Portugal is the best country in Europe for a remote worker

Portugal is the best European country for remote work for employees of local companies and digital nomads. Portuguese laws protect the privacy of employees, and forbid employers to control them outside of working hours. As for nomads, i.e. foreigners who work online, they are granted a visa, which gives them the right to live and work here legally, bring their families here, and, after a few years, obtain citizenship.

Remote worker and digital nomad: what is the difference

A remote worker is a person who works from home, but is listed as an employee of a certain company, and taxes are paid for him/her by the employer. A digital nomad (freelancer) is a person who works for themselves, fulfilling the orders of different clients. To pay taxes, he/she can open a company or register as self-employed.

Remote worker in Portugal

Many companies whose employees work from home have established additional controls. Not only have they increased their workloads, but they have also started calling, messaging, and sending emails constantly to determine if the employee is at the computer or gone for a walk. It was not uncommon for calls to be made outside of work hours as well.

The Portuguese government has studied such moments, and has implemented solutions that draw a clear line between work and personal life. The main thing is that it is forbidden to write e-mails or send texts to messengers outside of working hours. Such actions are considered an invasion of privacy and a violation of employees' rights, so employers can be fined. The rule applies to companies with at least 10 employees, but there is a good chance that it will soon cover small businesses as well.

Other points of interest for which Portugal is the best option for a remote worker include:

• Employees with a child under the age of 8 have the right to work from home without employers' consent. If this is not possible, companies should make more flexible work schedules so that parents can manage their time and take care of the child;
• To keep remote employees from feeling lonely, the law requires Portuguese employers to arrange meetings every 2 months;
• Fast Internet.

Digital nomad in Portugal

If you're a foreigner who wants to live in Portugal doing online work orders, you should know that you can't legally stay here more than 90 days a year. The way out is to open a company in Portugal 2022 or register as a digital nomad.

Portugal gives freelancers a D7 visa, which allows them to stay here for 2 years, with the right to renew. Its owner can bring here a spouse, children, and after 5 years to get citizenship. The offer is valid for self-employed people, as well as remote workers who work in a foreign company and receive not less than € 705 per month.

Portuguese officials like stability, so they are more willing to give a visa to officially registered employees who can verify income. If you are an unregistered freelancer, a visa will be given if the account will be enough money for a 2-year stay in Portugal.

To get a Visa D7, you must bring to the diplomatic mission:

• passport;
• rental agreement;
• an explanation of why you want to live here;
• health insurance that is current in Portugal;
• a certificate of no criminal record.

The application is reviewed for up to 4 months; if the answer is positive, you can immediately go to Portugal.

How a foreigner can work remotely in Portugal

If you want to get a digital nomad visa in Portugal, interested in registering a remote business in Portugal 2022, contact IT-OFFSHORE consultants.