Take Aways From This Post
Asia still has few hotspots of the COVID19 but most countries have lowered their cases. Read about some of the top digital nomad destinations in Asia where you can still travel during COVID-19.
The global pandemic hit a snag in everyone’s lives. Digital nomads were also greatly affected by COVID-19. It’s hard to travel around the world when there’s a virus spreading.
Now with 2020 ending, more and more cities are opening up to international tourism and slowly going back to normal, even digital nomad destinations in Asia. While some parts of Asia are hotspots of the virus, most countries have lowered their cases.
Here are some digital nomad destinations in Asia that are safe to travel to during COVID-19:
Disclaimer: At the time of writing this article, the travel regulations were verified with the information on the official websites of the following countries. Since the situation is changing frequently please recheck the latest travel information from the official sources.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is one of the best places in Asia to work remotely. Digital nomads have found Chiang Mai an inexpensive city to live in, a place with terrific weather, and a hub for incredible food and coffee.
Best area: If you want to be near historical sites but still want to be around modern neighbourhoods, Nimman Road is one of the best places in Asia to work remotely for its coworking spaces, cafes, and street food.
Cost of living: You can live a comfortable life with a budget of around $2,000 to $2,500 monthly.
Quality of life: There are a lot of establishments in Chiang Mai, it has everything you need. As one of the best digital nomad locations in Asia, Chiang Mai has one of the fastest internet speeds in Southeast Asia.
Use of English: As a city that is welcoming and accommodating to expats, Chiang Mai residents speak English very well.
Visa: Long stay tourist visas will allow digital nomads after COVID-19 to stay in Thailand up to 90 days. This visa will be open to foreign nationals from countries with low or no COVID transmission.
COVID travel regulations: To enter Thailand and travel post-COVID-19, you must submit a Certificate of Entry (COE), a Fit to Fly Certificate, a negative PCR test, and proof of health insurance.
Check latest updates here: Tourism Authority of Thailand
Siem Reap, Cambodia
A combination of traditional and modern Cambodia, Siem Reap is one of the best digital nomad city in Asia and an excellent choice for digital nomads. It has a low cost of living, co-working spaces, and fast internet services.
Best area: The Wat Bo neighbourhood is a few minutes away from the town centre and has multiple art galleries and temples.
Cost of living: Compared to Southeast Asian standards, Cambodia has lower costs of living. With around a $2,500 budget per month, you can live comfortably.
Quality of life: As one of the best digital nomad cities in Asia, Siem Reap has an easy-going atmosphere and inexpensive cost of living.
Use of English: The official language of Cambodia is Khmer, but English is still widely spoken in tourist areas.
Visa: You must arrange your visa before your arrival as the government has suspended visa-on-arrival. Digital nomads are advised to get a business visa so you can extend your stay for more than 30 days.
COVID travel regulations: All foreign passports holders require a valid visa for entry into Cambodia from their local embassies. At the moment e-visas and visa on arrival have been suspended. You are also required to pay for your COVID-19 lab test not older than 72 hours.
As of 20th May 2020, there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all passengers. Visitors must also present health insurance documentation with a minimum medical coverage of 50,000USD.
Read latest updates here: Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Stay protected during COVID19 and cover your medical expenses in case you get sick
Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou is famous for West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from historical relics and nature sites, Hangzhou is also one of the digital nomad destinations in Asia with outstanding food.
Best area: Near the lake and Wu Mountain, Shangcheng is known for its picturesque beauty and commerce. It’s also becoming one of the most modern neighbourhoods in the city with more businesses and hotels popping up.
Cost of living: Compared to Europe and North America, living in Hangzhou is cheap. For a little over $2,000 a month, you can cover your necessities and splurge on the little things in life.
Quality of life: Utility bills and transportation in Hangzhou are cheap, but other expenses such as grocery items can be pricey. Moreover, one culture-shocks a foreigner encounter here is the traditional food.
Use of English: English is not widely spoken in Hangzhou; however, foreigners find a way around this difficulty through the use of Google translate and the translation features of the WeChat app.
Visa: You will need a professional or business visa if you want to work in China. It is advisable to apply for a visa in advance through your local Chinese Embassy or Consulate.
COVID travel regulations: If you want to travel in a post-COVID world, you need valid residence permits for work. Also, you must present proof of a negative result for COVID-19 issued no more than 72 hours before departure.
As of November 2020, China has suspended any entry of foreign nationals into their borders with a few exceptions for certain visa holders.
Read the latest updates here: China Briefing Covid Updates
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
As one of the best digital nomad locations in Asia, Dubai is the most advanced city in the UAE. It is important to note that while Dubai is a modern city, Islamic traditions and values are still highly practised here.
Best area: Al Fahidi represents 19th century Dubai with its charming establishments made with traditional wood and stone. Some of these buildings are now cafes, coworking spaces, and guesthouses.
Cost of living: Dubai is a cheap digital nomad hub in Asia because it’s more affordable than New York and Abu Dhabi. With a budget between $4,500 and $5,000 a month, you can live a comfortable life.
Quality of life: Public transportation in Dubai is very cheap. For some foreigners, one of Dubai’s drawbacks is its hot weather that occurs from June to September.
Use of English: English is widely spoken in Dubai since 75% of its population are expatriates.
Visa: You can get a visa on arrival or apply for it beforehand depending on your nationality. Check the official tourism website of Dubai to know your visa requirements.
COVID travel regulations: As of July 2020, foreigners can enter Dubai for tourism. You must carry a certificate that indicates a negative test result for COVID-19 issued no more than 96 hours before departure.
Read the latest updates here: Visit Dubai Coronavirus Advisory
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is a city full of culture, art, and history. With its various cafes and workspaces, coffee culture, and low cost of living, Istanbul is one of the most underrated digital nomad destinations in Asia.
Best area: Kadıköy was once a sleepy residential neighbourhood on the Asian side of Turkey. However, in recent years, it has become a place for innovative bars, hipster cafes, and arts and culture centres.
Cost of living: Compared to other Turkish cities, Istanbul has a high cost of living; but on a global scale, it’s cheap. You can live comfortably in Istanbul with a budget of around $1,500 a month.
Quality of life: Turkish people value guests and tourists and are considered a friendly community. Moreover, food in Istanbul is unique and very flavourful. Regarding coffee, there are cafes everywhere in Istanbul.
Use of English: Turks have high English proficiency as it’s widely spoken in the country.
Visa: Digital nomads can apply for a tourist visa or a Turkish residency visa. For the tourist visa, you will be allowed to stay for 90 to 180 days. Meanwhile, for the residency visa, you can be in Turkey for a year.
COVID travel regulations: Turkey has confirmed cases of COVID-19 and certain restrictions apply to incoming travellers to Turkish borders. Every person arriving in Turkey is required to undergo a health screening for COVID-19.
Read more updates here: Turkey COVID19 Travel Advisory
Also Read: Tips on How to Be a Digital Nomad During COVID19
Think about getting travel insurance
If there’s something we’ve learned from 2020 is that life can be unpredictable. It’s hard to tackle an uncertain circumstance when you’re in a foreign place. So, before you leave, it’s highly advised to get travel insurance dedicated to digital nomads and remote workers. Whether it’s regarding your safety or the safety of your belongings, it’s essential to be prepared.
SafetyWing offers excellent health insurance plans with COVID19 coverage for remote workers and digital nomads (probably the only and the most comprehensive cover for those without a permanent home base!). Armed with an adequate health insurance, strict adherence to the hygiene concepts and local COVID rules you will be able to realise your dream of being a digital nomad during COVID19.
These are some of the countries that are slowly opening up to digital nomads. We must remember to stay safe during travelling, especially to those cities that are imposing safety regulations.