Fancy working from home in Portugal? The country’s new “digital nomad” visa scheme, launched on 24 September, will enable remote workers from non-EU countries to work from Portugal. See how it works and where to apply.
Portugal joins a host of other European countries, including Croatia and Greece, in its introduction of a new visa scheme intended to encourage bright, adventurous, hard-working people of all ages to bring their expertise (and high incomes!). Recently, Spain has also announced plans to create their own version.
Previously, people able to work from home long-distance were using the D7 visa scheme to live and work in Portugal. However, the D7 was originally intended to be used mainly by those earning only “passive income”, such as retirees. So, it is hoped that the new digital nomad visa will make the process more straightforward for remote workers.
How to apply
Portugal has an English-language website for visa information. It isn’t terribly easy to navigate, however, so your first port of call might be a Portugal embassy or consulate in the UK (or your own country).
Given how difficult it can dealing with bureaucracy in another country , you could also consider speaking to one of Your Overseas Home’s legal and immigration partners.
Would you like to work remotely from Portugal?
What you need to know
- The new digital nomad visa will allow you to live in Portugal for up to 180 days. This is more than the Schengen visa, which has a limit of 90 in every 180 days.
- To be eligible, you must not have a criminal record.
- It is expected that you will have to have a certain amount of savings to qualify.
- Furthermore, there will be a minimum monthly income requirement. Under the D7 visa, this is set at €705. The government have calculated this as the minimum you need to live in Portugal.
- If you fall in love with Portugal, you may want to look into ways to extend your stay, such as the Golden visa scheme.
Find homes in Portugal via our property portal.
Working from home is said to improve work-life balance.
Working from home in Portugal
If one benefit came out of the global pandemic, it was the widespread introduction of more flexible ways to work. Now, even with restrictions lifted, working from home is still the preferred option for many.
Working from home has multiple advantages. Many have found it to improve their work-life balance and emotional well-being. Often, people find it quicker and easier to work from home as there are fewer distractions to contend with.
With a move to Portugal, all these benefits would be amplified. In Portugal, you would get to experience a warmer climate, a lower cost of living, and a complete change in scenery. In the winter, daytime temperatures can be as high as 20 degrees.
If all you need is a reliable internet connection and a laptop to do your job, why not do it from Portugal? With an increasing number of countries adopting these digital nomad visa schemes, you and your laptop could simultaneously earn an income and do some globe-trotting.
