The ultimate guide for digital nomads to prepare for a nomadic lifestyle

Before you set off on your digital nomad journey, a bit of planning goes a long way. Think about where you will live and work, what paperwork you need, and how to stay compliant and healthy while you travel. Becoming a digital nomad requires some careful planning beforehand. It’s not the most fun part of the journey to take care of the necessary things, but good planning minimizes the headache later. Here is the digital nomad checklist of things to prepare before starting your nomadic lifestyle. 

How to pick the right accommodation for remote work? 

Decide first how long you will stay in one place. If you plan to stay a year or more, check local rental platforms, as they are often cheaper and better suited for long-term living. For shorter stays, Airbnb, Booking.com, and similar platforms are convenient. 

Next, choose your work setup. Will you remote work from home, a café, or a coworking space? If you want to work from your accommodation, make sure you’ll have strong enough WFI in your accommodation. Do not rely only on owners’ claims like “high-speed Wi-Fi.” Read the recent reviews to see whether other travelers have successfully worked from the property, since that is usually the best indicator of how reliable the internet is. We would also recommend having a local SIM card or E-SIM with local internet just in case.  

Another option for an accommodation that suits the nomadic lifestyle can be a coliving. In many digital nomad friendly destinations, there are more and more coliving options available. Coliving means that you share the apartment with several remote workers or travelers. You’ll have your own room, but other facilities are often shared. The good part of coliving is that they usually have a good setup for working and reliable WIFI. 

Check out the list of the best digital nomad cities in 2025!

How to prepare financially to the digital nomad lifestyle? 

Before becoming a digital nomad, make sure you have an emergency fund and easy access to your money abroad. Open accounts with online banks or services like Wise or Revolut that allow you to hold and transfer multiple currencies. Check if your credit and debit cards work internationally and if there are foreign transaction fees. 

Set a clear monthly budget that includes rent, food, coworking, insurance, and travel costs. Planning ahead prevents financial stress when you are on the move. 

Best travel and health insurance options for digital nomads

A solid insurance plan is one of the most important things for the nomadic lifestyle. Look for travel or global health insurance that covers medical care, accidents, and personal belongings. Some countries require proof of insurance to issue a visa. Read the fine print carefully so you know what is covered and what is not.

Digital nomad taxes: double taxation, and other tax rules

As a rule of thumb, spending more than six months in a country may make you a tax resident there. Rules vary by country and personal situation, so research in advance, especially if you plan a longer stay. In some cases, you may be liable for taxes in both your home country and the country you are visiting. Understanding double taxation treaties and seeking professional advice can help you avoid surprises.

Check out the permits and visas you need beforehand

Be meticulous about entry and stay permissions. Depending on your passport, you may need a visa, and visa categories come with different conditions and length-of-stay limits. Overstaying a visa is a serious offense, so track your days carefully.

Within the EU, citizens of EU member states can stay in another EU country for up to three months without registering. If you remain longer, you typically need to register at the local town hall, but check the specific rules for your destination.

Better safe than sorry: Take care of vaccinations before heading of to your nomad journey

Depending on where you are coming from and where you are going, additional vaccinations may be recommended. For example, travelers to Southeast Asia are often advised to have hepatitis A and B vaccinations. Review official health guidance for your destinations and consider carrying a basic travel health kit and proof of vaccination where relevant.

Picking destinations you’ll actually enjoy

With so many places to choose from, start by narrowing things down to one region at a time rather than comparing the whole world at once. Think about what you actually value in a place: warm weather, easy access to the coast or mountains, or the energy of a city. What works for someone else might not work for you; a place like Bali can feel inspiring to one nomad and overwhelming to the next. Where possible, try a destination for a few weeks first and extend if it feels right, since most places start to feel more comfortable once you settle in and begin meeting people.

You can start that research with our article on the best digital nomad cities.

When slow travel beats hopping every month

Jumping from place to place every few weeks can quietly wear you down: the constant packing, setting up new spaces and saying goodbye starts to drain the excitement that made this lifestyle appealing in the first place. Slowing down at that point is not a failure, it is often exactly what’s needed. Spending six months or even a year in one place, often made possible through the same digital nomad visas covered above, gives your routines time to take root without giving up your freedom. With more time in one place, friendships grow deeper and nomadic life starts to feel sustainable again, rather than a constant race to the next destination.

The last part that we have taken care of for you: friendships

Take Friendchise, the friend-finder app, with you on your journey, and you’ll find friends wherever you are. On Friendchise, you can ask people spontaneously for a coffee, a drink or ma eal, or you can join the other people’s plans. It’s a super easy low-effort way to meet new like-minded people in real life. Through Friendchise, you can find people who enjoy the same things as you do and find new long-lasting connections.

Before you go, make sure you’ve packed right: see our digital nomad packing list.

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