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Access & Borders · 27 Jun 2026 · 06:30 GMT+7

The digital-nomad visa is now a global category, not an experiment

More than sixty countries now offer a remote-work permit. The terms, not the novelty, are where they now compete.
HB
By Hugo Bellamy
Access & Borders desk · 27 Jun 2026
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Key takeaways
Five years ago a handful of countries offered a visa for remote workers.
The differences are no longer whether a scheme exists but how it is priced, how long it lasts and whether it opens a path to tax residency.
For travellers the practical effect is a widening menu, and a growing need to read the fine print rather than the headline.

Five years ago a handful of countries offered a visa for remote workers. More than sixty now do, and the category has moved from novelty to a standing part of how nations compete for spending that is not tied to a tourism season.

The differences are no longer whether a scheme exists but how it is priced, how long it lasts and whether it opens a path to tax residency. That is where the next round of competition is playing out.

For travellers the practical effect is a widening menu, and a growing need to read the fine print rather than the headline.

WorldTravelBrief
By Hugo Bellamy · WorldTravelBrief
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