Digital nomads unwelcome in Spain: which countries are a better choice?

Amid Spain’s wider anti-tourism protests, a separate but related phenomenon is occurring: cafes across the country are cracking down on laptops in their establishments. Some digital nomads are beginning to feel as though Spain is no longer such a viable option for their travels.

With good weather, affordable prices and culture-rich cities, Spain has fast become a top choice for digital nomads. But as locals start to close the door on visitors, people are looking for other alternatives to work remotely.

Spain waves “adios” to digital nomads

Spanish locals took to the streets to protest against mass tourism nationwide in July. Around 3,000 people took part in the Barcelona demonstration, holding signs that read “Tourists go home”, “Tourists out” and “Barcelona is not Disneyland”, while also squirting water guns at visitors and blocking hotel entrances.

Meanwhile, cafes in Barcelona, Valencia and Santiago have either banned the use of laptops or have charged an hourly rate for using them. Cafe owners claim digital nomads “hog” tables for hours, while only buying a single coffee at times.

While they initially provided sockets to allow remote workers to charge their devices, this is now viewed as no longer viable or sustainable, particularly for small business owners. Other issues include digital nomads making requests for music to be lowered for their meetings, while also bringing their own food. 

South America lures UK digital nomads

With parts of Spain increasingly feeling off-limits, digital nomads are packing up and looking for other hot spots to take their work.

South America in particular is becoming a popular choice for UK digital nomads. Research by Bubblegum Search found that around 30% of the destinations digital nomads are interested in are in South America.

The available digital nomad visas for South America include Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, which have become particularly attractive for their vibrant communities, rich cultures and affordability. 

For example, Argentina is a popular destination choice for its low cost of living (around 52.9% lower than the UK), friendly locals and a fast average internet speed of 38 Mbps for broadband and 25 Mbps for mobile internet. Its digital nomad visa is also valid for 180 days and can be renewed for the same amount of days.

South American digital nomad visas typically offer temporary residence for one to two years, many of which are renewable if applicants continue to meet the visa requirements.

The rise in digital nomad visas

Becoming a digital nomad has become a growing trend, post-pandemic. As a result, many countries have rolled out special visas designed for digital nomads, allowing remote workers to legally reside in a country for an extended period while working for a country based overseas.

Estonia, Iceland and Georgia were among the first countries to introduce digital nomad visas in 2020. Now, over 50 countries offer digital nomad visas or special permits for remote workers.

Demand for digital nomad visas has increased too, with 45% of UK workers saying they’d consider applying for a digital visa to travel and work abroad, according to research by Redcentric. A study by WYSE Travel Confederation also predicts that the number of digital nomads will increase to approximately 60 million by 2030.

But even with growing approval rates of around 50%, getting a visa may feel unattainable for some remote workers. For example, Cyprus increased its available digital nomad visas from 100 to 500 following high demand, but as of February 2024, is no longer accepting applicants.

Despite tensions around tourism and remote working in Spain, the digital nomad lifestyle is here to stay. As UK remote workers look towards alternatives and more countries roll out digital nomad visas, combining work and travel is still proving to be attractive for many. Countries like South Africa are becoming rising stars for the hottest working destinations, and as demand continues to grow, the appeal of living and working abroad is only set to flourish even more in the coming years.