The Best Countries to Work from Anywhere

[@lindadorman2869]

The problem with moving to a country as popular as Portugal is everyone else is moving there too. Prices go up and you end being with lots of other people from your own country (might as well stayed home). Locals resent you and the government implements restrictions (no golden visa, no short-term rentals).

[@joaoportugal8618]

I assure you, we the Portuguese don´t resent you. I could rent you a home, but unfortunately for you i have tenants for the next 3 years. As a local i don´t know why Portugal is popular? Good weather, good beaches and good food and nothing else. The governments are socialists/communists depending of the year and the president is Marxist.

[@JoaoOliveira-rk8gv]

​@@p.c.h.6721 Wrong. It's not just digital nomads but also poor brazilians, indians, nepalis, pakistanis. We, the portuguese people, are getting tired of being second class citizens in our own country and are reaching a boiling point. We are forced to emmigrate to another country so everyone else can enjoy our land. I expect far-right to govern in the recent future and rightfully so because we are just tired of being made fun of by our criminal government.

[@rutherfordbhayes423]

@@JoaoOliveira-rk8gv So sorry . I’m American thinking of relocating there myself ! Here in the US you are treated better as an immigrant also . It is this way in all of the West / EU nations by design . One world order . God Bless .

[@rutherfordbhayes423]

@@joaoportugal8618 I don’t know about other countries but spend some time in the US , and you will understand .

[@joaoportugal8618]

@@rutherfordbhayes423I'm going to visit the US as a tourist to understand (in the next 5 years) but from what I've seen so far in the news, the US today is not the same as it was in the 80's. I was thinking of moving to Florida to look for a job as a Data Scientist , but now I think it would be better to move to Switzerland. Thanks.

[@lordumas]

I'm going on my first scouting trip in March to Malaysia! Thank you for your advice Andrew!

[@sylvesteradim1532]

Thanks for always keeping us updated 🙏🙏🙏

[@nomadcapitalist]

Always welcome.

[@suzannes783]

Andrew, I"m so appreciative of your advice! It's really changed my vision on how I want to live my life (and I'm already an American expat, with 1 extra passport, plus a 3rd passport in the making). Thank you for such profound change in my life! Of course so much of this is down to personal choice. As I plan for my trifecta lifestyle, a very important criteria for me is the cuisine. For this reason my trifecta will be 2 countries in Asia and 1 country in western Europe. Simply a personal, but important factor for me. Another consideration is the ecological environment. Poor air quality, as an example, is literally cutting people's life expectancy short.

[@petergriffin3127]

Spent time in Chiang Mai with my wife and kids last year. Amazing place, plenty expats to make friend a with, amazing people, cheap housing, relaxed vibe. Highly recommend

[@spicysalsaking791]

@@p.c.h.6721 I live and work here and love it personally. Just keep in mind that it has the worst air quality in the world for about 2 months of the year due to crop burning season.

[@ShibaSoftware]

I’ve lived in 7 counntries now. I much prefer stumbling into smaller cities or villages and living with native speakers than staying in big tourist havens.

[@dragasan]

I must say that I really like Batumi, Georgia a lot.

[@TroyHardingLit]

You're not the only one. I spent a week there pre-covid. A beautiful combination of new, fake old but actually new, and actually old.

[@garciatunion]

In my Bucket List

[@dragasan]

I've been here for 4 months and met some very cool people. :)

[@mattanderson6672]

Thank you so much!! This is brilliant!

[@nomadcapitalist]

Glad it was helpful.

[@User-sl4kg]

I may be wrong but those analysis/ranks don't take into account taxes/visas because they simply assume you can move anywhere and stay there for a little while, and I would also note that most of the people who respond to these are NOT self-employed (I bet many of the viewers of this channel too!). So in that case working a couple of months from Malaga while you are employed at Google is a pretty good plan. No need to look into tax friendly places, just need Wifi

[@blktauna]

precisely. You re still in the us tax system because as far as your employer is concerned you are just on vacation.

[@johnbethea4505]

It must be nice to be young and have the ability to see all of these countries..

[@perrykomick9478]

Priorities...

[@dragasan]

@@svensulzmann4282 You make very good points. I'm 60 now and have bounced around several counties over the last year - the US, Serbia, Turkey and now Georgia. Certain medicines are not as easily accessible in some countries, which is a concern, as are treatments for various ailments. I am confident with time that these things will improve, but yes, with proper planning, we can overcome the deficiencies.

[@joaoportugal8618]

My mother is almost 70 years old. She is the only family I have and in 2 years she will start traveling and living in other countries. We never traveled by airplane in our life's... The first country will be Brazil. Maybe I'll start producing videos for KZbin. One of the best things is to become a fruit hunter, discovering and tasting new fruits and vegetables and new dishes. The best thing is that the most expensive is the airplane ticket, because the cost of living is very cheap. It's never too late to start living your life if you can.

[@perrykomick9478]

@@joaoportugal8618 Sadly.. she is too old. Her best..most energetic years are behind her..

[@joaoportugal8618]

@@perrykomick9478 It is better for her to travel now and get to know a little of this world than to die without these experiences. It's life and it's just me and her. I already lost my father, brothers, uncle and grandparents. You manage your life with the resources you have. The best thing is that my mother as a retiree living the next 10 years in 2 countries can get us 2 extra passports. It is what it is and i will try to have 10 good years traveling until she gets to her 80´s.

[@depressedperson5829]

You are legally NOT ALLOWED to work in Italy even IF that is REMOTE job. Unless you have a work permit / EU citizenship. Penalty is 5000EUR + Deportation. Work VISA's/Permits insanely hard to obtain, close to impossible. Italy does not really want to issue these unless you studied in one of their universities and converting your VISA/Residence permit right after graduation. So basically that country only works for EU citizens.

[@joaoportugal8618]

How can a country (Italy) can deport someone that is working and living outside in another country?

[@depressedperson5829]

@@joaoportugal8618 The best countries to work from anywhere is the title. Means working remotely, online, while living in that country? (Italy)

[@stevenmichaelmarlowe]

Love this guy!

[@allyntam9271]

I've always had this image of Alexandria (Egypt) as a center of civilization.

[@sonnysubedi3297]

Love the channel! keep them coming....

[@jarrett7774]

I'm surprised you'd choose Hanoi over Ho Chi Minh. Apparently the air quality is pretty bad in Hanoi, but maybe it has other attributes that make up for it?

[@ashok3733]

Good luck looking for a living space in Berlin. The rent prices have gone over the roof! Plus energy costs and living costs. You can forget it!

[@musavillarin6102]

Hi Andrew you should do one video of the same about Africa

[@rudyhowie]

He almost never talks about Africa. I’ll take living in Cape Town over Paris any day.

[@rwg2115]

Most Americans (Andrew is U.S. born and raised) are incredibly ignorant about Africa. Meanwhile some Chinese, French, and Lebanese are making millions, especially in West Africa. Passport Heavy has some videos about Africa (Rwanda, etc.) and I’m working on making some changes so that I can spend more time there myself.

[@valnpaulvanorden]

Hi andrew...love the idea i have options.

[@lidvids]

Why do you prefer Hanoi over Saigon?

[@nomadjoel111]

Georgia!

[@nomadjoel111]

I've been here for 1 year. Escaped from prison island. The rents have gone up 2.5x but it still worth it.

[@truehearteye-candy167]

Low payment Georgia 🇬🇪.

[@candacelee969]

So now that Banks are Collapsing, including Swiss Credit, what Banks do you recommend?

[@Sirjohnny]

Not sure you will see this post, but looking to set up fine art galleries around the world and will only be in a country 3-4 times a year for only a few weeks each time, suggestions?

[@baklava6138]

Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 ❤️

[@alaskanwhiskey]

Very cheap. Croatia too was there three months last year

[@kahppotle782]

I've been considering Netherlands how is this country long term is there an expat community

[@pawlieblog7967]

I’m thinking of Turino for a workation- Italy. Maybe Lyon, France. If I were to go to Paris, I’d do Versailles for a workation. Not in the summer. Romania sounds nice! Not worried about taxes for a short term scouting trip. I’m retiring so likely not going to be working much, though I will write. Berlin also good. Portugal is so overhyped. Toulouse in France is very nice too. I find most Europeans to be very nice. Especially if you speak their language and/or know something about their country’s culture or history. I’m just not that into Asia because of the distances.

[@JWT528]

I'm from Romania and what Andrew said it only applies to certain parts of the country. If you want to give it a try, think of Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Oradea or Timisoara. It's pretty much Transylvania and the capital city.

[@mjpyro2458]

Ask Top G about Romania first. Any country that can hold you in prison for months without charging you with any crime while they go on a fishing expedition is not a country I would be considering.

[@ShibaSoftware]

Andrew, can you make a video about living as a digital Nomad (with possible intent to get permanent residency) in Japan?

[@Valentinavibrant]

Do you speak Japanese

[@rudyhowie]

I disagree about Paris. I stayed a full year from 2021 to 2022. The cost of living is rising and public transportation is falling apart. Even dining out is ridiculously expensive…on par with cities like Washington, NYC, and Boston.

[@SEVENTHREEANDNINE]

Which are all cheaper than Toronto!

[@bellav7093]

What is Scotland like for expats?

[@Atlas_21]

Rainy.

[@olgakuncheva6827]

budapest has 9 percent cooperate tax its cheaper as romania and better located nicr city as well

[@chinobonito30]

Not sure why Andrew is promoting Malaysia all the time …

[@decTac]

Malaysia offers the best..

[@chinobonito30]

no

[@runderwo]

3:10 The problem with Switzerland is that they will make you a tax resident liable for global income and wealth tax in as little as 30 days.

[@ib9511]

Andrew, can you talk about investing in Israel? Can anyone open a bank account? Invest in start ups?

[@rubensnogueira5838]

@@svensulzmann4282 by "foreigners" you mean "non-Jews"?

[@rubensnogueira5838]

@@svensulzmann4282 how does one know if a property is for sale to "anyone"? Could I buy a holiday house through Christie's, for example? Even in the remote case that the house is located in Jerusalem?

[@hawsktf]

Are scouting trips tax deductions?

[@AlwaysGrowing0]

It depends on your situation. If you life in the U.S. and own a business. You can use trips as tax deductible. To do this you have to spend x amount of time on the trip doing work related activities. I don't know the exact time restrictions. Do further research on this if it is applicable to you.

[@mrpeel3239]

Is Portugal ending, or modifying, its Golden Visa program?

[@joaoportugal8618]

Portugal is ending the golden visa. The Prime Minister spoke about it in the news, that he thought to end this program, along with other Portuguese politicians. They haven't thought of a date to end it until now.

[@dealman3312]

Bangkok I don’t feel so good there. Not sure what the allure is for some people.

[@alaskanwhiskey]

Bangkok is terrible. People are rude, and women are digging for your money. Philippines is the way to go been here since November never going back to mexico to live.

[@decTac]

BKK and Chiangmai reported badly polluted, more people are suffocated, sick and hospitalised

[@themafia702]

Hell Yeah

[@marcos_rushanian]

Thoughts on Poland?

[@matthewnirenberg]

If you're not an EU citizen from within Schengen don't work whilst there - if they catch you (random searches of cafes and restaurants are becoming the norm) it'll be a very long time in jail and huge fines along with an EU-wide entry prohibition. If you enter visa-free you're a tourist so don't work, if you want to work, get a work visa. People illegally working in ANY country is pathetic, makes life harder for both locals and genuine tourists and such people should be prohibited from traveling as they ruin travel for everyone.

[@matthewnirenberg]

@@littlebrit Nope, not making this up. What are you worried about? If you're not illegally working whilst there as a tourist then you have nothing to fear. The problem is enough digital nomads think the world owes them everything and that they can do whatever they like, so (not all, but enough of them) they work illegally; just because its online work doesn't mean it isn't breaking the law. The result is that the authorities are sick of it and are simply enforcing their laws and properly punishing those breaking said laws. This is resulting in countries scrapping their plans for "digital nomad visas" and to tighten their visa policies. Its also resulting is locals getting pissed off by the increase police and border guard presence in places that were very quiet before digital nomads. Angry locals aim their anger at anyone who's not from that area and it makes life unpleasant for both tourists who are doing the right thing and for citizens who live in other cities but want to spend a weekend in a small town. The other thing that the digital nomads who do the wrong thing want to seriously consider is that even if by some miracle they avoid jail, their ability to travel will be seriously affected as they'll receive an EU-wide entry prohibition (can be anything up to 5yrs or permanent - depends on the arresting authority and country). At the end of the day, if you want to travel, travel and be a tourist (i.e. no work), if you want to work, either go somewhere you have full work rights (permanent residency or citizenship) or get the appropriate work visa - its not hard and over 40 countries (several of which are in the EU) have digital nomad visas. If the few who do the wrong thing continue to do so, then they'll screw it up for everyone.

[@matthewnirenberg]

@@littlebrit The countries where the Border Guards and/or Police are checking are mostly Central & Eastern Europe, the Baltics and Italy. Poland (Central Europe) and Italy are very active in trying to catch people illegally working (neither are countries you want to get in trouble with the law in), they check hotel lobbies, restaurants, cafes, town squares, business centres, libraries and the places you just mentioned.

[@blktauna]

@@matthewnirenberg how does doing your usa job remotely impact the locals?

[@matthewnirenberg]

@@blktauna As follows: 1. Results in small and/or popular areas getting unwanted attention from the cops and border guard searching for people illegally working. Locals get harassed by the authorities as a way of saying "if you kicked out all outsiders/foreigners we wouldn't harass you". 2. It results in businesses either having to introduce time limits to stop non-locals sitting there and working whilst only having one or two coffees but occupying the table for the entire day and causing the business to lose a heap of cashflow. 3. You waste work-share/timeshare spaces that locals would use if you weren't occupying them all day illegally working. Spaces are limited and intended for locals and those with full work rights - not for tourists. 4. The fact you still fail to understand that hypothetically even if the locals weren't affected, you're still breaking the law by illegally working. This affects every digital nomad, every tourist and every visa applicant. The fact you think its okay to breach your visa requirements (visa-free is still a visa except its automatically recorded digitally and you're still bound by the same restrictions as a tourist) results in fewer visas being issued, in countries scrapping or never introducing digital nomad visas, in significantly stricter requirements to even apply/qualify for a visa. Simply put, you cause unwanted attention and harassment for locals, loss of business revenue as enough digital nomads occupy tables for hours whilst spending very little and most importantly, you're breaking the law and making it so that being a digital nomad will be outright banned if you are too up yourself to do the right thing and get a work visa or digital nomad visa. Do the right thing and don't ruin it for everyone because you think you're all that matters and that the world revolves around you. Otherwise, feel free to ruin it for everyone and likely end up in jail in a part of the world you don't want to be jailed in.

[@lindadorman2869]

Sorry, if there's no Amazon or Lazada, I'm not moving there!

[@speedfiend925]

What about Mexico? Any places you would recommend? 🤔

[@joaoportugal8618]

Mazatlan, Mexico is an extremely good place to live affordably. Seafood port. Less tourists, more average day workers.

[@annaparkhomenko1526]

@@joaoportugal8618 100%agreed. Moving there soon as well ☺️.

[@ricardorodriguez7275]

Milan and Rome in Italy ranked as the worst cities for expats

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

I love it when he dose his trump voice

[@nikosniko7092]

2nd!🎉

[@HalKW]

can no longer stand big cities ...

[@cristoff3]

8:00 Trump impression...?🤔

[@footprintsbeijing]

Talk too much but not to the point.

[@tovratov5235]

I currently live in Mexico but I am considering moving to Vietnam and working full-time in Vietnam as well

[@alaskanwhiskey]

Mexico is getting too expensive. Left after two years last year before the summer. Now in the Philippines. Much cheaper.

[@tovratov5235]

@@alaskanwhiskey did you work in the states I currently live in Tijuana but I work in San Diego so everything's cheaper still. My rent is only 350 a month but I get California wages

[@tovratov5235]

@@littlebrit I want to be in Southeast Asia honestly I was just thinking about getting an Airbnb I didn't know you had to go through all of that I guess I could do more research but honestly I want to be in Southeast Asia and be around the Asian girls. I live in Mexico now and Mexico is okay but I would rather be in a place as cheap and as cultural as Vietnam. To be fair I'm also looking at places like Thailand and Cambodia but Vietnam is honestly high on my list. Where does she look for apartments did your friends show you apartments or did you look on places like Airbnb or Facebook marketplace I've also been looking on KZbin and jotting down apartment locations and housing locations

[@alaskanwhiskey]

@tovratov5235 I lived in cancun and Mexico city but mainly in cancun for the two years. The prices are starting to creap up. I'm just saying if you want sustained prices I recommend to stay in south east Asia.

[@tovratov5235]

@@alaskanwhiskey bro Cancun is way too expensive. Tijuana isn't that bad however I do plan on moving to Southeast Asia eventually maybe Vietnam to Thailand. But not for expenses just for the bitches