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Comment by mattmanser | Hacker News Reader

I don't think it's ridiculous, you might even argue we're at "peak" digital nomad. There's definitely pushback building, here's an example from recently:

‘There’s an arrogance to the way they move around the city’: is it time for digital nomads like me to leave Lisbon?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/27/lisbon-portuga...

I know the guardian can be very hand wringy, but digital nomads are going to get swept up in the general anti-migration narrative that most populaces are now feeling. Anti-mass-migration in most populations, anti-tourist in Venice, anti-nomad in Portugal.

Locals are feeling betrayed by their politicians and foreigners are an easy target to point at and say "why is this happening". The Lisbon example is especially egregious, with the digital nomads being taxed less than locals. Locals are subsidizing their lifestyles.

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"Locals are subsidizing their lifestyles"

Same feelings towards non-nomadic Expats in The Netherlands - because of the "30% tax free for Expats".

Meanwhile the truth is that some 15-20 years ago - Dutch government introduced that "30% tax rule" as a cost saving measures.

Previously expats in The Netherlands would collect bills/receipts for expatriation related expenses (e.g. language classes, international school for kids, differences in cost of living/housing ...etc).

And processing those tax claims was so much bureaucracy that Dutch government realized just giving expats 30% of gross income tax free for 10 years (reduced to 8 and then 5 years) is both less money than actual expenses used to be, and much less paperwork/cost.

And let's not forget that (definitely for non-nomadic expats, though arguably also for digital nomads) country didn't need to pay their birth/growing up, education ...etc.

And (especially for digital nomads) might not need to cover the costs for their old age health, retirement and such.

> but digital nomads are going to get swept up in the general anti-migration narrative that most populaces are now feeling

Can you name one digital nomad visa that has been scrapped in the last year or two?

I can name a few dozen that have been implemented.

When I started in 2017 there was maybe 3 or 4 places you could move on Earth with a six figure USD salary as a remote worker, it was always a grey zone to go places on tourist visas but that's how people rolled and countries knew how good a deal it was for them compared to raising/educating/supporting locals so let it slide. There's over 70 legal valid options now for remote workers in 2025.

The easily proven evidence doesn't stack up with the narrative people and newspapers likes the Guardian are trying to push for clicks.

I personally couldn't care less if locals don't like me. My own countrymen are jealous about me having a good paying remote job too.

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