Spain and Portugal among the top 10 countries for remote work

A recent study conducted by the cybersecurity firm NordLayer establishes a ranking of the best places for remote work, with Europe taking the top positions.

It’s worth noting that Spain and Portugal are ranked 4th and 6th in this classification, surpassed only by countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany.

The report, covering the year 2023 and using data from 108 countries, considers four key factors: cybersecurity, digital and physical infrastructure, social security, and economic security.

NordLayer’s text also highlights that most countries at the top of the ranking are expensive to live in. The exception is Portugal, which, despite being in the 6th position overall, has a much lower cost of living (56), making it particularly advantageous for those working remotely from there.

What visas allow me to live and work in Spain and Portugal?

Digital Nomad Visa: This program allows the applicant to reside in the host country while maintaining employment ties with a company located in another territory for a period of 5 years, renewable. It has no age limit but does have some specific requirements:

  • Spain: Income must be proven to be higher than 2 minimum wages (€2,100 monthly at the time). The majority of these incomes must come from companies outside Spain, and knowledge and experience applicable to the work must be demonstrated. With this visa, it is possible to be governed by the Beckham Law, which provides a tax exemption on other incomes for 5 years, except for salary incomes, which are set at 24%.
  • Portugal: Monthly income must be demonstrated to be higher than 4 minimum wages (approx. €3,280 monthly) for the last 3 months. Additionally, the applicant must take out health insurance and prove at least 4 months of rent. There is no time limit.

Golden Visa: These are an attractive option for those looking to mitigate country risk, diversify wealth, or simply have a contingency plan that eliminates borders and creates opportunities. They also allow working in the host country. Requirements include:

  • Spain: For Chileans and Latin Americans, there is an unbeatable incentive: with only 2 years of residence in the country (which with planning can be reduced according to the investor’s case), you can obtain the Spanish passport, one of the most powerful in the world, allowing visa-free travel to 194 destinations, including Mainland China. In addition, obtaining citizenship does not require a language test or renunciation of the Chilean passport. This route requires an investment in properties from €500,000.
  • Portugal: It allows obtaining citizenship in just 5 years without the need to reside in the country, with only 14 days every 2 years. After 5 years, you can apply for the passport. In this route, investment alternatives in funds start from €500,000, or a contribution to artistic and cultural projects from €200,000, among others.

Other Residence Visas: There are other visas that offer residence, subject to different requirements, and it will depend directly on each applicant’s possibility to apply. Among these visas, the D7 Visa (Portugal) stands out, a visa for those with stable passive incomes. This visa is oriented towards retirees, and it is necessary to demonstrate stable passive incomes from €820 for 12 months. What are passive incomes? They are incomes not derived from employment, such as property rents, investments, pensions, etc.

If you are interested in learning more about these and other visas for Spain and Portugal, AIM Global has the best team to advise you. As experts in global mobility, our goal is to help you realize your projects, leaving the legal and tax details to us.

Schedule a meeting with us now and start building the future you and your family deserve.

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