Immigration Terminology · Global
Student, work, digital nomad, and retirement visas — what’s the difference?
Simple answer
These labels describe different purposes of stay. Each destination defines eligible activities, documents, and whether work is allowed. A “digital nomad” product in one country is not the same as a tourist stay elsewhere.
What it means
Student routes centre on study; work routes on employment or business activity; retirement routes on age/income criteria where they exist; nomad-style routes on remote work criteria where published.
What you may need to do
Pick the category that matches what you will actually do. Working on a visit pass that forbids work creates compliance risk.
Country / visa warning
Product names and eligibility differ across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Always read the official product rules.
Next action
Use Find my visa to narrow by purpose, then open that product’s requirements.
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