In an increasingly globalised world and with the confirmation of the benefits of remote work or teleworking, there are countless possibilities for digital nomads, technology professionals with a vocation for travelling.
Portugal is becoming a favourite destination for technology professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers, and not only because of its wide coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean or its good climate, but also because of the progress it is making to position itself as one of the technology countries par excellence due to its friendly tax regulations or its wide range of services for this type of professionals.
Remote work is becoming more and more common and, with it, workers who, because of their own activity, can reside in different parts of the world without being tied to a specific company or place. As a result, more and more so-called digital nomads are appearing.
The Iberian country wants to be a benchmark in this area, as other countries such as Estonia, Croatia or Dubai have already done, with advantageous proposals for remote workers. Portugal offers a residence permit or, as they are commonly known, a visa for digital nomads.
What does Portugal propose for digital nomads or freelancers?
A residence permit has been established for these professionals, which offers tourists the possibility of extending their stay beyond three months and up to a full year in order to practice their profession independently or as freelancers.
What are the requirements for a digital nomad?
Portugal has established two categories for digital nomads to choose from.
First, there is the visa for digital nomads, freelancers or self-employed professionals. The main requirement for this type of permit is to obtain benefits for work carried out independently, without the need for a contract or an employer. In the new technological era and with the international explosion of remote work, there are countless job opportunities that can be carried out from anywhere in the world.
On the other hand, Portugal has established a clear strategy to turn the country into an entrepreneurial and technological enclave, which is why it also offers the possibility of a visa for entrepreneurs or freelancers. This type of permit facilitates entrepreneurship in the country and is designed for those digital nomads who have plans to start or open a business in Portugal, complying with all the procedures requested by the corresponding immigration authority.
Is there a similar figure in Spain?
Spain is not far behind in terms of this type of authorisation to reside in Spain. Apart from the well-known Golden Visa or investment visa, it is not unreasonable to think that the Non-Profit Residency can be assimilated to this figure for digital nomads. By fulfilling the economic requirements of this residence permit, the foreigner will have the right to reside in Spanish territory for a period of one year, but without a work permit, a permit to work as an employee in Spain, but which does not exempt the digital nomad from continuing to receive income from abroad. In addition, we must not forget that in Spain you can opt for Residencia por Cuenta Propia, or what is the same, the residence permit for self-employed workers.
Jobs for digital nomads
One of the most common questions may be what type of employment suits professionals who consider themselves digital nomads. Today, largely due to the pandemic effect, there are far more resources and opportunities in this regard.
The job par excellence and the one that best suits this type of life is that of influencer, blogger or communicator. The scope of travel and the ability to share curiosities and adventures around the world with others undoubtedly make this a highly attractive profession. Closely related to this type of work is that of video editing or the traditional photographer.
Any job related to digital marketing, SEO or web design will be in high demand by digital nomads, even more so when it comes to working on their own projects.
Another job that has been growing in the digital nomad community is that of translator, as the mere fact of residing in different places gives professionals in the sector greater resources for their work.
As we have already mentioned, there is an increasing number of jobs for digital nomads, such as investor or trader, whether in the stock market or cryptocurrencies. This is because they can carry out their professional activity from anywhere in the world and are always looking for the most advantageous jurisdictions for this.
In general, any job that does not require face-to-face attendance will increase in popularity and demand in the digital nomad environment and, as we have seen, few jobs currently require face-to-face attendance to be performed well.
Cities for digital nomads
More and more digital nomads are opting for an exotic destination, where they can work in a new culture while discovering new places or experiencing local adventures.
Thailand is undoubtedly one of the favourite countries for digital nomads, cities such as Bangkok, the capital, and Chiang Mai are positioning themselves to stand out in an environment where digital professionals can fulfil all their aspirations. Bali, in Indonesia, is another of the cities to highlight on the Asian continent.
In Europe, Lisbon and Porto, in Portugal, offer resources and labour and tax advantages for this type of work. Continuing in Europe, cities such as Hungary, Berlin and London have become highly sought-after cities for digital nomads.
There is no doubt that other countries such as the United States, where we cannot forget the city of San Francisco, or New Zealand, with the city of Wellington at the top of the list, are targets for digital nomads to relocate to.
