Digital Nomads Beware: Can you Work on a Tourist Visa?
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- Опубликовано: 18 фев 2021
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Are you allowed to do work as a Digital Nomad in a foreign country on a tourist visa? This question is getting discussed more and more lately, and people seem to have opposing views when it comes to online work from a foreign country.
The Digital Nomad lifestyle is getting more and more popular. These people are traveling from one place to the other, exploring the world and different cultures while making money online by providing some services that can be done remotely.
Southeast Asia seems to be particularly popular among these folks, especially places like Bali, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, etc. They also like to spend some time in popular European hubs such as Spain or Greece. Some of these places are high taxes, while some are low.
BUT is it legal to be working in any of these places while you're on a tourist visa?
What are the potential consequences? What do you need to know about this topic before you take off and start a nomadic lifestyle?
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I think that the entire point of not being able to work on a tourist visa has to do with traditional jobs, and protecting locals from foreigners stealing their place. If someone does online work in a foreign country, they're not staling work from locals, they're just doing their own thing.
This is very often discussed among digital nomads, as many believe that you technically don't have rights to do even online work in a foreign country. Imagine getting a proper work permit in every country that you go? Ridiculous!
Glad to know that location independent workers are good to go.
Curious to see how this new trend of such workers changes local laws and regulations. I can see more and more people wanting to become nomadic, especially when this current situation is over.
From my experience (and the experience of others), there is a simple litmus test. You are a resident/citizen of country A. You work remote (self-employed or employee). 100% of your work is based in the jurisdiction of country A. You fly into country B with your laptop and work gear. Do you keep doing what you were doing in country A, or do you do something else? Would your work have been different if you went to country C, instead of country B? Do you need to hire local help? If you answered “yes” to the first one, and “no” to the last two, then you have nothing to worry about. Of course, don’t tell customs in country B that your purpose of visit is to work online, and don’t advertise the fact that you are working online. Since some people have a sense of dark envy, and would want to hurt you, because you make 10x the local salary, in order to fulfill a twisted sense of Justice inside of them. Other than that, you will be fine.
Personally, I stayed in Thailand on and off over 5 years. Out of all countries, they take work permit violations more seriously than others. With that being said, the only people who were busted for working without a work permit, were those physically working. People selling tours, bartenders, “realtors”, tour guides, heck one guy got busted for hanging a picture at a bar owned by his wife. But at the end of the day, in every single case, they actually saw the person working and/or receiving money. I haven’t heard of ONE person getting busted by immigration (or tax enforcement for that matter), for working remote, on their laptop, in their house, or a coffee shop for that matter.
As more people become digital Nomads. Governments around the world will be wanting to control and tax them.
Yeah that's certainly true what you need to do to stay ahead will change.
How do you think they'll try to change things?
@@MichaelRosmer you're right they can't go after everyone due to resources, so probably will be making examples of individuals, we know of cases from Bali. would not want to be the example :D
@@globalnomadguide2035 I think they'll probably reverse it. It's a smarter approach. Make it easy to come, don't try to tax what's hard to collect and instead focus on high consumption taxes or something. That would be what I'd do.
Oh, yeah..
The problem is the the threshold for the government to allocate resources to enforcement of employment laws is very low when you're entering the country and coming through customs. An increasingly common scenario is a content creator comes in with ring light, tripods, a few cameras etc. and gets questioned upon entry to the country. So far, most just get waived in but some don't and end up with a problem. The real answer is quite country-specific.
Oh yes this makes sense. If you're coming with lots of equipment custom officers can find it unusual. Maybe the best thing is when traveling with other people to split electronics up to not raise any flags.
Good informative video
Thanks
The other interesting aspect of working remotely in Europe as a US citizen is the “FEIE” Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which allows you to work Tax free if you spend at least 330 days in a non US country. That being said, if you don’t spend more then 183 days in any given non US country, you won’t be taxed on your “global” income… however this would require you traveling in and out of the Schengen Region every 90 days.
Interesting video, thank you. Do you have any info on RUclips travel vloggers? I’m guessing they’re in the grey zone? 🤔
Hi, if I’m a UK resident working for a UK based company and am planning on working remotely in countries with double tax treaties in Southern Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines). Would I have any concerns about requirements from me to organise/inform relevant organisations/authorities with regards to tax on my income?
From what I can tell, it seems like that would be fine but it’s not 100% clear from what I’ve read online. Any clarity on that would be greatly appreciated!
Great video👍
I remember immigration officers descended on a co-working space in Chiang Mai. A big rumpus - isn't it strange that some governments seem to always be far behind the curve? Whereas some fast-acting small jurisdictions like Bermuda, Bahamas etc have nomad visas, I suspect mainly because their economies are suffering so much currently. Could you imagine much larger lumbering countries doing the same?
When did this occur?
@@_arman_ about 6 years ago - I wonder if it's all changed now - search 'Punspace - Digital nomads'
I have also heard similar things recently. Thailand specifies "any work" so sometimes they get people that way. I think their policy needs updating but I don't think they are keen to encourage people to stay long term anyhow so they haven't.
Does your analysis also hold for Russia?
Hello. Some countries like France apply taxation by default in the home country if you don't provide a proof that you paid taxes somewhere else. It's not in the constitution, but it is a "practice" from the fiscal bureau, just because. Would a second citizenship in the Caribbeans help for this use case ? Nice videos !
Taxes are first and foremost a function of residency, which has nothing to do with citizenship unless you're American so generally, citizenships don't do anything to adjust your tax liability. If you could claim residency in that place then maybe.
Would renting a month of an office space at wework be something to worry about on a tourist visa? Its not like your own the space long term. Its just for a month. Or would that still be problematic?
Could be yes
Hi. This kind of setup of working around countries remotely every 2.5mos. using only a tourist visa is part of my long term plan. Can you discuss the concern that each country's immigration agency usually requires from a tourist a proof of onward travel or country exiting/return ticket to ensure the tourist actually leaves the country after his tourist visa expires. Problem is, how does a nomad produce a continuous series of perpetual onward travel tickets (usually plane tickets) if he only intends to travel to the next nearest country only via bus or eurail train networks but will travel almost endlessly around different countries and may not longer return to his own country? Is this even possible? How about medical insurance? Sorry if this is a dumb question or if it is not covered by your channel.
Thanks for the suggestion I'll see what I can create. No way I can do it country by country as there's too many variations but I can give some general tips.
@@OffshoreCitizen Yes, that would be awesome. General tips and advice would be already of great help for aspiring d.nomads. Many thanks n more power!
You don’t have to produce a return ticket - an onward ticket is acceptable. I’ve never had to produce a ticket. You can also buy a refundable ticket if plans change
@@tinglestingles many thanks for sharing, sir! Blessings!
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You really slur your words, no idea what the URL was, please annunciate.