Remote work has become more common over the years, and its popularity has spread rapidly since the pandemic forced many workers out of the office. In turn, many countries have developed a solution for remote workers who wish to live abroad by offering special digital nomad visas that allow extended stays.

If you’re interested in working remotely in another country, here’s what you should know when applying for a digital nomad visa, as well as which countries are accepting remote workers.

What is a digital nomad visa?

Remote employees who work from more than one location are often called digital nomads — they have no fixed office and can earn an income from wherever they want. While some only travel within their home country, others work from abroad.

However, many countries limit travelers without a visa to a short visit — typically one to three months. Additionally, working in any country without a visa, or with a tourist visa, may be illegal, depending on your citizenship and the country’s immigration and employment regulations.

So, how do you get around this potential issue? The answer is a digital nomad visa, which is a temporary residency permit for remote workers who are employed and paid by foreign companies.

In other words, you’re allowed to stay and work legally in the country that issued you a digital nomad visa.

Depending on the country, the visa may allow you to stay for as long as a year or longer, and there may be an option to extend if you still meet the requirements.