HOW TO BECOME A DIGITAL NOMAD

How to Gain the Skills You Need to Live, Work & Travel as a Digital Nomad

How to Travel the World as a Digital Nomad

Are you looking for a viable way to get paid while traveling the world as a digital nomad? Would you like a job you can take with you to countries like Spain, Costa Rica, and Vietnam? Do you aspire to achieve global mobility by working remotely in fields like online teaching, digital marketing, or managing your business remotely?

If these scenarios resonate with you, then investing in the right operational skills and training is your ticket to a new life as a digital nomad. Thanks to the digital revolution and an explosion of remote earning opportunities, more than 35 million people have transitioned to a digital nomadic lifestyle, opening doors to endless adventures and income virtually anywhere in the world.

By pairing your own skills, education, and experience with International TEFL Academy’s specialized training, you gain the practical tools, expert guidance, and logistical skills you need to confidently manage visas, healthcare, and taxation. This foundation enables you to earn a reliable income while experiencing life around the world as a remote worker and a digital nomad.

What is a "Digital Nomad"?

A digital nomad is someone who uses technology to work remotely while living a flexible, travel-based lifestyle. People from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds—including online English teachers, remote employees, freelancers, and entrepreneurs—can build income streams and work from almost anywhere in the world. 

Check out this video of ITA alums Matt and Perlie in India as they answer questions and experience the world as digital nomads:

ITA Student working as a Digital Nomad


ITA Alum Teaching Online

How Can ITA Help You Become a Digital Nomad?

1. Digital Nomad Essentials Course

Custom-designed by International TEFL Academy, this interactive, 4-week part-time course provides both practical skills and a viable blueprint to make your transition to becoming a digital nomad. You will gain the skills you need to navigate the complex legal "grey areas" of traveling while working, including digital nomad visas, international tax frameworks (FEIE/FBAR), travel health insurance, financial planning and techniques for building community & preventing burnout. READ MORE

2. 170-Hour Online TEFL Certification Course

This award-winning standard TEFL certification will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need to be eligible for thousands of online and in-person English teaching jobs in up to 80 countries worldwide.  READ MORE

3. Teaching English Online TEFL Specialty Course

Custom-designed by experts in TEFL and virtual education, this 2-week, 30-hour course provides specialized training specifically in the field of Teaching English Online (TEO). Not only will you enhance your virtual teaching skills, but you will also gain a certificate that stands out to employers, and you will receive the resources and guidance you need to recruit students & navigate the international job market for teaching ESL online.  READ MORE

4. Tutoring English TEFL Specialty Course

Private tutoring for English is a multi-billion dollar industry that provides excellent earning opportunities in nearly every country in the world. In this 30-hour, two-week online specialty course, you will not only learn the nuances and best practices for giving private English lessons, but you will also learn to build and grow your own private tutoring business. READ MORE

5. Lifetime Job Search Guidance

Every student and alumni of the International TEFL Academy's standard TEFL courses are granted an unparalleled, lifetime membership to a wealth of guidance and tools essential for securing English teaching positions both online and on-site across over 80 countries globally. This exclusive access encompasses tailored advice from seasoned advisors, a treasure trove of resources from our first-of-its-kind Alumni Corner, practical how-to manuals, live & recorded webinars, detailed directories featuring contact information for over 20,000 educational institutions, and direct referrals to elite recruiters and prominent online educational companies.   READ MORE

6. Access to Worldwide Alumni Community & Networks

With ITA's TEFL certification and advanced specialty courses, not only will you receive world-class training and access to the best job guidance in the field, but you will also join an international community of 50,000+ teachers and travelers. With our worldwide networks and graduates in 80 countries, you can connect with other ITA graduates to share knowledge, ask questions, arrange social get-togethers, share job tips, and even find a roommate!

Your Options to Earn Income as a Digital Nomad

1. Take your existing skills and profession on the road. If you work in digital marketing, tech, consulting, copywriting, or run an independent small business, you can take your job with you as you travel from country to country. As a digital nomad, you can seamlessly run your remote operations or freelance business from anywhere in the world, provided you have optimized your travel tech infrastructure and internet reliability.

2. Teach English online and take your job with you as you travel from country to country. As an online English teacher, you can work from anywhere in the world as long as you have a strong internet connection. READ MORE

3. Teach English Online & Take on Private Students for In-person Tutoring.  In most countries, there are huge markets for in-person English language tutoring. In fact, most English teachers will take on private students at some point during their international teaching career.  The pay is good and it's a great way to meet locals and get involved with your local community.  Then, if you decide to move on to another country, you can continue to provide lessons virtually online.  READ MORE

4. Blend Online Work with Local Income Opportunities. Many remote professionals choose to combine virtual work—like teaching English online,  or digital marketing—with supplemental local opportunities, such as in-person private language tutoring. This is an exceptional way to boost your monthly earning potential, meet locals, and become deeply involved with your host community.

ITA Alum Living as a Digital Nomad

 

Digital Nomad FAQs

What Are the Best Countries for Working as a Digital Nomad?

For many remote working jobs, like teaching English online, you can work from virtually any country on earth, as long as you have a strong internet connection.

Research compiled by the World Economic Forum shows that there are now over 40 million digital nomads worldwide, heavily concentrated in areas with high safety indexes and reliable digital infrastructure.

One thing to bear in mind is that many online jobs are typically paid in US dollars, which have increased purchasing power in countries with a lower cost of living.  This includes many nations in Latin America like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru, as well as Southeast Asia countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam

RELATED: 10 Best Locations for Digital Nomad Online English Teachers

How Much Can I Earn As a Digital Nomad?

Your earning potential depends entirely on your industry and experience level. Remote professionals in IT, digital marketing, and independent business owners can earn standard corporate salaries, while specialized private ESL tutors routinely make $30–$50 an hour coaching international students for proficiency exams.

According to data from MBO Partners, a record 18.5 million American workers now work remotely —proving that working virtually can viably support a comfortable, high-quality lifestyle abroad, especially in destinations where the cost of living is significantly lower than in Western nations.

READ MORE:

 

How Do I Find Remote Jobs for Working as a Digital Nomad?

If you are a digital freelancer or corporate remote employee, you will most likely secure opportunities through global remote job boards, specialized contracting platforms, or direct networking on platforms like LinkedIn.

If you choose teaching English online, you can apply directly to virtual education companies or market your services independently to private clients worldwide. Enrolling in the Digital Nomad Essentials Course provides guidance on remote job hunting, building an online presence, and establishing a diversified financial pipeline.

One of the advantages of online work is that you can access professional international opportunities with companies and organizations that are not accessible when you are tethered to a particular geographic location in your home country.

What Visa Will I Need to Work Abroad as a Digital Nomad?

The visa(s) you will need to work abroad as a digital nomad will vary based on where you want to live and work.  In many countries, you can stay and work online as an English country simply on a tourist visa for 1-3 months. 

While many nomads historically relied on short-term tourist visas, the legal landscape has modernized rapidly. Today, roughly 60 to 70 countries globally have officially established dedicated Digital Nomad Visa programs designed to grant legal residency to remote workers, freelancers, and online business owners.

ITA's Digital Nomad Essentials course teaches you how to navigate these legal frameworks, manage border regulations, and comply with international tax requirements like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE).

READ MORE:

Do I Need Previous Teaching Experience to Live & Work as a Digital Nomad?

NO!  You do not need business background, corporate remote role, or extensive travel history to live a digital nomadic lifestyle.  Also you do not need a college degree work remotely. Teaching English online is ne example of a field where non-degree holdersare able to earn a solid income and even build their own online business.

ITA TEFL and speicalty courses, including the Digital Nomad Essentials course, will provide you with the training, skills, and qualifications you need to live and travel internationally as a digital nomad.

READ MORE: Do I Need Previous Teaching Experience to Teach English Abroad?

Got questions or want to sign up?
Please call 773-634-9900 or fill out a contact form below.

Enrollment Information for Digital Nomad Bundle Offering

IMPORTANT! Before enrolling for any International TEFL Academy TEFL course or offering, it is imperative that you speak to an Admissions Advisor.

Your advisor will answer your questions and assist you with matters such as your eligibility & enrollment; course costs & logistics (such as housing); and your options for employment as an English teacher once you complete your TEFL Course.

To speak with an advisor, please call 773-634-9900 or fill out a contact form.

Online TEFL Courses

Full-time/Part-time 💻

ITA offers two Online TEFL Courses that are taught by expert professors & incorporate live practice teaching. These 2 courses enable you to get certified at home in just 4 weeks, or in 11 weeks while working full-time or going to school.

 

Worldwide TEFL Courses

4-Week, Full-Time 🏫

International TEFL Academy offers accredited TEFL certification 4-week courses in 23 locations worldwide. 

 

Accreditation

OFQUAL, Level 5

All ITA TEFL courses meet or exceed international standards for professional-level TEFL certification and are internationally accredited. Our certifications are recognized worldwide & our graduates are teaching English in 80 countries.

 

Job Search Guidance

Lifetime Assistance

All ITA students & graduates receive lifetime Job Search Guidance to gain employment teaching English in up to 80 countries worldwide, including personal guidance from experienced advisors.

 

Visit the Spain section of our blog & our video library for more stories by our alumni about their experiences teaching English in Spain.