The adoption of significantly expanded remote work policies is expected to be one of the most permanent and prolific changes to the global economy and workforce following the response to COVID-19 worldwide. With this widespread adoption of fully remote work policies comes an increased interest in the digital nomad lifestyle. A "digital nomad" is a member of the workforce who has no permanent address and moves frequently around the country or the world while continuing to earn an income remotely from wherever they are. This lifestyle also presents a unique opportunity for long-term international travel. Many digital nomads are using this opportunity to explore the world, spending several months in each country while continuing to work for an employer in their home country.

As a result, many countries have expanded opportunities to accept these foreign travelers, creating new visa types specifically for these international digital nomads. Some visas may not explicitly mention digital nomad in the name, but accommodate remote work for an international employer. The benefits and requirements are generally different than traditional tourist visas. The visa requirements and benefits vary slightly from one country to the next, but in general, these visas require the applicants to earn a minimum income to ensure they can support themselves during their stay. Additionally, the visas generally require that all or most of the applicant's income is sourced from outside of the country. In return, visa holders are admitted to the country for up to 12 months (with options to renew) and are granted authorization to work without joining the local workforce.