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Here are 10 trending digital nomad visa countries for Australians based on popularity, cost of living (COL), safety and long-term options, plus requirements to apply. Some are yet to be official but get ready! The last one is a ‘secret’ digital nomad destination that is rarely discussed in Australia but offers BIG incentives. Do you want to know where it is?
10 TRENDING Digital Nomad Visa Countries for Australians
1. Indonesia / Bali digital nomad visa (TBC)
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in Bali, Indonesia is 56.36% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (47/163)
The announcement of a potential 5 Year ‘digital nomad’ visa in Bali is big news right now. Articles suggest that the visa would allow Aussies to live/work tax-free! Indonesia was the 2nd most popular holiday destination for Australians in 2020, so it’s likely to be high on the list for many travellers, freelancers and entrepreneurs.
Although still in development, rumours indicate that authorities are fast-tracking the visa to attract remote workers or “workcationers” to the island long-term. Indonesia’s tourism industry has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and this appears to be one part of their strategy to attract people back to the country.
Until then, 1,000 working holiday visas are available each year for Australians aged 18-30 who have “functional Indonesian language skills and have completed at least two years of university education”, so if that’s you, you can live and work there for up to 12 months.
Bali digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 30 days (can extend up to 60) visa-free.
Working Holiday Visa: Up to 12 months for 18-30-year-olds (inclusive).
Digital Nomad Visa/DNV: 5 Years (To Be Confirmed/TBC).
DNV Eligibility: TBC
See my post: “Bali Digital Nomad Visa Requirements, Costs and Application for Australians“
2. Thailand digital nomad visa
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in Bangkok, Thailand is 43.70% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (103/163)
In exciting news, Thailand has just announced a 10-year digital nomad/remote work visa called the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa! While eligibility criteria are high, for remote workers who are looking for a home base in South East Asia, this could be the perfect option for you!
Thailand digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 30 days (can extend up to 60) visa-free.
Working Holiday Visa: Up to 12 months for 18-30-year-olds (inclusive).
Digital Nomad Visa/DNV: 10 Years.
DNV Eligibility: Various (see full post).
3. Portugal digital nomad visa / Portugal freelance visa
Cost of Living: Low/Medium. The COL in Lisbon, Portugal is 41.03% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (6/163)
Portugal has become a very popular destination for Australian remote workers and freelancers. Many are attracted by its 2-year Passive Income /’D7’ Resident Visa known as the ‘Portugal Freelance Visa’. Others are attracted by a relatively low European cost of living, large nomad/ex-pat community and favourable tax incentives.
Porto, Lisbon and Madeira are all currently booming with nomads. It’s also ranked #6 on the Global Peace Index, 21 places ahead of Australia (#27). An added benefit to Portugal is, that although you must reside in Portugal for a “minimum of 183 uninterrupted days per year”, this still gives you lots of time to travel throughout the European Union. This includes the Schengen area, traditionally limited to 90 per 180 days for non-EU tourists.
Working holiday visas are available for Australians aged 18-31 who have “completed some form of higher education” to work in Portugal for up to 12 months.
Portugal digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 90 per 180 days (Schengen Area) visa-free.
Working Holiday Visa: Up to 12 months for 18-31-year-olds (inclusive).
Passive Income or “D7” Visa: Up to 2 years residency, renewable up to 5 years.
PI/D7 VISA Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements. Sources indicate that applicants for the D7 visa must have a “stable recurring income” equal to or higher than the Portuguese minimum wage (€705/month ≈$1100 AUD/month or $13,000 AUD/year).
4. Estonia digital nomad visa
Cost of Living: Low/Medium. The COL in Tallinn, Estonia is 40.93% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (33/163)
The Baltic nation of Estonia is not particularly well known to the average Australian but was one of the first countries to offer a 12-month digital nomad visa in 2020. Fast internet and a start-up-friendly culture have made Tallinn, the capital, a nomad hotbed just a short 3-hour ferry to Helsinki.
It has fast become a desirable location for remote workers and small business owners alike due to incentives for those who want to start or run their own businesses in the country. Working holiday visas are available for Australians aged 18-30 to work in Estonia for up to 12 months.
Estonia digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 90 per 180 days (Schengen Area) visa-free.
Working Holiday Visa: Up to 12 months for 18-30-year-olds (inclusive).
Digital Nomad Visa: Up to 12 months.
DNV Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements. According to the Estonian Government website, to be eligible for the Digital Nomad visa, you must “… provide evidence that your income met the minimum threshold during the six months preceding the application. Currently, the monthly income threshold is €3504 (gross of tax)” ≈$3500AUD.
5. Spain digital nomad visa (TBC)
Cost of Living: Medium. The COL in Madrid, Spain is 34.56% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (29/163)
The Canary Islands (Gran Canaria), Tenerife and Madrid are popular nomad cities.
Spain has also announced plans for a 12-month Digital Nomad Visa but is “still in development” at the time of writing. Australians considering Spain can look at the Non-Lucrative Visa, a 3-month option that can be extended to a 2-year residence permit, although this is designed for residency without working.
500 Working holiday visas are available each year for Australians aged 18-30 who have “completed at least two years of higher education and speak at least a basic level of Spanish” to work in Spain for up to 12 months.
Spain digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 90 per 180 days (Schengen Area) visa-free.
Working Holiday Visa: Up to 12 months for 18-30-year-olds (inclusive).
Digital Nomad Visa: TBC.
Non-Lucrative Visa: 105 days (3 months + 15 days) that can be extended up to a 2-year resident’s permit.
NLV Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements. The Spanish Government website states that you must have “sufficient and guaranteed means to live on”.
Read more in DIGITAL NOMAD VISAS EUROPE: A GUIDE FOR AUSTRALIANS.
6. Costa Rica digital nomad visa (TBC)
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in San José, Costa Rica is 50.76% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (38/163)
San José, Santa Theresa and Liberia are popular nomad cities.
Australians will have to wait a bit longer for this but when launched will apparently allow a stay of up to 12 months for business owners and remote workers who can show a regular minimum monthly income, renewable for a further year if you’re loving your new Caribbean “office”.
There is a current 2-year Freelancer “Rentista” Visa option but there is a bit of contradictory information out there about the requirements and application process. Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica for more information.
Costa Rica digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 90 Days visa-free.
Rentista Visa: Up to 2 Years.
Digital Nomad Visa: TBC.
DNV Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements. For the Rentista/Freelance Visa, sources claim that you require ≈$90k AUD in savings and/or a regular monthly minimum income of ≈$3750AUD ($45,000AUD/year).
7. Croatia digital nomad visa
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in Zagreb, Croatia is 49.88% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (15/163)
Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik are popular nomad cities.
According to Australian Google Search data, Croatia is a popular potential destination, offering a 12-month digital nomad visa to those “employed… for a company or his own company that is not registered in [Croatia]… and does not perform work or provide services to employers in the Republic of Croatia”.
Croatia digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 90 Days visa-free.
Digital Nomad Visa: Up to 12 months.
DNV Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements. According to the Government website, partners (of 3 or more years) and children can also join you (if approved) in Croatia, so this may be a good option for families.
8. Vietnam digital nomad visa (TBC)
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in Hanoi, Vietnam is 62.93% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (44/163)
Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc are popular nomad cities.
While highly anticipated, the 10th most visited country for Aussies in 2020 does not have a digital nomad visa just yet. Until then, Working holiday visas are available for Australians aged 18-30 who have “completed at least two years of university education” to work for up to 12 months.
Vietnam digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 30 Days.
Working Holiday Visa: Up to 12 months for 18-30-year-olds (inclusive).
Digital Nomad Visa: TBC.
DNV Eligibility: TBC.
9. Mexico digital nomad visa
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in Mexico City, Mexico is 52.38% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (137/163)
Playa del Carmen, Puerto Escondido and Mexico City are popular nomad cities.
Mexico-bound Australians, already entitled to 6 months of visa-free travel in Mexico, can apply for a Temporary Resident Visa to stay for up to 4 years! The catch? You cannot work for a Mexican company and require a “regular monthly tax-free income of $3339CAD” (≈$3800AUD) or “…monthly balance of $55,655CAD” (≈$64,000AUD), but it’s a great long-term option for those who earn remotely.
Mexico digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: Up to 180 days (visa-free travel).
Temporary Resident Visa: 12 months, renewable up to 4 years.
TRV Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements.
10. Georgia digital nomad visa
Cost of Living: Low. The COL in Tbilisi, Georgia is 57.42% cheaper than in Sydney, Australia.
Global Peace Index: (95/163)
Tbilisi, Batumi and Gori are popular nomad cities.
Shhh! The last visa on this list is a bit of a secret in Australia. Not many people know that you can visit Georgia, a country located just NE of Turkey, for 12 months, VISA FREE! Their Remotely From Georgia program encourages “Entrepreneurs, business owners, those currently employed with distance work…” to work from the country.
It provides multiple benefits like a very low cost of living and 1% tax rate for small businesses. The capital, Tbilisi, has been rocketing up the ranks as the new digital nomad “must visit” destination. With such incentives, this is unlikely to stay a secret for very long!
Georgia digital nomad visa options:
Tourist Visa: 12 months (visa-free) / Remotely From Georgia.
RFG Eligibility: Talk to your nearest consulate to confirm the exact requirements.
Digital nomad visa countries for Australians
As you can see, there are several amazing digital nomad visa countries for Australians, with an option for any remote worker, freelancer, entrepreneur or business owner who wants to swap the cubicle or home office for a more exotic locale. While a number are still to be officially launched, more countries are offering nomad-friendly visas every year. With such a large uptake in remote work in Australia, this trend is unlikely to reverse anytime soon. Who knows where you’ll be able to go next?
Mega-Guide to Australia for Digital Nomads.
Complete Guide to 50+ Digital Nomad Visas.
Want digital nomad support? Get in touch.
Kate is a teacher, writer and CEOh of ohnomad.com and teachenglishonline.com.au. After travelling for years, she became a digital nomad/house sitter in 2019. Offline, she’s patting every dog at the park. Online: Twitter/LinkedIn.
