn double Korea’s gross national income per capita from the previous year, which was around $36,600 in 2024, and have at least a year’s work experience in their industry. The visa is valid for one year, with the possibility to extend for an additional year.
Why you should stay in South Korea
“South Korea has always been cutting edge,” said Afar writer Anna Haines when discussing the most exciting places to visit in Asia right now. The country’s visit-worthy attractions include the new Seoul Robot and Artificial Intelligence Museum, which features exhibits that dive deep into artificial intelligence, virtual reality, robotics, and other emerging technologies. The country’s capital is a favorite for travelers, but consider traveling south to Busan—arguably South Korea’s most underrated city.
10. Japan
- Apply for Japan’s digital nomad visa: mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/pagewe_000001_00046.html
Japan has offered its Digital Nomad visa since April 2024 to citizens in different countries around the world—including the USA. An annual income of 10 million yen (around $67,000) or more is required. The visa allows holders to work remotely in Japan for up to six months at a time. This allows U.S. citizens to stay three more months longer than the standard 90-day pass that American citizens qualify for.
Why you should stay in Japan
For U.S. travelers, Japan is Asia’s most popular country. Of course, the springtime evokes images of pink-hued flowers during cherry blossom season, making it one of the most popular times to go. But there’s a reason to visit every season of the year, whether you want to try street food or sink into a hot spring.
This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on March 24, 2025, with current information.
