10 Most Popular Digital Nomad Visas in 2024

With over 40 digital nomad visas available, which are the most popular digital nomad visas in 2024?

The concept of a digital nomad visa was first introduced in 2020 and has become increasingly popular since then. Each year, a handful of countries introduce a digital nomad visa to officially welcome remote workers to extend their stays and temporarily live abroad. 

During this time, Nomads Embassy: The World’s First Embassy for Digital Nomads, has helped remote workers to apply for digital nomad visas worldwide with the help of our hand-selected local immigration partners and Done-for-You Digital Nomad Visa Services.

Based on the requests we receive from our audience in the first six months of 2024, we’ve compiled a definitive list of the most popular digital nomad visas this year. 

If you’re interested in joining thousands of other digital nomads living abroad with the help of Nomads Embassy, request our free digital nomad visa eligibility assessment to get started! 

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

A digital nomad visa allows remote workers to temporarily live abroad for a period longer than a tourist visa allows. 

Most digital nomad visas allow the main applicant to apply with family members, but a select few do not, such as Hungary and Panama. 

Some digital nomad visas can even lead to permanent residency and citizenship if you stay in the country long enough. This is a great opportunity for remote workers who want to establish another home abroad and increase global mobility. 

Benefits of Applying for a Digital Nomad Visa

When people think of a digital nomad lifestyle, they picture a remote worker traveling the world full-time with just a suitcase. While this can be true for some digital nomads, others want to settle down abroad in a country they’ve fallen in love with during their travels. 

Live Abroad for a Year or More

Most digital nomad visas are valid for at least one year. Some even allow you to renew the visa to stay two, three, or even four years! 

This is great for digital nomads who are tired of worrying about overstaying a tourist visa or moving to a new country every three months or so. 

It gives them a chance to settle down, create a routine, and truly integrate into a community and city abroad. 

Tax Benefits

Some digital nomad visas come with favorable tax benefits for remote workers. 

There are a handful of digital nomad visas with no tax obligations, meaning you won’t be liable to pay local income tax while you’re staying in the country. 

Other countries with digital nomad visas, such as Dubai, Panama, and Malta, are known for their favorable tax rates. 

Others offer tax benefits and schemes for foreign residents, such as Spain’s Beckham Law. 

Path to Permanent Residency

As mentioned earlier, some digital nomad visas can lead to permanent residency after living in the country full-time for a certain period of time. 

After just five years of living in Portugal, Spain, Italy, or Greece, you can apply for permanent residency after passing language and civics exams. 

This is a great opportunity for digital nomads who want to settle abroad and diversify their home bases. 

Most Popular Digital Nomad Visas

Now that we’ve covered what digital nomad visas are and the benefits that come along with them, let’s dive into the most popular digital nomad visas right now. 

1. Spain

The most popular digital nomad visa in the world is Spain! 

21% of the requests from Nomads Embassy members were for information or an eligibility check for Spain’s digital nomad visa. 

Arguably one of the best destinations in Europe for digital nomads, Spain offers the option to apply directly in the country as a tourist for a three-year residence permit. 

After five years of living in Spain, you may apply for permanent residency. 

While Spain’s digital nomad visa may be the most popular digital nomad visa, it is also one of the most complicated to apply for with plenty of bureaucracy obstacles. (Don’t worry, we can help with that!)

2. Portugal

Portugal is the second of the most popular digital nomad visas right now. 

17% of Nomads Embassy’s members requested information or an eligibility check for Portugal’s digital nomad visa. 

Introduced at the end of 2022, Portugal offers remote workers a two-year renewable residence permit. After five years of living in the country, they can apply for permanent residency and citizenship, opening plenty of doors within the EU! 

With favorable tax benefits and the reimplementation of the NHR (non-habitual resident) program, Portugal is fighting for first place in the most popular digital nomad visas. 

To apply for this visa, you must submit your visa application at a Portuguese embassy, consulate, or VFS office in your country of residence. 

3. Greece

We definitely aren’t surprised that Greece is one of the most popular digital nomad visas in the world! 

With over 200 inhabited islands and some of the most interesting and awe-inducing historic sites in the world, Greece is one of the most friendly digital nomad destinations. 

7% of Nomads Embassy’s requests were for information or an eligibility check for Greece’s digital nomad visa. 

Greece allows digital nomads to stay for either 12 months or two years when they apply for the visa and/or residence permit. Select nationalities, such as the US, UK, and Australia, may apply directly in Greece as a tourist for the two-year residence permit. 

After five years of living in Greece, you have the option to apply for permanent residency. 

As one of Nomads Embassy’s favorite destinations we couldn’t agree more that Greece’s digital nomad visa is one of the most popular! 

4. Malaysia

Even with highly selective eligibility requirements, Malaysia’s digital nomad visa is one of the top ten most popular digital nomad visas in the world. 

7% of Nomads Embassy’s requests were for more information or an eligibility assessment for Malaysia’s digital nomad visa. 

Only remote workers in the digital domain or holding chief officer or managerial positions are eligible to apply. If accepted, they can live in Malaysia for up to two years. 

With an online application, Malaysia’s digital nomad visa allows remote workers to apply from anywhere in the world – even while in Malaysia as a tourist! 

5. Malta

With new benefits implemented this year, such as an increased visa term limit of four years, Malta is our next popular digital nomad visa. 

5% of Nomads Embassy’s requests were for information or an eligibility assessment for Malta’s digital nomad visa. 

Officially known as the Nomad Residence Permit, remote workers can now stay on the islands for up to four years with their immediate family members. With a plethora of coworking spaces in Malta, 300 days of sun throughout the year, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Malta is one of the top digital nomad hot spots in Europe. 

With an online application and 60-day processing time, it is also one of the most streamlined digital nomad visas in Europe. 

6. Hungary

Maybe a bit unsuspecting, but Hungary makes it onto the list of the most popular digital nomad visas in the world – not just in Europe! 

4.4% of Nomads Embassy’s requests were for information or eligibility assessments for Hungary’s digital nomad visa. 

This visa allows individual applicants to live in the country for up to two years. There are three methods of applying: online, in-country, or abroad at a Hungarian embassy or consulate. 

Application processing takes just 30 days, making it one of the fastest digital nomad visas to get in Europe as well. 

7. Colombia

Moving across the world to South America, we have Colombia as our next popular digital nomad visa this year. 

4.2% of the requests Nomads Embassy received this year so far were for Colombia’s digital nomad visa. 

Colombia’s digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live in the country for up to two years and even participate in the tech startup scene thriving there. 

With an online application, the process is fairly easy, but the government is notorious for refusing applications for the slightest mistake on documents. (Professional legal assistance is greatly encouraged!)

8. Croatia

As one of the first digital nomad visas ever introduced, Croatia is one of the most popular digital nomad visas. 

4% of Nomads Embassy’s visa requests are for the Croatia digital nomad visa so far this year. 

This visa allows remote workers and their immediate family members to live in the country for up to 12 months. It is non-renewable, so you will have to leave Croatia for at least six months before reapplying if you’d like to come back. 

You may apply online, in-country, or through an embassy or consulate. However, processing times can take up to one year for the temporary residence permit. 

Did we also mention that this is one of the only tax-free digital nomad visas in Europe?

9. Italy

The underdog digital nomad visa this year is Italy! Officially launched in April 2024, Italy’s digital nomad visa made it to the top ten most popular digital nomad visas in the world. 

3.5% of Nomads Embassy’s requests have been for more information about Italy’s digital nomad visa. 

With this visa, highly-skilled remote workers can live in Italy for one year with a renewable digital nomad visa. When they live here for five years, they can apply for permanent residency. 

To apply for Italy’s digital nomad visa, you must submit your application to an Italian consulate in your country of residence. You then have eight days after arriving in Italy to apply for the residence permit. 

10. Brazil 

Brazil is the last digital nomad visa on our list of the most popular digital nomad visas in the world. 

3.4% of Nomads Embassy’s requests have been for information or an eligibility check for Brazil’s digital nomad visa. 

This visa allows remote workers and their immediate family members to live in Brazil for up to two years. You can either apply abroad at a Brazilian embassy or consulate or in-country for the residence permit directly. 

How to Choose the Right Digital Nomad Visa

As you can see, there are plenty of digital nomad visa options available – these are just the most requested this year! 

Each digital nomad visa has its own unique requirements, application process, and implications after arriving in the country. 

So, how do you choose the right digital nomad visa for your situation?

Verify Eligibility

The first thing you should do is verify which digital nomad visas you are qualified to apply for. This will help narrow down your choices and prevent time wasted researching visas that you don’t meet the requirements for. 

Nomads Embassy offers a free digital nomad visa eligibility assessment where we will review your information and provide a list of options that you may qualify for. It’s all done via email and takes just a few minutes! 

Consider Short and Long-Term Goals

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

This question isn’t just relevant for job interviews, but also when it comes to choosing the right digital nomad visa! 

If your long-term goal is to establish permanent residency or even citizenship abroad, then this will narrow down your digital nomad visa options. 

Consider how you see your life in the next few years to help you determine whether you should invest your time in a country for that permanent residency or if you hope to hop around the world slowmad style. 

Book a Digital Nomad Visa Exploration Call

You could spend literally hours researching digital nomad visas trying to find the right one for you – or you can have a 30-minute one-on-one conversation with one of Nomads Embassy’s visa experts to help narrow down your options. 

With our Digital Nomad Visa Exploration Call, we will work with you to find the best digital nomad visa options for your goals and desired lifestyle. 

Nomads Embassy Simplifies the Digital Nomad Visa Application Process

Whether you’re ready to apply for a digital nomad visa tomorrow or simply want more information to make your decision, Nomads Embassy is here to help! 

Connect with our hand-selected local immigration lawyers for a one-hour consultation, email us with your questions, or simply join our newsletter to stay in the know about digital nomad visa news.