On October 30, 2022, changes to the Lei 23/2007, which in Portugal is also called the "Foreigners Law" came into force. In this article we have already written about the visa for job search in Portugal, which appeared just as a result of these changes. CitizenRemote spoke in detail about the new visa for digital nomads and freelancers working remotely https://citizenremote.com/visas/portugal-digital-nomad-visa/. 

Who is suitable for this type of visa?

The visa for freelancers working remotely is called "Visto de residência para o exercício de atividade profissional prestissional de forma remota para fora do território nacional" and behind such a complicated name is a very important tool that freelancers and digital nomads all over the world have been waiting for. 

If previously remote workers either immigrated to Portugal illegally or tried to get D2 or D7 visas, which were reluctantly issued by consulates, now there is a simple and legal tool to get a short-term visa or long-term residency for freelancers. The changes to the law are in force and this visa is already being issued by Portuguese consulates, so if you are a freelancer and a remote worker, read this article to the end to understand how the whole process works.

Why did Portugal create a visa for freelancers in 2022?

The prerequisites for legislative changes and projects for "Digital Nomads" in Portugal were noticed a few years ago, when slowly but surely, projects, villages and infrastructure for freelancers were created in different cities and islands in Portugal, as we wrote about in great detail here in our article. 

In October 2022, when the changes in the law on foreigners came into force, it became very clear what goal the Portuguese government was pursuing. Attracting solvent professionals who do not have to look for work in the country is a sure way to increase local GDP. If you have never been to Portugal and have no idea what salaries are paid here, most people in the country earn on average around 1,000 euros. The amount of almost 3,000 euros required from remote workers is unthinkable money for the vast majority of the Portuguese population. 

It is quite advantageous in this regard to attract such well-to-do and financially secure people who will rent a house here, do shopping, use medical services, etc. 

So if you have a desire to live in Portugal, spending money earned from remote work, now you have such an opportunity, because it is easy enough to get this visa by following the step-by-step instructions below.

You can learn more about digital nomad visa in other countries here https://citizenremote.com/visas/portugal-digital-nomad-visa/