The Ultimate Guide of How Nomad Visas Have Evolved Worldwide (2020–2026)

Welcome Stamp

Announced 30 June 2020 and opened applications before Estonia's visa went live, which is why some consider Barbados the true first mover.

Digital Nomad Visa

Launched on 1 August 2020 and widely credited as the world's first dedicated digital nomad visa from an EU member state. It runs separately from e-Residency, and being an e-resident doesn't help your application. Barbados's Welcome Stamp opened applications a few weeks earlier, so the two nations still dispute the 'world's first' title.

Remotely from Georgia

Launched as a pandemic-era workaround; today Georgia's standard visa-free entry for 90+ nationalities does the same job, so the dedicated programme is rarely used.

Work From Anguilla

One of the first Caribbean territories to launch, alongside strict COVID-era testing and surveillance requirements that have since eased.

Work From Bermuda Certificate

Bermuda's Work From Bermuda Certificate stopped accepting applications on 28 February 2025. Certificate holders had 90 days after their certificate expired to leave, or could apply for Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis. It's a good reminder that programmes launched as pandemic measures can close.

Nomad Digital Residence (NDR)

The Nomad Digital Residence programme launched in September 2020 and was discontinued on 15 November 2025. New applications are no longer accepted.

Virtual Working Programme

Dubai's own city-level programme, launched ahead of the UAE's nationwide Remote Work Visa that followed in March 2021. Business owners must show at least one year of company ownership. Since 27 January 2026, income must be evidenced across six consecutive months of bank statements.

BEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay)

Designed for both remote professionals and students; family members can be included on one application.

Global Citizen Concierge Program

The highest income bar of the early Caribbean cohort, positioning it as a premium option from the start.

One Happy Workation

Structured as a booking package through partner accommodation providers rather than a standalone government visa application.

Premium Visa

Covers both remote workers and retirees under one broad long-stay category.

Temporary Stay for Digital Nomads

Technically a residence permit rather than a visa. The maximum stay is 18 months, and a six-month break is required before reapplying. You can show savings instead of monthly income: €43,470 for 12 months or €65,205 for 18 months.

Remote Work Visa

Extended Dubai's earlier city-level programme nationwide across all seven emirates. Business owners must show at least one year of company ownership, and since 27 January 2026 income must be evidenced across six consecutive months of bank statements.

Short-Stay Visa for Remote Workers

One of the first Central American programmes, aimed squarely at attracting remote workers to Panama City.

Nomad Residence Permit

Started with a cap of 100 permits, raised to 500 by March 2022 as demand outpaced expectations.

Digital Nomad Visa (Ley 10.008)

The enabling law was signed in August 2021, but implementing regulations weren't finalised until July 2022, so applications didn't actually open for almost a year after the law passed.

VITEM XIV Digital Nomad Visa

Latin America's first dedicated digital nomad visa, and its structure has stayed largely unchanged since launch.

White Card

One of the more affordable European options, though the income threshold has risen sharply since launch.

Digital Nomad Visa

Capped at a limited number of permits initially, which has periodically created waitlists.

Long-Stay Visa for Remote Work

The requirement applies to where your employer or your own business is registered, which must be an OECD country. Older guides describe it as a nationality restriction. Self-employed applicants need their foreign tax authority to certify six months of income.

Transitory Residence Visa for Digital Nomads

Introduced in May 2022 through Disposition 758/2022, effective 21 May 2022. It's open only to nationals of countries that don't need a tourist visa for Argentina.

DE Rantau Nomad Pass

Originally limited to tech and digital professions; expanded in June 2024 to cover a much broader range of remote roles at a higher income tier.

D8 Visa

Launched 30 October 2022 as an easier alternative to the older D7 passive-income visa, and quickly became Europe's most popular nomad destination.

Visa V (Nómadas Digitales)

One of the longer initial visa terms in Latin America at up to two years in one grant, with a fully online application process.

Digital Nomad Visa (International Teleworkers)

Introduced under Spain's Startup Act, paired with a reduced non-resident tax rate for qualifying applicants in their first years.

Digital Nomad Program

Originally restricted to a short list of nationalities (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan); expanded to more countries and professions in February 2025.

F-1-D Workation Visa

Piloted from January 2024 and made permanent on 30 June 2026, when the stay was extended to three years. The standard income bar is one of the higher ones in Asia, but it falls to about half for applicants aged 18 to 34 living outside Greater Seoul.

Designated Activities (Digital Nomad Visa)

Effective 31 March 2024. Restricted to nationals from around 49 countries with visa-free/double-taxation arrangements, and doesn't grant residency, so nomads can't get a long-term lease or residence card on it.

E33G Remote Worker Visa

Launched 1 April 2024 to formalise Bali's huge informal nomad population, who had previously relied on visa runs or the pricier Second Home Visa. The rules name an employment contract with a foreign-registered company, and whether freelancers can qualify is unsettled.

Digital Nomad Visa

A textbook case of bureaucratic lag: signed into law in March 2022, but the implementing decree wasn't published until April 2024, a two-year gap between legislation and anyone actually being able to apply.

Digital Nomad Identification Certificate

Restricted to nationals of around 36 eligible countries, aged 21-55, with a university degree requirement that catches some freelancers out.

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

Since 31 August 2026, you have to apply for the DTV through the Thai embassy covering your citizenship or place of residence, so you can no longer apply from a neighbouring country such as Laos. Visa-free stays were cut from 60 to 30 days on 15 September 2026, and visa-free entries by land are generally limited to two per calendar year, which makes the DTV the more reliable route for longer stays. No renewal process has been confirmed for when the first 5-year validity ends. Our Thailand visa guide for families explains the options.

Neo Nomad Visa

A newer entrant aimed at Central Asia, offering a quieter alternative to the more saturated Southeast Asian hubs.

Remote Work Visa

Long-awaited and finally launched in March 2025, though early uptake was modest, with only 24 applications approved in the first month and a half.

Digital Nomad Visa

Executive Order 86 created the visa on 24 April 2025, but as of September 2026 it still isn't open for applications. That makes it one of the longest gaps between announcement and launch in this timeline. Check the Department of Foreign Affairs before planning around it.

Digital Nomad Visa

A recent addition aimed at Central America's growing surf-and-remote-work crowd around El Tunco and El Zonte.

Digital Nomad Visa

Launched on 20 September 2025 under Law 144/2025. The income bar is three times the 2026 forecast average salary and is recalculated each year. A budget-friendly, lesser-known addition to Eastern Europe's nomad visa map.

Temporary Residence Permit for Digital Nomads

Slovenia introduced its digital nomad residence permit on 21 November 2025. It can't be extended, but you can reapply six months after it expires. The income figure moves with Slovenia's average net salary.

Digital Nomad Visa (Type D)

Launched a year after Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area, formalising a legal route for the large existing remote-work community already based in Sofia and Bansko.

Digital Nomad Visa

First discussed as far back as 2021, it took roughly five years for Sri Lanka to actually implement a dedicated programme.