Digital Nomads on the Rise: How Countries Are Adapting to the New Era of Business Travel

You’ve probably heard the term digital nomad floating about the business travel world, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic, as ‘digital nomadism’ tripled in the post-pandemic era, growing by 131%. Now with around 17.3 million American workers, defining themselves within this category, the popularity of this way of working is clear. As a result, dozens of countries have begun to offer remote worker visas, such as Spain, Greece, Italy and many more. More countries are now embracing digital nomads, especially in the APAC region, with the recent introduction of a digital nomad program in Thailand. This shift reflects a changing mentality, as countries become more accepting and open their doors to extended business travel.

What is a digital nomad? 

Now let’s delve into what exactly a digital nomad is and who falls into this category. A digital nomad is an individual who uses digital technologies to work remotely, they can work and travel simultaneously, and have autonomy over frequency and choice of location.  A digital nomad enjoys the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, whether it's Thailand, Brazil, or beyond, while remaining employed. This lifestyle allows individuals to immerse themselves in diverse cultures and build connections globally without being tied to a single location.

The desire to adopt a digital nomad lifestyle was significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing preference to work from home. Before the pandemic, only 4.7% of UK employees worked from home, but this figure skyrocketed to 46.6% during the height of the crisis. However, after the pandemic, the preference for remote work remained strong. As a recent Forbes survey shows, out of 1,100 respondents, 63% of respondents still work remotely, either full-time or part-time, favouring the flexibility it offers

A digital nomad lifestyle possesses many benefits, such as lower living costs, flexible working hours, and the opportunity to explore new destinations, together with the growing preference for working at home. explains its rising popularity.

Digital nomad visas

Countries are increasingly using digital nomad visas to attract remote workers. The most recent addition to this list of countries is the ever-popular traveller destination, Thailand. In the past, Thailand has allowed digital nomads to enter but has been less welcoming towards this scheme. However, as of June 1^st, 2024, Thailand has extended the length of stay for their visa policy for up to five years. This means that travellers with the multiple-entry visa are permitted to stay 180 days a year, with an additional opportunity to extend for another 180 days, for up to five years for the cost of 10,000 baht (£213.75). This five-year digital nomad visa puts Thailand among countries with the largest validity periods for digital nomad visas such as Spain. At the current time of writing, over 66 countries offer a digital nomad visa scheme, which we believe will continue to rise.

Sounds exciting right? before you head to the airport, there are a few key criteria to follow, you must ensure you have the following to obtain a digital nomad visa from Thailand successfully:

• Be at least 20
• Have enough money to pay for the visa
• Prove you have at least £10,687 in your bank account
• Provide proof of employment with a registered company.

Although an example from Thailand, many other countries also have strict requirements for their digital nomad visa applications, so this is important to keep in mind before travelling!

Check out the top 10 most popular destinations currently offering digital nomad visas...

Find out exactly what our APAC team think about Thailand offering digital nomad visas…

"Thailand's introduction of a five-year digital nomad visa marks a significant shift in the region, setting a new standard that other APAC countries may soon feel compelled to follow. This development has the potential to reshape tourism dynamics, as digital nomads contribute to the economy year-round rather than seasonally and seek destinations where they are actively welcomed and supported.

                                                                             Julie Sekiya, Account Manager, APAC

What opportunities does this create for you?

Creates a knock-on effect for other countries to follow

Countries are becoming more welcoming to the age of digital nomads. This year we have already seen Italy, Turkey and Japan begin accepting digital nomads, meaning there is a shift in mentality towards business travellers, with countries welcoming it as a form of tourism, helping to bolster their economies.

As Brittnay Loeffler, the head of operations for the Nomad Embassy stated, “There is a huge potential for digital nomads to help local economies – think tourism spending, but for weeks or months at a time – digital nomad visas are an excellent way for countries to boost their economies.”

Upon realising the benefits, even more countries will be inclined to start their digital nomad visa. In fact, according to a 2023 survey, digital nomads contribute an estimated $787bn to the global economy yearly.  Now with the addition of Thailand, it is expected that the rest of Southeast Asia will soon follow, with large countries such as China and Vietnam, still currently not offering digital nomad visas.

The opportunity to travel the world!

This change in policy means that business travellers can now visit locations for much longer, allowing for more fulfilling stays and deeper cultural immersion. Digital nomads can enjoy all the benefits of being tourists, visiting bucket-list locations while having the comfort of private accommodations, making it feel like a home away from home. Let’s not forget the personal development gained from travelling the world, including learning new languages, cultures, and ways of working by networking face-to-face with individuals you might never have encountered otherwise.

This ability to stay longer also makes relocation with children a much more viable option and offers the potential to settle down. Although digital nomads are often described as young, carefree individuals, more than half (55%) of UK workers who expressed a desire to work from a different country were aged 18 to 34 (66%).

Why are serviced apartments the best option when relocating as a digital nomad?

SilverDoor’s expert booking agents simplify your search for the perfect serviced apartment, offering personalised support to make the booking process quick and easy. Serviced apartments are the ideal choice for digital nomads, providing the comfort of home with the freedom to travel. Each apartment is fully equipped with modern furnishings, a fully supplied kitchen, and high-speed Wi-Fi, ensuring you have everything you need to work remotely without the hassle of packing your life into a suitcase.

Here is what our experts have to say about the suitability of serviced apartments for digital nomads…

“Serviced Apartments are the ideal option for digital nomads as not only do most properties have some form of work desk but what is becoming increasingly common in new properties is co-working spaces. Guests have access to a communal area where they have a desk, easy access to sockets etc, and can work for the day.”

                                                                        Amy Pammenter, Head Account Manager, EMEA

For those travelling with family, SilverDoor’s portfolio offers spacious 2–3-bedroom accommodations worldwide, making it easy for you and your children to settle in comfortably. With serviced apartments available in a wide range of locations across APAC, the Americas, and beyond, SilverDoor ensures you can live and work comfortably from wherever you choose.

Have you always wanted to travel and are interested in becoming a digital nomad? Read here about how SilverDoor’s booking experts can help you…