Digital Nomad: Shift of Paradigm in the Working Culture 

Going on a vacation and enjoying family time is what people generally love a lot. Breathtaking view of Bali, chaotic roads of Bombay, famous night life of Thailand and what not? We always refer to traveling as the most fascinating thing that can be done by humans. However, traveling – is it easy? Definitely not when it comes to giving its financial aspect a glance. Therefore, we need money to travel. What if people start earning money without going to the office or workspace and just by traveling? This does not mean one does not need to work. Let’s get deep into what I am really saying.

Traveling and earning money in a direct sense can be referred to with vloggers earning from YouTube and content creators collaborating with brands and filming their place. Besides that, just by traveling no one really earns money. However, digital nomad came into introduction post covid when we actually wanted something to sort out transmitting of disease. Therefore, “Work from Home” this term became familiar in Nepal. What is a digital nomad?

To put it simply, being a digital nomad means not having to travel to a certain location to complete a task or job. The internet enables us to connect from any location, which is crucial. However, a workstation has significance of its own. The reason for this is because certain occupations forbid this arrangement. Meanwhile, over 60% of workers are able to carry out this working paradigm, and it is also becoming more and more common in Nepal. The situation in the world is still more developed than what Nepal is facing, though.

Many countries have already implemented remote worker and digital nomad visas to attract such individuals to their nations. In Nepal as well, the High-Level Economic Advisory Commission has recommended to the government that remote workers and digital nomads should be attracted in order to create additional economic opportunities.

From the Government side, there should have been some kind of crucial step to actually create a remote work culture, especially in a country like Nepal where everyday travel and working space cost more than what it gives back. From Campaign to Digital Campaign, From Marketing to Digital Marketing, From Banking to Digital Banking we came a long way. But, It is high time now we actually work on saving money out of redundant pieces of work and convert workspace into Digital workspace.

Working for over 5 years in the sector of Data Security and system in Nepal, currently system engineer at F1 Soft Saugat Neupane believes the same amount of work without traveling hustle and workspace can be done. Especially in his IT sector. “We have been seeing the culture of transforming office going patterns on a regular basis and the same amount of work is being done remotely – calling it a paradigm shift or Digital Nomadism. Our sector has this pattern a lot more than any other. We just need computers and the internet”. Says Neupane.

Traveling Workers ( Ghumante) 

The term “digital nomad” entered our vocabulary after Suze Orman and David Manners published their groundbreaking book Digital Nomads in 1997. In its pages, they foresaw a transformation driven by technology—one in which people could work from anywhere, ushering in a renaissance of the roaming age.

True to the book’s predictions, digital nomads today travel to different destinations and work remotely—yet they aren’t tied to a single company. They might juggle projects from multiple clients or run their own online ventures.

What draws them in? Affordable yet stunning locations, reliable internet, seamless international travel, and a sense of safety. According to a study by the International Labour Organization, approximately 18% of the global workforce today participates in work that can be done remotely.

Many of these remote workers choose to uproot themselves and live in countries where they can effortlessly continue their work from home. In North America, this number reaches around 30%, while within the European Union, it’s about 37%. Most digital nomads tend to be young—between 30 and 39 years old and they usually have disposable incomes and a taste for travel.

Nepal as a Digital Nomad’s Hub 

In Nepal’s case, its serene beauty, favorable climate, and comparatively low cost of living make it especially appealing to this growing tribe of digital wanderers.

In places like Lakeside in Pokhara or cafés around Baluwatar and Maharajganj in Kathmandu, and Sanepa in Lalitpur, you’ll sometimes spot foreign tourists working away on their laptops. But they’re on tourist visas—not long-term stays. Under current visa rules, they can’t stay in Nepal for extended periods. Once their visa expires, they often temporarily travel to India before returning to Nepal.

However, former Finance Secretary and Chair of the High-Level Economic Suggestions Commission, Rameshwar Prasad Khanal, argues that Nepal needs a more accommodating visa system. He says, “Imagine someone wants to work from Mugu’s Rara Lake. You can’t limit them to short-term stays.”

He points out that many countries now offer digital nomad or remote‑work visas valid for up to five years. He explains that, while the U.S. issues a five‑year visitor visa, each entry still permits just six months of stay, with the visa enabling repeated visits over its validity.

Following this model, Nepal could similarly offer a five-year digital nomad visa, but only allow up to one year at each entry. Khanal notes, “If someone stays continuously for five years, we can’t be sure they’re here to work while traveling—or for other reasons. So the first entry should be limited to one year.”

Knowing from the individual himself, Innovation Director at Leapfrog, IT Expert Ankur Sharma says, ”Nepal has a lot of potential when it comes to making Nepal a digital nomad’s hub. But at the same time we need to build digital infrastructure that aligns with it. Just by introducing a nomad’s visa we are not landing.”

He added, “We need infrastructure and that is the key. Beside accommodation and food, Internet and Electricity also should be of good quality. The most crucial sector for Nepal’s development is not IT, it is tourism but by building IT on the roof of tourism we will achieve some bigger games.”

They have just opened Drapers Startup House in Nepal and thus it is the 15th country to have it. They welcome with open arms Digital Nomads from all over the globe to be present and work from Drapers Startup house in Nepal. Drapers Startup House — A co-working center for Digital Nomad from all over the globe is opened at Gyaneshwor in Kathmandu making the city nearer to nomad culture.

Bijayendra Chapagain the Community Director of Drapers Startup House Nepal also believes that the government needs to launch good quality internet services through which employees of multinational companies can reach their domain from Nepal. In his opinion, “It has been an issue working from Nepal to multinational company employees because they cannot access their domain from Nepal.”. Along with these visas and shelter, the most vital component is the policy improvement which will liberate all individuals from around the world and come to Nepal under Nomad visa and work.

What Nomads says?

We talked to two of the Digital Nomads from both India and Nepal. Dipesh Jung Pandey from Thamel has been staying at Drapers Startup House for more than a week now and he is doing so to avoid the noisy and distracting environment around his house Thamel. He says, ”Being around the people who  are working keeps me motivated towards the work”  Also, being around nature and working isn’t this fascinating? Two things at a time. I am loving my stay here. He added.

Krishna Maruthur all the way from Kerala is in Nepal for one month as a Digital Nomad. He will be working from Drapers Startup House in Nepal. He says, “I strongly believe Nepal has a potential to become a Digital Nomad Hub. However, If Nomad visa rates become too high there will also be competitions among countries and whoever offers the best. People will choose that.”

Maruthur adds, “Similarly we are here not only to work but also to exchange thoughts, culture and working lifestyle. High Nomad visa rates will fail the country is what I believe.”

Nomad Visa in South Asia

Srilanka has already announced Digital Nomad Visa in 2021, getting a final approval in 2023 with basic terms  of requirement. This comes with a 500$ visa fee which allows your dependents, spouse etc along with to stay for a year.

Beautiful countries having a tourism opportunity are the utmost choice as the nomad visa centers. In Nepal, we have a lot of potential and we are not able to see what is coming in the world of digital wanderers.

Generally, the rise of digital nomadism is a deep paradigm shift in terms of how we approach living and working. Something that began as a reaction to the COVID‑19 pandemic now represents a lifestyle adopted worldwide where one no longer needs to be bound to a physical work space in order to make a living. Countries have taken notice and created targeted visa initiatives to attract remote workers—giving rise to new economic opportunities as well as expanding tourism beyond conventional paradigms

Its high time Nepal acts upon something that is beyond what we have imagined for betterment of all.