The Covid-19 pandemic squashed many people’s plans of living and working abroad. Even though the pandemic has waned and this virus still impacts people on a day basis with its presence, the desire of people to live and work abroad is on the up once again. Now if you are one of these people who wants to live and work abroad, read on because in this post I will explain the 3 best options for living and working abroad.

Option 1: Follow the Digital Nomad Visa Boom

As you know, the Covid-19 pandemic saw many people working from home. And people enjoyed it so much, they want to stay working from home. So if you are an online remote worker or someone who has set up as a freelancer who can work from anywhere, then if you want to live and work abroad, you can follow the digital nomad visa boom.

Covid-19 lockdowns led to people losing their employment and having to leave a country before it went into lockdown to get home. This has led to populations reducing. So more and more country governments are offering digital nomad visas as a way to attract talent to live, work, play and spend money in their country to fill the voids. This is great news for those wanting to move abroad to experience another country’s culture and lifestyle. 

Requirements to get a Digital Nomad Visa

Countries are introducing digital nomad visa programs to attract freelancers, location-independent workers and digital nomads. You can get a list of the countries offering digital nomad visas here.

Through a digital nomad visa program, you can live and work in a country from six months to two years. And in many instances, this time can be extended. Each digital nomad visa program is different and there are different guidelines and rules that come with them. In general to apply for a digital nomad visa requirements often include: 

• Proof of employment and income – this can be bank statements or recent invoices. This visa requires you to be earning enough to sustain your lifestyle while living and working abroad in their country.
• Proof of health and travel insurance – this is where a good policy such as one through SafetyWing comes into play.
• Proof of financial resources – bank statements can show your balance.
• Paying visa fees and taxes – most digital nomad visas have a fee.
• Passing a background check 

What I love about the digital nomad visa is there is no age limit. Truly! No age limit, unlike with the working holiday visa which is for young people aged 18-30 years (sometimes 35 years). So it doesn’t matter how old you are to move abroad to live and work in another country that offers a digital nomad visa program. And some of the programs welcome digital nomad and remote workers’ families. Great news if you want to take your partner and your kids to live and work abroad.

Popular Countries to live and work on a Digital Nomad Visa

There are a number of popular countries remote workers and digital nomad visas are preferring to live and work in. This is because of the cheap cost of living, fast internet speeds and the great lifestyle. Popular digital nomad countries (in my opinion) that meet all the requirements include:

Spain
Bermuda
Croatia
Mexico
Bali
Thailand
Estonia

For a complete list, check out digital nomad visa guide here. 

Option 2: Working Holiday Visa Schemes

Countries with a working holiday visa program allow those that qualify for the visa to come to their country for an extended time, usually 1-2 years, to combine work with a holiday. Depending on where you are from, a working holiday visa (WHV) may be your best option for working abroad. 

Requirements for the Working Holiday Visa

• There is an age limit. People aged 18-30 or sometimes 18-35 can apply as long as there is an agreement in place between your country and other countries. If you don’t qualify for a working holiday visa, don’t worry as there are work abroad opportunities for when you are over 30 years of age.
• You will need to have a certain amount of money in your bank account to support yourself during your initial stay.
• Paying visa fees and taxes – most working holiday visas have a fee.
• Some countries may require you pass a medical before issuing the visa.
• Each country has their own requirements you must meet to live and work in that country.
• The stay in the country to live and work varies from 6 months to 2 years. 
• Work that can be undertaken may be limited to specific backpacker travel jobs. In some countries you cannot work certain industries. For example, the South Korea working holiday visa program restricts employment in a range of job categories, from dance and music to journalism and religion.

Popular Countries to live and work on a Working Holiday Visa

Some countries in particular have embraced the working holiday visa. Countries such as: 

Australia
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
United Kingdom

See my full list of countries with a working holiday visa. 

Option 3: Teaching English Abroad (with or without a qualification and experience)

Teaching English abroad has long been one of the most popular employment choices for travellers. It is so popular because you can arrive in a country on a tourist visa, apply to English Language Schools for a teaching job and if they accept you, they will sponsor a work permit for you. And face-to-face teaching is returning making teaching English abroad a great option to live and work abroad, particularly in Asia.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, face-to-face teaching was abandoned and the rise of online teaching happened. Teaching English online was embraced and now, teachers can teach from anywhere in the world. They can set up at home, in a van or in a coffee shop – as long as they have the right tech gear to connect to their students.

The Future of Working Abroad

Now the Covid-19 pandemic is behind us, people who want to work abroad are taking up the opportunities open to them. From living and working abroad on a digital nomad visa, working holiday visa or a sponsored visa, the future of living and working abroad looks bright. Have you worked abroad or are planning to, I’d love to hear in the comments.