6 countries that allow students to apply for digital nomad visas

Ever wonder how people from the West are moving to Canggu, Bali, to live and work remotely? It’s simple: they’re on a digital nomad visa.

These people make working a nine-to-five in an enclosed office look like a thing of the past. The “it” thing now is to work by a white sandy beach in a foreign country while sipping an ice-cold coffee.

That’s the life.

@charlie__chang She’s a digital nomad at 20 years old! #digitalnomad #remotework #bali ♬ original sound – Charlie Chang

The non-stop rise of digital nomad visas

Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners coined the term “digital nomad” to predict a future workforce with an urge to travel while working from abroad.

As predicted, the demand for workplace flexibility, like getting the opportunity to work from home, has risen.

87% of 80 million Americans offered at least some remote work embrace the opportunity and spend an average of three days a week working from home, according to a survey from McKinsey. Similarly, although 58% of employed respondents say they can work from home at least part of the time, 65% say they would be willing to do so all the time.

It’s also led to a spike in demand for digital nomad visas.

Through the visa, foreigners can temporarily stay in a country for an extended period while working remotely. This differs from a regular tourist visa as, legally, you’re not allowed to work while on it.  

As of 2024, 18.1 million American workers currently describe themselves as digital nomads, reveals the MBO Partners 2024 State of Independence report.

While this visa benefits remote workers, governments also benefit from offering it. In 2022, the global population of digital nomads reached 35 million, contributing close to US$800 billion annually to local economies through spending on accommodation, co-working spaces, food and services.

However, many see it as a double-edged sword.

Several videos of foreigners getting rowdy in Bali have gone viral in recent years, and it’s been a long battle to keep misbehaving guests at pay. While it’s not mentioned that these tourists are digital nomads, this has given them a bad reputation, making the government plan to introduce a service tax on “fun.”

But if you were to overlook the rowdiness, a study on digital nomads in Greece has shown that they contribute to the economy in more ways than tourists don’t.

How can international students benefit from digital nomad visas?

Once you’ve tasted what it’s like studying abroad, it will leave you wanting more. 

Getting jobs abroad can be difficult as an international student, but getting a remote job in your home country can be a way to go about it. 

Securing a remote job allows you to work abroad like you always wanted without worrying about getting a long-term visa.

The best way to go around it? Find a country where you want to work remotely and apply for a digital nomad visa.

And if you’ve never considered that route, here are three reasons why you should:

A way of learning new cultures

Just like how it was studying abroad, having the opportunity to hop around to different countries to work will allow you to experience culture abroad as a working adult.

This Quora user agrees, “In short, my experience was amazing. This is not to say that it wasn’t stressful and even unpleasant at times — but at least for someone like me who loves to discover new cultures and get out of my comfort zone, I can definitely say this is something I will look back on fondly into old age.”

Open doors to long-term immigration

If you have long-term goals of moving abroad, securing a digital nomad visa can be the first step toward achieving them.

Countries like Malta and Thailand offer long-term residency for high-earning remote workers, and Spain even offers a way for you to turn your digital nomad visa into a permanent residency.

Boosting your soft skills

An unexpected benefit of getting a digital nomad is simply sharpening your soft skills. By being in another country, you’re most definitely learning to navigate life there, and hence, you might unintentionally be working on your communication or language skills.

One Reddit user says their social skills levelled up tenfold by being on a digital nomad visa. They continue by sharing that their social anxiety is a thing of the past, too.

If you’ve been convinced that you should embark on your journey to becoming a digital nomad, the next step is to pick out the countries to which you should move.

6 countries students can get a digital nomad visa in

North and Central America:

The Bahamas

Visa fee: US$1,025

Visa length: One year

Income requirements: No requirement

Officially known as the “Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS)”, this digital nomad visa allows remote workers to work from home in one of its many islands. 

If you’re a student applying for the digital nomad visa, the visa fee is US$500 per applicant. Still, if you want access to the University of Bahamas, you must pay US$1,885 and provide your student ID alongside a letter from your school to prove that you’re financially self-sufficient.

Costa Rica

Visa fee: US$100

Visa length: 90 days to one year

Income requirements: US$3,000 per month

Travel and work remotely for 90 days to a full year in Costa Rica through their digital nomad visa programme.

The perks of being a digital nomad in Costa Rica are that you’ll be exempted from income tax and can open a local bank account. That’s not all; if you’re looking to rent a bike or a car, you can get your home country’s driver’s license validated.

Students can apply for the digital nomad visa if they meet the requirements.

Asia:

Turkey

Visa fee: US$190

Visa length: One year

Income requirements: US$3,000 per month or US$36,000 per year

To be eligible for Turkey’s newly launched digital nomad visa, you must be a remote worker or a college graduate between the ages of 21 and 55 and a citizen of one of these 36 countries. 

You can renew via a resident permit if you’ve fallen in love with Turkey while remote working from its colourful cities.

Students can apply for Turkey’s digital nomad visa if they meet the requirements.

Vietnam

Visa fee: US$25

Visa length: 30 days to three months

Income requirements: No requirement

While Vietnam does not have a specific digital nomad visa, you can live and work in this beautiful country on a tourist visa for 30 days on a single entry or up to three months for multiple entries, with a possible extension. 

However, working on a tourist visa in Vietnam is not encouraged as it’s a legal grey area.

Students can enter Vietnam and work remotely with their tourist visas.

Europe:

Croatia

Visa fee: US$31 to US$330

Visa length: Up to one year

Income requirements: US$3,055 per month

A Croatian digital nomad visa is identical to a temporary resident permit, a visa that refers to short stays for tourism or business purposes. While you’re usually granted a stay for up to a year, you cannot extend the visa once it expires.

When applying, you’ll need to submit a contract of employment. Additionally, if you intend to stay in Croatia for 12 months, you must prove that you have a minimum of US$36,627 in your bank account.

Students can apply for a digital nomad visa in Croatia if they meet the requirements. 

Spain

Visa fee: US$191 (€180)

Visa length: One year

Income requirements: An income of at least US$2,427 (€2,300) per month or US$27,444 (€26,000)

If you’re a student looking to become a digital nomad while studying, Spain is the place for you. While Spain’s digital nomad visa focuses on remote working for its holders, it will allow you to engage in educational activities.

To obtain the visa, you’ll have to prove that you’re a remote worker, be financially self-sufficient, have full health insurance, have a clean criminal record, and can stay in Spain for at least 6 months within the one-year period.