I lived in Portugal for almost 2 years in the mid 1980's as a student in Portugal. I was poor. Somehow I managed to survive on about $5,000/year for those 2 years. That kind of adventure and experience is not possible in Portugal today. I hear that Coimbra has become expensive. - Paul Kirch
Nov 15, 2022·edited Nov 15, 2022Liked by Nancy Whiteman
Thank-you for this post! I agree with Dante! I lived in Austin, Texas for a while, and a sudden influx of tech people with high salaries out of California and other states, changed this once small, hippyish University town into a very expensive tech hub, with wealthy start-up investors, and soaring rents. It has its upside: investment in infrastructure, better restaurants, etc., but the effects are similar to that of the Golden Visa. So for me, same difference!
If the Govt makes it easy to attract digital nomads with that salary minimum , it seems likely to put tremendous pressure on housing. And although DN can theoretically work from everywhere, it seems obvious that almost all want to live on the coast in areas with developed infrastructure. More bad news for Portuguese competing for housing.
Yes, the wages are less but so is the cost of living. I think it all depends on the priority of the person. Is it lifestyle or money? For both parties I am working with it is lifestyle. One is coming from the states and has some annual income but not enough without a job. The other is coming from Mexico where the spread is even greater between wages and expenses. He speaks excellent engligh, spanish and some German.
There is another new visa I am working with my solicitor to get all the details. It was released the end of October and allows a person who does not have a job a 4 month visa with the option of an extension of 2 more months while securing work.
Yes, we have a friend in VRSA that is also working to secure this one as he attempts to create a new opportunity in VRSA. He is working with an attorney, at no charge, because so many of the details are a still a bit murky. When I wrote this post I was still a bit unclear about the guidelines and chose not to include. As you learn more, please return to this post and share your insights with our community. Thanks
Have your written anything about Taxes Nancy? USA expat taxes, as well as taxes due to Portugal? Also, wonder about banking and where to park money and consideration for such. Thank you for your great research, writing, sharing....
Hi, new to this newsletter and so grateful for this write-up of the new visa. One question, where did you see the info about the 5-year option for digital nomads? I looked through the links but didn't see it. Thanks!
Thank you. I will do that. I am here on a D7 visa in Caldas but following this new option for some friends who are coming to scout in February as well as one of our boys who will be here in December.
Thank you very, very much. I really don’t mean to ask you to do “my research”. I am fairly sure that finding a job will not be that difficult…there are many companies that need English language speakers for customer support on the phone. The challenge will be adjusting to the wages!
Always very interesting articles.
Read them always as may need in future.
Thanks.
Cáthal.
I lived in Portugal for almost 2 years in the mid 1980's as a student in Portugal. I was poor. Somehow I managed to survive on about $5,000/year for those 2 years. That kind of adventure and experience is not possible in Portugal today. I hear that Coimbra has become expensive. - Paul Kirch
Thank-you for this post! I agree with Dante! I lived in Austin, Texas for a while, and a sudden influx of tech people with high salaries out of California and other states, changed this once small, hippyish University town into a very expensive tech hub, with wealthy start-up investors, and soaring rents. It has its upside: investment in infrastructure, better restaurants, etc., but the effects are similar to that of the Golden Visa. So for me, same difference!
If the Govt makes it easy to attract digital nomads with that salary minimum , it seems likely to put tremendous pressure on housing. And although DN can theoretically work from everywhere, it seems obvious that almost all want to live on the coast in areas with developed infrastructure. More bad news for Portuguese competing for housing.
Yes, the wages are less but so is the cost of living. I think it all depends on the priority of the person. Is it lifestyle or money? For both parties I am working with it is lifestyle. One is coming from the states and has some annual income but not enough without a job. The other is coming from Mexico where the spread is even greater between wages and expenses. He speaks excellent engligh, spanish and some German.
There is another new visa I am working with my solicitor to get all the details. It was released the end of October and allows a person who does not have a job a 4 month visa with the option of an extension of 2 more months while securing work.
Yes, we have a friend in VRSA that is also working to secure this one as he attempts to create a new opportunity in VRSA. He is working with an attorney, at no charge, because so many of the details are a still a bit murky. When I wrote this post I was still a bit unclear about the guidelines and chose not to include. As you learn more, please return to this post and share your insights with our community. Thanks
Have your written anything about Taxes Nancy? USA expat taxes, as well as taxes due to Portugal? Also, wonder about banking and where to park money and consideration for such. Thank you for your great research, writing, sharing....
Hi Scott, yes I did write a post on taxes https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/i-hate-filing-my-taxes. I also wrote about our banking experience and currency exchange https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/we-saved-327495. You can use the search feature (magnifying glass) on the homepage to search by topic. I also have a list of posts by broad topics here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ScD8Y1ZA8Uto-I7pbUNJqaTjooi7K2kQqC9FgWDvq2c/edit?usp=sharing
Hi, new to this newsletter and so grateful for this write-up of the new visa. One question, where did you see the info about the 5-year option for digital nomads? I looked through the links but didn't see it. Thanks!
I was told this by someone that recently applied...since so new, awaiting approval.
Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate it.
Thank you. I will do that. I am here on a D7 visa in Caldas but following this new option for some friends who are coming to scout in February as well as one of our boys who will be here in December.
Thank you very, very much. I really don’t mean to ask you to do “my research”. I am fairly sure that finding a job will not be that difficult…there are many companies that need English language speakers for customer support on the phone. The challenge will be adjusting to the wages!