If you work remotely or exclusively in your home office, you theoretically have the option of working from anywhere. The Portuguese government wants to attract such workers with a new "visa for digital nomads".

Remote workers who earn at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage - i.e. around 2,800 euros per month - should be able to apply for the visa. The visa allows recipients to either live and work in Portugal for a year or apply for a residency permit that can be extended to up to five years. In addition, the recipients can travel within the entire Schengen area - i.e. in 26 EU countries - without an additional visa.

Portugal is particularly popular with digital nomads due to the low cost of living, mild weather and many Portuguese speaking fluent English, among other things. The good connection to major European cities and the abundance of co-working spaces are also attractive for remote workers.

"Digital nomadism is a trend that has been gaining ground since the early 2020s, and with the Covid-19 pandemic, working remotely has become a reality for many workers," said Patricia Casaburi, Managing Director of investment migration company Global Citizen Solutions" to Bloomberg. "This visa will simplify the procedures for citizens from other countries who want to come to Portugal and the country will benefit from a new job market and more workers."

Portugal is also said to be one of the most desirable "golden visa" programs for wealthy American investors, says Ezzedeen Soleiman, managing partner at Latitude Residency

The Portuguese government had already announced its plans for the digital nomad visa in July. It is expected to come into force on October 30, 2022.

Sources: Bloomberg, Business Insider