The new year is just around the corner, and with that comes new professional opportunities — remote ones included.
Turns out, the country of Colombia is the top trending destination for digital nomads in 2026, according to new research from Google that was shared with Travel + Leisure. That’s spurred by a generous visa system, an attractive cost of living, and plenty of amazing sites and perks to explore while there.
In Colombia, travelers who intend to work remotely for a foreign company can apply for a Visa V Digital Nomads program. To apply, travelers must have a valid passport, have either a letter from their employer or a motivational letter explaining their entrepreneurial project, have a bank statement showing at least three months of wages, and have a health insurance plan that is valid in the country.
Once approved, the visa lasts up to two years. However, only foreign digital work can be completed and travelers cannot work directly for a Colombia-based company.
The cost of living in Colombia may also be appealing. In a search, T+L spotted a variety of highly-rated and furnished one-bedroom apartments available on Airbnb for less than $500 per month throughout the city of Medellin. And within the country’s capital of Bogotá, we spotted hundreds of one-bedroom apartments for less than $400 per month.
Multiple cities across Colombia also ranked as some of the most affordable in the world, according to a recent Numbeo Cost of Living report, including Bogota, Cali, and Medellin. These cities scored relatively low on the rent index, the grocery index, and the restaurant price index.
When not working, Colombia offers an amazing variety of perks like exploring its coffee region, its enviable culinary scene, incredible islands, green spaces, and more.
However, travelers heading to Colombia should note the country is currently under a “Level 3” travel warning from the State Department, which recommends Americans “reconsider travel” there. The advisory was issued “due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping,” but notes some areas are more at risk thank others, including the border region between Colombia and Venezuela.
Beyond Colombia, New Zealand is also seeing a surge in interest from digital nomads. The country relaxed its own visa requirements earlier this year in an effort to boost the local economy. That was followed by Costa Rica, Latvia, and Bulgaria rounding out the top five.
This is the full list of trending destinations for digital nomads, according to Google.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure