A new visa will allow digital nomads to permanently reside and work in Portugal

Portugal has introduced a new one-year visa for digital nomads.

Remote employees will be permitted to reside and work in the nation for up to 12 months under the new program.

Candidates must make at least €2,800 per month, or four times Portugal's minimum salary, to be eligible.

"Portugal is a country for immigration. Every year, we receive thousands of immigrants, seeking opportunities in our country,"  according to Ana Catarina Mendes, minister of the Portuguese Cabinet.

So, here's all you need to know if you are searching for a change of scenery and want to explore Lisbon or Porto in between Zoom sessions.

The new visa is intended for working professionals and is formally known as the "residence visa for the exercise of professional activity provided remotely outside the national territory."

It serves as an alternative to the popular "D7" visa, which is now available to retirees and those who make "passive income."

The new visa was formed when the Portuguese government changed the immigration legislation in July, and it will go into effect on October 30.

To be eligible, candidates must: 

2. Be self-employed or employed by a business that is headquartered outside of Portugal.

3. Make at least €2,800 per month, or four times the Portuguese minimum wage.

In comparison to the D7 scheme, there has been an increase on the earnings requirements.

Holders of D7 visas are simply needed to make the minimum salary in Portugal ($822.50/month). But this income has to come from "passive" sources like rent or investments.

In addition to providing evidence of income for the previous three months, candidates must also provide proof of their tax residence and a contract of employment (or proof of self-employment).

You can submit your application at the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras immigration office in Portugal or at a Portuguese Consulate in your native country.

Portugal is quite well-liked by digital nomads because of its vibrant cities, dramatic coastline, and reasonably affordable cost of living.

Portugal routinely appears in internet lists of the best places to work remotely, and with good reason. The country's biggest cities have a plethora of co-working places, and its wifi is ranked 17th in the globe.

The two large towns of Lisbon and Porto are maybe the most well-liked vacation spots for digital professionals. A special digital nomad village has been built by remote workers at Ponta Do Sol, on the coast of Madeira Island.

However, since the epidemic, the tendency of remote work has been more widespread. Since 2020, at least 30 nations, including Malaysia, Croatia, Costa Rica, and Mexico, have introduced some type of visa specifically for remote workers.

By fLEXI tEAM