E-Residency and Digital Modernization in Portugal
Digital Modernization
The Portuguese Government’s priorities are modernization and digitalisation. As the world is going through a phase of digital transition, this is seen by Portugal as a powerful tool in the long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality (in line with the guidelines of the European Ecological Pact and the strategic challenge of the government, which relates to climate change).
The aim is to put Portugal at the forefront of the countries that are best prepared to face the challenges and changes that the global transition entails.
Thus, the Government has taken measures to ensure greater equality and inclusion of citizens, increasing the competitiveness of the economy and attracting national and foreign investment, as well as creating value in the business fabric.
E-Residency
One of the measures approved as part of this government action is the development of the E-Residency programme. This measure aims to create the concept of “digital identity”, allowing national or foreign citizens to use Portuguese public services online.
The Portuguese e-residency programme is to be launched globally during the 2020 edition of the Web Summit, and will contribute significantly to stimulating entrepreneurship in Portugal by promoting the construction of business bridges in Europe, thus allowing as many people as possible to create a virtual home in Portugal.
The creation of the E-residency meets the needs of a new type of public: the digital nomads, who can develop their economic activity, in a legal and transparent way, from anywhere in the world.
The adoption of this measure also allows minimizing costs and administrative inefficiencies, highlighting Portugal as a digitally advanced country internationally.
A working group will be created, which objective is to develop the best proposal at a technological and functional level. To this end, international examples will be taken into account (as is the case of Estonia, a successful case in the implementation of E-residency).
E-Residency in other countries
Estonia is the first country offering the possibility to create a virtual residency, and allows Digital Nomads, Freelancers, Startups and Digital Entrepreneurs to have access to this program.
The bases of the Estonian virtual residence are the same as the Portuguese program: the possibility to work, from any point, having an online office and remote access to the public services of the state where the E-residency is established.
This program guarantees several advantages, which the Portuguese will also ensure, for example:
- The possibility of having a company based in a European Union country
- The ability to run a business 100% remotely
- The possibility of moving from one country to another without also having to change the company
- The possibility to sign, authenticate and send documents in an absolutely digital and secure way;
- The creation of a valuable network of contacts, with people who are in the same situation, and which could expand throughout the world
