LEGAL STATUS AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF DIGITAL NOMADS: AN ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL MIGRATION

Abstract

In the context of rapidly accelerating global digitalization and increasing workforce mobility, the phenomenon of digital nomads has gained growing relevance for contemporary legal scholarship and migration policy. Digital nomads constitute a distinct category of remote workers who perform most of their work online while traveling continuously between countries. Despite their expanding numbers and significance in the global economy, the legal regulation of this phenomenon remains fragmented and underexplored.

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the legal, socio-economic, and institutional aspects related to digital nomads within the context of global migration. Employing methods such as comparative legal analysis, content analysis of international normative documents, and case studies, the research examines practices in several leading countries that have introduced special visa regimes for digital nomads, including Estonia, Portugal, Croatia, and Kazakhstan.

The results highlight key legal challenges: ambiguity in determining tax residency, the absence of unified international standards, and the risk of informal or shadow employment models. Recommendations are offered to harmonize international and domestic legal norms and to establish mechanisms protecting both digital nomads and host states. The findings offer valuable insights for migration policy makers, international organizations, and employers relying on remote work frameworks.

Keywords: digital nomads, remote workers, workforce mobility, visa regulation, migration.