If a) I can work from anywhere, and b) many countries will let me stay 6mos with a tourist visa (no need for application and meet requirements). Why would I choose a friggin cold and expensive place?
In most countries a tourist visa expressly prohibits working while in the country, even if the work is entirely remote. While you can get away with it much of the time in practice, it can become complicated if the local authorities become suspicious that you are violating your visa terms. Some countries monitor this more closely than others.
A "tourist working remotely" visa fills this obvious gap, without the implication of a proper work visa that you are taking a job away from a local (what they local authorities are mostly concerned with).
>In most countries a tourist visa expressly prohibits working while in the country, even if the work is entirely remote.
I doubt there is any tourist visa that explicitly prohibits working for a company in another country. Were this true, everyone checking their work email, or taking a work call, while on vacation, would be breaking the law.
Some countries migration control authorities won't accept the "I'm just here working remotely" answers when entering, exiting or re entering a country. Answering that could mean being sent back.
A "tourist working remotely" visa fills this obvious gap, without the implication of a proper work visa that you are taking a job away from a local (what they local authorities are mostly concerned with).