Portugal’s Visa for Digital Nomads – In the scope of the recent and current pandemic situation, the configuration of professional lives has undergone several adaptations, namely the growing adherence to remote work.
In this sense, the D7 visa program also sought to adapt its requirements and demands to include remote workers or digital nomads.
We recall that this visa program, traditionally, was only associated with passive income, namely, from retirement or property rents. We therefore consider that this possibility constitutes a significant and important expansion that will, above all, allow young people from third countries greater access to the right of residence in Portugal.
It is now important to take into account the requirements that, in terms of income, must be fulfilled. To guarantee the success of the D7 visa application, not only the income existing in the country of origin or residence of the applicant should be considered, but also the income existing in the destination country, which must be transferred to a bank account in Portugal.
As always, the procedure begins with obtaining the Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF) and opening a bank account in Portugal, which are essential elements for proof of means of subsistence immediately available in the national territory.
With regard to income from remote work, these must be considered stable, that is, they must be constituted as a regular and continuous sum received by the applicant, preferably on a monthly basis. This sum should, if possible, be higher than the national minimum wage (currently €705.00).
To increase the probability of success, it is advisable to add to this proof of remuneration other income, possibly from passive sources (e.g., savings, dividends, rents, among others).
In short, we applaud this new possibility that reflects a real innovation compared to the previous D7 visa configuration.
We leave here a caveat so that this modality of the D7 visa is not confused with the residence visa for self-employed workers (known as the D2 Visa), considering that in these cases one of the requirements is the existence of a professional relationship through a contract for the provision of services with a Portuguese company or Portuguese client.
Portugal has thus harmonized its range of migratory options to match this new labour paradigm that has been cemented worldwide, boosting the rise of the digital nomad’s culture.
The Portugal’s Visa for Digital Nomads is, certainly, an alternative to consider.
