Digital Nomads: Who, What, Where, Why & How?
What is a Digital Nomad?
The freedom to work from anywhere in the world, the opportunity to experience new cultures and the ability to switch it up whenever it suits you – sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong! The world of digital nomads is growing, and it might be easier than you think to become a part of it.
Remote working has become a more prominent and preferred way to work in the last couple of years, with the COVID-19 pandemic being a huge driver behind this. A significant proportion of today's workforce is choosing to embrace location-independent, technology-enabled lifestyles which allow them to live and work from anywhere around the world. These people are called Digital Nomads. Although not a new concept, the impact of the pandemic has meant that the popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle has increased dramatically, alongside the attitudes of employers who now offer a far wider variety of remote working opportunities. In the US, the number of digital nomads increased by 50% in 2020 to 11 million, then rose again to 15.5million in 2021. Worldwide, there are now 35 million digital nomads, and the opportunities are endless.
Location-independent roles allow digital nomads to travel the world whilst earning. The variety of roles available include copywriting, social media management, web design, graphic design, programming, translation and TEFL. Teaching English as a foreign language is an ideal job for someone looking to embrace the freedom that remote working brings.
What are the benefits of becoming a Digital Nomad?
The reason why people choose this lifestyle varies from individual to individual, some enjoy the freedom that comes with a location-independent job, whilst others thrive off the personal development they experience when managing their own schedule. Here is a list of non-exhaustive benefits of becoming a digital nomad:
Travel freedom: the ability to work from anywhere means the world is your oyster! You have the freedom to choose to work in any part of the world (with reliable Wi-Fi), something you might not get the chance to do otherwise
Exposure to different cultures: choosing to live and work in a certain location is widely different from taking a short holiday there. Digital nomads can fully immerse themselves in the culture of the country they are working in.
Personal development: taking yourself out of your comfort zone and stepping into the unknown is the perfect way to grow. Exposing yourself to new environments and experiences will aid in your personal development.
Flexible working hours: being a digital nomad allows you to pick and choose not only where you work, but when. Remote work often comes with less restriction on timekeeping and hours, so you have more flexibility when it comes to when you choose to do your work.
Visas
Some countries will require digital nomads to obtain working visas to conduct remote work in their country, however not all do. There are 16 European countries, including Spain, which are in the process of introducing or already have their own version of a digital nomad visa. It is important to research the country in which you are choosing to work from and familiarise yourself with their visa requirements prior to your arrival.
Spain is set to introduce a digital nomad visa which will enable Britons and other non-EU citizens to work in Spain whilst receiving tax breaks. This visa is to be offered to those working remotely in Spain who fit certain requirements; workers must work remotely for enterprises outside of Spain and derive a maximum of 20% of their incomes to Spanish firms. Like the visa requirements of other countries, the applicant must demonstrate that they have been working remotely for at least a year. They must provide evidence of a contract of employment, or if working freelance, show proof of regular employment to a company outside of Spain. If they are successful in obtaining a visa, for the first four years they will be taxed at 15% (the base rate is currently at 25%).
How can I become a Digital Nomad?
So, if this all sounds like something you’d be interested in, there are only a few requirements to make it your reality. If you’ve got a laptop and a reliable Wi-Fi connection, you can get started. To be an Online EFL teacher, you should ideally have at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate, as you will find that the most reputable companies will list this as a requirement. Having the qualification can also boost your earning potential. From here, you can search for online and remote teaching jobs and work from wherever you choose. Some of our recommendations for job websites include VIPKid, alo7 and Fluentify.
