Kirill Yurovskiy: Digital Nomad
Welcome to my website! My name is Kirill Jurowski and I’m a digital nomad currently based in the vibrant city of London, UK. Through this website, I aim to share my experiences of working and living remotely as I travel to different parts of Europe.
About me
A bit about myself – I’m a 30-year old software developer originally from Russia. I’ve always had a passion for travel and experiential living. The concept of settling in one place has never really appealed to me. I get bored easily and constantly seek new challenges and adventures.
Around 5 years ago, I stumbled upon the concept of digital nomadism. Here were people leveraging technology and the internet to work remotely while simultaneously traveling and living on the road. It aligned perfectly with my personality and interests. I realized that by developing in-demand tech skills like coding and web development, I could potentially achieve a location-independent income too.
And that’s exactly what I set out to do. At the time, I was working a regular software job in Moscow. Outside of work hours, I began learning web development and brushing up on my coding skills. A year later, I took the leap of faith by quitting my job and taking my new skills fully remote.
Flash forward to today, I make a comfortable living as a self-employed freelance web developer serving clients across the world. This location-independent income allows me to travel and live in different countries for as long as I want. I continue to work and earn while exploring new cultures and having interesting experiences.
Over the last few years, I’ve lived in Turkey, Greece, Spain, Thailand and now the United Kingdom, all while working remotely. And I plan to keep adding new destinations to that list! Some digital nomads prefer sticking to less expensive developing countries but I have a huge fascination for Europe. I love big, global cities filled with history, culture, art and good food.
As amazing as this nomadic lifestyle is, the reality also involves facing and overcoming new challenges on an everyday basis. Things that regular folks take for granted ― like housing, health insurance, phone plans, banking or transportation― become mini-obstacles when you’re living out of one suitcase and moving cities every few weeks or months.
But I believe that gradually figuring these challenges out is an essential part of the experience. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, forces you to problem-solve on your feet and also connects you to locals and fellow nomads in meaningful ways.
For instance, when I first got to London 3 months ago, my biggest initial challenge was finding short-term accommodations that fit my budget. Through a Facebook group for digital nomads, I connected with a Spanish nomad who shared great tips about renting rooms in hostel-like remote worker houses called coliving spaces. It’s what I’ve been living in and it comes at almost half the price I’d otherwise pay for a small apartment alone. Plus it allows me to meet fellow remote workers from all over the world, which is awesome!
On this website’s blog, I plan to share detailed experiences like these about being a digital nomad in the UK. You’ll find practical trip reports, city guides covering topics like transportation, accommodations, coworking spaces, daily costs and fun things to do. Hopefully they will inspire you to work remotely and come live here too!
Beyond the UK, I will also document my future travels across Western Europe. While I intend to spend a couple of years exploring the British Isles more in depth, countries like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany and more are high on my list too. There is something so alluring about the cultural diversity across Europe. Each country and region has such distinct languages, architecture, art, music and cuisines – I want to experience them all over the months and years ahead.
And here is a little known fact about me – beyond backpacking and being a digital nomad, I also absolutely love sports, poker and learning languages. I plan to frequently write about seeking out ultimate frisbee pickup games in cities that I visit. Come to think of it, that’s such a fun and social way for expats and nomads to meet locals too. When it comes to poker, I’ll be reviewing cool underground clubs and casinos that travelers should check out. I’m always up for a game of Texas Hold ‘Em, whether it’s just to make a few bucks or for thrills during a night out while traveling. If I’m not working or backpacking, you’ll most likely find me at a fast-paced poker table!
Learning the local language has been tremendously helpful in all of the countries I’ve lived in so far. While English does go a long way these days, nothing beats having small talk with locals in their native tongue. I find that little effort goes such a long way in breaking barriers faster. So on this blog you’ll also find posts detailing language learning resources for European languages that I highly recommend.
Lastly, as a digital nomad, I understand there is great allure in imagining a life of endless global travel. At the same time, the reality on the road is far from perfect or Instagrammable. I plan on sharing very transparent perspectives about my journey of perpetual world travel and discovery, while working hard to fund the lifestyle. You’ll find plenty of real talk about living out of one backpack long term, practical challenges faced on the road and how big a role loneliness and mental health can play.
So that’s a little preview about me and what you will find on my website! I’m beyond excited to share insights from my location independent adventures across Europe and to keep evolving into a smarter nomad as I learn on the road. Feeling inspired to work remotely and travel? Reach out by email or through my social profiles. I’m always happy to help others start their own journey without an office!
The Rise of Digital Nomads in the UK
The concept of digital nomadism has grown enormously in popularity in recent years. A digital nomad is someone who utilizes telecommunications technologies to earn a living while traveling. With more companies and roles allowing remote work, the feasibility of the digital nomad lifestyle has increased substantially. The United Kingdom, with its strong economy, advanced infrastructure, cultural diversity, and range of visa options, has become an increasingly attractive destination for digital nomads from across the globe.
Growth of Remote Jobs
One of the primary factors fueling the rise in digital nomads is growth in jobs that allow remote work. According to a 2021 report, remote job postings on popular UK hiring sites increased by an astounding 184% from 2019 to 2021. Fields like technology, marketing, customer service, and others have led this surge as companies realize that physical presence is not always required for productivity. This had opened up opportunities for location-independent income like never before – welcome news to digital nomads looking to support their lifestyle.
Visa Options
The UK government has also helped, introducing visas aimed at attracting digital talent and remote workers. Options like the High Potential Individual Visa and the Global Talent Visa provide paths for skilled digital nomads to live and work in the UK, often leading to permanent settlement. The visas offer perks like fast application processing, no minimum salary requirement, family relocation options, and routes to permanent residence. Though some criteria must still be met, these visas make it much easier for digital nomads to establish themselves in the UK legally.
Advantages of Being a Digital Nomad in the UK
So what exactly attracts digital nomads to the UK apart from growing remote work opportunities and improved visas? As one of the top financial and technology hubs globally, the UK provides access to world-class infrastructure for digital nomads. Reliable high-speed Internet permeates the country – critical for location-independent remote work. Co-working spaces have also proliferated, offering digital nomads places to convene, collaborate, and be productive.
The country’s diverse, multicultural society also appeals to many digital nomads seeking rich experiential living. Cosmopolitan cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh provide an endless array of cultural offerings. Quaint villages dotted around England, Scotland, and Wales offer authentic local charm. Digital nomads revel in the ability to immerse themselves in these varied experiences and lifestyles while still earning an income online.
Challenges Facing Digital Nomads
Of course, living as a digital nomad in the UK has its challenges too. Finding secure, affordable short-term accommodations can prove difficult, especially in more expensive cities like London and Oxford. While co-living spaces designed specifically for digital nomads are on the rise, availability remains limited. Competition for these spaces may also be fierce during peak travel seasons.
Maintaining residency compliance also proves tricky for some digital nomads using temporary visas. For example, the High Potential visa requires an individual to be present in the UK for a minimum of 180 days per year. Meeting this while also catering to wanderlust can be tough. Fortunately, remote worker visas under development may present better options by requiring fewer mandatory days within the country.
Health insurance also presents a major headache. Most travel insurance policies only provide coverage for brief trips. Finding comprehensive coverage for longer digital nomad stints can be frustrating. Using insurance from home countries may work in some cases but can still come with residency conditions. Having to periodically shift plans and providers creates an administrative burden. Lack of consistent healthcare is undoubtedly one of the largest headaches mobile professionals must contend with.
Digital Nomad Communities and Events
Despite the difficulties, one of the best parts of the digital nomad lifestyle is community. Platforms like Twitter enable digital nomads to find, interact with, and support fellow nomads worldwide. Location-specific conferences and gatherings are also great places to exchange stories, ideas, and advice in person.
Here in the UK, communities have formed through sites like London Digital Nomads. Groups facilitate meetups while assisting new nomads with getting settled. Seasoned mobile professionals mentor newcomers on launching location-independent careers. Events like the London Digital Nomad Conference highlight the triumphs and challenges of nomadism through presentations, talks, and networking. They inspire newcomers to embrace nomadic working. Digital nomads may work alone, but community support helps ease difficult transitions and reminder travelers that they are not alone on their journey.
Predictions for the Future
Already, surveys suggest over 20 percent of UK companies expect to have all-remote teams within the next five years – twice as many as just two years ago. Investments advancing virtual collaboration tools and decentralized autonomous organizations should further support remote work proliferation. With quality of life being a top consideration for professionals these days, remote jobs seem primed for tremendous growth. This likely means more digital nomads than ever exploring work and life in the UK and beyond.
For the government, this presents opportunities too lucrative to ignore. Introducing more digital nomad visas focused on converting visitors to residents and citizens could provide tremendous economic and productivity gains relative to cost. A Croatian case study found that for every Euro invested in their digital nomad visa, they got back four Euros in GDP growth. Similar outcomes are achievable for the UK as well when crafted properly.
Final Thoughts
In many ways, digital nomads represent the future of work and living – one centered on mobility, freedom, and experiencing all that the world has to offer. Places catching on early, attracting these mobile professionals with inviting policies and infrastructure, may gain outsized economic advantages relative to global peers. The UK has embraced this reality better than most and now boasts one of the fastest growing digital nomad populations worldwide.
For digital nomads like myself, having globally leading destinations like the UK welcome digital talent spells opening possibilities. When visas, remote jobs, healthcare, housing, and communities all align, magic happens. Hubs emerge where innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought pioneers meet and push progress together. As a veteran nomad, I cannot wait to see these UK hubs thrive, exporting ideas and inspiration beyond borders. Britain has the potential to host these hubs of the future. Fortunately, with supportive remote work trends and policy, it finally appears ready to seize this opportunity.
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