Portugal recently published the conditions for obtaining its “digital nomad visa” which allows remote workers who earn four times the national minimum wage, or $2,750 per month, to settle there and enjoy its environment. picturesque.
According to businessinsider.com (Insider), starting October 30, remote workers can apply for either a temporary residence visa for up to one year or a resident permit that can be renewed for up to five years.
The application for a digital nomad visa might be made at a Portuguese consulate in the country of origin of the applicant or at the Portuguese immigration agency, Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, according to the same source, presenting proof income for the last three months in addition to tax residency documents and an employment contract (or proof of self-employment).
One of the main arguments of this program is that recipients can travel visa-free throughout the Schengen area, an area of 26 member countries of the European Union where travelers can move freely without having to worry regarding checks at borders.
+ Digital nomad visas are not necessarily “a cause for concern” +
Portugal has already seen a large influx of foreign residents since the Covid-19 pandemic, many of whom have used the D7 visa, or “passive income visa” to settle in the country, Insider points out.
One of the most affordable programs of its kind, the D7 visa requires applicants to earn only €7,200 per year. But unlike the digital nomad visa, the income must be the result of passive investment flows, such as real estate or business equity, as opposed to a monthly salary.
Portugal’s popularity with remote workers is down to a number of reasons, including the low cost of living, mild climate, abundance of coworking spaces, connections to major European cities, and fluency. of English in the country, Joana Mendonça, legal director of Global Citizen Solutions, an investment migration firm with a strong presence in the Portuguese market, told Insider.
Ezzedeen Soleiman, managing partner of Latitude Residency & Citizenship, told Insider that Portugal is one of the most requested “golden visa” programs for wealthy American investors, adding that “Portugal is the next California.”
Several European countries, including Spain and Italy, are rolling out similar digital nomad visa programs with income requirements between €2,500 and €3,000 per month, Mendonça told Insider.
Hungary’s digital nomad visa, officially called “white card”, has a slightly lower monthly income threshold of €2,000 and also allows visa-free travel within the Schengen area.
At the higher end of the spectrum, the Malta remote work visa requires applicants to earn a minimum monthly income of €2,700. However, participants are completely exempt from any local income tax, making it one of the most tax-efficient digital nomad visas.
The “self-employed residence permit” in the Netherlands is one of the most difficult EU visas to obtain, as it is only open to self-employed persons whose work is considered to be of “essential interest to the ‘Dutch economy’ and who earn at least €2,634.30 in gross profit per month.
While proponents of digital nomad visas say the programs can boost local economies, some fear the influx of remote foreign workers might drive up housing prices in areas already struggling with inflation.
However, Mendonca said she doesn’t think digital nomad visas are “a cause for concern” because “digital nomads aren’t necessarily looking to work in big cities,” as evidenced by the popular “nomad village Digital” from Portugal, Madeira.
“Those who work remotely aren’t necessarily looking for the major urban centers that are the most problematic in terms of rent prices,” she said, because “most of them are looking to explore other parts of the country “.
Article19.ma
