Seems like several countries are offering 1-year digital nomad visas to non EU workers who can do their work online.
Latest is Malta.
Why though? Sure it must help local housing markets. But do they collect income taxes from people on these digital nomad visas?
It’s not like he 1 Euro homes in depopulated villages, which are trying to bring some long term foreign money to their communes.
And in locales geared for tourism, where the ratio of vacation homes to longer term rentals are higher, it may even be disadvantageous to landlords to lease for a year instead of a week at a time.
would digital nomads have to sign up for utilities, local bank accounts, Internet, etc. for a 1-year visa?
and unless these countries try to collect income taxes, why workin people instead of retirees? True, the odds are that younger people will spend more eating out, entertainment, etc. retirees may have more discretionary income though or have as much as some digital nomads.
but in general, what motivations do countries have in trying to lure foreign workers with temp visas?
Retirees can get into being “digital nomads” too. “Digital nomads” spend money locally, usually spend more than most locals, and can act as lures for others to come and do the same or visit and act as stimulus to the local tech services scene and economy.
Signing up for local, accommodation-related services may not be necessary as renting a furnished unit/room with utilities included can work; international roaming for data/phone services may work; and even a local bank account isn’t necessarily needed to make payments.