Asia rolls out the red carpet for digital nomads

Since July 22, Thailand, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, has introduced a Thailand visa that allows digital nomads to stay for up to 180 days and is valid for five years.

The visa application fee is 10,000 baht ($283) and applicants must have a minimum financial capacity of 500,000 baht.

Earlier this year, Indonesia introduced the Bali remote worker visa, also known as E33G, which allows digital nomads to stay on the island for a maximum of one year and requires them to earn at least $60,000 per year.

In June, the Indonesian government pledged to improve internet services in Bali to make it a global hub for digital nomads.

Last month, a new “golden visa” was also introduced, allowing stays of up to 10 years.

To obtain a five-year visa, individual investors must establish a business worth $2.5 million, while a ten-year visa requires an investment of $5 million.

In April, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the introduction of visas specifically for remote workers with an annual income of at least 10 million yen.

Applicants must be citizens or residents of countries or regions that have signed a visa exemption agreement with Japan. The visa allows individuals to work in Japan for up to six months and is not renewable.

In July, Taiwan announced it would soon launch a digital nomad visa program valid for six months.

South Korea launched it on January 1, allowing stays of one year with the possibility of extending it for another year.

To be eligible, applicants must prove they can earn at least twice South Korea’s per capita income from the previous year. So in 2024, the minimum income requirement for digital nomads is $64,000.

In addition, candidates must have at least one year of experience in the industry in which they work, as well as provide proof of health insurance and a clean criminal record.

According to Citizen Remote, a website run by a group of digital nomads from around the world, Vietnam is a great destination for digital nomads due to its low cost of living, safety, and free Wi-Fi.

However, Vietnam does not yet have a special visa policy for them, so they have to settle for a tourist visa.

Vietnam grants three-month tourist visas to citizens of all countries and territories.