Case Study
Date
October 2022
Type of case
Immigration
How a Chef Became a Digital Nomad — Ana's Journey to Portugal
Situation Overview
When Ana first approached us to organize her residence visa for Portugal, the digital nomad visa didn’t even exist. Ana, a talented chef with an innovative business model, was managing her career remotely, working with clients worldwide to design bespoke menus. However, at that time, in order to establish residence in Portugal, we had to use the D7 visa, which is typically reserved for individuals living off passive income. The strategy was to explain that Ana’s income originated from outside of Portugal and fit the D7’s criteria, even though she was a working professional.
In 2022, the Portuguese government introduced the digital nomad visa, allowing people who work remotely to apply for residence. Ana now had to demonstrate not only that she lived off her earnings but also that her profession could be carried out remotely—a challenging task for a chef. However, Ana’s work involved online consultations and travel, allowing her to manage clients globally. She created, customized, and shared her menus online, offering hands-on training during brief trips to client locations, such as hotels and resorts, across countries like Singapore, Switzerland, and Thailand. This made Ana an ideal candidate for the new visa, but we still had to prove it.
Our Strategy
Our approach focused on gathering the necessary documents to demonstrate that Ana’s work fit the digital nomad visa’s remote work requirements. Since this type of visa was relatively new, there was little precedent for how to handle such cases, especially for a chef who didn’t have a formally registered company. We gathered testimonials from her clients, contracts, and other documents that demonstrated her unique business model and her ability to work remotely. These were supplemented with a detailed personal statement that laid out exactly how Ana conducted her business, showing how it aligned with the visa’s requirements.
We submitted a well-supported application, explaining how Ana’s remote culinary consultations, menu design, and occasional in-person training aligned perfectly with the digital nomad visa criteria. After 45 days, Ana’s visa was approved. We also provided guidance during her SEF interview, ensuring she was prepared in case there were any questions about how a chef could work remotely. However, thanks to the solid foundation we had built during the visa application process, no further explanations were needed.
Conclusion
Ana’s residence visa was approved, granting her a two-year stay in Portugal with free movement across the Schengen area. This flexibility allowed Ana to further expand her business, catering to more European clients with ease, as travel within the region became more convenient.
Ana’s case is a prime example of how tailored legal guidance can help professionals thrive under new visa frameworks. Even the most unconventional professions, when correctly framed, can fit within the parameters of a digital nomad visa.
