Time to bust a move. At least if you are wanting to change for a remote work career. Portugal has a new digital nomad visa and it might be the thing you are looking for or the one you really need to take a leap of faith and launch yourself on a new career path.
This new digital nomad visa for Portugal promises to cause quite a sensation.
It comes after the already known D7 Visa & Residence Permit, available for non-EU citizens with a passive income or a remote job, that we have told you about before in several articles published on our website (that you can read here, here and here), which was already quite appealing for remote workers, given its specifics (mainly when speaking about tax benefits).
But now, Portugal has gone a bit further. The recently announced new digital nomad visa for Portugal aims to attract (even more) highly qualified professionals and make them fly to this tiny rectangle by sea.
New digital nomad visa for Portugal: every remote worker’s dream
Portugal has been a hot topic for quite some time now, for digital nomads. Mainly due to the D7 visa. Albeit being originally for retirees and ‘passive income’ earners (resulting from rent or investments, for example), the D7 visa is quite popular among remote workers, given that it allows them to live and work in the country, as long as they earn at least the Portuguese minimum wage and commit themselves to live here for most of the year.
Now, the new digital nomad visa has a newer and more direct approach. Designed for working professionals, it presents itself as an alternative to the D7 visa.
Launched on October 30th, the official designation for this new digital nomad visa for Portugal is actually a “residence visa for the exercise of professional activity provided remotely outside the national territory”.
This new visa will now allow remote workers to – both – live and work in the Portuguese territory for up to 12 months.
What do you need to qualify for this new digital nomad visa? Everything you need to know
For those remote workers who are now looking for a sunny, diverse and beachside place to work, with a relatively low cost of living, Portugal might be the place to go. In fact, the geographical location, the weather, the linguistic skills, affordable costs, safety conditions, the diversity or the quality of the infrastructures (namely: high-quality internet connection) are just some of the reasons pointed out by digital nomads to elect Portugal as a WFH (work-from-home) destination of choice.
So, this new digital nomad visa might be an additional factor when considering and (quite possibly) choosing Portugal.
If you are thinking about it, there are a few rules you need to follow to apply and be eligible for it, namely:
1. Applicants must come from a country outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA);
2. Must prove they have an income of – at least – € 2,820 a month (that is equivalent to four times the current value of the Portuguese minimum wage – which is currently established at € 705 (they must present their income proof for the last three months);
3. And finally, applicants must prove that they are self-employed or working for a company based outside the Portuguese territory.
So far, so good? Let’s move on, then.
New digital nomad visa for Portugal: and how to get one
Easy as apple pie.
The new digital nomad visa has been available since October 30th. All remote workers (or digital nomads if you prefer) may apply to it at a Portuguese Consulate in their home country or – if they are already living and working abroad – at a Portuguese immigration agency, the Immigration and Border Service (SEF – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras).
When doing so, anyone applying must be able to fulfil the three previously mentioned points to be eligible (a quick reminder: they must present proof of their income for the last three months, as well as submit their tax residency papers and proof of employment or self-employment).
All the visa information is also available for consultation at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Portugal waits for you
Whether you are already living the remote work dream or still thinking about it and looking for an opportunity, this new digital nomad visa might be what you need to take the plunge.
Keep in mind that Portugal is getting a lot of attention from professionals and companies worldwide, especially for tech jobs. Take, for example, the data displayed on the Global Tech Talent Trends report published by Landing.Jobs. It clearly shows that there is a huge demand for tech professionals across Europe and Portugal is on the list. This goes in line with the data published on The Tech Careers Report 2021 in Portugal, which shows that the country is in high need of IT professionals (around 75.000 just for this small piece of land). And keep in mind that higher demand leads to higher salaries. Interesting, isn’t it?
This new digital nomad visa aims to attract the most qualified professionals from all over the globe.
New digital nomad visa for Portugal: it’s all about seeking (and finding) opportunities
If you are still sceptical, we have more data for you. You can find our latest industry reports here. You will find everything you need to make your final call.
But if you’re on the lookout for a new tech job or you just want to know how to get paid by a foreign company while living in Portugal as a digital nomad, reach out to us at wegotyourback@landing.jobs or visit landing.jobs.
We are waiting for you!
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