The Portuguese government has introduced the first digital nomad visa program of its kind in Europe. Here’s how it stacks up to similar programs in other European states.
Portugal recently released the requirements for its digital nomad visa, which lets remote workers who make four times the national minimum wage live and work in the beautiful European country. That calculates to about $2,750 a month.
Starting October 30, remote workers can apply for either a temporary stay visa of up to one year or a residency permit that can be renewed for up to five years.
If you’d like to get Portuguese residency, the first step is filling out a Residence Permit Application. On top of showing proof of income for the last three months, you’ll need tax residency documents and a contract or proof of self-employment.
One of the key benefits of the program is that participants are able to travel freely in the Schengen Area, a region containing 26 European Union member countries where there are no borders and travelers can move freely without being controlled by border control.
Portugal has seen a surge of foreign residents since the pandemic, many of whom have come in on the D7 visa or “passive income visa.”
It is one of the most affordable programs of its kind, which requires applicants to make only €7,200 per year or about $7,011. Unlike the digital nomad visa, income from monthly jobs doesn’t count.
Portugal’s low cost of living, mild weather and abundance of co-working spaces are creating a perfect opportunity for remote workers. Joana Mendonça, head of legal at Global Citizen Solutions, tells Insider how Portugal has become popular with remote workers.
Latitude Residency & Citizenship Managing Partner, Ezzedeen Soleiman, said that Portugal is one of the most popular “golden visa” programs for American investors.
“Portugal is like California for the new generation,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent and wealth going there.”
Is the International Nomad Visa the right one for you? Find out how it compares to other digital nomad programs in Europe.
There are digital nomad visa schemes in many European countries, such as Spain and Italy, that have a minimum income requirement of €2,500 to €3,000 per month. This is $2,434 to $2,900 USD.
Hungary’s digital nomad visa formally called a “white card,” has a slightly lower monthly income threshold of €2,000 and also allows visa-free travel through the Schengen area.
Malta is one of the most tax-friendly digital nomad destinations in Europe. With the remote work visa, applicants must make a minimum monthly income of €2,700, or $2,630. However, participants are exempt from any taxes on their local income.
For freelancers, obtaining the Dutch “self-employed person residence permit” is difficult because applicants must meet strict criteria. These include holding work that’s essential to the Dutch economy and making €2,634.30 in gross profit per month.
Advocates for digital nomad visas argue that the programs can boost local economies, but some naysayers worry that prices will go up too because of the influx of foreign remote workers.
Portuguese government advisor Maria Mendonça says that digital nomad visas are not a cause for alarm because “digital nomads are not necessarily looking to work in large cities.” This is evidenced by Portugal’s popular “digital nomad village” Madeira.
Those who work remotely may not be looking for large cities that have the most expensive rental costs, she claimed.
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