Visa jumping: the restless life between stamps

There’s a growing subculture of people who sell or store most of their belongings and live on the move, cycling through short-term leases in new countries every few months. Sometimes called “visa jumping,” it overlaps with the digital nomad wave but carries a more transient rhythm: three months here, three months there, funded by remote work or savings, with life packed into a couple of bags and a laptop.

Why it’s appealing

- Freedom and novelty: New languages, food, landscapes, and friends every season.

- Geoarbitrage: Earning in a strong currency while spending in lower-cost destinations can extend savings or increase disposable income.

- Creative spark: Constant exposure to new environments can freshen thinking and broaden networks.

- Flexible career paths: Many tech, design, writing, marketing, and operations roles now run globally and asynchronously.

How it works, in practice

- Short-stay permissions: Many countries allow limited stays for tourists or visitors. People hop before that period expires and start fresh elsewhere.

- Short-term housing: Platforms and local Facebook/Telegram groups make month-to-month apartments fairly accessible, though price and quality swing widely.

- Remote infrastructure: Coworking spaces, eSIMs, portable setups, cloud tools, and international banking make it feasible to work from nearly anywhere with reliable internet.

The hidden costs

- Legal gray areas: Regularly entering on tourist status while effectively “living” somewhere can draw scrutiny. Border agents can deny entry if they suspect you’re not a genuine visitor.

- Taxes and bureaucracy: Frequent movers can trigger tax residency rules, social security obligations, or permanent establishment risks for employers/clients. Double-tax treaties help but add complexity.

- Housing pressures: In popular hubs, short-term rentals can squeeze local housing supply and raise prices, feeding community tensions.

- Burnout and loneliness: Constant transitions mean less routine, fewer close friendships, and decision fatigue. Relationships can be hard to maintain on a 90-day clock.

- Healthcare gaps: Coverage may not follow you across borders. Access, quality, and costs vary, and preexisting conditions add complexity.

- Financial volatility: Currency swings, seasonality in rent, sudden flight costs, or a lost client can disrupt plans.

Legal and ethical responsibilities

- Stay within the law: Respect entry rules, durations, and work restrictions. If you plan to work while abroad, use a visa type that permits it. Many countries now offer remote work or digital nomad visas.

- Mind the tax side: You can be tax-resident in a country even without a visa label saying “resident.” Track days, understand thresholds, and consult a qualified professional familiar with cross-border issues.

- Insurance and documentation: Carry health and travel insurance suited to long stays. Keep proof of funds, onward travel, and accommodation handy. Register with local authorities when required.

- Be a good neighbor: Choose housing that doesn’t displace long-term residents, follow local norms, learn basics of the language, and contribute to the community you’re enjoying.

Making it sustainable

- Slow down: Longer stays (3–12 months) reduce environmental impact, costs, and stress, and deepen cultural connection. “Slowmad” beats “sprint.”

- Pick clear frameworks: Prefer destinations with explicit remote work or freelancer residence options (e.g., digital nomad or freelancer visas), rather than relying on repeated tourist entries.

- Build buffers: Aim for a multi-month emergency fund, diversify clients, and keep backup payment rails. Expect occasional border hiccups or sudden apartment changes.

- Establish routines: Set working hours, fitness habits, and weekly rituals. Familiar rhythms counterbalance unfamiliar places.

- Curate your kit: Travel light but work heavy ... reliable laptop, noise-canceling headphones, surge protector, international cards, and backups for 2FA. Redundancy prevents disaster.

- Mind the time zones: Choose locations that align with your team or clients. Chronic 2 a.m. calls erode both performance and morale.

- Prioritize health: Know vaccination requirements, research clinics, and keep a personal health file. Consider therapy or coaching for the emotional whiplash of constant change.

- Give back: Volunteer, mentor, or support local businesses beyond the expat bubble. Leave places better than you found them.

Is visa jumping for you?

Ask yourself:

- Do I handle uncertainty well, and can I self-manage without external structure?

- Can my work truly be done remote-first across time zones?

- Am I willing to comply fully with visas, registrations, and taxes ... even when it’s tedious?

- Do I have the savings buffer to absorb shocks?

- Will frequent moves support or undermine my relationships and mental health?

Alternatives to consider

- Base-and-bolt: Maintain a primary home base (often where you’re a tax resident) and take extended trips from there.

- Seasonal rotation: Two or three recurring bases per year. Familiarity reduces friction; communities can deepen.

- Trial runs: Pilot a single three-month stay before committing to lifestyle overhaul.

- Formal residency: For longer-term stability, consider freelancer or remote work visas that allow you to settle for a year or more.

The bottom line

“Visa jumping” spotlights both the promise and the pitfalls of a border-light world. The freedom is real ... and so are the responsibilities. A thoughtful approach favors slower travel, legal clarity, community-minded choices, and personal sustainability. If you embrace the lifestyle with respect for the places and people you touch, it can be a profoundly rewarding way to live and work; if you treat every city as a short-term commodity, it will eventually treat you the same way.

- Julia O’Hara 2025

THANK YOU for reading my work. I am a global nomad/permanent traveler, or Coddiwombler, if you will, and I move from place to place about every three months. I am currently in Peru and heading to Chile in a few days and from there, who knows? I enjoy writing articles, stories, songs and poems about life, spirituality and my travels. You can find my songs linked below. Feel free to like and subscribe on any of the platforms. And if you are inspired to, tips are always appreciated, but not necessary. I just like sharing.

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