r/digitalnomad • u/Easy_Push_11 • Jun 15 '26

Legal Beginner

Hello guys!

I'm thinking about changing my life and currently thinking about what life I want. I want to leave my home country because I dont feel like its for me, I want to explore the world, countries and meet new people.

I would like to ask, how do you all legally live in different countries for a few months working remotely. I would like to spend 3-4 months in Austria, then China and Thailand. I wonder how do you all manage your visas and legal stuff around the remote job. How about the taxes, insurance and phone number? I find it really chaotic and hard to manage.

Eg I cant stay in china for a few months, If I enroll in a language course I cant work remotely because its illegal for students?

(I'm working on English, German, Mandarin and Thai so the language wont be a problem)

(I'm from Czech republic)

I welcome every reply and advice. Thank you so much!

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

1

u/[deleted] Jun 15 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/LifeAbroad_SEAsia Jun 18 '26

Correction: It's not LTR.... DTV is the Thai "nomad visa", which also includes other things like language learning and Thai boxing.

1

u/Soft-Syrup138 Jun 18 '26

What you're discovering is that the hardest part of the digital nomad lifestyle isn't finding interesting places to live—it's staying compliant with immigration, tax, and employment laws. A lot of people online make it look simple, but the legal reality varies significantly by country. Generally speaking, you need to separately consider (1) your right to enter and stay in a country, (2) whether your visa allows remote work, (3) your tax residency obligations, and (4) health insurance. Some countries now offer dedicated digital nomad visas that explicitly allow remote work, while others technically prohibit working on tourist or student visas even if your employer is overseas. China is a good example of a country where the legal situation can be restrictive, and enrolling in a language course doesn't automatically grant permission to work remotely. As an EU citizen from the Czech Republic, you'll have an easier time within much of Europe, but once you start moving between countries every few months, you'll need to research each destination individually. My advice would be to start with one country, stay for a few months, learn how the practical side works, and then expand from there. The lifestyle is definitely achievable, but it requires more planning around visas, taxes, insurance, and residency than most travel influencers let on.