Any Digital Nomads out here?

[dice]

After a few years of graft and a bit of luck, I've managed to work my way into a position where I'm fully remote. My workplace are also happy with me being anywhere in the world as long as I can cover the EU/EMEA shift of meetings and be on hand as a specialist in case of any issues. Whether its short term or long term, they don't mind.

Of course I've already planned a couple of trips (waking up in Montpellier, working on a balcony overlooking something gorgeous, and then taking in the town in the evenings for a couple weeks sounds like a dream) but I was wondering if anyone has done something similar longer term. I have some family I'd like to still see (parents, sister) who are all in London so convenient airport access would be a big plus. For many months of the year though, I wouldn't mind relocating for 4 months at a time. If one country is particularly suitable, I wouldn't mind moving there for good.

Are there any recommendations? Portugal seems trendy with the remote worker community at the moment due to the tax agreement with the UK, lax laws on crypto profits, and climate, but I wondered if anyone had their own experiences they wouldn't mind sharing?

[Captain Morgan]

Unless you have a eu passports then it’s either 90 max in the EU per 180 days or look at the residency options.

Portugal you’ve already mentioned friends of mine were out there early last year just start the process, due to covid they have only just returned to the U.K. and that was solely to sell there house here and start looking for a lock’n’leave flat, they really enjoy life there.

If I recall correctly the Portuguese option requires only 2 weeks per year residency and the residency permit allows you to reside / work anywhere in the eu but has some property/investment requirements but I might be misremembering.


The other option I’m aware of in the eu is cypress that gives fast lane eu citizenship but ties up ~€3M as an investment for a number of years, oh to be in that predicament…


Farther afield Thailand are now offering some digital nomads a working visa but I suspect that wouldn’t work on a eu schedule.

Personally I’d be in Portugal some of the summer, ski season in Austria but wherever you end up enjoy.

[dice]

Thanks mate, really appreciate all your input. Its very early in the process for me so I'm just loading up on info to digest over Christmas and this is really helpful!

[David_D]

And you’ll possibly/probably have tax obligations in both countries.

You mention something about Portugal tax arrangements. Not familiar with that but would be sensible to seek advice in the UK and whichever country you choose.

[Captain Morgan]

Might be worth a pm to MartynJC of this parish, iirc he’s in the process of ‘ just completed a move to Portugal

[GraniteQuarry]

Methinks this YouTube channel may be of interest

https://www.youtube.com/c/nomadcapitalist/videos

[JP28]

Croatia has just introduced the whole digital nomad visa thing.
Lots of great places to be on the coast/islands from May-sept

[Middo]

I have resigned as fancy a change, not sure what I’m doing yet but that’s a problem for next year.

I do think though you need a balance as I do enjoy being in the workplace and associated travel. I will genuinely miss that going forward.

[studly]

Croatia has just introduced the whole digital nomad visa thing.
Lots of great places to be on the coast/islands from May-sept

[JP28]

Malta is another option I believe too

[Carlos.Trejo]

COVID made my work fully remote and I'm thinking on moving next year to southern Spain. I've been offered a position in the UK but just for the weather it's a hard sell.

[snowman]

COVID made my work fully remote and I'm thinking on moving next year to southern Spain. I've been offered a position in the UK but just for the weather it's a hard sell.

I wouldn't move to the UK at the moment - There is no certainty that Brexit won't still be an utter disaster.

M

[Lazydonkey]

I'd be wary of tax implications - technically as long as i can appear in aberdeen / edinburgh / london a few days a month then i can be based anywhere in the UK. But they've explicitly said that i'm not allowed to work from another country. Apparently it's a tax thing but being honest i've never looked into it.

[dice]

Thanks for your inputs, everyone. For clarity I think the intention is to remain a UK Citizen and stay here as my main residence, but I'm putting the feelers out to spend some weeks somewhere nicer. I know I might have extra tax implications but could be worth it if there are other benefits down the line (I think Portugal offer citizenship after a few years, with a sizable property investment?).