How Much Savings Do You Need for Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa?

If you’re looking at Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa (often called the D8), one of the first questions is always:

“How much money do I need in the bank?”

The short answer: at least €11,040 for an individual with an additional 50% for a couple and 30% of the main applicant’s requirement per dependent child.

Importantly: while you do need savings — you cannot apply using savings alone.

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The Digital Nomad Visa is designed for remote workers and freelancers who actively earn income from outside Portugal. Savings are only part of the picture. Income is the key requirement.

Let’s break it down.

Digital Nomad Visa Calculator: Check Your Eligibilty

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Savings Requirement for the Digital Nomad Visa

Even though savings alone won’t qualify you, Portugal still expects applicants to show means of subsistence — essentially proof you can support yourself while living in Portugal.

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For this, immigration authorities typically use the Portuguese minimum wage as a benchmark.

2026 Minimum Wage Assumption

• Portuguese minimum wage (2026): €920 per month

Standard Savings Calculation

Individual applicant:
€920 × 12 months = €11,040

Family Add-ons

Add:

• +50% for a spouse or long-term partner
• +30% for each dependent child

Some lawyers recommend showing more than the minimum, simply to reduce the risk of queries or delays.

Income Requirement for the Digital Nomad Visa

This is where many applicants get caught out.

Unlike the D7, the Digital Nomad Visa has a high income threshold, because it’s designed for working professionals rather than retirees or those with guaranteed passive income.

2026 Income Requirement

• €3,680 per month (four times the Portuguese minimum wage)

Family Add-ons (commonly applied by lawyers)

• +50% for a spouse or long-term partner
• +30% per dependent child

There is no explicitly published family multiplier in the Digital Nomad law — but in practice, lawyers apply the same family scaling used for the D7, and consulates generally accept it.

Important: You Need Both Income and Savings

A common misconception is:

“I have €50,000 or even €500,000 in the bank — surely that’s enough?”

Unfortunately, no.

For the Digital Nomad Visa, you typically must show:

• Active monthly income at or above the required level
  and
• Savings meeting the minimum subsistence threshold

Applicants with strong savings but insufficient income are very often refused.

If your wealth is mostly in the bank or investments — and you don’t have active monthly income — you’ll usually look at one of these instead:

Golden Visa

• €500,000 fund investment or
• €250,000 cultural donation
• No income requirement
• Minimal stay rules

D7 Visa (Passive Income Visa)

• Requires ongoing passive income, not just a lump sum
• Examples: pensions, dividends, rental income, royalties

A lump sum sitting in a bank account usually isn’t enough for D7 either — unless it is already producing documented recurring income (for example, interest payments or dividends over the past year).

Conclusion

Savings requirements for Portugal’s visas aren’t always applied with absolute rigidity. Some applicants are approved with less than the suggested savings, particularly if they have strong, stable, well-documented income. This happens on both the D7 and the Digital Nomad Visa. But it’s never guaranteed — and outcomes can vary depending on the consulate or AIMA case officer reviewing your file.

That’s why it’s always worth speaking to a Portuguese immigration lawyer before applying. If you’re slightly below the savings guideline, they can tell you whether your income profile compensates for it — or whether it’s smarter to wait and build a larger buffer before submitting your application.

Finally, remember that savings aren’t just a bureaucratic box-ticking exercise. They exist to protect you. Remote work contracts end. Freelance clients disappear. Markets shift. And while Portugal does have a social security system, it’s unlikely to cover the lifestyle most new arrivals expect. Having more than the minimum isn’t just safer for your application — it’s safer for your life in Portugal.