Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
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Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
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Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#2Always keen for new developments in government services and especially mobility for people, I hope this won't end up just one more class of visa with a little branding thrown on top. I think there's a massive opportunity right now for countries who want to attract groups of employees from the US tech scene especially that can cater to their needs and provide a safe operating environment for long term offsites without crazy new tax implications for the remote workers (although small island nations in the US time zones or even specific states in the US may be better positioned)
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#3The important parts people will probably look for:
- No right of citizenship or permanent residence in Estonia or EU - Get to live in Estonia for up to 1 year - Must make more than 3500 eur/mo gross from remotely earned income from sources mostly outside of Estonia
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#4[deleted]
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#5The important parts people will probably look for: - No right of citizenship or permanent residence in Estonia or EU - Get to live in Estonia for up to 1 year - Must make more than 3500 eur/mo gross from remotely earned income from sources mostly outside of Estonia
Pretty sure no work visa in the world grants the right of citizenship or permanent residence. I imagine for a lot of freelancers though demonstrating a sustained 3500 EUR/month income for at least 6 months prior to the application might be difficult.
Overall this is very encouraging though, and I hope more countries start to realize the net gain in attracting such people who will contribute to the economy by paying taxes and potentially starting their own companies down the line.
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#6The important parts people will probably look for: - No right of citizenship or permanent residence in Estonia or EU - Get to live in Estonia for up to 1 year - Must make more than 3500 eur/mo gross from remotely earned income from sources mostly outside of Estonia
Pretty sure no work visa in the world grants the right of citizenship or permanent residence. I imagine for a lot of freelancers though demonstrating a sustained 3500 EUR/month income for at least 6 months prior to the application might be difficult. Overall this is very encouraging though, and I hope more countries start to realize the net gain in attracting such people who will contribute to the economy by paying t…
Well, plenty can lead to it eventually, usually offering some kind of pathway. Even the US provides pathways to permanent residence (and then citizenship) through employment.
But yeah, I agree. 3500/mo is ~4000 usd/mo or ~48k USD/yr. Lots of traveling freelancers probably won't be able to show a minimum of that sustained for 6 months. I'd bet the bar was set intentionally high though, because they're bound to spend a good bit of that directly into the local economy.
I wonder what countries will follow. I imagine there's got to be plenty of poorer/smaller countries thinking about it... A few people making $4k/mo adds little to a country like India or China but in a tiny country that could easily become a decent sized cash transfusion to the local economy.
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#7I am hoping North Asian countries loosen up about visas.
Right now it's easy to be a digital nomad or retiree in Thailand. Malaysia has My Second Home: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_My_Second_Home
I expect things will get easier in North Asia as the effects of the aging population hit.
I would love to be able to move to a small town in Japan to live the Totoro life with fast Internet. And no virus problems.
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#8I am hoping North Asian countries loosen up about visas. Right now it's easy to be a digital nomad or retiree in Thailand. Malaysia has My Second Home: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_My_Second_Home I expect things will get easier in North Asia as the effects of the aging population hit. I would love to be able to move to a small town in Japan to live the Totoro life with fast Internet. And no virus problems.
Interesting footnote from the Wikipedia article on Malaysia My Second Home:
"On July 2, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Nancy Shukri announced that the MM2H programme has been temporarily frozen until December 2020 for review and further improvement."
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#9Either this is completely not for me, or i don't get it.
I contract from my US C corporation.
That corporation pays me, at my US address.
I pay taxes accordingly. In the US.
Is Estonia trying to horn in on those personal earnings, claiming I earned them while being a tourist in their country? (illegally? gasp) What if I don't pay myself while in EE and just pay myself later?
Are there services I might consume over and above a tourist visa as a remote worker, and those need recouped? Will this remote worker visa get me better access to those services?
I didn't understand their digital citizenship thing a decade ago either.
Befuddled. I love Estonia too, so I want to understand. :)
Re: Estonia is launching a new Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
#10I am hoping North Asian countries loosen up about visas. Right now it's easy to be a digital nomad or retiree in Thailand. Malaysia has My Second Home: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_My_Second_Home I expect things will get easier in North Asia as the effects of the aging population hit. I would love to be able to move to a small town in Japan to live the Totoro life with fast Internet. And no virus problems.
North Asia has too much problem by themselves already. They don’t need more foreigners money as they are already rich and would rather prevent Eternal September.
Not all South East Asian countries are welcoming to foreigners as well. I.e., Indonesia. They have too many digital nomads causing trouble and contributing nothing locally.
No skin in the game.