The Algarve region is “sparking the most interest”
– April 30, 2024
Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visas are attracting more and more interest, and the Algarve is one of the top destinations due to its relaxed lifestyle, good weather, and combination of coastal and rural areas.
According to recent news by the Portugal Resident, the new trend has been confirmed by Algarve companies, international event organisers, and a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Algarve.
Open Media Group, organisers of the Living in Portugal and Moving to Portugal international events, reported that attendees are eager to learn about the country’s Digital Nomad Visa scheme and other residency options.
“Interest remains high as shown by 60.4% of attendees at our March Moving to Portugal show (in London) wishing to find out about residency and visas,” Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK, told the Portugal Resident, adding that the Algarve “remains the most desired location for UK and Irish buyers,” with 49.9% of visitors wanting price/property info on the region – up from 47.7% in October 2023.
Open Media Group’s recent Living in Portugal roadshow in the US, which took place in Austin, Atlanta, and Boston between February 22 and March 2, also reported an increase in interest in the Digital Nomad Visa with almost 20% of all attendees interested in it.
Agatha Bulha, lawyer at JB Law Office, confirms this growth of interest in Digital Nomad Visas, and last year they partnered with Lagos Digital Nomads to host a talk focusing on these visas. “The Algarve is the region that is sparking the most interest”, as it is “quite easy to obtain and requires much less documentation than other visas and permits,” Agatha told the Portugal Resident.
Digital nomads opt for the Algarve over big cities
As Agatha Bulha has heard from clients, the Algarve’s reputed safety and high quality of life help set it apart from other popular Digital Nomad destinations in Portugal, such as Lisbon and Porto, with less commonly explored rural areas also reported to be attracting more interest than ever.
This is also confirmed by António Guerreiro, Director of Projects and Strategic Partnerships at Algarve Evolution (a non-profit association dedicated to “growing the Algarve”). “Lisbon and Porto are becoming saturated,” he told the Resident, pointing out that a lack of housing in these cities has created an unwelcoming environment for Digital Nomads, adding that “the Algarve is a region with a lot of potential to grow and with a level of dynamism that did not exist previously”.
Until recently, Lisbon was Portugal’s primary Digital Nomad hub, but due to the city’s struggle with local accommodations, property prices skyrocketed, resulting in a significant decrease in affordable housing, which has led to a phase of “decentralisation” for Portugal’s Digital Nomad scene, as explained by Gonçalo Hall, president of the Digital Nomad Association Portugal and CEO of NomadX, a global platform for Digital Nomads.
“This is leading Digital Nomads to discover other areas, such as Porto, Ericeira, and particularly in the last year, the Algarve,” he told the Resident.
The ‘boom’ of Americans discovering Portugal as a tourist and residential destination has been well-reported and also applies to Digital Nomads, although British, Irish, and other European Digital Nomads are still the most prevalent in Portugal.
As Gonçalo Hall explained, there is no set profile for Digital Nomads who arrive in Portugal: “For Digital Nomads, it is not about the country. It is much more about the cities or towns,” and “each destination attracts Digital Nomads for different reasons.”
Those who prefer surfing, for example, might be enticed by the famous waves of Ericeira or the wide array of beaches in the Algarve, while those who prefer a more cosmopolitan scene may prefer Lisbon or Porto despite the trouble they might have finding somewhere to live, he explained.
The Algarve’s growing Digital Nomad communities and hubs
Digital Nomads are also usually drawn to areas where they can be part of a larger community, Gonçalo Hall and António Guerreiro explained. In southern Portugal, Algarve Evolution has been trying to foster this feeling of community in the region, frequently hosting events called Grow Algarve Meetups which allow Digital Nomads and remote workers to meet each other and network.
“These people need human contact,” António Guerreiro said. “We are trying to host more and more of these events consistently.”
Cities such as Portimão and Lagos have already established Digital Nomad groups, with the Portimão Digital Nomads and the Lagos Digital Nomads.
For more information about how to become a digital nomad in Portugal, visit the official Visit Portugal portal.
