Elujoke Olopo

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa: Your In-Depth Guide for 2022 In the era of advanced remote work, obtaining a Portuguese digital nomad visa has become more accessible. Portugal's natural beauty, business-friendly policies and affordable living costs make it an attractive destination for digital nomads. Portugal is a European country with a system that allows immigrants to thrive. With a Gdp of $218B and a population of 10.4M, Portugal has attracted expats from different countries worldwide. As a digital nomad, all you need is your skills and experience. Portugal presents an economic and social environment for growth. Forbes in 2018 described Portugal as one of the best places for business and retirement. This article is an in-depth guide for obtaining a Portugal digital nomad visa. It captures everything you need to know before, during, and after your relocation to Portugal through the digital nomad visa. What Is A Digital Nomad Visa? A digital nomadic visa is a travel visa that allows an expat to reside in a country for a specific period. The digital Nomad Visa permits remote working in the country, provided you do not work in any local company. Is There A Specific Portugal Nomad Visa? Currently, there is no particular permanent residence program for digital nomads in Portugal. However, the Portuguese government has introduced a specific visa called the Portugal Passive Income Visa- D7 Visa, an excellent option for interested digital nomads. Remote workers who desire a long-term stay in Portugal can easily obtain a passive income D 7 Visa. Types of Portugal Digital Nomad Visas Portuguese technology has long been ahead of its time in simplifying work environments. Hence, several types of visas already comply with the typical digital nomad visa. Your choice of visa will depend on your income structure and the duration of your visit or stay. Digital nomad visas in Portugal can be widely categorized into two: Temporary Stay Visa Portugal temporary stay visa is a valid option for digital nomads that might want to stay in Portugal for up to a year. It gives you the leave to work as an online or self-employed business owner. The great news about this visa is its non-restrictive nature. You can travel outside Portugal and enter freely, as long as you adhere to the immigration stipulations by Portuguese authorities. The temporary residency permit is the perfect digital nomad visa as it permits multiple entries. Portugal Residency Visas The Portuguese residency visas are perfect for a digital nomad with a more extended stay plan. If you intend to become an official resident, you should consider getting one of the Portugal national visas. Your type of national visa will depend on your income or business type. Its Validity lasts four months, and it allows only two entries. It would be best if you got a residency permit from Portugal SEF within this time frame. To obtain these visas, you will go through these processes: Embassy screening in the Portuguese embassy in your current base Residency permit stage after you arrive in Portugal The Residency Visa - D7 Visa or Passive Income Visa The D-7 passive income visa is the best choice for digital nomads looking to reside in Portugal. The Portuguese legislation created this Portugal residency visa to allow foreign nationals, especially pensioners or retirees with stable income, to live peacefully in Portugal.  A digital nomad can obtain a D7 visa in Portugal in some simple yet lengthy steps. All that is required is a residence permit and proof of stable income. There are no specifications as to the exact source of the income; it might be from pensions, investments, or intellectual properties, among others. Another significant advantage of this visa program is that you can freely travel to 26 European countries of the Schengen Area without another passport or visa. It is more or less a Schengen visa. Portugal D2 Visa - Entrepreneur or Independent Service Provider The D2 Visa also fits as a Portugal digital nomad visa. It is majorly designed for remote workers who wish to create a new business in Portugal or start a branch of an existing business in Portugal. The D-2 visa is an advantage for freelancers, business entrepreneurs, independent professionals and others who seeks to establish their business in Portugal. Portugal D-2 visa is open to: Start-ups Entrepreneurs Independent professionals Investors Company and branch owners, partners and shareholders. You must have a reliable, practicable and motivating business plan to obtain this visa. You must have studied the business community before drawing your plan. Also, you must have sufficient business capital to start your proposed business in this foreign country. The D7 Visa is a straightforward route to Portugal's residency. The visa application process for a D2 Visa can prove tasking for a digital nomads seeking reidency. Hence, I suggest that you go for the Portugal D7 visa.  What is the difference between a Tourist Visa and a Portugal D7 Visa for Digital Nomads? A country like Portugal issue digital nomad visas to create a legal working ground for foreigners. A Digital Nomad visa allows you to stay for an extended period compared to a tourist visa. The most prolonged tourist visa allows is 90 days, while a digital nomad visa holder can stay up to a year. Who Can Apply for Portugal's Digital Nomad Visa: Eligibility Criteria Even though the Portugal D7 passive income visa is designed for retirees, anyone can apply for the visa. As long as you are above 18, and you have a stable passive income, you are free to apply for a digital Nomad visa. However, you must meet some eligibility criteria. How to Get the Visa: Basic Requirements for D7 Visa Below are the documents you will need for the D7 application. Note that all these required documents must be in English or Portuguese. Application form Your valid passport proof with over six months of validity after the D7 visa expiration. A Portuguese TIN (Tax Identification Number) A Portuguese bank account Passport photographs (Two identical ones with a plain background) Valid Travel insurance covering all emergency expenses. Proof of adequate accommodation Health insurance coverage papers with over €30,000 emergency medical coverage. A clean criminal record related document from your home country of residence( Note that you must have stayed in that country for more than a year) Proofs that you have a steady income. In this case, you must have income amounting to 12 month Portuguese minimum wage. The amount is set at €705 per month, which is 8,460 euros per year. To prove this, you will be asked to provide a six months bank statements. EU Citizens Since Portugal is a member of the European Union, citizens of other EU countries can work remotely in Portugal without any digital nomad visa. All that is required is your EU passport, with which you can stay freely. However, if you wish to stay for more than three months, you must visit the local municipality office. The office will grant you a temporary residency certificate of up to 5yrs Validity. US Citizens Based on the agreement between US and Portugal, US citizens can also enter Portugal without a visa and stay for 90 days. However, if you are a digital nomad who wishes to stay longer, you must apply for a digital Nomad visa. Non-EU and Non-US Citizens Non-EU and Non-US citizens still depend on your country of residence. Canada, New Zealand, and Australian citizens also enjoy the same benefits as US citizens. Unfortunately, if you are not from other countries, you will need to apply for a Visa. How to Apply for Digital Nomad Visa for Portugal: Step-by-Step Guide Below are the steps to applying for a digital nomad visa program in Portugal 1. Get a Portuguese TIN (Tax Identification Number) It is known in Portuguese as Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF). This NIF or TIN is the first thing you must acquire to enable you to complete other application steps. You will need it to open an account and rent a home. A tax operative in Portugal can get the NIF in Portugal on your behalf. 2. Open a Portugal bank account. This process is simple as long as you have your NIF. You can also open a bank account remotely. 3. Get accommodation Remember that proof of accommodation is part of the eligibility criteria. Hence, the next thing is to purchase a property, make an Airbnb reservation or sign a rental agreement. 4. Apply for the Visa After you gathered all the required documents, you are then ready to apply formally. Depending on the specifications, you submit the application in person or by mail. Locate the nearest Portuguese embassy in your country to start the application process. 5. Await Approval After your application, the Portuguese consular with jurisdiction within your area of residence will decide on the application within 60days. This approval will come after the consular has received a binding legal opinion from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Police (SEF). 6. Collect Your Temporary Entry Visa Visit the embassy to collect your temporary Entry Visa after your application has been approved. 7. Schedule an Appointment With SEF in Portugal Upon your arrival in Portugal, you need to schedule a meeting with the SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros Fronteiras). They are the immigration and border services department in Portugal. Note that you only have up to three days after arrival to schedule this appointment. 7. Attend Your Interview The next thing is to attend your interview with the SEF. This process serves to register you as a resident of Portugal. 8. Receive your residence permit Approximately it might take about two to three weeks before you receive the permit. Collecting your residence permit is the final step in your relocation process. You can begin living a peaceful life in Portugal as a digital nomad with your D7 visa. Portugal Passive Income Visa Fees: How Much Does Portugal's Digital Nomad Visa Cost? The D7 visa is quite affordable. Application for the visa costs about $100, while the residence permit application costs roughly $85. Note that the above is just the government fees and doesn't cover other application expenses like legal fees. Usually, the moving and living cost takes up the bulk of the expenses rather than the application itself. D7 Visa Validity: How Long Can You Stay in Portugal With a DNV? After a successful application, your D7 visa is valid for 4months. Within these four months, you must apply for a temporary resident permit. The resident permit allows you to stay up to a year. Note that it is also renewable after the first year. To avoid unforeseen circumstances, ensure that all documents are set a couple of months before the visa application date. Also, your visa application is submitted two to three months before your planned departure date. Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Processing Time: The Timeline for Applying Below is the D7 Visa application timeline. v  Entry year  Obtain your D7 Portugal Visa with a year of Validity v  First-year- Renew your D7 visa with two years of Validity. v  The third year- Renew your D7 visa for another two years. v  The fifth-year- Apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship. Cost of Living in Portugal In Europe, Portugal is reputed to offer the lowest cost of living. Portugal's cost of living is lower than the average US. A couple in Portugal can live comfortably on a budget of €1700 monthly. As a single digital nomad, if you are frugal with spending, €- will serve you comfortably for a month. The Healthcare for Foreign Residents in Portugal Portugal ranked 22nd out of 84 countries in the 2019 Health care index. WHO once rated Portugal 12th in the world as a country with standardized health care efficiency. Foreigners working in Portugal share the same health care benefits as the citizens. Both private and public health care facilities are available to expats in Portugal. Top Destinations and Co-working Spaces for Digital Nomads Lisbon and Porto is undeniably the most popular city and preferable location for many digital nomads. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, offers many exciting adventures for many remote workers.   Also, there are many beautiful co-working spaces in Portugal for remote workers to mix with other digital nomads. You can check out second home Lisboa, a greenhouse cum digital nomad Haven, or digital nomad village underground in Lisbon. Also, if you are looking for the latest remote working environment, you might want to check out Avila Spaces – Atrium Saldanha. I wish you a successful application and a peaceful stay in one of the most beautiful European countries. Frequently Asked Questions about Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Does Portugal Have A Digital Nomad Visa? Portugal does not have a specific digital nomad visa. However, they have the passive income or D7 Visa, a suitable option for digital nomads looking to relocate to Portugal. Do I Need A Visa To Work Remotely In Portugal? Yes! You need a visa to work remotely in Portugal. However, if you are an EU, US, Canada, New Zealand or Australian citizen, you can still stay in Portugal for three months without a Visa. Afterwards, you will need a visa to continue working there. Do Digital Nomads Pay Tax In Portugal? The simple answer is yes! Digital nomads do pay taxes. However, the tax you pay might depend on your length of stay. Is Portugal A Good Place For Digital Nomads? Portugal is great for digital nomads wishing to travel to a European country. Portugal holds various benefits ranging from an easy relocation process to enabling environment and affordable cost of living.