Svalbard, a country where you can live and work visa-free.

Posted by Olerato Ramafsi on 4 January 2023

Remote work opportunities have become popular in the last few years, making it possible for professionals to live, work and travel in most places.

Luckily for you, anyone can work and live in Svalbard visa-free, the only catch is just don’t run out of money.

Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago about 800 km from the North Pole, making it the world’s northernmost human settlement. The 2300 residents who reside in the capital, Longyearbyen include people from over 40 different nationalities.

That’s due to a bizarre rule which states that you cannot give birth on Svalbard. Although some surprises do occur once in a while with a term being coined for the rare occasion of a newborn baby being ‘Svalbard babies.’

Cecilia Blomdahl, a popular content creator who is based in Longyearbyen, is one rare occurrence and even in her adulting years is still referred to as a ‘Svalbard baby.’

Other rules on the ice-covered island include a monthly alcohol limit of 24 beers, half a bottle of fortified wine, and one bottle of strong liquor. Cats are also banned in order to protect the island’s bird population.

Yet the most important rule of them all is don’t run out of money, and don’t find yourself homeless.

The 1920 Svalbard treaty allows anyone to live and work on the island indefinitely, you should still be able to have enough money to support yourself and a roof over your head or risk being deported.

Despite being a sovereign of Norway, Svalbard employees pay an 8% income tax and local businesses don’t have to pay tax towards the country’s national insurance. As a result, the residents don’t have government aid such as retirement homes, unemployment benefits, public transport, or any of the usual social safety nets we’ve come accustomed to.

But be warned thanks to a local housing crisis, it’s easier to find work in Svalbard than a place to live. For those who hate winter, the two-and-a-half months of complete darkness and below-freezing temperatures could be a turn-off.

But for the budding business-minded person, the capital of Longyearbyen is a great place to be an entrepreneur.

Due to the fact that if you have the idea and the money to fund the idea you’re probably going to be the only one doing it. The remoteness of the city creates a reliance on entrepreneurship and the lack of competition makes it a win-win for customers and owners.

Martin Fiola, who is one of the co-founders of the only coffee shop in the city called Cafe Huskies even went on to say, ‘if you’re depressed and have a drinking problem, you’ll probably just end up drinking throughout the winter, but if you’re trying to finish the book, you’re going to get up and do it. Life here gets dialled up.’

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