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A global immigration index for digital nomads and remote workers

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This index provides practical insights into global jurisdictions offering visas or permits for remote workers and digital nomads.

By choice and necessity, the world’s traditional understanding of how and where work should be done has greatly evolved, now detached from physical locations like never before. The EY 2024 Mobility Reimagined Survey reveals that employees and employers largely agree that remote and hybrid work will persist, but new challenges and opportunities lie in the details. The demand for globally agile working remains high, driven by continued employee demand, global workforce rebalancing and acute geostrategic and economic challenges.

Within this dynamic, the most mobile employees are a class of worker largely unanchored by geographic location, doing work wherever the Wi-Fi takes them. These workers are sometimes called digital nomads, anywhere workers, or remote workers, who are often employed and receive salaries and benefits in one country (the home country), but conduct their day-to-day work activities digitally from another jurisdiction (the host country). Digital nomads are generally not permitted to earn remuneration from the host country and are often required to have a permit or visa meant for qualifying foreigners working remotely.

Some countries have moved to accommodate these hyper-mobile workers, just as employers move to assess the opportunities and potential risks of an increasingly dispersed workforce. As of the end of July 2024, more than 40 jurisdictions offer digital nomad or remote worker visas and permits. Of these, 41% are in the Americas, 31% are in Europe, 14% are in the Asia-Pacific region, and another 14% are in Africa and the Middle East. Roughly half of all countries offering some kind of remote work visas allow workers to reside in their territories for up to one year. Applicants often need to show proof of employment, meet income requirements, hold insurance policies to cover medical expenses and more.

 

This guide provides a searchable index of digital nomad and remote worker regulations around the world.


EY Global Immigration Index: remote work and digital nomads

Access the index now for further detailed insights.

Summary

The demand for globally agile working remains high, and increasing numbers of jurisdictions are creating processes for hyper-mobile workers known as digital nomads. This index of global digital nomad and remote worker immigration pathways gives employers and employees practical information to weigh the opportunities and risks of this kind of remote work.

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