The last few years have seen Estonia pitch itself as the digital leader of Europe, and a central tranche of this has been the e-residency program that aims to make it easier for people to set-up businesses in the country. Equally challenging is the ability for the many startups that have emerged in Estonia to attract the best talent available.
It’s a problem that jobs website Jobbatical have been tackling head on, and they’re currently working with the country’s Ministry of the Interior to develop the world’s first Digital Nomad Visa.
Digital nomads
The Digital Nomad Visa will allow people to travel and work in Estonia for up to 365 days. This would also provide them with access to the Schengen Area, which consists of 26 European states that have abolished passport controls. Those with the visa can travel to any of these other states for up to 90 days.
The development has already been through an advisory stage and is now being developed into a formal proposal for legislature. The process defines a digital nomad as an individual who can work independently of location, with the majority of their work conducted online.
“Migration policy has to take into account the fact that in today’s globalised world, people are more mobile, often combining work and travel. Estonia is at the forefront of e-solutions and our e-Residency programme has already become very popular among digital nomads, allowing them location-independent access to Estonian e-services. It is therefore not surprising that the digital nomad community has suggested creating a special visa to facilitate the entry of digital nomads to Estonia. With the help of Jobbatical, the Ministry of Interior is currently gathering input from the digital nomad community to analyse the possibility of creating a “Digital Nomad Visa,” says Killu Vantsi, Legal Migration Adviser at the Estonian Ministry of the Interior.
Work conducted by Jobbatical themselves highlights the considerable barriers to moving and working in different countries that still exist. The team behind the project hope that the Digital Nomad Visa will help to cement the country’s position as the leading digital nation in Europe.
“The world of work is rapidly changing. Technology is helping more people than ever before to work remotely, allowing millions to offer businesses technical and creative expertise independent of geography. A Digital Nomad Visa represents a breakthrough in the way governments support today’s mobile workforce. We’re delighted to support the Ministry of Interior and are looking forward to making borderless working a reality for digital nomads everywhere,’’ Karoli Hindriks, CEO and founder of Jobbatical says.
It will be interesting to track the progress of the project, and indeed it’s impact on the long-term economic health of Estonia.
