Skip to headerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Kiplinger logoLink to homepage
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Save up to 76%
Subscribe
Subscribe to Kiplinger
  • Store
  • Home
  • Investing
  • Retirement
  • Taxes
  • Personal Finance
  • Your Business
  • Wealth Creation
  • More
    • Podcasts
    • Economic Outlooks
    • Tools
  • My Kiplinger
    • Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
    • The Kiplinger Letter
    • The Kiplinger Tax Letter
    • Kiplinger's Investing for Income
    • Kiplinger's Retirement Report
    • Store
    • Manage My E-Newsletters
    • My Subscriptions
  • Home
  • personal finance
  • careers
careers

7 Foreign Countries Luring Americans to Work Abroad During the Pandemic

Work remotely – really remotely – in these appealing destinations offering special visas for American workers.

by: Sean Lengell
September 18, 2020

Getty Images

Tired of working remotely from your kitchen table during these pandemic days? If there are no restrictions on where you can plop down your work laptop, consider a sunny Caribbean island or an idyllic European village as your office for the next year.

Despite COVID-19 still spreading throughout the globe, a growing list of mostly small, tourist-reliant countries are opening their borders to remote workers. These countries have special visas that allow foreigners – including Americans – to live and work remotely for a year or more. Participants must already be employed in their home country or a freelancer, and are prohibited from taking employment in the host country. Health insurance and minimum income levels generally are required, though specifics vary from country to country.

Take a look at seven countries with remote working opportunities:

  • 7 Ways the Pandemic Will Change Big U.S. Cities

1 of 7

Barbados

Getty Images

The Caribbean island’s “Welcome Stamp” remote work visa is a bit pricey -- $2,000, or $3,000 for a “family bundle.” The visa is good for one year but can be extended. Participants aren’t liable for Barbados income tax. And the island has some of the best internet access, health facilities and weather in the Caribbean.

Barbados also has an extremely low rate of COVID-19 cases, with only 174 positive cases as of Sept. 3. For more information, visit https://www.barbadoswelcomestamp.bb/visas/.

  • Money Management Advice for Expat Retirees

2 of 7

Bermuda

Getty Images

Bermuda offers a year-long residency certificate for $263. It allows participants to enroll in post-secondary education in the North Atlantic island nation. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and “demonstrate good character and not have conviction for an indictable offence.” Travelers who don’t want to spend an entire year can stay up to six months in Bermuda without a visa.

Bermuda has one of the world’s lowest COVID-19 infection rates – 172 positive cases, as of Sept. 3. For more information, visit https://www.gov.bm/articles/one-1-year-residency-certificate-policy.

  • The Coronavirus at Work: Your Legal Questions Answered

3 of 7

Croatia

Getty Images

The Croatian government recently announced it may soon join the list of countries offering a remote worker visa. Details are forthcoming, but the Croatian prime minister is backing the plan, which still needs approval from parliament. Croatia already is a popular tourist destination, and with a relatively affordable cost of living, the Balkan nation’s pending “digital nomad” program could be among the most popular available.

  • 91 Top Dividend Stocks From Around the World

4 of 7

Estonia

Getty Images

Estonia’s “Digital Nomad Visa” allows foreign workers to live and work remotely in the Baltic European country for a year at a cost of 100 euros (about $118). (Note: The European Union, of which Estonia is a member, currently has barred American travelers because of the United States’ high level of COVID-19 cases. The ban is expected to be lifted once infection rates drop in the U.S.)

Despite Estonia’s population of only 1.3 million, the nation is among the most wired and digitally advanced in Europe (it’s the home of Skype and many other digital companies). English is widely spoken, particularly in the capital of Tallinn. For more information, visit https://e-resident.gov.ee/nomadvisa/.

  • 9 Ways COVID-19 Will Change the 2020 Elections

5 of 7

Georgia

Getty Images

The country of Georgia’s remote working program is designed for “freelancers, full-time employees and business owners,” allowing visitors to stay 360 days without a visa. Foreigners from 95 countries, including the U.S. and Canada, are welcome to apply. And the review time for applicants is lightning quick – only 10 days.

Located in the Caucasus region at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, Georgia – slightly smaller in size than South Carolina – is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world, with climate zones ranging from subtropical to alpine to semi-desert. For more information, visit https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2654.

6 of 7

Mexico

Getty Images

Mexico's temporary resident visa allows visitors to live in Mexico for a year and can be extended for an additional three years. Applicants must have income of more than $1,620 per month or a bank account balance greater than $27,000. Temporary residents may apply for a permanent resident permit after four years, provided they have paid Mexican income taxes. After five years of legal residency, a resident may be eligible for naturalization.

For more information, visit https://residencies.io/residency/mexico/temporary-residency/mx1. 

  • A View of Life After the Pandemic

7 of 7

Spain

Getty Images

Freelancers and the self-employed are eligible to live and work in Spain for up to one year. But patience is key, as the paperwork for Spain’s self-employment visa is much more involved than other countries. Forms must be filled out in Spanish, with an expected processing time of at least 90 days. An FBI or state background check also is required.

For more information, visit http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/MIAMI/en/InformacionParaExtranjeros/Documents/Self-employment%20visa%20requirements.pdf.

  • 20 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy in 2020
  • careers
Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

Recommended

Minimum Wage Update: Republican Senators Offer $10 Minimum Wage Plan
Politics

Minimum Wage Update: Republican Senators Offer $10 Minimum Wage Plan

Senators Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton propose an alternative to the $15 minimum wage plan pushed by Democrats.
February 23, 2021
New Challenges for a Church
Empty Nesters

New Challenges for a Church

With Sunday services online, this minister’s congregation is finding ways to stay connected.
February 22, 2021
Congress Moves Forward with Minimum Wage Increase
Politics

Congress Moves Forward with Minimum Wage Increase

Despite questionable support, House Democrats still plan to include a $15 minimum wage provision in the budget reconciliation bill.
February 10, 2021
10 Places That Will Pay You to Live There
real estate

10 Places That Will Pay You to Live There

Working remotely? You may want to check out these places that'll pay you to move there.
February 9, 2021

Most Popular

Where's My Stimulus Check? Use the IRS's "Get My Payment" Portal to Get an Answer
Coronavirus and Your Money

Where's My Stimulus Check? Use the IRS's "Get My Payment" Portal to Get an Answer

The IRS has an online tool that lets you track the status of your stimulus checks.
February 19, 2021
Want More Tax-Free Retirement Income? One Man’s Whole Life Decision
life insurance

Want More Tax-Free Retirement Income? One Man’s Whole Life Decision

Whole life insurance might not be something that’s on your retirement planning radar, but for this client, here’s how it served his need to control ta…
February 23, 2021
The Current Plan for $1,400 Checks
Coronavirus and Your Money

The Current Plan for $1,400 Checks

Here's what you need to know about the stimulus check plan currently being considered in Congress for President Biden's COVID-relief package.
February 18, 2021
  • Customer Service
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us (PDF)
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Kiplinger Careers
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Preferences

Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Save up to 76%Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Dennis Publishing Ltd logoLink to Dennis Publishing Ltd website
Do Not Sell My Information

The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., is part of the Dennis Publishing Ltd. Group.
All Contents © 2021, The Kiplinger Washington Editors

Follow us on InstagramFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterConnect on LinkedInConnect on YouTube