How to Become a Digital Nomad in 2025: Guide to Location Freedom

I don’t want to get too stuck on definitions, but for me (digital) nomad is anyone who can make a living by working anywhere in the world. 

People are like: how to be a digital nomad with no skills?

And for that, most of the time, you need start with learning some skills that can be done location-independently. 

My personal story started from studying Tourism Research in the University of Lapland, and realizing the studies don’t involve a single course about digital marketing. 

For me, that seemed really silly in the 21st century - I mean, how many of us would book a holiday offline today?

So I wanted to learn digital marketing. 

I told my blogger friend that I want to start my own website. 

He would show me some basics to get started, like how to buy a domain name and start a WordPress site.

That’s how I started my first personal blog in Finnish: www.sinimalism.com.

However, that’s not my happily ever after and sipping cocktails in Bahamas with passive income and telling others how to be digital nomad.

I actually just wanted to live abroad, so I started with looking for jobs abroad, that would teach me digital marketing skills. 

So the most realistic way how to become a digital nomad is first focusing on the way to make a living.

So the first step is to find a way to:

• Learn skills that can be done anywhere (Sorry guys, my answer to how to be a digital nomad with no skills, is to learn skills :D )
  
  

or

• If your dream is simply to live abroad as an expat, instead of living nomad life, find a job abroad.

I got a job as a copywriter in small Mediterranean island, Malta. It was supposed to be a summer job before I go back to Finland to continue my Uni studies. 

Yet I stuck around over two years, first improving my copywriting and editing skills, and then moving on internally in the company to SEO department (search engine optimization) that I wanted to learn. 

And voilá, we have a great example of a remote work friendly skill; SEO can be done anywhere. 

But as we all know, not all companies are open-minded for letting employees work wherever, so I kept on working at the office as SEO Executive and SEO Manager. 

Just later on, when I got to know more people, I had the opportunity to work as an hourly freelancer for a company. 

So I would say it’s not about rushing instantly to be a digital nomad with no skills, but rather follow this step-by-step path that demonstrate next.

Here comes my best digital nomad tips, as an actionable step-by-step list.

I am not saying it is easy and fast success, but it does work for sure eventually. 

Ideally, this is something that interests you, for example SEO, content writing, graphic design, coding, video editor, Ai prompting, virtual assistant tasks.

Nowadays there are so many tasks that can be done remotely, and the digital scape of jobs is constantly evolving and changing.

It’s more likely to be able to do stuff remotely, when you first have gotten some confidence and contacts at the office. 

The majority of digital nomads are not actually entrepreneurs, or maybe on paper yes, but practically they work as freelancers for a company, for certain hours a month. 

This provides freedom and financial security at the same time. 

If working remotely for the company/companies in your industry is not possible, consider the next step.

Now that you have more experience and possibly some contacts as well, it’s more solid ground to become an entrepreneur and get clients with the skills you have.

Personally, for me, just working remotely, doing tasks I don’t really care about, was not enough. 

I wanted to found my own business where I can really focus on fulfilling my passions. 

Well, for me it is this slow travel blog www.slowtravelrepeat.com and my online yoga site project www.sinimalism.studio.

There are multiple ways to monetize content creation nowadays, for example selling your own digital products, affiliation to advertise products of other companies, or selling the visibility in your channels. 

This is a longer route, and requires finding your passion on something that you can get back to day after day, year after year. 

I’m not saying quick wins are not possible, yet at least for me this has been a slow project of growing traffic, building a brand and clarifying the concept I actually want to build. 

So if you think it is a simple, straightforward process without risks, I need to disappoint you. 

If you want that, it is better to stick to working for someone else as in point number 3. 

I will soon give you some great examples of lucrative skill ideas to make money online and what do digital nomads do for work.

But it will all go down the drain within a few years if you don’t start with this;

You need to first define your passion and what you are ready to do consistently year after year. 

Because if you don’t start with this, and you just start googling “easy ways to make money online” and “make passive income as digital nomad”, you will surely find sh*t ton of advice and courses how to do this.

Lately, all these coaching businesses and “make money online” stuff have become so big, that 90% of it is a scam. 

They make you believe that simply starting a drop shipping for a sh*tty product, or making a 1-page PDF and starting to sell it, will bring you overnight success. 

Most of the times, these overnight success people have worked silently for five years, to have the tip of the iceberg seem like an overnight success. 

So there’s no point in wasting your time and money on buying some “high-ticket online course” about making money online with a skill that you don’t want to do, other than for money.

For example, if you hate writing, maybe choosing copywriting is not the best career choice.

If you can hardly sit still and focus, maybe coding is not the thing for you.

Instead, define your strengths and natural tendencies and double down on those. 

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that helps you identify your purpose.

It may seem impossible to imagine how you can become a digital nomad if your main strength is cooking. 

Let’s go with this random example to demonstrate the possibilities when you live your purpose.

Firstly, maybe you can work in awesome locations cooking. For example, many yoga retreats and wellness resorts are looking for chefs all the time. 

You get to literally travel the world like this. 

If you prefer full on  location independency, how about making a digital recipe book?

Start a youtube/blog/social media/newsletter and collaborate with food brands. 

Become a private chef for a well-off traveling couple.

There are endless opportunities for your skills when you start with your purpose.

If you start with the “easiest ways to become rich online” and try all kinds of random shortcut methods to make passive 10k€/months, you just waste your time, and more importantly, your life happiness.

It may be easy to be anyone online with a faceless account, but the lack of experience and energy still comes through. 

I know, this is my alternative point of view, but energy never lies. 

If you try to shortcut the system, you end up taking the much longer route. 

Do the hard work and pick the treasures later.

Ugh, with that said, I don’t want to leave you empty-handed, wondering about philosophical questions on your purpose on this earth. 

Here are examples of common skills that are on high demand. 

Ideally, you find your own twist/niche to these, instead of making an identical offering to thousands of others.

Because if you simply pick a generic skill; there’s always someone Asian who does it faster, better, and cheaper than you. So you need a skill + unique value proposition. 

Tech & Digital

Front-end web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)

WordPress/Shopify customization

AI prompt engineering for content creation

Data analysis (Python, SQL, Tableau)

Cybersecurity basics for small businesses

Creative & Content

UX/UI design (Figma, Adobe XD)

Video editing (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve)

Podcast production & sound engineering

3D modeling for virtual tours

NFT art creation

Marketing & Business

Conversion rate optimization (CRO)

LinkedIn ghostwriting for executives

TikTok/Reels content strategy

Amazon FBA product sourcing

CRM implementation (HubSpot, Salesforce)

Language & Education

TOEFL/IELTS test preparation

Business English coaching

Academic paper editing

Voiceover work (e-books, ads)

Localization for apps/websites

Administrative & Support

Notion workspace setup

Calendar/email management for executives

Travel itinerary planning

Paralegal services for expats

Medical transcription

Emerging Niches

Web3 community moderation

Drone photography licensing

ChatGPT plugin development

Metaverse event planning

Sustainable business auditing

Hands-On (Location-Flexible)

Dive instructor certification

Yoga teacher training

Remote wine sommelier consulting

Online personal training

Virtual interior design

Each skill can be learned through:

Free resources (freeCodeCamp, YouTube)

Affordable courses (Udemy, Skillshare)

Certifications (Google, HubSpot Academy)

Which of these skills aligns with activities you’d happily do for free?

That’s your starting point.

Hold the vision until you are at the point that your income stream travels with you anywhere. 

Then it’s all about choosing where to stay. 

You need:

• Country with stable electricity 

• Country with stable internet connection

• Visa/freedom to work from the country in question (depends on your country of residence).

• Possibly a country that is hot spot for nomads, so you make friends abroad as well and combat digital nomad loneliness (yep, it’s a thing)

Here’s a list of awesome places to start your digital nomad life. 

These places have all the essentials, cool vibe and like-minded people.

(Numbers refer to sources used, list at the bottom)

1. Portugal

• Why: Fast internet, affordable cost of living ($1,200–$1,800/month), and a 1-year renewable digital nomad visa (D8) with a clear path to residency 1, 6.

• Hotspots: Lisbon (coworking hubs), Porto (artsy vibe), Algarve (beach lifestyle).

• Community: Large expat networks and events like "Nomad Coffee Meetings" 10.
  
  

2. Spain

• Why: Reliable 5G coverage, 1-year digital nomad visa (renewable for 5 years), and 20% flat tax rate for remote workers 1, 6.

• Hotspots: Barcelona (creative scene), Valencia (affordable coastal living), Malaga (tech-friendly).
  
  

3. Thailand

• Why: Low cost of living ($800–$1,500/month), 10-year LTR visa for high earners, and Chiang Mai’s nomad ecosystem 3, 9.

• Hotspots: Chiang Mai (coworking spaces), Bangkok (urban convenience), Koh Lanta (beachside work) 3.
  
  

4. Croatia

• Why: No local income tax for nomads, 12-month visa, and coastal cities like Split with strong WiFi 1, 6.

• Perk: Growing digital nomad villages (e.g., Dubrovnik) 10.
  
  

5. Mexico

• Why: Easy 6-month tourist visa, affordable living ($900–$2,000/month), and hubs like Mexico City (CDMX) with 90+ coworking spaces 9, 12.

• Community: Active expat groups in Playa del Carmen and Tulum 8.
  
  

6. Estonia

• Why: Pioneer of e-residency, 1-year digital nomad visa, and Tallinn’s tech-forward infrastructure 1, 8.

• Bonus: Free public WiFi nationwide 10.
  
  

7. Costa Rica

• Why: "Pura Vida" lifestyle, 1-year tax-free visa, and reliable internet in hubs like Santa Teresa 6, 12.

• Eco-angle: Sustainable coliving spaces (e.g., Selina) 6.
  
  

8. Indonesia (Bali)

• Why: Upcoming 5-year nomad visa (2025), vibrant coworking culture in Canggu/Ubud, and low costs ($900–$2,000/month) 3, 9.

• Wellness: Yoga communities and jungle retreats 10.
  
  

9. Georgia

• Why: No visa required for 1+ year (90+ nationalities), 1% tax for freelancers, and Tbilisi’s affordable coliving spaces 4, 12.
  
  

10. Colombia

• Why: 2-year digital nomad visa, Medellín’s "eternal spring" weather, and strong expat networks 9, 12.

Sources:

• https://www.portugal.com/living/digital-nomad-visa-portugal/

• https://nomadlist.com/portugal

• https://www.spain.info/en/work-visas/digital-nomad-visa-spain/

• https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-long-term-visa

• https://www.chiangmaidigitalnomad.com/

• https://mup.gov.hr/digital-nomad-visa/286607

• https://mexicodigitalnomad.com/mexico-city-coworking-spaces/

• https://www.visitestonia.com/en/why-estonia/e-residency

• https://www.travelandleisure.com/costa-rica-digital-nomad-visa-6823152

• https://www.balidigitalnomad.com/

• https://investgeorgia.org/remotework/

• https://medellinguru.com/digital-nomad-visa/

• https://www.speedtest.net/global-index/portugal

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/digitalnomadslisbon/

• https://nomadgate.com/golden-visa-portugal/

Key Selection Criteria

• Stable Infrastructure: All listed countries offer 5G/reliable WiFi and electricity (e.g., Portugal’s 37 Mbps avg. speed 6).

• Visa Accessibility: Options range from visa-free stays (Georgia) to long-term permits (Spain’s 5-year visa) 112.

• Nomad Communities: Destinations like Chiang Mai and Lisbon have dedicated coworking spaces and FB groups 310.

• Cost of Living: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Bali) and Latin America (Mexico, Colombia) offer the best value 39.
  
  

Pro Tip: Use tools like Nomads.com  to compare real-time WiFi speeds and community ratings.

For extended stays, prioritize countries with residency pathways (e.g., Portugal’s 5-year Golden Visa if you are not EU-citizen). 

This is the boring part, yet I would feel wrong not to mention this. You are required to pay taxes and social security in the country where you reside most of the year. 

The visa information and requirements are mostly for US citizens wanting to relocate to Europe, whereas EU citizens need to mostly consider which country to live in as a tax resident. 

The freedom of movement within EU is awesome, yet you need to have an address.

Personally I decided to “move permanently” to Spain and do all the paperwork there. 

The “moving permanently” is in brackets, as I still will travel the world as a nomad, yet it is much easier to do when having an address. (My moving to Alicante story here).

I pay social security and taxes to Spain as an autónomo. 

Also, it is different to travel the world, when you have somewhere to return to. 

More tips about mental stability for digital nomads in: Nomadic lifestyle: how to stay sane when traveling full-time. 

As for banking, I personally use Revolut (and a Spanish bank, Cajamar). 

And when traveling outside of the EU, I use either Truetraveller or Heymondo as a travel insurance provider.

Both of these have been good, and especially Truetraveller accepted my claim promptly after my Bali parasite experiences and hospital trip. 

Before you go all in on selling all you own and buying a one-way ticket, give the nomadism a test run.

Living freely like a bird all over the world sounds awesome, yet everything has also its downsides. 

Loneliness, culture shock(s), rootlessness from constant change of location, and difficulty making friends when traveling can be part of it.

I don’t mean you should not go for it, if the first month is tough, but it is always good to give it a try. 

After all these years of digital nomad lifestyle, I’ve also had my fair share of mental struggles to deal with, so I wrote these articles:

Tips for “nomad struggles” 

Solo Travel Anxiety: 11 Traveling alone tips for first solo travel

8 Tips to stay sane when Travelling Full-time - Nomadic Lifestyle Stability

How to Make Friends Abroad: 10 Ways to Make Friends While Traveling Internationally

How to deal with living abroad loneliness - 3 triggers + 7 solutions

Morning routine digital nomad: Free 7-day morning routine x 15 mins for digital nomads

How to get rid of social media addiction as a Digital Nomad? Break the dopamine hook like this

Relatable nomad lifestyle stories

Homesickness when living abroad – the struggle of expat life when young

Reverse Culture Shock – My Experiences of Returning to Home Country

I feel guilty for living my dream life - Why is it so hard to be kind to yourself

Fake life and boring perfection of Travel Instagram

Sources used within the article:

• FlexJobs: Digital nomad careers 2

• Savvy Nomad: 2025 statistics 10

• Nomad is Beautiful: Step-by-step guide 4

• Plus my personal experiences of living a digital nomad life since 2020 and moving abroad first time in 2013.