As an increasing number of companies adopt remote work policies, the number of international remote workers or "digital nomads" is growing, prompting more countries to reform their immigration systems to reflect this trend, according to a report by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).
As of June 2022, MPI found that more than 25 countries and territories had remote work or digital nomad visas allowing foreign nationals working independently, or for an employer outside the country, to enter, stay, and work remotely for a defined period of time.
International remote work is not without its challenges for employees, employers and governments. But for traditional tourism countries, many of which are middle- and low-income societies, reforming immigration policies to welcome digital nomads could help compensate for income lost due to lower levels of tourism during the pandemic, which are expected to continue until at least 2024.
