How to leverage digital nomad visas

29 Aug 2022 - by Molly Jackson

More than 25 countries have launched digital nomad visa programmes to streamline the process of moving abroad for work. Those wanting to take advantage of a digital nomad visa will usually stay in a hotel for at least the first week, and will also require flights. There is potential for travel agents to leverage this opportunity to introduce digital nomad packages that include flights, a week’s hotel stay and visa assistance, linking up with visa and consular services to offer visa support packages.

The main requirement is proof of employment outside of the destination country. Offering both traditional and remote career opportunities, the teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) industry provides the perfect match for locals who would rather see the world than the inside of an office cubicle.

“Digital nomad visas give travellers the option of staying in a country for longer periods of time than the usual tourist visas. It’s also easier to secure than a regular work visa. This gives you the chance to enjoy your travels, and explore new cultures, while maintaining a stable source of income – without putting your career on hold,” says Rhyan O’Sullivan, MD of The TEFL Academy.

Additional requirements for securing a digital nomad visa vary from country to country. Typically, this entails evidence of civil documents, such as a CV, proof of accommodation, travel insurance, and minimum monthly earnings to ensure that visa holders can support themselves without taking local jobs. Most countries also charge a fee for the visa application.

“As part of the process, visa applicants must prove that they won’t become a liability to the country in any way. For example, in Mexico you need to show a monthly income of more than R27 000, while other countries, like Taiwan, simply assess your professional skills,” says O’Sullivan.

With average salaries of between R190 and R560 per hour, depending on experience, teaching English online offers an opportunity to meet these requirements, while still working less than the traditional 40 hours a week. To secure a job overseas, prospective teachers require a TEFL qualification – the globally accepted qualification to teach English abroad. When studied full time, a TEFL course can typically be completed within four to six weeks.

The relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions and roll-out of vaccines opened travel doors for South Africans wanting to teach English abroad, O’Sullivan tells Travel News. According to a survey conducted in 2021, 70% of certified and in-training South African TEFL teachers want to live and work in Asia in the long term, with 25% planning to migrate; 75% percent say they will teach online, while a third of these hope to use this experience to secure a job abroad in 2022.

The countries to launch digital nomad visas thus far are as follows: