If you are a long-term traveler you know that keeping track of the time left on your tourist visa while you explore a country can be stressful and inconvenient. Most countries limit tourist visas for US citizens to 30 to 90 days. If you are a digital nomad or long-term traveler and don’t want to apply for a residence permit, you either have to change countries every couple of months or do visa runs to restart the clock.
Luckily, there are several countries with long term tourist visas where US citizens and others can stay for between 6 months to a year. In these countries with long tourist visas, you won’t have to worry about overstaying or doing multiple visa renewal runs. Travelers who want to explore Europe longer than 90 days can use long term tourist visas as well as several other strategies to extend their time in Europe.
Long term tourist visas are especially convenient if you are planning long term slow travel. Combining your usual vacations or combining business and vacation trips to stay in one place longer are also great ways to reduce your carbon footprint from traveling.
If you want to work remotely while you travel, several of the countries with long term tourist visas also offer digital nomad visas. Or if you find that you are enjoying the country and want to stay longer than a visitor visa allows, you can apply for a digital nomad visa to work remotely. These programs come with their pros and cons but can be a great way to stay in one country longer and work remotely.
Before you choose to stay in any country for more than a couple of weeks, make sure you understand the tax implications if you plan to work remotely while there.
Let’s take a look at the countries with long visitor visas by region.
Disclaimer: I am not an immigration lawyer. This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice. You should obtain professional advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content in this publication. Deskless Nomad makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete, or up to date. Please see the full Deskless Nomad Disclaimer.
European Countries with Long Visitor Visas
Albania
Tourists are slowly discovering that Albania is a secret gem in Europe. Albania’s Mediterranean beaches rival the turquoise waters of Croatia and Greece. Tourists can experience the rural culture of “old Europe” in the idyllic rustic villages nestled amongst the majestic Albanian Alps. There are a number of UNESCO world heritage sites to explore, like the towns of Berat and Gjrokaster, and the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Butrint.
Length of stay: 1 year
Albania is one of the countries with the longest tourist visas. US citizens may stay in Albania for up to one year without a residence permit. At one year you must depart Albania and stay out of the country for 90 days before re-entering if you do not have a residence permit. Anything shorter than 90 days does not reset the one-year limit. Albania also offers a digital nomad visa.
Armenia
Armenia is another Eastern European country that is often overlooked. Like Albania, Armenia has a rich cultural heritage with unique cuisine and plenty of monasteries, religious monuments, and medieval buildings to discover. The country also boasts one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and has vast mountains great for trekking, hiking, and affordable skiing.
Length of stay: 180 days per year (6 months)
US citizens are exempt from the requirement to obtain an Armenian visa and can stay for up to 180 days per year.
Georgia
Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Located at a crossroads of the old Silk Road, it is a cultural melting pot of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions. Georgia has much to explore including its Persian-style sulfur baths, medieval villages, cave cities of the Caucasus mountains, and the unique local cuisine of kebabs, cheese bread, and dumplings.
Length of stay: 1 year
Georgia is one of the best countries for long term visas. US citizens and citizens from a number of other countries may enter Georgia and stay for one full year without a visa.
United Kingdom
Now that the United Kingdom is no longer a part of the EU, it has become a great location to extend your travel in Europe beyond the 90 days allowed in the Schengen zone (or the rest of Europe). As a US citizen, you can spend 6 months exploring England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland without a visa.
Length of stay: 6 months
Note that visiting the UK as a Standard Visitor does not permit you to work as a self-employed person. You are allowed to undertake certain activities related to employment, such as taking calls and sending emails, but your main purpose in entering the UK must be a “permitted activity” such as tourism.
Caribbean Countries with Long Visitor Visas
Bahamas
The Bahamas is a nation made up of an archipelago of more than 700 islands and 2400 cays and islets. It boasts a tropical savannah climate and some of the most beautiful turquoise waters you’ll find anywhere in the world. The country is heaven on earth for water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, surfing, and fishing.
Length of stay: 8 months
The Bahamas also has its own digital nomad visa, called the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay, allowing digital nomads to stay for a year while working remotely.
Barbados
An eastern Caribbean island with plenty of beaches, colonial buildings and plantation houses, and coral reefs to explore. It boasts a unique local cuisine and a carnival-like event, known as Crop Over, in July. The country has world-class amenities, high-speed internet, and an international airport with direct flights from several major US cities.
Length of stay: 6 months
US Citizens can stay for up to 6 months without a visa or apply for a 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp to work remotely from paradise.
Cayman Islands
Composed of three main islands, the Cayman Islands is a self-governing British Overseas Territory. While well-known as being a major offshore financial center, the group of islands is also a paradise for scuba diving. There are several festivals throughout the year celebrating music, art, storytelling, and local cuisine.
Length of stay: 6 months
US citizens can stay without a visa for up to 6 months or work remotely from the islands for up to 2 years with the Global Citizen Concierge program. Their digital nomad visa has one of the highest income requirements of all digital nomad visas and is both costly and difficult to obtain.
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island located just 40 miles north of Venezuela in the Caribbean. It is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands so they speak a combination of Dutch, English, and Papiamentu (Creole). The climate is hot and semi-arid with little rainfall. For its size, the island has a large number of gorgeous beaches and coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Length of stay: 6 months
US citizens and residents of the EU may stay in Curaçao for up to 180 days consecutive days in a calendar year without a visa. Read here for more information about visas and visiting Curaçao. Remote workers can also apply for Curaçao’s new digital nomad visa to stay for up to a year.
Dominica
Dominica is a natural paradise and one of the Caribbean islands where you can get closest to the feeling of what this region was like before the Europeans arrived. There are loads of hiking trails, several rivers to swim in, freshwater lakes, the world’s second-largest “boiling lake”, and miles of clear surrounding turquoise waters for diving and snorkeling. You can go canyoning to rappel down waterfalls and dive into freshwater pools, relax on black sand beaches, go river tubing, or head out for some whale watching.
Length of stay: 6 months
If you want to stay longer than 6 months, the Dominica Work in Nature Extended Stay Visa allows remote workers to live, work and rejuvenate in Dominica for up to 18 months.
African Countries with Long Visitor Visas
Lesotho
Lesotho is a scenic country of mountains and narrow valleys completely encircled by the country of South Africa. There is a sizable European community with a large number of ex-pats. It is generally considered a safe country to travel in and has mostly managed to avoid a lot of the troubles hitting the rest of southern Africa. Along with Sotho, English is also one of the official languages.
Length of stay: 180 days (6 months)
Kenya
Kenya is well-known as one of the world’s most magnificent wildlife destinations full of parks, preserves, and private nature conservancies. Witness the wildebeest migration, go on a photo safari to see elephants and lions in their natural habitats, get to know the traditional tribal people of Maasai, Swahili, and other heritages, or experience the blue waters of the Indian Ocean on Kenya’s stunning beaches. There is so much to see and do in the varied landscapes of this diverse country.
Length of stay: 6 months (3 months with 90-day extension)
All visitors must apply for an e-visa online prior to traveling to Kenya. The e-visa is valid for 3 months but can be extended an additional 90 days through the Kenya Foreign National Services portal.
North and South American Countries with Long Visitor Visas
Brazil
Brazil is an exciting country full of endless adventures. With its rich cultural heritage (including Rio Carnival), unique cuisine, warm people, beautiful beaches, 72 national parks with unparalleled biodiversity, there are endless things to see and do. You can easily fill up six months and still not feel like you’ve explored enough.
Length of stay: 6 months (90 days plus 90-day extension)
Brazil recently announced the introduction of a one-year digital nomad visa for foreign nationals to work remotely from Brazil without local employer sponsorship.
Canada
Canada is an extraordinary country for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of world-class cuisine and culture. It has an amazing array of hiking trails, paddling trails, mountain bike trails, areas to spot wildlife, a rich indigenous heritage, not to mention endless winter sports. The ability to drive your own vehicle from the US and take your pets with you makes it one of the most appealing remote work locations.
Length of stay: 6 months (with the option to apply for an extension)
Canada does not have a specific visa program for remote workers or digital nomads, however, there are several schemes under which foreign citizens can work remotely. These visa schemes can take more than a year to process and are generally not desirable for digital nomads who do not plan to immigrate permanently.
Columbia
Columbia is another geographically diverse country offering something for every type of traveler. With its snow-capped mountains, lush rainforests, and gorgeous Caribbean beaches, it can feel like you are visiting multiple countries in a short distance. It has a strong musical heritage, delicious food, and plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options. While some areas are prone to crime, there are many areas that are considered safe to travel to.
Length of stay: 90 days plus 90-day extension
US citizens can stay for 90 days and apply for a 90-day extension through the Columbia Immigration portal. Columbia does not yet have a digital nomad visa but announced it is working on one.
Guatemala
Guatemala is truly a magical land. With thriving indigenous cultures, countless archeological sites to explore, natural wonders like lowland rainforests, volcanoes, and Lake Atitlan, a unique and delicious cuisine, and some of the warmest people you will ever meet, it is a destination like no other. There are several areas with a strong ex-pat presence like Antigua and Lake Atitlan.
Length of stay: 6 months (90 days plus 90-day extension)
The initial entry visa for Guatemala is 90 days but you can easily get an extension from local immigration authorities once you are present in the country.
Mexico
Mexico is popular among ex-pats and travelers for its ideal weather, excellent food, an abundance of beaches, and cities full of cultural activities. While the drug cartels have made certain areas less appealing, it is still possible to find safe havens to spend months exploring.
Length of stay: 6 months
There are many countries that do not require a visa for stays less than 6 months. Mexico has a temporary resident visa for freelancers and digital nomads that allows for stays up to a year.
Panama
Panama is easily accessible on almost all major airlines from the US and only a 2.5-hour flight from Miami. The U.S. dollar is the main currency and English is widely spoken. The country is a tropical paradise covered in rainforests, mangrove wetlands and bordered by archipelagos of numerous islands.
Length of stay: 180 days (6 months)
Panama recently introduced a digital nomad visa for those who want to stay for up to 18 months while working remotely from Panama.
Peru
Who doesn’t have Manchu Picchu on their bucket list? Plus there are so many more archeological ruins to explore, not to mention the Amazon rainforest, Andean mountains, markets of indigenous Quechua handcrafts, and one of the best cuisines in Latin America. There are excellent surfing, trekking, and rock climbing spots as well.
Length of stay: 90 days (plus extension up to 183 days)
US citizens can stay and travel in Peru for up to 183 days.
South Asian Countries with Long Visitor Visas
India
India is a beautiful country full of world cultural heritage sites, spiritual centers, nature preserves, year-round festivals, culinary delights, and accommodations where you can live like royalty on a budget. The country also has many national parks full of elephants, tigers, and rhinos.
In Goa, India you can also find a digital nomad village where you can stay and work remotely with other digital nomads.
Length of stay: 180 days (6 months)
US citizens can stay up to 180 days. India does not currently have a digital nomad visa.
Sri Lanka
Like India, Sri Lanka has a rich history, numerous luxury and budget hotels, miles of unspoiled beaches, and abundant wildlife. It is one of Asia’s best destinations for vegetarians and one of the world’s capitals of tea production. There are numerous festivals throughout the year. It is also a great destination for budget travelers.
Length of stay: 30 days (plus extension up to 6 months)
Sri Lanka plans to offer a digital nomad visa for up to one year, although the details are still being worked out at the time of this article’s publication.
As you can see, there are a number of countries where US citizens can spend extended periods of time without the inconvenience of having to obtain a visa. You can take your time and explore these areas to the fullest along your long-term travel routes.
If you’d like to work remotely and travel long term in a specific country make sure to check out my article on digital nomad visas. I’ve also put together a comprehensive Index of Digital Nomad Visas Around the World. For more information on how to plan long-term travel, check out my article here.