Being a digital nomad is increasingly popular because of the flexibility it provides you in your life. This is all about working digitally and then giving you the ability to choose where you want to work from. With more jobs turning digital and many companies being happy for people to work fully remotely, there are more possibilities than ever before for people who want to continue working but also want to travel the world.
However, there are some practical elements that you need to consider to make sure that everything is in order, from paying tax to your immigration, as well as ensuring you can enjoy your time away and feel a real sense of community. We’re here to cover all the main elements of becoming a digital nomad here!
Where You Pay Tax
Firstly, you need to figure out where you pay tax when you’re a digital nomad. Usually, you will pay tax in the country where you are a tax resident. For example, if you work for a company based in the UK and aren’t going to be living abroad permanently, then usually you would still pay tax in the UK. The rules change if you look for more permanent residence abroad as you will need to pay tax there, then in some countries you don’t pay tax at all.
The best course of action will first be to speak to your employer to check whether you will still pay tax through their payroll. Then, if you’re not employed by a company and are working for yourself, then we’d recommend talking to a tax specialist in the country you’re going to be working in. If you’re planning on travelling around, you will still need to pay tax somewhere on your income and that will usually be your home country. Make sure you get this right as you don’t want to get trapped with a hefty and unexpected tax bill!
Sort Your Documentation and Immigration Status
Something that is absolutely essential before you become a digital nomad is to sort your documentation, visas and immigration status. There are a range of countries all around the world that offer digital nomad visas, which gives you the right to work in that country online. This isn’t every country, however around 40 offer remote working visas, including many European countries, South American countries and Asian countries. There are some countries where you can’t get digital nomad visas and it’s difficult to work there temporarily without a more traditional job, such as the UK and France, but there are usually other temporary working options that might cover your requirements. Overall it’s important you look into this thoroughly before deciding where to travel, to make sure you can be there legally and your plans aren’t disrupted by immigration concerns during the trip.
Something else to consider is if you’re looking to stay in one place more permanently, you need to look at different types of visas. For example, in the UK, permanent working visas aren’t always easy to get your hands on unless you’re heading to the UK into a job role where there are currently shortages. With things like being a digital nomad, it may be more difficult. You’ll also then need to think about things like a spouse visa UK based if you’re travelling with a partner and then also family ones.
Plan this properly and speak to an advisor to make things easier to ensure you’re legally in the country and won’t face disruptions during your trip.
Consider Time Difference
This one might seem obvious, but you need to consider the time difference where you’ll be working. If you’re client facing, you want to make sure you can maintain similar relationships and the same level of communication, as well as ensuring that it won’t disrupt your plans when you’re away. For example, if your client calls need to be in the evenings and that’s when you want to take up hobbies and meet people, it might cause an issue. So, potentially look for a country that runs at a similar time, or if you’re not in a client facing job that’s more traditional in terms of the hours required, then you don’t need to worry about this.
Think About Health Insurance
Something else you need to think about before you travel is health insurance. Very few countries offer free healthcare to visitors, even if you are there for an extended amount of time, and so you need to get private health insurance to cover you wherever you will be travelling. There are some exceptions to this, for example if you are a European citizen and you’re travelling within Europe, you may be covered by state healthcare. However, getting private insurance isn’t that expensive and it can definitely be worth it.
Find A Community
Something else you need to think about is how you’re going to get settled into these places and to find a sense of community if that’s what you’re looking for. Moving to new places can be exciting, but you also want to make sure you’re not feeling lonely and overwhelmed without friends and loved ones nearby. There are plenty of ways to meet people, but doing a bit of research to make sure that there are options to suit your lifestyle is key before you move, to help you get the most out of it. For example, if you’re into your fitness, are there running clubs or yoga studios nearby? If you don’t speak the language, are there English speaking options for example? Is there quite a large travelling community to help you meet like minded people?
If you’re stuck for inspiration, here are some great ways to meet people when you’re travelling and working:
- Go to hostel bars or find hostel pub crawls online to meet like minded people
- Download apps that are designed to help you meet people when travelling
- Book group excursions or road trips in the area
- Think about volunteering at the weekends
- Go to local language classes to meet other people who speak your language
- Join a sports club or a run club if you’re into fitness
Final Thoughts
Being a digital nomad comes with many benefits, but there are some things you need to get in place before you leave to make sure that everything is in place legally, but also that you make the most of your time there in terms of meeting people and maximising your time. Take some time to plan properly, consider your options and you can enjoy your time as a digital nomad without anything holding you back!