Portugal takes the 1st place as the best country for digital nomads

1. Cost of living. Portugal is a generally affordable country. The cost of living in Lisbon is 20% lower than in Rome.

A single person can expect to pay about €1,000 per month without rent in Portugal. Renting a one-bedroom apartment outside the city centre costs €800+. Property in the city centre is more expensive, from €1,300 a month.

2. Pleasant weather. Portugal has mild winters — it is rarely below 15 °C in January. Summer in the country is hot, up to 30 °C. Portugal usually has the best weather to work in a cafe on the seashore and admire the picturesque views.

3. Safety. Portugal ranked 7th in the annual Global Peace Index Report. It is highly unlikely to experience any kind of discrimination there, including racial and gender prejudices.

According to Flatio, 17% of digital nomads travel with their families. In Portugal, the safety of children is a priority. Many well-equipped playgrounds are in the cities and the suburbs, and restaurants usually have a playroom.

Children of foreigners with a residence permit can go to government-funded kindergartens and schools for free in Portugal.

4. Access to European healthcare. Residents of Portugal who contribute to the Social Security Fund can seek medical treatment for free. Sometimes they can be asked to pay small extra fees. Pregnant women, disabled and older people pay no fees at all.

Paying out-of-pocket in private clinics can be costly. Portugal provides public healthcare and affordable private health insurance plans.

5. Prospect of obtaining European citizenship. The long-term Digital Nomad Visa to Portugal grants the right to get a residence permit for 2 years. After that, residents can renew it.

The Portuguese residence permit allows visa-free travel to the Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days within 180.

After 5 years of living in Portugal with a residence permit, one can apply for permanent residence or citizenship. The holders of Portuguese passports enjoy the benefits of visiting 187 countries visa-free.

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa was launched in the fall of 2022. Over the year, more than 1,000 remote workers have obtained the visa.

To qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa, an applicant must:

• be self-employed, a freelancer, a remote employee, or an individual entrepreneur;

• have a stable income of at least €3040 a month;

• rent or buy residential property in Portugal.

The visa is issued for 4 months. During this time, the applicant enters Portugal to get a residence permit.

The main applicant can also get visas for their spouse, financially dependent children under 30, and parents. The minimum monthly income will change depending on the family members included — by €254 for underage children and by €380 for each relative over 18 years old.

Residents must spend at least 183 days a year in Portugal to keep their residence permit.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of government citizenship by investment programs. If you want to obtain a residence permit in Portugal, please contact our investment programs experts now.