The Riigikogu on Wednesday passed a bill to amend the Aliens Act to allow for the creation of a digital nomad visa enabling foreign nationals whose work is not dependent on their location to work in Estonia.
The bill initiated by the government was carried in the 101-seat chamber by a vote of 83 to one.
A digital nomad visa can be both short-term and long-term. Digital nomad visa applications will be subject to general visa conditions. While in essence, digital nomadism can be construed as a form of tourism, it is not so much tourism in the traditional sense as working for a company from a foreign country, spokespeople for the parliament have said.
Estonia is one of the first countries in the world enabling digital nomads to apply for a visa for working remotely.
A digital nomad is a person who works remotely, for instance, in IT, finance or marketing while travelling abroad.
Digital nomads create significant added value through consuming goods and services in the state they are staying in and have a positive impact on local entrepreneurship.
Digital nomads can only come to work from Estonia through a mediator who assumes responsibility for their stay. Granting a visa to a digital nomad is subject to the general terms, among other things they must have sufficient funds for staying in Estonia.
In addition, the bill sets out the obligations of the employer as the inviting party, who must register the alien’s employment. The bill also makes adjustments to the rules for seeking a long-term visa.
This article first appeared on news.err.ee; Featured image credit: Unsplash
