Digital nomads are a community of individuals who can develop their professional activity anywhere in the world, who usually use their computer as their main work tool and who take advantage of this fact to migrate to different countries with some regularity.
Digital nomads usually adopt a traveling lifestyle, spend seasons in one city, and easily move to another, or even to another country. This way of life allows a balance between travel and work. Not necessarily tourists, digital nomads are important for boosting the economy, culture and the globalisation of the places they pass through.
Also digital nomads see several advantages in Portugal when it comes time to choose a destination. Besides being highly prepared to receive these communities, Portugal is highly sought after for its climate, long coastline, safety (being one of the safest countries in the world, it inspires confidence to come here to live, alone or accompanied), culture and gastronomy.
Because they take root in the countries they pass through, there are factors that greatly influence the decisions of digital nomads: such as gastronomy, friendly and tolerant culture and the relaxed way of life. For this reason too, Portugal gains a serious advantage.
When coming to work in Portugal for more than a year, digital nomads need to acquire a residence visa.
To enter and stay in Portugal, the so-called Digital Nomads usually use one of two types of Visa: the D2 Visa (entrepreneurs, freelancers, self-employed) and the D7 Visa (income holders).
Both residence visas will give Applicants the possibility to travel to Portugal, apply here (within 4 months) for a residence permit and receive the resulting residence card. This latter will give the possibility to the Applicants to:
• Move freely as tourists throughout the Schengen Area
• To family reunification;
• Access to quality education, teaching and vocational training;
• To engage in a subordinate or independent professional activity;
• To enjoy a qualified and accessible health system;
• To access to the law and the courts; and
• Portuguese nationality at the end of the five years.
For digital nomads from European Union/ European Economic Area/ Andorra / Switzerland, they must instead apply for the certificate of residence in order to live here legally.
