Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa – the D8 visa – is an increasingly popular option for remote workers to live and operate in the country on either a short or long-term basis.
Officially known as the ‘Temporary Residence Visa for the Exercise of Professional Activity Provided Remotely Outside the National Territory’, it provides two options for those who qualify.
Specifically, you must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, with a clean criminal record with income generated from employers outside of Portugal.
Introduced in October 2022, the D8 visa enables remote workers and freelancers to establish residency by demonstrating a monthly income of at least four times the minimum salary in Portugal.
As of 2026, this stands at €920 a month. This means to qualify for a D8 visa, you would need to earn €3,680 per calendar month. It is worth noting the minimum wage is expected to rise, gradually, year-on-year and the minimum visa requirements will increase in line with it.
It also recommended you have the equivalent of one year’s worth of savings in a bank account at the equivalent of the Portuguese minimum wage, which, as of February 2026, would be €11,040.
There are two different forms of the visa.
One offers a temporary stay visa for a year – with renewals possible. It is ideal for those wishing to test the waters of Portugal beyond the typical 90-day tourist limit. Multiple entries into Portugal are permitted.
Alternatively, there is a long-term residency variant. This offers a two-year renewable residence permit. It is ideal for those who seek Portuguese citizenship eventually. As of February 2026, it is a pathway which lasts five years. It requires you to be present in Portugal for at least 183 days a year.
What are the criteria for a D8 Visa in Portugal?
To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.
- You must have a demonstrably remote job (employee or self-employed) with income from entities outside Portugal.
- You must meet the minimum income requirement: €3,680 per month (as of January 1, 2026). If you have dependents you will need to demonstrate additional income – which is around 50% extra to permit entry for a spouse and an extra 30% for each dependent child.
- You must have private health insurance covering your stay in Portugal.
- You must have no criminal record and be in good health.
- You must also provide proof of accommodation – ideally of one year although six months may be acceptable. You should seek advice from the consulate if in doubt.
- You will also be required to open a Portugal bank account which will require obtaining a Portuguese tax number (NIF).
How to apply for a D8 Digital Nomad visa in Portugal
- Decide which of the two versions of the D8 Digital Nomad visa you wish to apply for – short stay or longer term.
- Ensure you have documented proof of your income from employers outside of Portugal in the form of a contract of letter.
- Before applying, you will need to ensure you have a Portuguese tax number (NIF), and it is strongly recommended that you also open a Portuguese bank account. You will also need proof of accommodation. For the short-stay visa, this will need to cover a four-month period, for the longer-term pathway to citizenship version, you will need a 12-month lease agreement.
- When you apply for the visa, you will need to demonstrate your finances, clean criminal record and private health insurance.
- You will also need to explain, in a letter, why you wish to move to Portugal and the methods to support yourself while doing so.
- Once your visa is approved, those seeking longer-term visas will need to arrange an appointment with the immigration agency AIMA. Biometrics will be taken and a residency card mailed to your Portuguese address.
About Portugal Pathways
Portugal Pathways has supported hundreds of Golden Visa residency-by-investment applications and provides expert guidance through its professional supply chain network on luxury property, wealth management, and tax optimisation, including post-NHR tax regime planning, as well as private healthcare, IFICI tax incentive applications, money transfers and bespoke relocation solutions to enhance life and investments in Portugal.
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