As a South African who has adopted a nomadic work lifestyle alongside my wife, Ingrid Lotze, I’ve been an interested observer of South Africa’s snail-pace digital nomad visa (DNV) development process. Despite the optimism surrounding its introduction, the visa seems to miss several crucial marks for digital nomads like us.

The DNV falls short in meeting the key needs of digital nomads. It glaringly overlooks critical factors such a friendly visa, tax, bureaucratic and legal framework. It also fails to take into account, for obvious reasons and understandingly so, safety—a significant need among digital nomads globally. Despite South Africa’s renowned beauty and potential as a remote work hub, the persistent safety issues present a considerable deterrent, overshadowing the benefits.

It appears there was scant real engagement with digital nomads during the DNV’s development. Meaningful consultation could have offered invaluable insights into essential features such as a streamlined bureaucratic process and a more nomad-friendly tax regime. For example, the requirement to register to pay taxes after six months will discourage longer stays, pushing nomads to depart by the five-month mark to avoid fiscal complications.

The assumption that digital nomads will significantly boost the local economy might also be overly optimistic. Nomads are known for their economical lifestyles, seeking to maximise their budgets, which may mean the actual economic input is less substantial than anticipated. This frugality, coupled with the potential short stays prompted by tax policies, might reduce their economic impact further.

The DNV appears to be crafted more with an eye towards boosting South Africa’s flagging image as a progressive nation than to meeting practical needs. A visa scheme that focuses more on tangible benefits rather than enhancing national prestige could provide greater mutual value to both South Africa and digital nomads.

To make South Africa a top choice for digital nomads, a more comprehensive strategy that extends beyond the visa itself is necessary. Addressing broader issues such as ease of doing business, appropriate tax and bureaucratic frameworks, and especially improving safety is crucial.

The Portuguese example

Portugal’s digital nomad visa stands as a benchmark of success, featuring straightforward application processes, favourable tax conditions and strong community engagement. Emulating aspects of Portugal’s approach could help reshape South Africa’s strategy into a more holistic and appealing one.

For the DNV to transform into a competitive, nomad-friendly strategy, South Africa needs to overhaul the visa parameters and enhance the overall environment supporting a nomadic lifestyle. By engaging with the nomad community for continuous feedback and implementing necessary adjustments, South Africa can shift from being just a picturesque destination to a viable, long-term home for international remote workers.

A thoughtful re-evaluation, genuinely considering the needs of digital nomads, could align South Africa’s offerings with the dynamic and diverse needs of global digital nomads, avoiding the pitfall of becoming just another well-intentioned publicity stunt.

The author, Gavin Moffat, is a public speaker, author and entrepreneur, serving as the co-founder at join.the.dots, a firm specialising in strategic business consulting, reputation management, executive coaching and training. Alongside this, he also co-founded Hers&His, focusing on diversity and inclusion initiatives. In April 2022, Moffat and his wife and business partner, Ingrid Lotze, embraced a nomad work lifestyle under the initiative “7 t-shirts each”, where they explore the world while working remotely, carrying only seven t-shirts each because that’s all you can carry when your whole life is in a suitcase. Their travels have taken them through multiple countries including Kenya, Mauritius, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Korea and Nepal