• Bali and Costa Rica launched their highly anticipated “digital nomad visas” this summer. 
• They join dozens of countries hoping to attract virtual workers to boost the local economy.
• Three digital nomads from Ghana, the UK, and Canada gave Insider an inside look at the application process. 

Bali and Costa Rica recently joined the growing list of countries that offer residence visas specifically for remote workers, also known as “digital nomad visas.” 

Prior to the pandemic, the term digital nomad was fundamentally at odds with the corporate 9-to-5 crowd. Now, tourism-dependent countries are hoping the new wave of remote workers with consistent paychecks will create a more reliable source of economic activity.

That’s the case for Sean McNulty, the CEO and founder of asset management firm XIB International. The 38-year-old Canadian has been living and working remotely from Bermuda with his wife Jana through the island’s digital nomad program since November 2020. He told Insider they plan to live on the island for at least three more years and are considering raising a family there. 

After applying through the program website, the couple was approved “within a week,” McNulty said, adding that working in finance likely aided his application as Bermuda looks to diversify the economic activity on the island. 

Applicants must pay a $263 fee, provide proof of employment outside of the…