The Digital Nomad Visa (D8) is one of the main residency options for freelancers, contractors, and remote employees who want to move to Portugal while continuing the work they already do for clients or employers outside the country.
If you already earn your income remotely—whether through freelance work, a remote job, or a contractor setup—this visa can offer a relatively straightforward path to living in Portugal full-time. And unlike the name suggests, this is really better thought of as a residency visa: it’s designed for people who want to live in Portugal, not simply use Portugal as a base for exploring Europe.
In 2026, a single applicant typically needs €3,680 per month in qualifying active income to apply, plus the required savings.
Digital Nomad Visa Calculator: Check Your Eligibilty
Best For
✔ Remote employees whose employer is based outside Portugal and allows them to work remotely from abroad.
✔ Freelancers and contractors with ongoing clients outside Portugal and clear proof of regular income.
✔ People who want to actually live in Portugal, not just visit occasionally, and are happy to base themselves here for most of the year.
✔ Applicants who want a route to long-term residency and potentially Portuguese citizenship later on.
Key Facts
🇪🇺 Citizenship Timeline: 5 Years
⏰ Processing Time: 1–3 months
🩺 Public Healthcare Access: Yes
🗓️ Stay Requirements: ~ 8 months p/year
Income Requirements
Active Income (monthly) |
Savings |
|
|---|---|---|
👨 Individual |
€3,680 |
€11,040 savings |
👩 Spouse |
€1,840 |
€5,520 savings |
🧒 Dependent Child |
€1,104 |
€13,248 savings |
🧓 Dependent Parent |
€1,840 |
€5,520 savings |
Benefits of Living in Portugal
🏥 Escape high healthcare costs: Portugal gives you access to the public healthcare system as a safety net, and private health insurance is usually far more affordable than what many remote workers are used to paying in places like the U.S. or other high-cost countries.
💰 More affordable than major global cities: Portugal isn’t Asia-cheap, but it can still be significantly more affordable than places like New York, Los Angeles, or London—especially once you get outside the most expensive neighborhoods1.
🌐 English is widely spoken: In places popular with expats and remote workers—like Lisbon, Porto, much of the Algarve, and Madeira—you can usually get by in English while you settle in and learn Portuguese.
🇪🇺 A base in Europe: Living in Portugal gives you a practical home base in the EU—ideal if you want easier access to the rest of Europe for work, travel, networking, or simply weekend trips.
💻 A real remote-work ecosystem: Portugal already has a large community of freelancers, founders, and remote workers, especially around Lisbon, Ericeira, the Algarve, and Madeira, which makes it easier to find coworking spaces, events, and other people living a similar lifestyle.
⚡ Fast internet: For most remote workers, internet speed isn’t a problem. Gigabit-class fiber is common in many cities, and some providers even offer plans with speeds up to 10 Gbps.2
🇪🇺 A path toward Portuguese citizenship: For many applicants, this visa can lead to long-term residency and eventually Portuguese citizenship, which can open the door to EU mobility. Unlike Spain, there are no complications with dual citizenship.
🔒 A safe place to put down roots: Portugal is one of the main reasons many people choose to stay long-term rather than just pass through. It offers a stable, relatively safe environment where it feels realistic to build a life, not just spend a season. 3
⏰ “Good” timezone: Portugal is in the same timezone as the UK and five hours ahead of New York. This may mean slightly longer work days, but it’s still manageable.
Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
The following are the main requirements for a Digital Nomad Visa application. However, it is important to realize that different countries and even the consulates or VFS offices within each country, have their own unique requirements.
Note: some requirements can differ depending on whether you’re applying for the one-year visa or the two-year visa (both renewable).
Key Requirements
☐ Main applicant must be 18 or older
☐ Criminal record check (apostilled and /or translated, if required)4
☐ Proof of accommodation in Portugal (such as a rental lease, property deeds, or a term of responsibility form)
Financial Requirements
☐ Completed national visa application form
☐ Sufficient active income (for example, €3,680 per month for a single applicant in 2026)
☐ Sufficient means of sustenance (<em>savings</em>) (for example, €11,040 for a single applicant in 2026)
☐ Supporting financial evidence (such as contracts, pay slips, invoices, bank statements, or an employer letter). 6
☐ Permission to work from Portugal (from either your employer, if the work is remote or your clients, if you freelance)
Additional Requirements
☐ Signed authorization allowing the Portuguese authorities to carry out a criminal record check in Portugal
☐ Personal statement explaining your move and how you will support yourself 7
☐ Portuguese NIF number (tax number)
☐ Portuguese bank account 8
☐ Valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity beyond the 120-day visa and 2 blank pages)
☐ Completed application form and 2 passport photos (EU size)
☐ Travel insurance with at least €30,000 in medical coverage and repatriation9
Optional Requirements
☐ Proposed flight itinerary or ticket10
☐ Marriage certificate (if applying as a couple) and children’s birth certificates (if applying as a family)11
☐ Copy of your driving licence 12
What Counts As Qualifying Income
✔️ Salary from a remote job (outside of Portugal)
✔️ Freelancing income (from non-Portuguese clients)
What Doesn’t
✖️ Income earned from Portuguese clients or a Portuguese employer
✖️ Savings alone 13
✖️ Passive income (this is valid for the D7 visa)
✖️ An inter-company transfer arrangement that really belongs under another visa type (such as D1 or D3 in some cases)
Remote Job, EOR, or Contractor?
One of the biggest practical questions with the Digital Nomad Visa is how your work arrangement will actually function once you’re living in Portugal. Can you simply keep working for a company in the US, UK, or Canada as normal? The honest answer is that this is often a gray area, and it depends on both your setup and how cautious your employer is.
In simple terms, employing someone in another country can create compliance issues for the company. In many cases, a business would normally need some kind of legal presence in Portugal to employ you directly in the usual way. Most US, UK, or Canadian companies are not going to open a Portuguese branch just because one employee wants to relocate.
That’s why, in practice, most people usually end up in one of three situations: their employer informally allows them to work from Portugal, they move onto an Employer of Record (EOR) setup, or they switch to contractor status.
An EOR can handle local payroll and compliance, which makes things easier for the employer, but it adds cost. Contractor status is often simpler, but it can mean losing employee benefits and taking on more responsibility for your own tax and social security arrangements. There are pros and cons to each, which is why it’s important to think this through before you move, not after.
Which Family Members Can You Include?
The two-year version of the Digital Nomad Visa allows you to include certain family members (dependents) on your application. You can also bring them to Portugal later through family reunification if they’re unable to move at the same time as you.
Note: each additional person means additional income and savings requirements.
Spouse/Partner
It’s possible to add a spouse or long-term unmarried partner to the residence version of a Digital Nomad Visa application.
For unmarried partners, you’ll typically need to have lived at the same address for 3+ years and have paper evidence of this, such as shared bills or both names on the lease or mortgage.
Dependent Children
Children under the age of 18 can be added to a D8 Visa application.
Dependent children between 18 and around 24 and in full-time education can normally be added. If your child isn’t studying or is older than that, they will normally need to submit a separate visa application.
Dependent Parents
Dependent parents can be added if you can show that they’re physically or financially dependent on you.
If they have their own sufficient income, they may be better suited to their own visa application rather than applying as your dependent.
Income Requirements for Families
Monthly active income |
Savings Requirement |
|
|---|---|---|
Single Person |
€3,680 p/month |
€11,040 |
Couple |
€5,520 p/month |
€16,560 |
Each Dependent Child |
€1,104 p/month |
€13,248 |
⚠️ Note: Typically, one person’s income is used for the whole Digital Nomad Visa application. If one person cannot support the full family with their income, it make make more sense to submit two separate visa applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are renewable, so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you applied for the one-year visa and decided to stay longer. That said, the two-year option means fewer renewals (lower costs and less bureaucracy overall), so this is the recommended option for most people.
No. If your employer or clients are outside Portugal and your work can be done remotely, this visa can work across many professions—not just tech.
You will usually become a Portuguese tax resident if you move to Portugal on this visa and actually live here. Portugal has tax treaties with many countries, which can help reduce double taxation, but the details depend on your setup.
Initially, the “Digital Nomad Visa” was referred to as the D8, however, some consulates have begun referring to it as the D9 (even though this is often used for the Golden Visa. The short answer is: it depends on the consulate you’re applying through.
There’s no language requirement for the visa application, but if you apply for Permanent Residency or Portuguese citizenship you will usually need at least an A2 level of Portuguese.
No, you can live anywhere in Portugal. This includes Madeira and the Azores. Most people on the D8 move to locations like Lisbon, Porto, Ericeira, Lagos, Portimão, and Madeira.
Minor offences are often fine, but more serious crimes (especially those punishable by more than one year in prison under Portuguese law) are likely to cause problems and may mean your visa application is rejected.
This is a residency visa, so it allows you to spend 365 days in Portugal if you wish. However, because it is a residency visa, you are expected to base yourself here for most of the year and meet the stay requirements.
You can usually appeal or re-apply. A good lawyer can help figure out what went wrong—often documentation, timing, or insufficient evidence of income—and fix it.
Physical Stay Requirements
Despite the name, the Digital Nomad Visa is better thought of as a residency visa than a travel-friendly nomad pass. It’s designed for people who want to build a life in Portugal, not just drop in for a few weeks (or even months) at a time.
For the first five years, you’ll need to spend most of the year in Portugal. During each permit period, you can normally be outside Portugal for up to six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months.
The first residence permit is usually valid for two years, followed by a second permit valid for three years.
After five years, you can apply for Permanent Residency, which is much more flexible and allows for longer periods abroad. If you later become a Portuguese citizen, these physical stay requirements no longer apply.
There can be exceptions in certain situations—such as health issues or other documented emergencies—but for most people, this visa is best suited to those who are genuinely planning to settle in Portugal.
Residency Stage |
Maximum Time Abroad (Consecutive) |
Maximum Time Abroad (Total) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Temporary Residency – First 2 Years |
6 months |
8 months |
If split evenly, you can spend around 8 months of the year in Portugal and 4 months outside. |
Temporary Residency – Next 3 Years |
6 months |
8 months |
If split evenly, you can spend around 9 months in Portugal and 3 months outside. |
Permanent Residency (after 5 years) |
24 months |
30 months within a 3-year cycle |
If split evenly, you can spend almost 2.5 years outside Portugal within a 3-year period. |
Alternative Visa Options
The Digital Nomad Visa is often the best fit for remote workers and freelancers, but it isn’t the only option.
If your income is mainly passive (such as pensions, dividends, or rental income), the D7 visa is often the more natural fit.
See: The D7 Visa VS the Digital Nomad Visa
If you’re building a Portugal-based business rather than simply working remotely for foreign clients, the D2 could also be worth exploring.
If you aren’t ready to move to Portugal yet, or don’t know if you’ll ever want to move, the Golden Visa offers the benefits of residency in Portugal without the same physical stay requirements.
See: The Digital Nomad Visa Versus the Golden Visa
See our: comparison of residency routes
D8 (This Visa) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Income Requirement |
€3,680 p/month (+ €11,040 in savings) |
€920 p/month (+ €11,040 in savings) |
None (focus is investment) |
Income Type |
Salary from a remote job or freelancing income |
Passive income such as pensions, rental income, dividends, royalties |
No income required – investment only |
Investment Required |
No |
No |
Yes (€500k investment or €250k donation) |
Physical Stay |
Majority of the year in Portugal |
Majority of the year in Portugal |
~7 days/year on average |
Tax Residency |
Yes |
Yes |
Avoidable |
Typical Legal Fees |
~€1,000–€3,000 per person |
~€1,000–€3,000 per person |
Often €10,000+ per person |
Quick Tips:
- If you’re a remote worker or freelancer with active income and want to live full-time in Portugal → Digital Nomad Visa.
- If you’re a retiree or investor with passive income and want to live full-time in Portugal → D7.
- If you want a “foot in the door” or “backup plan” and don’t want to move to Portugal now → Golden Visa.
Further Reading
We have a growing number of articles about the Digital Nomad Visa (D8) on Portugalist.
🔗 The Pros & Cons of Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa
🔗 The Digital Nomad Visa VS the D2 Visa
🔗 The Digital Nomad Visa VS the Golden Visa
🔗 The Digital Nomad Visa VS the D7 Visa
Footnotes & Sources
- Portugal has become more expensive in recent years, particularly in Lisbon, but many remote workers still find the overall cost-to-lifestyle balance attractive.
- The EU’s 2025 Digital Decade Country Report describes Portugal’s digital infrastructure as robust, with almost full 5G and gigabit coverage. Availability still depends on the exact building and neighborhood, especially in rural areas, but for most cities and larger towns, connectivity is a strong point rather than a weak one.
- Portugal ranked 7th in the 2025 Global Peace Index, which helps explain why safety is such a common reason people shortlist it. That doesn’t mean crime is nonexistent, but internationally it still ranks very strongly on peace and stability.
- Minor offenses punishable by up to one year in Portugal are often acceptable, but more serious convictions can create problems. If you’ve lived in another country for more than a year, you may also need a police certificate from there.
- This is one of the most consulate-specific parts of the application. For example, recent VFS checklists used by Portuguese consulates in the UK explicitly list deeds, a term of responsibility, or a long-term rental agreement (minimum 12 months) as acceptable proof. In other words: don’t assume a short Airbnb booking will be enough for the residence route unless your specific consulate says so.
- AIMA’s published guidance is broadly consistent with this: for remote employees, it refers to a work contract or employer declaration; for independent remote workers, it refers to service contracts, company documents, or proof of services provided to one or more clients. In short, you want clear documentary evidence that the work is real, ongoing, and based outside Portugal
- Accompanying family members may also be required to supply their own personal statements
- Many consulates expect you to have a Portuguese bank account funded with your savings. Wise, Revolut, and similar services are not usually accepted as substitutes.
- Some consulates accept 4–6 months of coverage, while others increasingly ask for 12 months. Always check the requirements for your specific consulate.
- Some consulates ask for this. If your dates aren’t fixed, a refundable ticket is usually the safest choice.
- Some consulates accept copies, but others may require notarized or apostilled versions.
- Some consulates may ask for a copy of your driving licence
- Savings are important, but they are not enough by themselves. You still need the required actively-earned income.
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