Estonia Woos Remote Workers With A Digital Nomad Visa - Forbes
27 Jul 2020 EWR Online
Could you picture yourself living and working in Tallinn, Estonia? The country just announced it will offer a digital nomad visa for folks who can work from anywhere. GETTY
Can you work from anywhere as long as you have access to the internet? Need a change of scenery? Consider Estonia, where the cost of living is 30 percent less than that of the U.S.
The Baltic country and EU member is the latest in a handful of countries to create a so-called “digital nomad visa” in the hopes of attracting remote workers to live — and, of course, spend money — inside their borders. For applicants, the key criteria is being able to demonstrate steady remote income. The upside for Estonia is a potential influx of newcomers who will spend their hard-earned euros and help the local economy, without taking jobs from native citizens.
With more remote workers in the world than any time in history, some countries are seeing the benefits of courting folks who are gainfully employed, digitally savvy, high earning and able to work from anywhere.
Estonia’s government has voted to amend its Alien Act to allow for a digital nomad visa for stays for up to a year — nine months longer than the three-month tourist visa allows.
