How to become a digital nomad

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to travel and work at the same time? Imagine having the freedom to hop from country to country without the hassle of changing jobs. Picture having a consistent income while exploring the world's most exciting destinations. That’s what digital nomadism is. 

TEFL, specifically teaching English online , is ideal if you want to work across the world. Teaching online means you aren’t tied to one location, so whenever you fancy a change of scenery, you can just move to your next dream location.

How do you become an English teaching digital nomad? Here’s our guide:

What is a digital nomad?

So, what’s a digital nomad when they’re (not) at home?

‘Digital nomad’ has become such an everyday term that it’s in the Cambridge Dictionary , who define it as:

“Someone who does not have a permanent office or home and works from different countries, towns, or buildings using the internet.”

Remote working has become incredibly popular, especially since COVID-19. The pandemic changed how we see work, and though plenty of people are back in their offices - or schools - the allure of location independence is obvious. International travel and the internet have made the world so much smaller, and country-hopping is easier than ever before. Over 40 million digital nomads are working today - close to Canada’s entire population .

In a TEFL context, digital nomadism is a great halfway point between teaching English abroad and working online. You can travel to countless destinations teaching English as a foreign language, but instead of being in classes, you work for a teaching company or for yourself. 

What do you need to become a digital nomad?

Here’s what you need to start travelling as you teach:

Current passport

You need a valid passport so you can travel freely around the world. Make sure your passport is up to date, with plenty of validity left before you start.

Savings/financial information

It’s important to have a savings pot in case of unexpected costs while travelling. Also, you’ll often have to provide proof of income before you enter certain countries as a digital nomad - some countries have very high thresholds, so it’s essential to read all the details before you apply.

A TEFL certificate

A TEFL certificate from a recognised provider is the best training for teaching English online or abroad. You need at least 120 hours of TEFL training before launching into English teaching. 

Tip : Consider taking an advanced TEFL course to get the most out of online teaching. Learning how to teach niche TEFL subjects like Business English or English for Academic Purposes can attract more students.

An online teaching job/freelance teaching business

You need to be a working teacher to be a digital nomad. It can help your applications significantly if you have an online presence , like a business website, a profile on a platform, or business-specific social media pages.

A reliable laptop 

You need a working laptop to take around with you. Your laptop is your office, where you carry out lessons, organise your schedule, communicate with clients, sort out travel plans, accommodation - everything. It’s your most important tool. 

You’ll also need technology to teach English online , including a webcam, microphone, and headphones. Software like Zoom or Google Meet, a payment service, and lesson plans/resources are also crucial.

Access to reliable WiFi

No internet connection? No online lessons. If you’re only getting weak WiFi and are concerned about connection issues, you can test with Google’s speed check feature , Speedtest.net , or Fast.com . Most online teaching companies and platforms will have minimum WiFi speed/connection requirements, as disrupted classes can cost you, the client and the company.

Best locations to be a digital nomad

Visas specifically for digital nomads are becoming more common, with more countries offering exciting routes and opportunities. Here are some of the best destinations for aspiring digital nomads, with all currency exchange rates correct at the time of writing:

Europe

Teaching English in Europe is a dream for countless TEFL teachers, and with more digital nomad visa schemes opening up, you can work freelance and hop around the continent!

Italy

Italy’s digital nomad visa for self-employed workers is a fantastic opportunity for enterprising TEFL teachers with teaching businesses. You’ll need a degree, at least six months of experience as a self-employed teacher, and an annual income of at least €25,500 (£22,119 / $29,809) .

Read about teaching English in Italy on our dedicated Italy salary , jobs and information pages .

Spain

Spain is already a massively popular TEFL destination, with plenty of amazing jobs across its culturally diverse regions, but there’s also a new digital nomad visa for self-employed workers. The income requirement of 200% of the national minimum wage means you must earn €2,762 (£2,396 / $3,229) per month before tax, so you’ll need an established, paying client base before you head over. 

Read more about teaching English in Spain , the variety of teaching jobs , and how much you can earn . If you’re interested in a teaching programme instead of digital nomadism, read about NALCAP , Meddeas and the other great options.

Croatia

A TEFL destination that’s growing in popularity ( Game of Thrones has certainly helped), Croatia offers digital nomads the opportunity to stay in the country for up to a year. You can’t extend immediately after - applicants must wait 6 months after expiry to reapply. You’ll need to supply financial documents, proof of purpose, and evidence of earnings over €3,295 (£2,858 / $3,852) per month or savings of €39,450 (£34,220 / $46,116) in your bank account.

For more about teaching English in Croatia , read our detailed country guide!

Czech Republic  

Since 2023, the Czech Republic has offered a digital nomad visa to freelancers and long-term employees of companies outside the country. This digital nomad visa is open to citizens of Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, the USA and Taiwan, and you must earn 1.5x the average gross annual salary (CZK 552,000 / £19,590 / $26,408) .

Our website provides information about teaching English in the Czech Republic and its capital, Prague .

Estonia

Estonia launched its digital nomad visa in August 2020, allowing location-independent workers to live and work within the country for up to a year. To be eligible, you must already have an employment contract or be a freelancer meeting a minimum income threshold of €4,500 (£3,903 / $5,260) net per month. 

Read our guide on teaching English in Estonia , a truly up-and-coming TEFL destination, to learn more.

Portugal

One of the most alluring places to teach English in Europe, Portugal’s culture, weather and relaxed attitude have brought plenty of digital nomads to cities like Lisbon and Porto. To work as a digital nomad , you need to be a non-EU citizen, earn €3,480 (£3,018 / $4,068) per month, and have a rental agreement lasting at least one year.

Portugal is a fantastic place to teach English - read our guide to learn more!

Georgia

Having suffered huge losses with the collapse of tourism during the pandemic, Georgia is trying to entice people to come and boost its economy with its new digital nomad visa. The country’s digital nomad visa began taking applications in August 2021, allowing nomads to travel to Georgia and work remotely. It’s also worth noting that citizens from over 90 countries can live and work there for a year without needing a visa!

Learn more about teaching English in Georgia through our detailed guide.

Germany

Germany’s freelance visa (Freiberufler) allows teachers to work for up to 3 years, with multiple entries allowed. You must show proof of finances (savings are essential!), professional qualifications (including TEFL certification ) and your pension plan if you’re over 45.

Teaching English in Germany couldn’t be more popular - read our guides on teaching jobs in Germany and German teaching salaries to learn more.

The rest of the world 

Where else can TEFL teachers work as digital nomads? Here are some great choices around the world:

Indonesia

Indonesia’s digital nomad visa is valid for a year but can be renewed up to 5 times, meaning digital nomads can make a destination like Bali their home long-term. The Remote Worker Visa (E33G) Program allows nomads who earn £44,570 / $60,000 per year (through a foreign employer) to work freelance in Indonesia, and you’ll also need a temporary residence card (Kartu Ijin Tinggal Terbatas (KITAS)) when you arrive.

Read our guide about teaching English in Indonesia for more information.

Thailand

Announced with considerable fanfare, the Destination Thailand Visa first started taking applications in 2024. Though it isn’t a digital nomad visa in name, it allows self-employed or freelance English teachers to live and work in the Land of Smiles, an incredibly welcoming country with immense demand for English. You can apply if:

• You’re over 20 
• You have at least 500,000 THB ($13,560 / £10,711) in the bank
• You work for a company registered outside of Thailand
• You have a flight itinerary and accommodation arrangements

To apply, you must pay a fee of 10,000 THB (£230 / $311) , which allows you to stay in Thailand for 180 days a year for 5 years. You must also pay another 10,000 THB to renew and extend your stay for another 180 days.

Read more about teaching English in Thailand , including how to find jobs and our Thailand Teaching Programme .

UAE

UAE’s digital nomad visa is an impressive offering, allowing high-income TEFL teachers to live in an Emirate for up to 12 months, with a tax-free income, access to public services, and the chance to sponsor your spouse and/or children. If you’re working for a company based outside the UAE, or have a business that takes on international clients, you can apply and renew annually, but you must earn at least $5,000 (£3,709) a month. 

We have a comprehensive guide to teaching English in the UAE , a guide to teaching jobs in the UAE , and information on the salaries you can earn there .

Costa Rica

One of the most adventurous, tropical TEFL destinations, Costa Rica is one of Latin America’s most in-demand locations for English teachers, and the digital nomad visa makes it easier to work there.

To apply, you need to provide documents including:

• A completed application form
• Bank statements showing a stable income of £2,218 / $3,000 per month
• Health insurance
• A medical certificate
• Marriage certificate/birth certificate for family members

Barbados

The definition of a Caribbean paradise, Barbados’ Welcome Stamp programme is a 12-month remote work visa. Through this visa, you can work in one of the most jaw-dropping holiday destinations on the planet, teaching students from a beachside cafe before taking a post-work dip in the ocean. The only drawback is that, though the visa requirements are mostly straightforward, the application fee alone is £1,479 / $2,000, and you need to earn an annual income of £36,974 / $50,000.

Being a digital nomad: real-life insights

Michael, another digital TEFLer, praised the options that digital nomadism provides, saying:

“I work directly on my phone or laptop, so this means if I need to and want to work on the go as I am travelling... I can! If I want to return to the UK, I am eligible to take on the same job there, too.”

If you want to hear about digital nomadism being stretched to the limit, check out these podcast episodes with Matt Mitzel and Johnny Ward . When we spoke to one guest, he was trying to visit every country worldwide; the other had already done it!

Could you be a digital nomad through online English teaching?

With Italy and Spain joining the growing list of countries with digital nomad visas, there’s never been a more exciting time to do it. Not only can you choose your job, how often you work, what your prices are and what you teach, you have total control of your destination. 

Leave yourself open to opportunities: the country you’re least curious about might be home. The city you dreamed of might not have impacted you like the town you walked through to get there. The last-minute flight booked with “what the hell” spirit might have been a journey to somewhere you’d never even thought about. 

Remote work is the present and the future. If you’re TEFL certified, fascinated by the world around you and eager to make your mark in your own way, it could be precisely what you need.

A digital nomad’s adventure begins with a high-quality TEFL course. Take our 120-hour Premier Online Course today, and book flights tomorrow.