💔 Southeast Asia Admits Nomad Policies Are Broken

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Hey nomads,

Here's what's happening in the nomad world this week.

In this week's issue:

• Southeast Asian governments admit their nomad policies are completely broken

• Why renouncing citizenship could lock you out of your home country forever

• Romania emerges as Europe's most accessible nomad destination (but there's a catch)

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Southeast Asia Governments Admit Remote Work Policies Are Broken

Southeast Asian government officials finally admitted what we've all known for years: their remote work policies are a complete mess.

At a regional summit this month, representatives from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand acknowledged they have no idea how to regulate nomads properly.

The Tech For Good Institute roundtable revealed what you're already experiencing - there's no systematic healthcare coverage, tax obligations are unclear across borders, and visa categories make zero sense.

Here's what's actually happening on the ground. Thailand's DTV sounds great with its 500,000 THB requirement, but most nomads are still using tourist visas because the official process is unclear.

The Philippines just slapped a 12% VAT on digital services without warning, messing up business models overnight. Singapore is still "evaluating" what to do with non-standard workers while you're left without clear protections.

The bigger issue? These governments can't even agree on the difference between remote workers and digital nomads, yet they're making policies affecting both.

Get ready for more documentation requirements and compliance costs as they scramble to create actual frameworks. Start building your financial documentation now and research healthcare gaps in your target countries.

Read the full government roundtable insights

Nomad Capitalist Gets US Visa Rejected After Renouncing Citizenship

Andrew Henderson from Nomad Capitalist shared his experience applying for a US tourist visa after renouncing his citizenship in 2017.

He applied at the US embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, which has a 62% rejection rate for tourist visas, and was denied after what he described as an aggressive interview process.

The consular officer questioned his multiple passports, relationship status, and travel intentions before ultimately rejecting his application for insufficient proof of non-immigrant intent.

This reveals a blind spot many nomads have when considering renunciation. You lose more than just tax obligations - you lose the automatic right to return home, even for family visits.

Every country treats former citizens as foreign nationals requiring visas, and rejection is always possible regardless of your previous relationship with that country.

Before renouncing any citizenship, research the visa requirements and approval rates for returning as a tourist.

Consider whether you're prepared to potentially never visit family again, attend important events, or handle emergencies that require physical presence.

The tax savings from renunciation might not be worth losing fundamental mobility rights, especially if you haven't built strong ties elsewhere first.

Watch his full visa rejection story

Romania Tops Europe's Most Accessible Nomad Destinations List

New research from Omio ranked Europe's most accessible digital nomad destinations based on cost of living, rent, internet speed, safety, and visa requirements.

Romania claimed the top spot with a cost of living index of just 37 (compared to 72 in the US) and rent index of 7, though it requires £3,700 monthly income for visa eligibility. Albania came second with the same low costs but only needing £800 monthly income proof.

The data reveals the classic nomad tradeoff between cost and infrastructure. Eastern European winners like Romania and Albania offer incredibly low living costs but sacrifice internet speed and sometimes safety scores.

Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal cost more but deliver superior connectivity - Spain scored 168 for fixed internet versus Romania's lower speeds.

For nomads planning European moves, this highlights why you need to prioritize your non-negotiables. If you're bootstrapping a business, Romania's low costs might outweigh slower internet.

If you're doing video calls all day, Spain's premium connectivity could justify the higher rent. The key is matching the destination to your current nomad stage and income level.

See the full European accessibility rankings

That’s it for today.

Thanks for reading, until next week!

Liam