Remote Work for Expats | Global Digital Nomads | Singapore

Insurance | Singapore

Hundreds of people have been shifted into digital nomads as a result of the pandemic. Some businesses have even downsized their offices to save money on rent and instructed employees to work remotely on a permanent basis. If you can’t remember what your coworkers look like in real life and have become a regular at some hipster café or co- working space, you might be wondering if it’s time to take the show on the road and work while travelling. In this blog, we about remote work for expats. 

Working from a different nation remotely?

Is it permissible? That is determined by the visa you use to enter and remain in the nation. If you just intend to stay in the country for a few weeks or months, coming as a tourist allows you to work and travel without paying income tax. The Singaporean passport allows you to enter most countries without a visa, but make careful to verify how long you can remain. But what if you wish to stay for an extended period of time, or perhaps permanently? Some nations offer a non-working or non-lucrative visa that allows you to stay but not work. Typically, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to stay for the period of your visa.

Because you will not be deemed a tax resident, you will continue to pay taxes in Singapore, which is excellent because we are essentially a tax haven. All of this is to say that laws differ from visa to visa, so be careful to verify with the embassy when you apply to ensure you may work remotely and are not subject to tax liabilities. Some nations will not allow you to work at all, while others will allow you to work as long as your employer or clientele are not based there.

Which countries may I visit and remain in for an extended period of time? Remote Work For Expats

This is a very personal decision that is determined by how long you want to stay and where you want to travel.  Choosing an area with a reduced cost of living is definitely a wise decision for longer stays. When you look outside of huge, capital cities, you’ll notice that the cost of living rapidly drops, even in so-called pricey Western European countries.

If you intend to stay for an extended period of time, you may wish to consider owning a home if there are no restrictions on foreigners acquiring property. Just keep in mind that if you later decide to buy a HDB flat in Singapore, you’ll have to sell it.

Here are some places where you can try out the digital nomad lifestyle:

90-day trip to Thailand (can be renewed twice for 90 days each) on a Long-Term/Special Visitor Visa
Malaysia – visa-free access for 30 days
Vietnam — visa-free entrance for 30 days
Croatia – for up to a year (not renewable) On the Digital Nomad Visa, you must have a monthly income of at least 2,232 euros or a 12-month total income of 26,790 euros.
Germany – 3 months (renewable up to 3 years) visa for freelancers and self-employed individuals; must have a self-sustaining income.

Where to be a digital nomad?

There are two kinds of digital nomads: those who can’t wait to meet like-minded people at co-working places and those who only work in their pyjamas. If you’re the former and the concept of “co-living” doesn’t sound like a nightmare, one foolproof alternative is to hunt for a co-working place with adjacent or nearby housing. This option is often available in cities with large populations of digital nomads, such as Bali or Chiang Mai. Just keep in mind that co-living usually entails renting a room in a communal area, which means you’ll have to share facilities like the toilet and kitchen.

Co-living and co-working are more expensive than renting basic housing and working in cafés, but everything is done for you, from cleaning to setting up your workstation, and you have access to amenities such as swimming pools. 

Is long-term travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage required? Remote Work for Expats 

Some, but not all, countries mandate you to obtain Covid-19 coverage. When visiting Bali or the rest of Indonesia, for example, there are no insurance requirements. However, for your own protection, you should ensure that you have adequate travel insurance (for stays of up to 90 days). If you test positive for Covid-19 and aren’t permitted to board the airline, you’ll be pleased since your travel insurance will pay the cost of your ticket.

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