I want to work remotely in Europe and live an affluent life in a country of my choice. I want to be able to live anywhere in the EU in the future. So an option that comes up is the Digital Nomad visa.
The digital nomad visa I got is called the D8 visa in Portugal.
Why Portugal is popular for remote workers.
The climate is mild enough to be said to be sunny 300 days a year, English is easily understood, freedom of movement within the EU, prices are relatively cheap within the EU and the country is safe. It is an ideal country for nomads and remote workers.
English is easily understood in the capital cities of Lisbon and Porto, and there are plenty of cafés and co-working spaces for nomads. The public transport and healthcare systems are stable and the cost-effectiveness is excellent in Europe. As for the healthcare system, if you are ill and。
What is a digital nomad visa ( D8 )?
The Digital Nomad Visa (Remote Work Visa), launched at the end of 2022, is a new system that allows foreigners to live in Portugal and work remotely with companies and clients abroad.
Remote workers are eligible for this visa, so of course freelancers can also obtain it. I myself emigrated using this digital nomad visa ( D8 ).
I think the advantage for the countries that offer this visa is that the daily economy is enriched by the increased number of migrants and, as they are not allowed to work, tax revenues are increased while also measuring an improvement in the unemployment rate. It is also a wonderful visa that contributes to improving security because it sets an income requirement hurdle, so to a certain extent, it is possible to realise ‘the kind of people we want to have here’.
Differences from D7 visa
Briefly, people with passive income, such as pension or property income, are eligible for D7 and are mainly retirees or investors.
There is another type of visa, the D2 visa, which is known as a commercialisation visa or business visa in other countries. The D8 visa is different in that it is for remote workers. (There is also a difference in the need to submit a business plan in the application documents.)
Please refer to the text from the embassy for the correct information.
Who is eligible for a digital nomad visa in Portugal?
They are working remotely for an overseas company or client.
Steady income (€3,280+/month for 3-4 months, which is four times the average monthly income in Portugal and is reviewed accordingly). This is based on four times the average monthly income in Portugal and is reviewed accordingly. It goes up further when there are additional unwanted family members… )
∙ Both freelance and company employees are allowed.
∙ No criminal offences.
A study of digital nomad visas in European countries shows that they want people to come with some and steady income. The minimum income requirement may be the most difficult requirement.
Required documents and application conditions
Here is a rough idea of what you will need. Freelancers had a harder time preparing an employment contract or proof of freelancing compared to other visas…
・Valid passport
・Proof of income (last 3-6 months)
・Contract of employment
・Proof of residence in Portugal.
・Portuguese tax identification number (in some cases, but this is more likely to be for a one-year period).
・Proof of no criminal offences.
・Return airline ticket
・Visa application documents
What about emigration from Japan?
I emigrated in this way.
(1) First of all, I researched various things about the country before emigrating from Japan.
( Portugal, I decided to emigrate even though I had never been there. But I don’t recommend it lol )
(2) Contact an immigration lawyer.
Click here to find out how to find one.
(3) Prepare the necessary documents for the visa.
(4) Apply for a visa at the Portuguese Embassy
(5) Travel to Portugal once visa is granted
(6) Apply for a residence permit card in Portugal.
The process is as follows.
There are also international moving specialist services, so if you have a lot of luggage, there is room for consideration.
Summary
I also migrated with a digital nomad visa, but there is quite a gap between what you read in the documentation and what you actually do… I plan to write about this stuff in NOTE or something so that only people who want to read it can see it.
