Since 30 October 2022, non-European digital nomads wishing to work remotely from Portugal have the possibility, under specific conditions, to apply for a visa.
Legal text: Law 18/2022 of 25 August 2022, amendment to the Law on Foreigners in Portugal https://dre.tretas.org/dre/5038031/lei-18-2022-de-25-de-agosto
Please note that this visa does not apply to citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, who, if they settle in Portugal for a period of more than 3 months, must have their C.R.U.E. (Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia) issued within 30 days of the 90th day of their stay in Portugal.
The "digital nomads" temporary residence visa can be applied for by non-European foreign workers if they meet the following conditions:
be an employee or self-employed professional working remotely,
work for a foreign company with its domicile or registered office outside Portugal,
the employment relationship or the services relationship, as the case may be, must be demonstrated,
live and work in Portugal for a maximum of 12 months (after 1 year, you will have to apply for a resident permit),
provide proof of monthly income for the past 3 months - must be at least 4 times the Portuguese minimum wage, i.e.:
for the year 2022: 2820€ net/month (mini PT salary = 705€)
for the year 2023: 3400€ net/month (mini PT salary = 760€)
Holders of this "digital nomads" visa can thus live and work legally in Portugal and are exempt from visa requirements in the Schengen Area*.
The creation of this new type of visa in Portugal has already given birth to 2 dedicated Associations:
“Digital Nomads Association Portugal” (DNA Portugal)
“Lagos Digital Nomads” (in the Algarve region)
respectively directed by Gonçalo Hall and Joana Glória.
By establishing a specific residence permit for digital nomads, Portugal joins some twenty countries including Estonia (a pioneer in this field), Georgia, Greece, Malta and the Netherlands.
Learn more about the term "digital nomads":
Digital nomads are people who are not dependent on location and who use technology to do their work, leading a nomadic lifestyle. Digital nomads work remotely, telecommuting, rather than being physically present at a company's headquarters or office. The average age of this category of workers is 35.
The term "Digital Nomad" was coined in 1997 in a book called The Digital Nomad, written by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners. Their book prophesied the invention of a single, all-powerful communication device that would allow employees to work from anywhere.
*Signed in 1985 and implemented in 1995, the Schengen Agreement allows for the free movement of people and harmonises controls on travellers within the area formed by these states. 26 countries are members, of which 22 are also members of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein (non-EU), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (non-EU). The 5 EU Member States that are not part of the Schengen area are Croatia, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Source: Toute l’europe.eu https://www.touteleurope.eu/