Digital nomads are frequently typecast as tech-savvy Millennials remotely working via an Internet connection while living as an expatriate.
However, they come in all shapes and sizes.
The charming Baltic country of Estonia is offering a visa targeted at digital nomads and other countries will likely copy this progressive type of visa.
Estonia’s revolutionary visa allows digital nomads to work in Estonia all year round.
This visa also includes 90 days of travel in the Schengen Zone of mainland Europe.
This visa isn't targeted at EU citizens who already reap the benefits of freedom of movement within the EU.
Estonia is on a mission to stockpile innovative minds in a country that prides itself as a start-up hub.
More importantly, jacking up the volume of tech workers is becoming an existential issue for many sovereign countries as developed countries reap the monetary rewards from such new cutting-edge technology.
The Baltic nation of Estonia was an architect of tech innovation in the past, rolling out Skype before Facebook and Twitter existed.
Skype was entirely comprised of local Estonian developers who achieved this in the early 2000s.
Quite a feat for such a small population.
These digital nomads create communities that harness an enormous flow of tech know-how.
Tallinn, Estonia has erupted into a top 10 digital stronghold attracting hordes of digital nomads.
If technical issues arise, help is on the way!
The message is that simple.
Estonia does not care if you drink kombucha lattes or if you eat green tea ice cream.
Their main concern is if you know how to use a computer well or not - plain and simple.
The global tech talent shortage is a leading issue in many megacities, and this is just the beginning of a world led by digital nomads.
Try hiring an experienced artificial intelligence engineer on the cheap, and headhunters will just hang up and delete your contact information.
Better not to low-ball an offer or skimp with benefits.
The world has moved on from outdated visa policies.
Expect more exotic visa targeting immigrants who bring value-added computer skills in topics such as machine learning, software engineering, and fintech.
Many of these Baltic countries bleed huge swaths of youth that migrate to higher-wage countries in Western Europe.
Sadly, they never come back unless visiting relatives, in effect crushing the local birth rate.
The Estonian government has been bold and is, in some ways, acting with a start-up mentality itself.
This young, audacious government looks to scale up as fast as possible. The visionary policy is seen as the solution to maneuvering around long-lasting social problems.
These pro-growth tech policies could invigorate local youth offering them a lifeline in their own country.
Rebranding itself as the digital nomad epicenter is a risky move that most governments wouldn't dare to do.
It's easy to ignore the brain drain in the Baltics while I am based in the Bay Area.
Silicon Valley has been drawing in the Rolls Royce of tech talent for generations.
How can diminutive Estonia engineer tech growth?
They must learn how to crawl before they can walk.
If this visa experiment gains momentum, it could be a game-changer while nudging the Baltics closer into the developed West’s orbit of influence, reinvigorating the local birth rate, and rising income levels.
A win-win situation.
As for me, I won't be taking a $200 flight to Estonia to work in a coffee shop.
I prefer Incline Village, Nevada, and Zermatt, Switzerland, as my favorite digital nomad strongholds.
If it's not broke, don't fix it.
