Portugal takes the 1st place as the best country for digital nomads
Digital nomads choose Portugal over other countries for safety, sunny weather, and lower cost of living, as stated in the new survey conducted by the housing platform Flatio.
Let’s discuss how to obtain the Digital Nomad Visa in Portugal and what benefits the country offers to remote workers.
Portugal takes the 1st place as the best country for digital nomads
The Nomad Report 2023 by the rental property platform Flatio shows that Portugal is the most appealing destination for digital nomads, chosen by 27% of the respondents.
12% of remote workers stated Thailand as their favourite destination, 8% of digital nomads preferred Spain.
It is not the first time Portugal is leading the list of the most comfortable countries. According to Nomadlist.com, Lisbon heads the list of the most popular cities for digital nomads for the third year.
Living in Portugal has plenty of benefits. A low crime index, affordable cost of living, and warm climate make it the best place to live in. Aside from general safety, Portugal is famous for its cuisine, beautiful architecture, beaches, and spectacular ocean views.
5 reasons why Portugal is 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.
Portugal is one of the world’s most child-friendly country
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.
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.
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