"Noticing that more and more affluent people working
remotely are arriving, Portugal has decided to join the group of countries that
are establishing special visas for "digital nomads".
The Portuguese government announced back in July that it was
developing a program to attract "digital nomads" and announced this
week that it would start on October 30, according to Bloomberg.
The new visa procedure now being approved makes it even
easier to come to Portugal.
Those wishing to obtain a visa must prove that they live in
the country permanently and pay taxes, submit an employment contract, proof
that they are self-employed or have another source of livelihood. The average
salary of the applicant for the last three months must be at least 4 times
higher than the minimum salary in Portugal, which is 705 EUR.
The number of countries that create
special visas to attract "digital nomads" is increasing every year.
It is true that the requirements vary from state to state. For example, after
receiving a special visa, you can live in Argentina for up to six months, and
in the Cayman Islands for up to two years.
Antigua and Barbuda can issue a visa in a week, Croatia - in
two months, Germany similarly, but applications for a visa to work in this country
are accepted only after arriving at its representative office.
Portugal also legalized a ban on employers contacting
employees after working hours a year ago. The country's parliamentarians hope
that people working remotely in this way will be able to maintain a more
balanced work-life regime.
Get both a visa and citizenship
The "golden visa" program still in force in
Portugal has previously been criticized as it creates conditions for
"digital nomads" to obtain Portuguese citizenship.
Foreigners participating in this program can get a visa to
live in Portugal if they invest at least 350,000 EUR in real estate that is not
in the urban or touristic part of the country.
A visa can also be obtained after investing at least EUR
500,000 in venture funds approved by Portugal.
Bloomberg calls this practice a detour to obtain a
Portuguese visa and, at the same time, a permanent residence permit in the
country. In some cases, this becomes the basis for granting citizenship.
So far, people from countries such as South Africa and
Russia have participated in these programs in large numbers. Wealthy citizens
of these countries have often used the program offered by Portugal as a way to
circumvent international travel restrictions on them or to avoid paying taxes
in their home countries.
Sometimes Americans looking for a cheaper life are also
tempted to participate in the program.
For example, the American Levite family, who left a farm in
Vermont and moved to a 27-acre farm in southeastern Portugal, shared their
story with Bloomberg. The organically-farming family said the decision wasn't
difficult because they get a better crop of flowers and vegetables in Portugal,
and the property tax is only one-tenth of what they would have had to pay in
the United States.
"These are simply incomparable things. The cost of
living in Portugal is much lower than in the US," says Amy Levitt, an
American writer who moved to Portugal.
After five years, the Levitas family intends to apply for
Portuguese citizenship, as the "golden visa" program allows it."
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