Ditch the Desk: How to Become a Digital Nomad
How does this sound: sipping espresso at a café in Milan one week, lounging at a beachside bar in Bali the next, perhaps a few days in Singapore after that — all the while with your trusty laptop, earning on the go and working to your productive best. If only life were this simple! Too often, little things like dodgy Wi-Fi (and paying taxes) make for a different reality. Yet, with the right set of online tools and a certain kind of mindset, the digital nomad thing could work for you. Digital platforms can bridge the gap between work and wanderlust, keeping your workflow uninterrupted no matter where you’ve set up office. What is a digital nomad? l How digital nomads make money l Is the digital nomad lifestyle right for you? l Best places to be a digital nomad l Top Digital Nomad Visas l Navigating taxes l Making your plan l After arrival What is a digital nomad? The ability to make a living online has opened up new possibilities. This shift towards a more flexible work environment has been a boon for adventurous remote workers, offering the opportunity to work from just about anywhere. ‘Digital Nomad’ was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2020, defined as “a person who earns a living working online in different locations that they choose for themselves.” Working as you travel, not tied to any single location — it’s a lifestyle choice as much as anything. To succeed, you’ll be reliant on technology and the internet to stay connected and productive no matter where in the world you are. The global digital nomad population is now estimated to be around 35 million, with most aged between 25 to 44 years. Nevertheless, around a quarter of self-described digital nomads are over the age of 40.¹ ❝The global digital nomad population is now estimated to be around 35 million❞ And this new craze isn’t going away. The UK now has the second highest proportion of digital nomads (12%) after the USA (37%), with Germany a distant third (5.6%).¹ The digital nomad community is diverse and there’s a near-even split between genders. So what’s the difference between being a digital nomad and just working abroad? One key part of it is that most digital nomads spend less than four months in any one location. This isn’t a coincidence. Rightly or wrongly, many are working while on tourist visas that last 30 to 90 days. They should, therefore, still be paying tax back home. More on that later. Excitingly, the last few years have given rise to ‘digital nomad visas’. Valid for a full 12 months, these visas offer the chance to stay medium-long term, blending the flexibility of remote worker travel with the stability of traditional work. Almost 60 countries (and counting) now offer visas like these — and we’ll list a few of the best! How do digital nomads make money? According to Flatio’s Digital Nomad Report, the majority earn between €10-50k annually. Two-thirds of those respondents said that they pay tax back to their home country. There are essentially three main ways to make money remotely online: (1) as a remote employee, (2) freelancing, or (3) running your own business. Here are just a few of the most popular choices: Remote Employees Web Design: Creating and designing websites for clients globally.Programmers/Software Engineers: Building and maintaining software appsWriting/Editing: Producing written content for blogs, websites, and publicationsSocial Media Content: Managing social media accounts and strategies for businessesGraphic Design: Designing visual content for digital marketing, branding, or product designVirtual Assistance/Remote Customer Service: Offering technical or customer service support, whether that’s B2B or B2CFreelance Consultancy: Offering expert advice in your field of expertise, such as marketing, finance, or IT. It’s especially important for digital nomads to have strong portfolios to showcase skills and projects (and to prove you’re working, not at the beach!) Don’t forget to keep your LinkedIn and other career site profiles/CVs up to date. See also: Portfolio Websites for Creatives Freelancers, Side Hustlers Freelancing is well-suited to the digital nomad lifestyle. Many of the careers listed above are options for going it alone as a freelancer. With smart side hustles, you can add further income streams. Other ways of making money online include: Affiliate marketing: Earning commissions by promoting products Selling digital products: eBooks, courses, or stock photographyTeachers/Tutors: Teaching languages, academic subjects, or skillsVloggers/Youtubers: Creating and sharing video contentBloggers: Crafting written content to inform, educate, entertainInfluencers: As with bloggers, they might endorse brands and products, or perhaps sell ad space See also: 10 Passive Income Streams to Unlock Financial Freedom and How to Build Your Side Hustle on a Budget Online Business Owners Starting an online business is a great fit for the digital nomad lifestyle, offering the freedom to work on your own terms. This flexibility means you can adjust your business to match your needs, growing your range of products or services as you move around the world. Dropshipping to order (holding no stock) is one way to reach customers worldwide right from the get go. Selling digital products is also popular choices that allow entrepreneurs to set their own hours and work from anywhere. As your business grows, it’s possible to grow without being held back by physical space. See also: The 2024 Guide to Starting an Online Business Is the digital nomad lifestyle the right choice for you? Digital nomads often report high levels of satisfaction when it comes to work-life balance. Much of that can surely be attributed to the flexibility and autonomy the lifestyle affords. There are both good and bad points, though. Digital nomadism isn’t for everyone. Recent statistics suggest many of those who tried it post-pandemic have since returned home. This could be down to shifting policies — some bosses have ordered return-to-office mandates, for example. Brexit is another factor: us Brits abroad used to be able to live and work in the EU visa-free. Now, we need to clear off after 90 days (like Americans do). Nevertheless, the