Recently, on a trip around Portugal southern coastline, we’ve talked with Mary and John, an American digital nomad couple that has chosen to travel around Europe for a period of two to three years. They took advantage of the recent changes to the Golden Visa Portuguese program and when they learn the country was about to launch a new digital nomad visa specifically tailored for remote workers, they didn’t thought more and embarked on an European adventure.
This digital nomad couple decided to travel around Europe to explore the different golden visa options available. They wanted to take advantage of the many opportunities that a golden visa could offer them, such as being able to live and work in the country of their choice, access to healthcare, and the ability to travel freely between countries.
The couple also took advantage of the digital nomad visa, which allowed them to work remotely from different locations in Europe. This enabled them to stay connected to family and friends back home, while exploring the different cultures and countries.
The couple was also attracted to the idea of becoming digital nomads because of the flexibility it gave them to work from anywhere in the world. They were able to control their own schedule, which allowed them to focus on their passions and interests, while still earning an income.
The couple also saw the golden visa option as a way to save money in the long run. With the visa, they were able to stay in the same country for extended periods of time, which allowed them to avoid the costs associated with constantly moving. This also allowed them to save money on their taxes, as they were able to take advantage of the reduced tax rates offered by some countries.
Overall, they rate their experience They rate their experience really well as they happen to find out that in some countries golden visa schemes are starting to be adapted for digital nomads. There are some countries like Portugal, Spain that even started with their own digital nomad visa.
They found digital nomad community in specific cities or villages, not only in the main capitals, but also in the interior regions of the country and less populated regions.
For example, Portugal, after the 2022 changes to its program, started to incentivize some of the foreign investors to to apply for a visa but to do so by investing in the interior region of the country instead of the main cities like Portugal, like Porto, Lisbon, Algarve or the Silver Coast.
So this happens to be a new kind of visa that it’s popping up all through Europe and that the governments are kind of testing between them and the Schengen area so that it can allow these types of workers to kind of travel free within European countries and in some European coastlines.
As we describe in the article about European coastlines, this is something that could be a very attractive measure by the governments to attract remote workers that happen to combine both the travel and their working through remote access.
3 reasons why American digital nomads are looking for Europe as a travel and work destination
1. European Visas: Many American digital nomads are attracted to the idea of obtaining a European visa, such as a golden visa, which would allow them to stay in the European country of their choice for an extended period of time. This would also allow them to travel freely between countries in the Schengen area.
2. Quality of Life: American digital nomads are also attracted to the quality of life that Europe offers. Many countries in Europe have excellent healthcare, education, and public services that make it an attractive place to live and work.
3. Cost: Europe is generally more affordable than the United States, making it a great option for digital nomads looking to save money while traveling.
The most popular European coastline countries for American digital nomads are Portugal, Spain, and Greece. These countries offer great access to beaches, historical sites, and cultural attractions, making them perfect for combining work and leisure.