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USA digital nomad visa: there isn't one
The United States has no visa for remote workers. Visitors come in on ESTA (up to 90 days) or a B-1/B-2 visa, and the official pages don't say that working remotely for a foreign employer is allowed. Here's what they do say, and where to go instead.
- Nomad visa
- None
- Visa Waiver stay
- Up to 90 days, no extensions
- B-1/B-2 visa
- Stays set at entry
- ESTA
- $40.62, valid 2 years
What exists today
Visa Waiver Program and ESTA: up to 90 days
The Visa Waiver Program lets citizens of 42 countries visit the US for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. Recent additions include Israel and Qatar; Romania's designation was rescinded on May 2, 2025 before it took effect.
You need an approved ESTA and an e-passport (with a chip). The official ESTA site lists a fee of $40.62 (USAGov's page, last updated April 2026, still shows $40.27). An approved ESTA is generally valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires if sooner, and covers multiple visits. A decision can take up to 72 hours. An ESTA doesn't guarantee entry: CBP officers decide at the border.
For stays over 90 days you need a visa from a US embassy or consulate, applied for while you're outside the US. You can't extend a Visa Waiver stay.
Sources: CBP: Visa Waiver Program ↗, DHS: Visa Waiver Program (country list) ↗, Official ESTA application site ↗, USAGov ↗, USCIS ↗ · read Nov 1, 2026
B-1 and B-2 visitor visas
B-1 (business): for activities like consulting with business associates, negotiating a contract or attending a conference. USCIS says the initial stay is 1 to 6 months (6 months maximum), with extensions of up to 6 months at a time; the total time in B-1 status on one trip is generally 1 year.
B-2 (pleasure): under federal regulations, a B-2 visitor "may not engage in any employment." CBP adds that you can't do B-1 business activities while admitted on a B-2 visa.
Sources: USCIS: B-1 Temporary Business Visitor ↗, 8 CFR 214.1(e) (eCFR) ↗, CBP: B-1 Permissible Activities (Jan 2026) ↗ · read Nov 1, 2026
What about working remotely during a visit?
None of the official visitor pages we read (CBP, DHS, USCIS, USAGov, the ESTA site) addresses remote work for a foreign employer, either to allow it or to rule it out. CBP's B-1 guidance says business activities such as negotiating contracts or consulting with associates are generally permissible as long as you aren't paid by a US employer or business. It also says, about athletes, that it's not permissible to "in effect, live and work in the United States."
That's a gap, not a green light. If working is part of your plan, ask a US embassy or consulate, or CBP, before you travel. Compare Canada, whose immigration department explicitly allows remote work for foreign employers during a visitor stay.
Source: CBP: B-1 Permissible Activities (Jan 2026) ↗ · read Nov 1, 2026
Extending a visitor stay
If you came in on a B visa, you can ask USCIS to extend your stay on Form I-539. USCIS recommends applying at least 45 days before your authorized stay expires. You can't extend if you came in under the Visa Waiver Program.
Sources: USCIS: Extend your stay ↗, USCIS: B-1 Temporary Business Visitor ↗ · read Nov 1, 2026
Not legal advice. CBP officers decide on entry and length of stay at the border. Nothing here covers tax. Check with the US embassy or consulate that handles your country before you rely on it.
Next door: Canada's visitor route for remote workers
Canada has no nomad visa either, but its immigration department says digital nomads can work for a foreign employer, or for clients outside Canada if self-employed, while staying as visitors for up to 6 months at a time. Since May 2026 you have to be able to show your income is earned entirely outside Canada. Full Canada guide.
Nearby countries with a real remote-work visa
If you want a visa built for remote workers, these four in the Americas are open and checked on their official pages.
| Visa | Money test | Stay | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MexicoTemporary Resident Visa | Monthly net income > 680 days of UMA (≈€3,993) over last 6 months, OR average balance of 11,460 days of UMA (≈€67,325) over last 12 months | More than 180 days up to 4 years | consulmex.sre.gob.mx ↗Checked Nov 1, 2026 |
| Costa RicaDigital Nomad Visa | USD 3,000 per month (USD 4,000 per month if dependents apply too) | 1 year | racsa.go.cr ↗Checked Nov 1, 2026 |
| PanamaShort Stay Remote Worker Visa | B/.36,000 per year (B/.3,000/month) from foreign source | 9 months | migracion.gob.pa ↗Checked Nov 1, 2026 |
| BarbadosBarbados Welcome Stamp | USD 50,000 per year | Up to 12 months | barbadoswelcomestamp.bb ↗Checked Nov 1, 2026 |
Compare them head to head
Quick answers
Does the US have a digital nomad visa?
No. As of Nov 1, 2026, the United States has no visa or permit for digital nomads or remote workers. Short visits go through the Visa Waiver Program (up to 90 days) or a B-1/B-2 visitor visa (cbp.gov, read Nov 1, 2026).
Can I work remotely in the US on ESTA or a tourist visa?
The official visitor pages we read don't address remote work for a foreign employer either way. What they do say: a B-2 visitor for pleasure "may not engage in any employment" (8 CFR 214.1(e)), and CBP says B-1 business activities are generally permissible only if you aren't paid by a US employer or business (cbp.gov, read Nov 1, 2026). If you plan to work during a visit, ask a US embassy or consulate, or CBP, before you travel.
How long can I stay in the US without a visa?
Up to 90 days per visit under the Visa Waiver Program, for citizens of the 42 participating countries with an approved ESTA. For stays over 90 days you must apply for a visa at a US embassy or consulate while outside the US. VWP visitors can't extend their stay (usa.gov, read Nov 1, 2026; uscis.gov).
How much does ESTA cost and how long is it valid?
The official ESTA site lists a fee of $40.62 (USAGov's page, last updated April 2026, still shows $40.27). An approved ESTA is generally valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires if sooner, and covers multiple visits. A decision can take up to 72 hours (esta.cbp.dhs.gov, usa.gov, read Nov 1, 2026).
How long can I stay on a B-1 business visa?
USCIS says the initial stay is 1 to 6 months (6 months maximum), with extensions of up to 6 months; the total time in B-1 status on one trip is generally 1 year (uscis.gov, read Nov 1, 2026).
Is there a nomad visa near the US?
Canada has no nomad visa either, but its immigration department lets digital nomads work for foreign employers or clients while visiting for up to 6 months. Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Barbados have remote-work visas we've checked on their official pages.