The 7 Best Freelance Jobs for Digital Nomads

Su Guillory
Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:48:50 +0000
Digital-nomad-jobs, Digital-nomad-ideas, Digital-nomads, Freelance-jobs, Freelancing, Freelance-ideas, Freelance-career, Freelance-business, Freelancers, Job-ideas, Remote-work, Remote-jobs, Traveling, Digital-nomad

There’s a lot to love about living in an era where you can make money no matter where in the world you live. With 43 million of the global digital nomad population coming from America, now more than ever, the idea of working while living in another country is within reach.

But what kind of work can you do as a digital nomad? If you’re not lucky enough to have a job you can pack up and take on the road, consider one of these many options that you can do as a freelancer or as a side hustle.

The Best Freelance Jobs for Digital Nomads

1. Digital and Creative Gigs

For creative types, there’s always work available that doesn’t require working out of a specific location. Writers, graphic designers, and web developers can work from anywhere and can work with clients near and far.

Here are a few other freelance opportunities in the creative industry.

Copywriter

Translator

Localization services professional

Video editor

UX designer

Social media manager

Marketer

Animator

Virtual assistant

Online tutor

Online teacher

Photographer

Voiceover actor

2. Location-Specific Work

You may be in hot demand as an expat, depending on how many English speakers there are. You may be able to leverage your English-speaking skills with one of many roles, such as:

Tour guide

Vacation rental host

Import/export entrepreneur

Cultural experience host

Vacation property manager

Relocation consultant

3. Passive Income

Like the idea of making money while you snorkel in the sea or sleep in a hammock? There are many ways you can earn a living with digital products that, while they may require a little work up front, can provide passive income indefinitely.

Create online courses

Publish an e-book

Monetize through affiliate programs

Host ads on your blog

Leverage drop shipping

Offer a paid subscription newsletter

Monetize a podcast or YouTube channel

4. Coaching Hustles

These days, everyone’s got a coach or two. They’re the modern-day version of a therapist. Whether you specialize in expat coaching, executive, or another niche, there’s sure to be an audience for your work.

Life coach

Career coach

College admissions coach

Expat/cultural integration coach

Public speaking coach

Language coach

Executive coach

Health coach

5. Travel and Lifestyle Gigs

As a digital nomad, you likely know a thing or two about travel, and you can leverage that knowledge in your career. Whether you write a travel blog with enough traffic to score free trips or you offer travel concierge services in your adopted country, you will be seen as the local expert.

Travel planner

Custom itinerary designer

Travel agent

Travel writer

Travel content creator (video, social media, blog)

Travel photographer

Influencer partnerships with local brands

Destination wedding coordinator

Travel concierge

6. Crafty Pursuits

If crafts are your hobby, why not turn them into a moneymaker? You can sell your products online on sites like Etsy or at local craft fairs and markets. Here are some other ideas for businesses:

Furniture restoration/upcycling

Creating artisan goods

Tailoring/sewing services

Interior decorating

Home organizing

Cooking/baking

7. Admin and Tech Roles

If you come from a corporate background, you already have the experience to consult or offer professional services like these. If your industry is regulated back home, make sure to check what the requirements are for practicing in another country.

Bookkeeping/accounting (niche: expats!)

Legal document translations

CRM/tech stack setup for small businesses

Resume writing and optimization

Tech support

Customer support

How to Set Up Your Digital Nomad Freelance Business for Success

Depending on where you want to work as a digital nomad, there may be visa requirements about how long you’ve been freelancing. Check those criteria and allow yourself time to build up your experience so that your visa will be approved.

Once you’ve landed, give yourself time to set up your business. You’ll want to balance work with play, so create a schedule that allows you to be available when your clients need you, and take into consideration that time zone difference. You might decide to check email first thing in the morning when your clients in the U.S. are sleeping, then go for a swim or run errands, then commit to several hours of work in the late afternoon or evening.

Invest in the tech tools that will help you be productive. You may want a calendar scheduling tool that will make it easy to book appointments without having to calculate time zone differences. A project management tool can help you stay on top of deadlines. And if you work with people around the globe, an instant messenger can keep you connected.

A Word on Money

If you continue to work with clients from the United States, make sure you’ve got an easy way to exchange dollars for your local currency and transfer funds to your local bank. Tools like Wise and Revolut have low exchange rate fees, and make it simple to get cash or pay for purchases with a debit card.

As a digital nomad, you aren’t exempt from filing or paying taxes in America, even if you don’t live there. Educate yourself on whether you’re required to file and pay taxes in the country where you live, as well as what the requirements are for American citizens living abroad.

The Sky's the Limit on Freelance Job Ideas

Living abroad as a digital nomad offers the unique opportunity to continue working without constraints on your location. The sky’s the limit in terms of what you can do to earn money. Be open to possibilities that may arise as you build your network locally.