Spain is the best country to do remote work: report
Spain was named as the best country to do remote work, according to a new report from a global advisory firm.
Bloomberg reported that Global Citizen Solutions reviewed the relocation programs of 65 countries worldwide.
Its data covered five main categories: visa costs (application costs, income requirements), visa benefits (duration, extension possibility, path to citizenship), quality of life (health care, security, pollution, climate), economics (cost of living, tax optimization, coworking desk price), and technology/innovation.
It found that Spain is the place to be for digital nomads.
Factors that made it top the list include a new startup law aimed at boosting the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, zero taxation on foreign earned income, affordability, the availability of high-speed internet, and an environment ideal for technology and innovation.
The report also noted how Spain offers digital nomad visa holders a path to permanent residency which can eventually turn into citizenship.
However, it overlooked the mass tourism concerns in certain Spanish regions, fueled by housing shortages and other issues.
Notably, nine of the top ten countries were European, with the Netherlands and Norway following closely behind.
Though these countries offer a high standard of living and solid healthcare, education, and social services, high living costs are a major challenge. Estonia and Romania, which ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, also performed well with their more affordable lifestyles, excellent access to nature, and rich cultural scenes.
Canada, which placed eighth, is the only non-European country in the Top 10. It said it's working on a new strategy to attract tech workers.
Distinct advantages
Each country on the list has distinct advantages, according to the report. Estonia and Romania have made significant investments in technology, including top-tier infrastructure for high-speed internet. Eastern European countries in the Top 20—including Hungary, Latvia, and Czechia—offer relatively lower costs of living than Western Europe.
Taiwan, which placed 12th, meanwhile has an easy digital nomad visa system, letting holders stay for up to three years upon arrival. It, however, requires holders to work for specific sectors like technology, education, finance, and law.
Japan, which launched its digital nomad program last April 1, placed 16th.
The Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as the Caribbean, ranked lower due to their high visa costs and salary level requirements.
Those at the bottom of the list included Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, and Grenada.
Almost 60% of remote work visas are impartial to nationality or profession, the report said.
Here are the Top 15 countries in the list:
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Estonia
- Romania
- Malta
- Portugal
- Canada
- Hungary
- France
- Germany
- Taiwan
- Czechia
- Latvia
- Malaysia