COLOMBO – Sri Lanka cabinet of ministers has cleared a proposal to give visas for up to one year for foreign visitors who can work remotely and stay in the country for long periods.
“Facilitating such tourists has been a growing trend in the tourism industry,” a government statement said.
“Digital travellers often stay in restaurants, public libraries, and other such venues and provide their services online through devices with internet access.”
Availability of high-speed internet, long-term visas, affordable accommodation, tax exemption for earnings are among the requirements to draw such visitors, the statement said.
Several countries in Asia and Europe now offer ‘digital nomad’ visas for remote workers who can prove a foreign income.
Some countries also offer nomad visas to remote freelancer workers abroad to come to the country and stay for a long period. They will therefore spend their income within the country.
Some countries also offer e-residency.
Fast-growing East Asian nations generally have a liberal visa regime for foreign nationals and investors with countries like Singapore providing a naturalization track, especially for high-income earners.
Sri Lanka enacted an extreme nationalist immigration law barring thousands of years of naturalization shortly after independence from British rulemaking many who were born in the country also stateless, critics say.
-economynext.com