Spain Tops List as Best Destination for Remote Workers

Spain has once again emerged in a study as the leading destination for digital nomads. 

Within a year after launching its official digital nomad visa, the European country has become an international hotspot for remote workers looking for a change of scenery — offering an attractive policy to foreigners that has been cited by locals as driving a housing crisis in the Canary Islands and in cities throughout Spain. 

The report, published by Global Citizen Solutions, evaluated digital nomad programs in 65 countries, revealing nine of the top ten favorable programs are located in Europe.  

The top 15 Best Destinations are: 

1. Spain 
2. Netherlands 
3. Norway 
4. Estonia 
5. Romania 
6. Malta 
7. Portugal   
8. Canada   
9. Hungary   
10. France 
11. Germany 
12. Taiwan 
13. Czechia 
14. Latvia 
15. Malaysia 

Southern European countries like Spain, including Portugal and Malta, along with northern nations such as the Netherlands and Norway, have developed remote infrastructures and favorable policies to cater to this growing portion of the workforce. Spain’s dominance and popularity persists due to its generous visa programs, and high quality of life. 

The digital nomad trend was significantly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s a trend that has led to an inflow of highly skilled workers to over 50 nations offering specialized visas. Global Citizen Solutions reports that the trend has generated over $1 billion since 2020.  

Europe, in particular, has capitalized on this rise of digital nomads by creating environments that offer greater work-life balance. The continent reportedly accounts for 23 of the 65 digital nomad visa programs globally — positioning Europe as a prime destination for remote workers. 

In addition to European success stories, the report also mentions notable efforts in other regions. Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea also rank highly due to their technology scenes and high quality of life — although the regions visa benefits and pathways to permanent residency are more limited than Europe’s. The Middle East also boasts attractive hotspots like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which also offer attractive digital nomad visa programs. 

The report looked at various measurements including visa costs, tax implications, economic conditions, and technological innovation. As the digital nomad lifestyle becomes increasingly viable around the world, countries that invest in these areas could benefit from attracting this growing demographic.