Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8)
Portugal's dedicated pathway for those earning from abroad, offering short-term or long-term residency.
For: Remote workers and digital nomads.Estimated Timeline
3-4 months
The Application Process
Step by step, from start to approval.
NIF & Bank Account
Before you submit anything, you need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and ideally a Portuguese bank account in your name. A non-resident can request both remotely through a fiscal representative, which is faster than waiting for arrival.
- NIF is issued by the Autoridade Tributária. Online services (typically €100 to €150) can register one in 2 to 5 working days.
- Most Portuguese banks (ActivoBank, Millennium, Caixa Geral) open non-resident accounts for D8 applicants, often with a small minimum deposit.
- Set up a fiscal representative if you're a non-EU citizen and you remain non-resident: this is a legal requirement for tax purposes.
- Sign a long-term rental in Portugal (at least 12 months) before the visa appointment. Airbnb bookings and short-term rentals are routinely rejected at consular review.
Visa Application
Submit your file at the Portuguese consulate covering your area of residence, or at a VFS Global visa centre where the consulate uses one. Final submission is in person, even where there's an online pre-screening step.
- Required documents: passport, NIF, contract or freelance evidence, last 3 months of payslips and bank statements, criminal-record certificate, health insurance, and proof of the Portuguese long-term rental.
- Consular fee is approximately €90 per applicant, plus around €70 service fee at VFS centres.
- Income proof should clearly cover the last 3 to 6 months and show stability. One-off large transfers are not accepted.
- Decisions usually take 2 to 4 months at the consular stage; high-volume posts (Brazil, India, US) can take longer.
Entry to Portugal
An approved D8 visa is valid for 4 months and allows two entries to Portugal. You enter to attend the AIMA appointment, register your local address, and finalise your residence permit.
- Your AIMA appointment date is typically pre-booked when the visa is issued. The slot is at the AIMA office serving your declared address.
- Register with the local junta de freguesia (parish council) to obtain your atestado de residência, a useful document for various local procedures.
- Open social-security registration (Segurança Social) if you'll be invoicing as a freelancer from Portugal: this is required for tax compliance, even when most clients are abroad.
- If you're moving with family, each member needs their own visa appointment and AIMA slot.
AIMA Appointment
At the AIMA appointment you give biometrics, hand over the original civil documents, and confirm your address. The physical card usually arrives by post 2 to 4 months later.
- The first card is valid for 2 years, then renewable for successive 3-year periods.
- After 5 years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship if other criteria are met (basic A2 Portuguese, clean criminal record).
- AIMA replaced SEF in late 2023, so older guides referring to SEF are outdated. The case-numbering system, fees, and online portal have all changed.
- Family members included on the original file can attend the same AIMA appointment, which simplifies logistics.
Core Requirements
What you need to qualify for this visa.
Proof of average monthly income of at least 4x the Portuguese minimum wage (approximately €3,500/month, updated annually)
Remote work contract with a non-Portuguese employer, or stable freelance/self-employment income
NIF (Portuguese Tax Number) and a Portuguese bank account
Long-term accommodation proof in Portugal (minimum 12-month lease; Airbnb bookings are usually rejected)
Clean criminal record from every country of residence in the last 5 years
Do You Qualify?
Answer a few quick questions to see if you meet the key requirements for this visa.
Do you earn at least 4 times Portugal's minimum wage (approximately €3,680/month) from remote work?
Other Portugal visa pathways
If this option is not the right fit, here are the alternatives we work with for Portugal.
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