Digital Nomads can work from anywhere with an internet connection, and digital nomadism is becoming a viable option for both the young and single and those with families.
As long as you pick your destination well and keep some basic physical and digital safety rules in mind, you can become a digital nomad. Here’s a look at the primary factors and a few city names in the top countries for digital nomads to consider.
What factors should you consider for a safe digital nomad destination?
Work permit or Nomad Visa?
Visa restrictions and work permit rules ensure that you don’t compete against locals for scarce jobs. Normal visa rules require you to have a job to return to that will force you to leave the country sooner than later. A work permit allows you to take up employment in your host country and is not the same thing as a digital worker visa.
A digital worker visa allows an extended stay in your host country without providing proof of permanent employment in your home country. Most countries now offer some form of digital visa, which you can obtain online.
Fast and stable Internet
Many companies only hire remote workers from countries like South Korea, Japan, and Western Europe because they want someone who can guarantee that their work won’t be interrupted by internet outages. Avoid countries like South Africa, where poor service delivery means ongoing nationwide electricity disruptions and the internet is costly and unreliable.
Cost of living, adventure, weather, and quality of life
If you like partying, then a resort-type destination like Thailand, where bars and clubs stay open late into the night, is perfect. If you enjoy soaking up classical art, you may want to take a grand tour of a few European countries. If exotic crafts and handmade items rock your boat, you should visit countries like Egypt, Turkey, or Morocco.
Most digital nomads prefer the roaming lifestyle because of a generally lower cost of living and will spend a few months in a cheaper country while they save up to visit more expensive countries.
Personal Safety
No matter how strong the lure of adventure, always make sure you choose a safe destination. It’s true that every country in the world has safer or rougher areas and that you could come to harm even in a country that is considered ‘very safe,’ but some countries are just naturally more perilous than others. Use a guide like worldpopulationreview.com to narrow down your options.
Digital security
Your electronic devices must be protected at all costs because you can’t earn enough money to live this life without them. Digital protection is just as important as your physical safety, and it’s better to cut your exotic nightlife excursions to twice a week rather than economize on digital threat protection.
Keep your devices updated and protected with strong passwords, and add a next-generation VPN as a critical cog in your cybersecurity chain. An essential VPN can conceal your IP, but a product like NordVPN’s Advanced Threat Protection will also prevent snooping on your data traffic and will actively protect you by blocking malicious links and avoiding the installation of viruses and ransomware,
Have a backup plan to generate income
It’s much easier to plunge if you have a permanent employer and a steady income. However, many digital nomads are freelancers with minimal backup if something should go wrong. Stay on top of reputable websites that can help you find remote positions and test them on a rolling basis to see if you could make a living if something should go badly wrong with your permanent job. If you run out of money, you won’t be safe, so create a profile and get started on Upwork.com, Guru.com, and Freelancer.com.
Here are six of the best countries in the world to work remotely:
1. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a great place to start your journey as a digital nomad if you love beaches and travel. It’s one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations and offers easy access to other parts of Southeast Asia. The island has beautiful scenery that includes mountains, rice paddies, and jungle areas, and it’s also famous for its spas and yoga classes!
2. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague’s great restaurants and cafes are filled with a steady stream of digital nomads worldwide, and there are many coworking spaces throughout the city. Prague also has some great historical landmarks like Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, and the Czech beer is something you should experience at least once in your lifetime!
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is one of the best cities in Asia for digital nomadism. It’s alive with commerce and full of cafes and coworking spaces that cater to a large, welcoming expat community.
4. Lisbon, Portugal
Thanks to its good weather and active startup scene, Lisbon has become a hot destination for entrepreneurs. The smaller, picturesque towns in the countryside are even better options for a longer-term stay because of the very affordable housing and food.
5. Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam
This city has everything from bustling markets to traditional temples and beautiful beaches. It’s also home to a growing tech scene. The tech-savvy local worker scene delivers great low-cost services for entrepreneurs who want to build their businesses.
6. Toronto, Canada
Toronto is one of those cities with it all: culture, food, entertainment… you name it! It’s also one of the most diverse cities in North America and has a rapidly expanding tech and software startup scene. Many Americans who are hesitant to plunge head-first into more remote or exotic destinations travel here to dip their toes into the water to see how they like the digital nomad lifestyle.
