In an ever-connected world where remote work and Digital Nomadism are on the rise, the concept of a nomad visa has gained significant attention. A nomad visa allows individuals to live and work in a country for an extended period while embracing the local culture and contributing to the economy.
More and more companies are offering their employees the option to “work from anywhere,” whether in their home office, in another state, or even halfway around the globe. Some companies, have embraced an all-remote model, doing away with offices entirely. Others are keeping their physical offices but using a “remote-first” mindset. Still others are exploring hybrid-remote models, whether that means allowing certain roles to work remotely, or allowing annual periods of work-from-anywhere. Although it is appreciated that working remotely cannot apply to all working environments and that some service delivery components such as in the hospitality sector and certain banking transactions require a physical presence at work.
The COVID 19 pandemic had varying effect on many industries as some required personnel interactions and on-site operations while others could seamlessly shift to the remote working model, preventing setbacks to productivity.
It has been more than three years since the virus outbreak and global mobility is finally making its slow but steady comeback. However, not quite close to the mobility trends witnessed before the pandemic unfolded.
In the post COVID 19 era, techniques have been integrated into the traditional work model. Rather than strictly requiring workers to be physically present in the office, several organizations have afforded their staff the opportunity to work from home.
Many global meetings, conferences and events that need not be held physically are being done virtually. The future of global mobility will continue to be impacted by the pandemic and it would be difficult to return to pre-COVID era.
There are several reasons which can be attributed to the acceptance of the remote work model. Firstly, it extinguishes the time expended during the commute from home to work, or school. This benefits both the employer and employee as the time available for work is maximized and the cost of transport is reduced.
Secondly, the activities and meetings conducted with the aid of internet-based applications have proved to be as successful as those conducted physically. Seeing as the quality of work conducted over the internet did not depreciate, there has not been much incentive to forgo this model.
Lastly, the work from home model affords flexibility to individual time schedules. Considering that commuting and other activities necessary for facilitating one’s physical presence at work are eliminated, people are afforded more spare time. This allows them to engage in personal activities such as bonding with their families and working out; ultimately, the increased spare time has the potential to improve the worker’s quality of life.
A growing group of remote professionals are taking the “anywhere” in work-from-anywhere to new lengths. These “Digital Nomads” leverage their remote jobs to allow them to live in tourist hotspots or tropical destinations for months at a time. Others engage in months-long “work-cations,” combining periods of working and tourism.
Throughout the world, a lot of countries mostly in Europe have rolled out the Digital Nomad visa. In Africa, only a few countries have rolled out this visa – Cape Verde, Namibia, South Africa, and Mauritius.
Working from Anywhere: Digital Nomads and Digital Nomad Visas
A Digital Nomad is someone who works remotely while traveling and living in various locations, using a laptop and internet connection to carry out their work responsibilities from anywhere in the world.
Most Digital Nomads work remotely under a tourist visa (which is mostly illegal in many jurisdictions). To provide foreigners with a legal basis for working while traveling, the issue of Digital Nomad visas comes to play. The Digital Nomad visas do not offer a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship but an opportunity for remote workers and freelancers who want to travel and work remotely do so within a legal framework.
Digital Nomad visas accrue many benefits to countries and local communities.
These visas act as a temporary fix for immigration policy woes and visa delays around the world. Many knowledge workers are currently unable to work around the world, especially in countries such as the United States, due to immigration policy logjam or extended visa processing backlogs. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, knowledge workers faced long wait times for visas, rising rejection rates, and great uncertainty. The pandemic compounded these issues, adding travel restrictions from Covid-19 hotspots, embassy closures overseas, and even longer processing times for all visa types to the list of challenges. A Digital Nomad visa provides short-term access to countries around the world, and typically last six to 12 months for remote workers. The geographic mobility of Digital Nomads could spur business travel in the short to medium term, giving the airline industry a much-needed demand boost.
Secondly and importantly, Digital Nomads could act as catalysts for knowledge and resource flows between regions, benefiting themselves, their organizations, and their host countries. Mobility and innovation has shown that short-term travel and even short periods of co-location with geographically distant colleagues can help workers access information and resources that can help grow new ideas and projects, which benefits both the mobile worker and their organizations.
Local inventors engage in “knowledge recombination” by combining their existing knowledge to knowledge transferred by migrants. Migrant inventors not only “import” knowledge from home countries which translates into more patenting, the migrant inventors boost patenting in the same technologies as their home countries specialize in. As a result, a country like Ghana is likely to have migrants as inventors of the first-ever bulk of patents in any new technology.
Lastly, but equally important, is the fact that a Digital Nomad visa formalizes what would have been an individual carrying out formal employment on a tourist visa. This formalization brings with it numerous benefits such as allowing the ease of identification and taxation rights to the resident country (Ghana in this case).
Ghana’s Legal Stance on Digital Nomadism
The Digital Nomad trend has been on the rise for years. However, currently there are no visa options for Digital Nomads in Ghana. There are also no specific laws or regulations governing specific issues arising from remote work or what an employer must consider in enforcing remote work in Ghana.
In Africa, Namibia launched a visa program for Digital Nomads and foreign remote workers in late 2022 with the aim of luring more foreigners into the country, which in turn will catapult the country to the forefront as a tourist destination in Africa. Further, Mauritius is also offering long term visa to Digital Nomads in a bid to increase tourism revenue.
Ghana should be able to fully seize the opportunity to attract long term visitors (beyond the usual short-term visitors) and boost tourism efforts since many countries have already adapted to the idea and are enticing Digital Nomads with visa options usually lasting a year or even longer.
Why Ghana Needs to Embrace Digital Nomadism
As present, Ghana has not rolled out any specific type of visa(s) to cater for the Digital Nomads although this has been widely done by other countries. Most nomads mostly use visitor’s visa which is not an activity permitted under the visitors’ visa option.
It is therefore imperative for Ghana to embrace the Digital Nomad lifestyle.
The nomad visa presents a unique opportunity for Ghana to attract a new breed of workers. Digital Nomads, who leverage technology to work remotely, seek destinations that offer a vibrant lifestyle, affordable cost of living, and a supportive environment. Ghana possesses all these qualities, with its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and a growing digital infrastructure.
Several opportunities abound for Ghana and below are few benefits of rolling out the nomad visa:
- Economic Growth and Cultural Exchange:
By welcoming Digital Nomads through a nomad visa program, Ghana stands to gain economically. Nomads bring diverse skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurship to the local economy, stimulating growth in various sectors. They also contribute to cultural exchange, fostering a deeper understanding of Ghana’s traditions and enhancing global connections.
- Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
Digital Nomads often possess entrepreneurial mindsets and seek environments that foster innovation. Ghana’s vibrant startup ecosystem, coupled with its supportive policies for entrepreneurs, makes it an ideal destination for nomads looking to launch new ventures or collaborate with local businesses. By participating in the nomad visa initiative, Ghana can attract innovative minds, leading to the creation of local jobs and the development of a thriving startup culture.
- Promoting Tourism and Hospitality:
Nomad visa holders are not just workers; they are also explorers who contribute to the local tourism industry. Ghana’s natural beauty, historical sites, and welcoming people make it a captivating destination. By actively promoting the nomad visa, Ghana can tap into this growing market, attracting visitors who will explore the country’s attractions, dine at local establishments, and engage in cultural activities, thereby boosting the tourism and hospitality sectors.
- Enhancing Global Reputation and Soft Power:
Participating in the nomad visa program should place Ghana on the global stage as a progressive and open-minded country. It sends a strong message to the international community that Ghana is actively adapting to the changing landscape of work and embracing the digital age. This positive perception can enhance Ghana’s soft power and attract foreign investment, partnerships and collaborations.
The findings of a study conducted in 2017 by WYSE Travel Confederation predicts global numbers of digital nomads to surpass 40 million this year and over 60 million by 2030. Consequently, Ghana should be able to attract a number of these digital nomads once it positions itself as a digital nomad haven and introduces visas that specifically cater to their lifestyle.
How Ghana can Embrace the Digital Nomadism
The laws and processes for granting visas and work permits need to be revised and made more business friendly. The labour laws also need to be amended to accommodate for growing changes and rising trend of the remote workforce. The modernized laws should also simplify policies around remote work to prevent unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles around their implementation.
Conclusion
The nomad visa is a powerful tool for countries to tap into global talent pool, increase investment and at the same time embrace the future of work. Ghana, with its unique blend of cultural heritage, vibrant lifestyle and favourable business environment, is well-positioned to be a frontrunner in this endeavor.
Ghana can leverage this opportunity to boost its economy, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen its global reputation. Think of the annual December in Ghana festivities when the African diaspora descends on Ghana for a few weeks. With the Digital Nomad visa, it ensures those who come to Ghana can stay longer and continue with their home country employment obligations from the shores of Ghana for the whole year if they so wish.
The writer, Bless S. Addae is a Manager at Deloitte Ghana with over ten (10) years’ experience in providing solutions to individuals and corporate entities on immigration issues in Ghana. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
