Digital Nomad
Digital Nomad Residence Programme
💰 Minimum Income
No minimum income threshold. Financial commitment is demonstrated through a refundable USD 10,000 deposit in TER tokens (gold-backed digital tokens) held at DK Bank.
⏱️ Duration
12 months, renewable up to 24 months total.
👪 Dependants
No
No information about sponsoring dependants has been published in official programme materials.
Bhutan's Digital Nomad Residence Programme is a residence permit launched in January 2026 through the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a Special Administrative Region established by Royal Charter. The programme is administered by the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA) in partnership with NomadClub LLC. It targets digital nomads, entrepreneurs, remote professionals, and self-employed individuals whose work is location-independent. Holders can reside and travel freely throughout the entire Kingdom of Bhutan, not only within the GMC zone. Notably, the programme waives the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 100 per person per night that normally applies to international visitors.
Requirements
- Must be a professional, entrepreneur, or self-employed individual whose work is location-independent
- Work must align with GMC's strategic direction (sustainable development, mindful living, future-ready economic systems)
- Refundable deposit of USD 10,000 equivalent in TER tokens (gold-backed digital tokens on the Solana blockchain) held at DK Bank
- Non-refundable annual programme fee of USD 2,800
- No minimum monthly income threshold
Application Process
Applications are submitted exclusively through the GMC partner portal (partners.digitalgmc.com) operated by NomadClub LLC. The process follows four steps:
- Check eligibility -- confirm you are a professional, entrepreneur, or self-employed individual in an eligible sector
- Submit application -- apply online and pay the USD 2,800 non-refundable annual programme fee
- Open DK Bank account -- open an account at Digital Kidu (DK Bank) and deposit a minimum of USD 10,000 equivalent in TER tokens
- Receive residence permit -- obtain the 12-month digital nomad residence permit
Processing time: Initial approval within 48-72 hours.
Fees: USD 2,800 annual programme fee (non-refundable) plus USD 10,000 refundable deposit in TER tokens.
Duration & Renewal
The initial permit is valid for 12 months and can be renewed for up to 24 months total. Specific renewal procedures have not been detailed in official programme materials.
Employment Restrictions
Holders may conduct location-independent professional activity. The programme is designed for work performed remotely for entities or clients outside Bhutan.
Tax Implications
Digital Nomad Residence Programme holders are generally taxed only on income sourced within Bhutan, not on global foreign earnings. Holders should consult a tax adviser for their specific situation.
Important Considerations
The programme operates under the GMC Special Administrative Region's autonomous legal framework, which adopts Singapore law for corporate and commercial matters, rather than under Bhutan's standard immigration system. It is not listed among the visa categories on the Department of Immigration website.
The requirement to convert USD 10,000 into TER (a cryptocurrency token on the Solana blockchain) introduces exposure to digital asset and blockchain-related risks, even though TER is gold-backed. Each TER token represents 0.01 grams of 99.99% fine gold stored in international vaults.
The programme is operated exclusively by NomadClub LLC, a Dubai-based private company, in partnership with GMCA. The official GMC website (gmc.bt) does not currently reference the Digital Nomad Residence Programme. Applicants should independently verify the programme's current status and terms before committing funds.
Other Visa Programs in Asia
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Funds Required↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | Citizenship↕ | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Highly Skilled Migrant Programme | — | — | — | — | 3 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Investor Temporary Residence Permit | — | AZN 100,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Property Owners | — | BHD 130,000 one-time | — | — | 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Talented Individuals | — | — | — | — | 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Investor) | — | BHD 100,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Property Owner) | — | BHD 50,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Retired Foreigner) | BHD 500 / month | — | — | — | 2 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Investor Visa | — | $75,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Digital Nomad Residence Programme | No minimum income thresho... | — | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | No | — | ||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Investor Card | — | BTN 15,000,000 one-time | — | — | 3 years | Yes | Yes (20yr) | ||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H) | — | $100,000 one-time | — | — | 10 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Retirement Visa (ER Extension of Stay) | $1,500 / month | — | — | — | 1 month — 1 year | No | Yes | ||
🇨🇳 China | Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category) | — | $500,000 one-time | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇨🇳 China | Private Affairs Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship) | — | — | — | CN¥50,000 one-time | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Investment Residence Permit | — | $300,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes (10yr) | ||
🇬🇪 Georgia | IT Residence Permit | $25,000 / year | — | — | — | 3 years | Yes | Yes (10yr) | ||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Remotely from Georgia | $2,000 / month | — | — | — | 6 months — 1 year | Yes | — | ||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Short-Term Residence Permit (Property Ownership) | — | $150,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes | ||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | No fixed minimum; must de... | 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme | — | HK$30,000,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — Permanent | Yes | — | ||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme | — | — | — | — | 3 years — 8 years | Yes | — | ||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Top Talent Pass Scheme | HK$2,500,000 / year | — | — | — | 2 years — 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇮🇳 India | Permanent Residency Status for Foreign Investors | — | ₹100,000,000 one-time | — | — | 10 years — 20 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Global Talent) | $2,000 / month | — | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | $350,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Remote Worker KITAS | $60,000 / year | — | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Retirement KITAS | $1,500 / month | — | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Silver Hair Visa | $3,000 / month | — | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇮🇷 Iran | Investor Residence Permit | — | €100,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇮🇷 Iran | Special Residence Permit for Non-Iranian Elites | — | — | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇮🇶 Iraq | Investment Residency | — | No fixed minimum investme... | — | — | 1 year | No | Yes | ||
🇮🇱 Israel | B/5 Investor Visa | — | $220,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇮🇱 Israel | Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | No minimum capital requir... | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇯🇵 Japan | Business Manager Visa | — | — | — | ¥30,000,000 one-time | 6 months — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇯🇵 Japan | Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation) | ¥30,000,000 one-time | — | — | — | 6 months — 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇯🇵 Japan | Digital Nomad Visa | ¥10,000,000 / year | — | — | — | 6 months | Yes | No | ||
🇯🇵 Japan | Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find) | — | — | — | — | 6 months — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇯🇵 Japan | Startup Visa | — | — | — | No fixed minimum capital ... | 1 year — 2 years | No | — | ||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Annual Residence Permit Based on Bank Deposit | JOD 10,000 one-time | — | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Citizenship by Investment | — | JOD 500,000 one-time | — | — | 3 years — Permanent | Yes | Yes (3yr) | ||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Residency by Investment | — | JOD 200,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | A6 Investor Visa (Golden Visa) | — | $300,000 one-time | — | — | 10 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | C5 Business Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | No minimum capital for sm... | 90 days — 2 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Digital Nomad Residency | No minimum income require... | — | — | — | 1 year — 10 years | No | — | ||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Neo Nomad Visa | $3,000 / month | — | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Permanent Residence Visa for In-Demand Professions | — | — | — | — | 90 days — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇰🇼 Kuwait | Investor Residency Permit | — | No fixed minimum — KDIPA ... | — | — | 5 years — 15 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Digital Nomad Status | No fixed minimum income t... | — | — | — | 60 days — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Investment Visa | — | KGS 10,000,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇱🇦 Laos | Investor Visa (NI-B2) | — | No universal fixed minimu... | — | — | 3 months — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit) | Cash bond of 1,500,000,00... | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Permanent Residence Permit (Financial Independence) | Cash guarantee of 4,500,0... | — | — | — | 3 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇲🇴 Macau | Major Investment Temporary Residency | — | No fixed statutory minimu... | — | — | 18 months — 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇴 Macau | Talent Recruitment Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | 3 years — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | $2,000 / month | — | — | — | 3 months — 2 years | Yes | No | ||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) | — | MYR 675,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 20 years | Yes | No | ||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) | — | — | — | MYR 50,000 one-time | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) | — | MYR 1,000,000 one-time | — | — | 20 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) | MYR 15,000 / month | — | — | — | 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇲🇻 Maldives | Corporate Resident Visa | — | $250,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years | Yes | No | ||
🇲🇳 Mongolia | Investor Visa | — | $100,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Investors | — | $100,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes | ||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Persons of Exceptional Merit | — | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Retirees | $20,000 / year | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇴🇲 Oman | Golden Residency Program | — | OMR 250,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇴🇲 Oman | Retiree Residence Card | OMR 4,000 / month | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Business-Investor Visa | — | $50,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Long-Term Residency (LTR) | — | $50,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Digital Nomad Visa | $2,000 / month | — | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | No | — | ||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) | — | $75,000 one-time | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes (10yr) | ||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) | $800 / month | — | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | QAR 250,000 one-time | 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Talent) | — | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Real Estate Investment Residency | — | QAR 730,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Entrepreneur Residency | — | — | — | SAR 400,000 one-time | 5 years — Permanent | Yes | No | ||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Gifted Premium Residency | — | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Investor Residency | — | SAR 7,000,000 one-time | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Real Estate Owner Residency | — | SAR 4,000,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes | ||
🇸🇬 Singapore | EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) | — | — | — | SGD 100,000 one-time | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Global Investor Programme (GIP) | — | SGD 10,000,000 one-time | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes (2yr) | ||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) | SGD 30,000 / month | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Tech.Pass | SGD 22,500 / month | — | — | — | 2 years — 4 years | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇷 South Korea | D-10 Job Seeker Visa | — | — | Must demonstrate sufficie... | — | 6 months — 1 year | No | — | ||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business | — | ₩1,500,000,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — Permanent | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Permanent Residence for Overseas Pension Beneficiaries | $6,083 / month | — | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Technology Startup Visa | — | — | — | No fixed minimum capital ... | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration | — | ₩1,000,000,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — Permanent | Yes | — | ||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa | $6,083 / month | — | — | — | 1 year — 2 years | Yes | No | ||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Colombo Port City Investor Visa | — | $100,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Condominium Investment Visa | — | $75,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Digital Nomad Visa | $2,000 / month | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Golden Paradise Residence Visa | — | $100,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Individual Investor Residence Visa | — | $100,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | No | ||
🇸🇾 Syria | Investment Residency Permit | — | No fixed minimum threshol... | — | — | 1 year — Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Digital Nomad Visitor Visa | $40,000 / year | — | — | — | 6 months — 2 years | No | Yes | ||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Employment Gold Card | — | — | — | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | Yes (3yr) | ||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | NT$2,000,000 one-time | 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Investor Resident Visa | — | $200,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 5 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Plum Blossom Card (Investment APRC) | — | NT$15,000,000 one-time | — | — | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Investor Visa (Category C) | — | $500,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | THB 500,000 / funds | — | — | — | 180 days — 5 years | Yes | No | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professionals) | $80,000 / year | — | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Global Citizens) | — | $500,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Pensioners) | $80,000 / year | — | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa (Investment) | — | THB 10,000,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay) | THB 65,000 / month | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay 10 Years) | THB 3,000,000 one-time | — | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇭 Thailand | SMART Visa S (Startup) | — | — | — | THB 600,000 one-time | 6 months — 2 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Business Visa Class II | — | — | — | No minimum capital thresh... | 6 months — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Investor Residence Authorization | — | $1,500,000 one-time | — | — | 2 years — Permanent | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Citizenship by Investment | — | $400,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Digital Nomad Visa | $3,000 / month | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose) | $1,200 / month | — | — | — | 6 months — 2 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turkiye TechVisa (Startup) | — | — | — | — | 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turquoise Card | — | — | — | — | 3 years — Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Investor Residence Permit | — | $500,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes (7yr) | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | AED 500,000 one-time | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | AED 2,000,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years — 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Talented Individuals) | — | — | — | — | 10 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Freelancer / Self-Employed) | AED 360,000 / year | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Investor/Partner) | — | AED 1,000,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years | Yes | Yes | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Job Exploration Visa | — | — | Must prove sufficient fun... | — | 60 days | No | — | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Retirement Visa | AED 20,000 / month | — | — | — | 5 years | Yes | No | ||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Virtual Work Residence Permit | $3,500 / month | — | — | — | 1 year | Yes | No | ||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Golden Visa | — | $250,000 one-time | — | — | 5 years | Yes | No | ||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Investment Visa | — | $280,500 one-time | — | — | 3 years — Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | IT Visa | $2,500 / month | — | — | — | 1 year — 3 years | Yes | — | ||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Investor Visa (DT1-DT4) | — | ₫3,000,000,000 one-time | — | — | 1 year — 10 years | Yes | — | ||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Special Visa Exemption Card | — | — | — | — | 5 years | No | Yes |