When an easy gateway for foreigners into Portugal became a nightmare for locals, the country had to move quickly.
It restricted its famous “golden visa” program as it set off a massive housing crisis that priced out Portuguese citizens. The expedited path to residency welcomed digital nomads but also more than doubled home prices in eight years and prompted protests as a result of exorbitant rents.
While Portugal is still recovering from the string of events that an influx of expats spurred, it isn’t closed to the idea of repeat tourists or short-term rentals—especially in the country’s second-largest city,…