Discover the best countries offering family-friendly digital nomad visas for expats with kids. Explore top destinations, visa requirements, and tips for relocating abroad with your family while working remotely. Also, learn about expat work and travel visas for families with children. Finally, learn about family relocation for digital nomads and the requirements for relocating with kids.
Now it’s possible to work remotely and travel the world. For families this is more than just a dream. Families can bond over shared adventures and immerse in different cultures. But moving abroad with kids requires planning, especially when it comes to getting the right visas. Let’s get into digital nomad visas for families and some of the top destinations that welcome expat families.
Recommended article: How Remote Workers Can Legally Live in Portugal for 12 Months
Understanding Digital Nomad Visas
A digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live in a foreign country while working for an employer or running a business based elsewhere. For families these visas often extend to spouses and children so you can travel the world together. But not all digital nomad visas are created equal and the eligibility criteria can vary greatly from one country to another. Also, discover expat work and travel visas for families with children by reading this article.
Key Points for Families
Before you pack your bags you need to consider a few things:
Eligibility Requirements
Some countries have income thresholds or job type requirements. For example Costa Rica requires a minimum income of $3,000 per month for individuals and $5,000 for families.
Family Inclusion
Not all visas include family members. Make sure to check if your chosen destination allows dependents to join you and under what conditions. For example Portugal’s digital nomad visa allows family members (spouses and dependent children) to join the main applicant. Furthermore, read this article to learn about expat work and travel visas for families with children.
See also: Digital Nomad Visas: The Surprising Benefits No One Talks About
Services
Check if you have access to healthcare, education and other services for your kids. Some visas give you access to local services, some don’t.
Tax
Living abroad can have tax implications in your home country and host country. Speak with a tax expert to learn about your responsibilities. Learn about expat work and travel visas for families with children by reading this article.
Top Countries Offering Digital Nomad Visas for Families
Here are some family-friendly destinations that offer digital nomad visas:
1. Portugal
Visa Type: Passive Income Visa for Remote Workers
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Family Inclusion: Spouses, legally recognized partners, minor children, dependent parents and siblings
Highlights: Portugal has a mild climate, rich culture and lower cost of living compared to other Western European countries. Also, there is good healthcare and education systems thus, perfect for families. Also, for more information on expat work and travel visas for families with children, read this article.
2. Costa Rica
Visa Type: Digital Nomad Visa
Duration: 1 year, extendable for 1 more year
Family Inclusion: Families need to have an income of $5,000+ per month.
Highlights: Biodiversity and environmental conservation as well as peaceful lifestyle, plenty of outdoor activities. Here, there is notable presence of an expat community, good healthcare and education options.
Do you need information on relocating with kids and family relocation for digital nomads? Read this article
3. Spain
Visa Type: Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Visa)
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Family Inclusion: Family members can join the main applicant.
Highlights: It has a rich culture, diverse landscapes and it is family friendly. Additionally, there are good healthcare and international schools. Thus, perfect for families who want to experience Europe.
4. Greece
Visa Type: Digital Nomad Visa
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Family Inclusion: Yes
Highlights: Greece’s history, islands and med climate. Affordable cost of living, family oriented and community focused. Also, continue reading this article to know about relocating with kids and family relocation for digital nomads.
5. Italy
Visa Type: Digital Nomad Visa
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Family Inclusion: Yes
Highlights: Italy’s culture, food and landscapes. Good healthcare and education for kids.
6. Japan
Visa Type: Digital Nomad Visa
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Family Inclusion: Spouses and kids
Highlights: Traditional culture and modern tech. Safe environment, good healthcare and education. Asian experience for families.
Steps to Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa with Your Family
For you to go on this journey, you have to plan in detail. The following steps will simplify the whole process for you.
Research Your Destination
Requirements for the visa: There are requirements set for each country that provides a visa for digital nomads. This includes the amount of income, employment sectors, and any additional documents. Look at them closely to figure out if you qualify.
Assess Family Requirements: Things like, healthcare, education, security and lifestyle, should be used to guide you in deciding whether you want to relocate as a family. You should do your research on schools, hospitals, and cheap housing so that your family can be safe.
Furthermore, read this article for more information on relocating with kids and family relocation for digital nomads.
Collect Your Required Documentation
Every country will have its own list of documents. However, this is what should cover the general list of the documents category:
- Each family member has his or her own identification (Passport)
- Letter of self employment or employment
- Letter that shows how much you earn (eg. Bank statement or paystub)
- Insurance for the whole family’s health
- Children’s birth certificates
- Marriage certificates other than that not necessary
- Always check if the documents are up to date since at times there may be a need of a certified translation.
Submit the Application
Depending on the destination, the options available would be to submit an application online or visit the nearest embassy or consulate. Before submitting an application, please verify the application costs, period needed for processing, and application submission procedures.
In case there are dependents of the primary applicant applying with him for the visa application, their documents are also to be attached to the visa application of the main applicant.
Wait for Approval
Do not hurry, patience is a key point Persistence is needed! Depending on the procedures of a specific country, one could wait anywhere from several weeks to a several months. So it is a good idea to make preparations and research about the housing, the schools you wish to send your kids to and various activities in that particular region. Also, learn about relocating with kids and family relocation for digital nomads by reading this article.
Prepare for the Move
Look for housing
It is advised for most expats to start with renting a place for a limited time so that they can familiarize themselves with the area. Such services as Airbnb and Booking.com or any regional website could assist in doing so.
Look for local Schools
There are Private local public institutions, international, and even home school options to choose from depending on where you plan to move. An international school is likely to be one of the most chosen as many of the times it uses a universal curriculum in English.
Plan for Local Essentials
Once you land you would want to go about securing a local mobile plan, a bank in that particular area, and a mode of transport.
Challenges of Moving Abroad with Kids (and How to Overcome Them)
Although it is exciting to be a digital nomad, the prospect of relocating with children implies certain situations that require knowledge on how to navigate. There is particular advice for those situations:
Nurturing Grasp over New Traditions
All the children can go through a culture shock especially in those countries where the language and the customs are not remotely similar.
Tip: There are books, videos and even local traditions to them so that the kids can be familiar with the new culture even before the family relocates.
Asking Questions Regarding Education
In particular, to locate a suitable school can be a challenge and even impossible where English is foreign language and Isn’t the first one.
Tip: Fish for international schools well in advance & if need be, rely on online schooling facilities. Seek help from other families living abroad.
Seeking Out Other Families
Before, during and after embarking on a new journey, children can often find themselves feeling downright lonely and even abandoned. This is even more so for parents who have to work while childcare in an alien place.
Tip: There are various groups across Facebook and local communities and meet-ups as well to expand the family’s networks and share advice. This will make the transition much easier for you and your children.
Making Time for Family
Adopting a life where work, travel and other responsibilities towards children run hand in hand isn’t easy. In fact, it gets rather difficult if there’s no equilibrium.
Tip: Develop a family schedule that everyone can stick to. Set aside specific time for work, family fun, and discovering your new place.
Benefits of Living Abroad as a Family
Nonetheless, the advantages that come with relocating overseas with your family are unmatched, despite the hardships:
Spending Quality Time Together Majority Immigration
A digital nomad family finds that immersing themselves in life with one another becomes possible in ways that wouldn’t be the case otherwise, particularly when a standard 9 to 5 job is what is in play. Further, shared experiences like going to the beach, climbing up would eliminate the mountains cuisines and other new flavors create cherished moments that would stay for a lifetime.
Diversity of cultures
A child that grew up with a focus on globalization ends up learning about a tapestry of languages, cultures and traditions which helps them broaden their view, but also learn important skills necessary to thrive in life such as open-mindedness and being adaptive.
Building more skills
New settings and environments naturally stimulate parental and children growth, so with that said, a new language, or food, or a new hobby will always have more to offer.
Cut down on costs
The expenditure of living will adopt a more affordable term rather than what may be experienced in the likes of Western Europe and the US, Visa for digital nomads are provided by various countries for less cost, enabling families to live a better, and more expansive life.
International relations
With a global community of digital nomads come new friends, professional growth, and relations, and families sharing common interests. From all over the globe, migrants are able to receive this.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be single or a couple without kids to be a digital nomad. With the rise of family friendly digital nomad visas more and more countries are welcoming remote workers with open arms — kids included!
Moving abroad with your family can be daunting but the rewards are worth it. Whether it’s Portugal’s cities, Costa Rica’s nature or Greece’s Mediterranean lifestyle there’s a destination for every family.
Take the time to research, plan and prepare. With the right visa, sense of adventure and a bit of flexibility you can create a life full of amazing memories while working remotely. So pack your bags, grab your passports and get ready to travel the world as a family!
See also: https://www.deel.com/blog/best-digital-nomad-visas-for-families/