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With the approval of the Law for the Promotion of the Start-up Ecosystem, this new type of residency is created for those workers and professionals who travel to Spain but provide services or work remotely for a foreign company. In the case of the provision of services, this may be provided for a Spanish company if the percentage of work for that company is less than 20% of the worker’s activity.
1
At least one year’s activity of the company or group of companies for which the worker is going to provide services.
2
Accreditation of the viability of remote work.
3
In the case of an employment relationship, proof must be provided of the existence of an employment relationship between the company and the worker of at least three months prior to the submission of the application.
4
If there is no employment relationship but a professional relationship, proof must be provided that the worker has had a business relationship with one or more companies not located in Spain for at least the last three months.
5
Documentation that proves the admissibility of remote work on the part of the company.
The foreigner may apply for this authorization in Spain, while on a regular stay, or from his/her country of residence with the subsequent obtaining of the corresponding visa. The initial residence will be granted for three years, renewable for two years, provided that the circumstances that gave the right to grant it are accredited.
The new visa, which came into force on 30 October, 2022 was created after the Portuguese government amended the immigration law in July 2022.
Working remotely. Take the challenge of working remotely and live like a local in another country. In Portugal, you can count on sunshine, friendly people, gastronomy and cultural richness of the different cities. You have a lifestyle with geographical freedom and quality of life.
The Madeira Digital Nomads project
The island of Madeira has created Europe’s first digital nomad village, the Digital Nomad Village. The Digital Nomad Village was launched in September 2020 and was well received by the community. The idea of the project is to attract digital nomads from all over the world to work from the island, for periods of one to six months. Workspaces, internet and group activities are offered within the project.
Today there are accommodation options in the cities of Porto Santo, Ponta do Sol, Santa Cruz, Funchal and Machico.
Those interested in participating in the project should apply through the Digital Nomad Village website and wait for a response from the organisation with more information.
Place of commencement of proceedings
The application must be formalised at the Portuguese consulate of the applicant’s country of origin/residence, by filling in an application form and submitting the documents required by law.
Once approved and stamped in the respective passport, the visa for temporary stay for the exercise of subordinate or independent professional activity, at a distance, shall be valid for the period stamped therein, which may not exceed 1 (one) year, and is valid for multiple entries into the national territory.
The residence visa for the same professional purposes is valid for a period of more than 1 (one) year and allows the holder two entries into Portuguese territory.
After entering Portuguese territory, the visa holder can go to the Foreigners and Borders Service (“SEF”), by appointment, to collect biometric data, and submit the requested documentation in order to exchange the visa for a residence permit, valid for 2 (two) years.
