Short-Term Digital Nomad Visa in Portugal
There are several immigration options for remote workers and freelancers who want to enjoy life in Portugal. In this article we will cover the short-term visa option for digital nomad in Portugal:
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Portugal has two immigration programs for which you can apply to live as a digital nomad in Portugal. Both programs enable the visa holder to live in the country for a certain time and work independently from within Portugal:
- The Temporary Stay Visa for independent work: If you want to stay in Portugal as a digital nomad for up to one year, this visa is for you. It grants multiple entries into Portugal and can be renewed twice for additional periods of one year.
- The Portugal D7 Visa: If you wish to stay in Portugal as a digital nomad for more than one year, you should apply for the Portugal D7 Visa.
Below we will talk more about the Temporary Stay Visa; you can learn more about the Portugal D7 Visa in our other article.
Key facts
- The short-term digital nomad program in Portugal is called the Temporary Stay Visa for independent work (later in this article — Temporary Stay Visa).
- The Temporary Stay Visa allows you to stay and work remotely in Portugal for up to one year.
- The application process for the Temporary Stay Visa costs €75 for individuals.
- The deadline for Portugal immigration authorities to make decisions on Temporary Stay Visa applications is 30 days before the travel date. We recommend you apply at least three months before the travel date.
- This visa does not grant any tax benefits or incentives for digital nomads.
- There are no limits on the number of persons admitted under this visa category.
Eligibility requirements
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be a non-EU citizen;
- Be able to provide your work contract or service agreement;
- Have a clean criminal record: You must obtain a clear criminal record before you start the application process.
- Have comprehensive health insurance: You must have comprehensive health insurance that covers all EU countries for a minimum of €30,000. Insurance must be valid during your whole stay in Portugal, but at least for 12 months.
- Provide proof of means of subsistence: You must prove that you can support yourself financially for the duration of your stay. The criteria to determine means of subsistence are based on the minimum monthly salary, which currently in 2022 amounts to €705, net of any social security deductions, with a per capita increase for each family unit as follows:
- First adult 100%;
- Second adult and additional adults 50%;
- Children and young people under 18 years of age and non-minor dependent children 30%.
- Provide proof of accommodation: You must have accommodation arranged before you move to Portugal.
What documents are required to apply?
To apply for the Temporary Stay Visa for digital nomad in Portugal, you must provide the following documents:
- Valid passport;
- Two identical passport photographs, up-to-date and in good condition;
- Return ticket;
- Valid travel insurance covering necessary medical expenses, including emergency assistance and repatriation;
- Clear criminal record from the country of origin or country of residency for over one year (minors under 16 years of age are exempt from producing any criminal record–related document);
- Proof of accommodation;
- Proof of means of subsistence;
- Work contract or service agreement in the framework of your independent and temporary work activity.
Application process and timeline
Here is a step-by-step guide to applying for the Temporary Stay Visa program in Portugal as a digital nomad:
- Gather all required documents and book a consular appointment: You should prepare the necessary documents in advance and book a consular appointment in the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country. Please note that you won't be able to apply from abroad.
- Complete and submit the application: The application must be submitted alongside all your supporting documents. You can submit your documents to the consulate in person or mail them. The application must be clear and accurate.
- Pay the application fee: You must pay the application fee for the visa application. It is €75.
- Wait for approval: The processing time is usually up to 90 days, but no later than 30 days before your travel date to Portugal indicated in the application. If your application is successful, you will receive your Temporary Stay Visa within two weeks.
Accommodations
There are plenty of accommodation options in Portugal for digital nomads:
- Hotels and hostels: These are always great options for digital nomads. Portugal offers a wide variety of hotels and hostels around the country. However, please note that hotels are not very budget-friendly options compared to other types of accommodation. Thus, we recommend that you stay at a hotel only if you want to travel around different Portuguese cities.
- Rent of flats or houses: If you plan to stay in one place in Portugal for a year or more you should consider renting a property. There are many different options available all around Portugal. However, you should remember that usually, property owners require you to sign a rental agreement for at least one year. Here are the average prices for apartments in the most popular cities among digital nomads:
City | Average price for one-bedroom apartment per month | Average price for three-bedroom apartment per month |
Lisbon | $850 | $1550 |
Porto | $650 | $900 |
Braga | $550 | $850 |
- Co-living spaces: This option is focused on meeting the unique needs of digital nomads. Here you will have the perfect combination of your own private space whilst also being able to meet other like-minded digital nomads. In such places, you usually have your bedroom and other facilities will be shared amongst the group. This can include the bathroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room. You can find many co-livings at these websites: Anyplace.com and Coliving.com.
Healthcare
The quality of the healthcare system in Portugal is strong and constantly improving. In 2018, the Euro Health Consumer Index ranked the Portuguese healthcare system as the 13th best in Europe. That is better than, for example, the UK, Spain, Italy, and Ireland. Alongside public healthcare, Portugal has a private one that is more expensive, although not as expensive as in some countries. An appointment with a private doctor will cost around €40–50. Waiting lists for private services are typically shorter; there is a wide availability of services and there is also more chance of being seen by English-speaking staff.
Transportation
Portugal is known for its well-developed transportation system. It is convenient to travel around the country. Almost all towns are well connected; transport is relatively cheap and easily accessible. Trains, trams, buses, taxis, and funiculars in the country are the most popular ways of moving around Portugal. Lisbon and Porto are the only cities with a metro system.
Cost of living
According to NUMBEO, for a single person, the estimated monthly cost of living, without rent, is about $600, while for a family with four members you can expect expenses of $2,100. This is relatively low compared to most European countries and the US. For example, the cost of living in Portugal is 45% lower than in the United Kingdom and 52% lower than in the USA. Speaking of average rent prices, they are more than 50% lower than in the USA or UK.
The prices for most products in the Portuguese grocery stores and utilities can be found on NUMBEO.
Portugal offers many fabulous destinations for digital nomads to work remotely and enjoy the beauty of Portuguese cities. Here are some of the most popular spots for remote workers in the country:
- Ponta do Sol, Madeira: This is the first Digital Nomad Village. It is a paradise for digital nomads. They can get access to a free coworking space, guidance on finding accommodation, and permission to join the nomads’ Slack group, where a lively calendar of events — from mindfulness sessions to hiking and water sports — is posted every week.
- Lisbon: The capital of Portugal is a hotspot for remote workers. Lisbon offers many top-class co-workings and co-living spaces. The city has rich architecture and culture, fantastic scenery, and some of the best nightlife in Portugal. The high-speed internet around the city makes it easy to work remotely, and the nomadic community is very welcoming here. However, the prices in Lisbon are significantly higher than in other Portuguese cities.
- Porto: Portugal’s second-largest city has a steadily growing digital nomad community. Porto fascinates with its cobbled lanes, medieval castles, and great Baroque palaces spilling down the hills to the reflective Douro River. The Porto red wine is undoubtedly some of the best in the world. Additionally, you will find gorgeous beaches here, which are both to the south and the north. There is also excellent surfing in Porto.
- Coimbra: This place is for digital nomads who are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. Coimbra is much less busy than most coastal hotspots in Portugal, and that makes it a good choice for the summer months. Coimbra is famous for its gorgeous Reconquest-era cathedral, an old town with cobbled lanes and café-rimmed piazzas, and a stunning Baroque university library.
- Braga: Braga is known as the Portuguese Rome. The city is full of historic castles and cathedrals. It is a quiet city and a great home base for digital nomads. This is the best place for those who feel a little bit tired of active life in Lisbon, but still do not want to leave behind a comfortable urban life.
Digital nomads who have obtained the Temporary Stay Visa in Portugal could be subject to Portuguese Personal Income Tax. There are two typical situations where this occurs:
- If a remote worker or freelancer spends more than 183 days physically in Portugal within a 12-month period, whether these days are consecutive or not.
- For shorter stays where the digital nomad has a dwelling in Portugal and there is the presumption of holding and occupying it as a place of habitual residence.
In the above situations, digital nomads are considered Portuguese Tax Residents and must declare their foreign source income—in other words, the remote work income, and respectively pay taxes. General Rate applies to them. Personal income tax (PIT) rates for 2021 ranged from 14.5 % to 48%.
What are the general progressive rates in Portugal?
Annual Income | General Rate (%) |
Up to €7,112 | 15 |
€7,113 - €10,732 | 23 |
€10,733 - €20,322 | 29 |
€20,323 - €25,075 | 35 |
€25,076 - €39,967 | 37 |
€39,968 - €80,882 | 45 |
€80,883+ | 48 |
HI’s Digital Nomad Suitability Score (HI-DNS score)
Considering various factors, here’s our assessment of Portugal as a destination for digital nomads, based on the HI’s Digital Nomad Suitability Score (HI-DNS score).
CRITERIA | SCORE |
Ease of obtaining a visa | Average |
Cost of visa | Excellent |
Index of happiness | Good |
Duration of visa | Excellent |
Safety | Excellent |
Cost of living | Excellent |
Healthcare | Excellent |
Internet Infrastructure | Excellent |
Taxes | Average |
Infrastructure | Good |
Incentives from the government for digital nomads | Good |
If you are interested in relocating to Portugal, contact our team. We can make the process smooth and painless for you!
If you are interested in trying something different while working remotely, give some thought to Portugal, an European country that welcomes digital nomads and offers excellent living conditions. Contact our team, and we will be glad to match you with your dream country, prepare the required documents, and successfully file an application for a digital nomad visa. We will make the application process convenient and easy for you! Our team can also assist you in other tasks such as looking for optimal healthcare insurance, translation of documents, preparation and validation of your documents, etc.
If you still have any questions that are not covered in our article, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to help!