REMOTE WORK AND REMOTE WORKERS IN PORTUGAL

There are many who dream of being able to associate the possibility of traveling with their professional activity. The so-called Plan B of life that could become a real Plan A, that is, we can manage to live wherever and however we want without work being a limitation.

The pandemic brought changes, helped to make employers’ minds more open to the perspective of telework. There really are jobs and circumstances where it is possible to work at a distance, not just a few kilometres away, but even thousands of kilometres!

In this context and by 3 Portuguese nationals, the research site Remote Europe was created. The project came alive to concentrate all pertinent information regarding this topic in a single space. Thus, it is possible to find in this platform several possibilities and opportunities for remote work – https://remote-europe.com/. All opportunities listed allow access to candidates who live in any country in the world.

Portugal is one of the best countries in Europe for those looking for this type of regime: live, spend a few months or just a few weeks. The climate, the sea, the lifestyle, the accessible technology, attract many digital nomads. Another issue is related to the incentives and benefits that the country offers to this type of workers: various possibilities of establishing residence in the country for Europeans and third state nationals, tax incentives, for example the regime of non-habitual residents, among others, various spaces and solutions for coworking and coliving and now a greater focus on providing easy and integrated information.

The Nomad List is an international website that highlights the best places to live, work and travel as a remote worker. The Top 5 on this list includes the cities of Lisbon, Porto and Madeira Island, all in Portugal. In fact, Lisbon appears in first place, as the best city in the world to live, work and travel as a remote worker. In reality, the nomad community in Portugal is growing, mainly, but not exclusively, in major cities. Other places of interest are those close to the sea and close to other existing and installed communities of digital nomads.

“Digital nomads also seek to meet their own community, investing in the sharing of experiences, in the tips that they transmit to each other and in the comfort of knowing that they are part of a kind of “fraternity” that adheres to the same type of life, which is, without a doubt, comforting”, highlights a national publication.

It is important to continue to develop tax solutions and a specific social protection access system to better integrate these workers, as well as improve the national network of coworking spaces. According to the 2021 Expat Insider report, Portugal is the European country with the best ranking, occupying the fifth place in a list of 59 countries. More specifically, our country is ranked in the top ten in three of the five indices evaluated: quality of life (3rd place), ease of installation (9th place) and cost of living (9th place).

From the point of view of establishing short and/or long-term residence, each country has its own rules for receiving foreigners who intend to settle for work. However, with regard to travel inside the European Union, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached, in December 2020, an agreement on changes in the European visa system to increase security in the Schengen area, increasing the possibility of access to short-term and residence permits — necessary for digital nomads, making sure they are available to those who are really looking for them and fulfil the needed requirements.

Portugal and the Portuguese are hospitable by nature, soul and principle. We are made of many things and known for many things, not just fado and custard tarts (which are great)!