Liberty · Visas and tax · lesson 11.4 open
Visas for remote workers
Visa types, the difference between remote and local work, and the visa worksheet you build for each destination using official sources.
Promise: know which type of visa to research and build a visa worksheet per destination, with an official source and date.
Disclaimer. This lesson does not tell you which visa you should get. Rules change and depend on your passport. Confirm on the country's official website and, if staying for a long time, with an immigration attorney.
Why it matters
The nomad's most expensive mistake is not technical: it is overstaying or working where the visa does not allow it. The right question is not "can I enter?", it is "can I work remotely for an overseas client while I am here, and for how long?".
The three types
| Type | What it typically permits | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor/tourist | short stay; local work almost always prohibited; remote work for outside clients varies by country | whether there is a written rule on remote work; actual stay duration |
| Digital nomad | stay of months to years working for outside clients | minimum income, insurance, taxes, whether a contract with a foreign company is required |
| Residence/work | living and working | requires employment ties or sponsorship; a different conversation |
Between 37 and 66 countries offer digital nomad visas, depending on the source and counting criteria (accessed on 09/10/2026). Use this as a sign that options exist, not as a definitive list.
Remote work ≠ local work
The distinction almost every country makes: local work (for a company or client in the country) is prohibited on a visitor visa; remote work for outside clients is handled in different ways.
- New Zealand: since 27/01/2025, a written rule allowing remote work for an employer or client outside the country, without delivering services in the country.
- Australia (Visitor visa 600, condition 8101, "no work"): government policy guidance treats online work that is limited and incidental to the visit, paid from abroad, as acceptable. This is policy, not law: a gray area.
The author's real example
On an Australian visitor visa, the valid duration is the period granted upon arrival, not the planned date. To stay longer, the author applied for an extension from within the country, holding a bridging visa during the process; applying from outside is cheaper, but requires a flight and waiting. For current fees and rules, check the official website before deciding.
The visa worksheet
| Field | Answer | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | ||
| Maximum stay | ||
| Remote work for outside clients: written rule? | ||
| Prohibitions | ||
| Cost and processing time | ||
| Renewal or extension |
Build the worksheet for destination number 1 from your matrix (lesson 11.3), using only official sources.
Confusing "not prohibited" with "permitted"; counting the duration from the wrong date; forgetting that tax residency (lesson 11.5) is a separate question.
Checklist
- Does the worksheet have an official source and date on every line?
- Do I know whether my work counts as "remote for outside clients" under the country's definition?
Sources: Immigration New Zealand (immigration.govt.nz); Department of Home Affairs, Australia (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au), guidance on condition 8101 summarized by Australian immigration law firms; digital nomad visa counts from citizenremote, immigrantinvest, and destivity. Accessed on 09/10/2026.
Checked on 09/10/2026. Educational content; tax and legal: confirm with a professional.