How to become a digital nomad? 7 steps to greater freedom

Escape your old routines and step out into the world. As a digital nomad, you can work from anywhere in the world and at the same time explore new countries and cultures. We explain the steps you need to take to become a digital nomad and what you should look out for.

Maybe your job is perfect for digital nomadism or perhaps you want a fresh start and are taking off in a new direction. Either way, the important thing when con­sid­er­ing becoming a digital nomad is that you choose a job that requires little more hardware than a laptop, a charger, and an Internet con­nec­tion.

Carefully consider the type of em­ploy­ment as some roles lend them­selves more prefer­ably to digital nomadism than others. They include being employed by a company that enables remote working, being a free­lancer, self-employed, or being the founder of your own company. If you prefer to test whether digital nomadism is for you, part-time self-em­ploy­ment may be a suitable option for a limited period of time.

Whether you’re working as a free­lancer, are self-employed, or run your own business you must take care of the for­mal­i­ties. The self-employed and free­lancers usually need to register their business, while companies must select an ap­pro­pri­ate legal form. Sometimes this is ac­com­pa­nied by further reg­is­tra­tions, such as an entry in the com­mer­cial register. It’s a good idea to get some advice from an ac­coun­tant who will manage your taxes and advise on res­i­den­cies.

If you plan on working abroad or for foreign clients, you should register your trade in the country you mainly reside in (e.g. USA) as that will simplify taxation in the long-term. There are special tax reg­u­la­tions to consider for Europe and Asia and these should be discussed with your ac­coun­tant if you plan on spending a long time in these countries.

To open a business bank account, you will usually require an address of residency (even if you tend to work elsewhere tem­porar­i­ly). You may also want to apply for a credit card to withdraw cash abroad or pay for goods free of charge.

The most important type of insurance for digital nomads is health insurance. You will usually need to apply for a separate travel or foreign health insurance. In any case, you should check with your state or com­mer­cial insurance provider whether they cover medical emer­gen­cies while oversees.

To protect yourself against pro­fes­sion­al liability, spe­cial­ist pro­fes­sion­al liability insurance policies are available. Where necessary, you can protect your equipment by taking out in­di­vid­ual content insurance. Pho­tog­ra­phers, for example, would be well advised to insure their camera and ac­ces­sories.

If you are just starting out as a free­lancer and plan on traveling a lot, you may want to get clients on board before you leave. This provides security and ensures a regular income from the beginning of your trip.

As a digital nomad, you could get started within the vicinity of your place of residence and benefit from flexible working. If you’re planning to travel there are a few things you’ll want to take care of. Consider ac­com­mo­da­tion – either rent a small apartment or book a room and work on-site from a coworking space. Book flights or other trans­porta­tion and, if necessary, take care of visas and rec­om­mend­ed vac­ci­na­tions in time.

When you only want to enjoy the life of a digital nomad for a few weeks or months a year, it is worth hanging on to your (rented) apartment or perhaps sub­let­ting it while you’re away. Sub­let­ting means you can save expenses and get a little extra income. You might need to speak to your landlord first to check whether sub­let­ting is allowed and decide on the furniture you want to leave in the apartment. Clear anything that is not suitable for foreign eyes.

Consider your mail. When self-employed or free­lanc­ing, it’s likely you’re receiving tra­di­tion­al letters that you’ll want to open in a timely manner. Set up a mail for­ward­ing if possible.

Once you’ve taken care of all the prepa­ra­tions, you’re ready to start your journey. After you’ve arrived, it may take a few days to get your bearings and get set up to ensure optimal working con­di­tions. For example, you’ll probably want to purchase a local SIM card that lets you surf the web on mobile devices so that you can quickly and easily find your nearest coworking space, the best restau­rant for a quick midday snack, and the top spot for an evening stroll.

As a digital nomad, you’ll want to find the right work-life balance and establish routines, such as regular working hours in the morning and afternoon, but allow enough time to take in the sights and ex­pe­ri­ence foreign cultures and all the benefits of digital nomadism.

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