Type of income
The D8 is for active income such as a remote salary, freelance fees or company revenue. The D7 is for passive income such as a pension, dividends, rent or royalties.
Portugal D8 visa
Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers
Live in Portugal while you keep working for employers or clients abroad. We check your income, prepare your file and stay with you from the consulate to your AIMA residence card.
Talk to an advisor- Income checked before you apply
- Consulate, VFS and AIMA covered
- Spouse and children included
Advisors in English and Portuguese
At a glance
The Portugal D8 visa in five figures
The numbers that matter most when you plan a move on the digital nomad route in 2026.
€3,680/mo Minimum net income
Four times the 2026 Portuguese minimum wage of €920, shown over the last three months.
2–4 months Typical processing time
Depends on your country, appointment availability and how fast your documents are ready.
2 years First residence permit
Issued by AIMA once you are in Portugal on your D8 visa.
+3 years Renewal period
The permit can be renewed for a further three years if you still meet the conditions.
5 years Path to citizenship
Five years of legal residence makes you eligible to apply for Portuguese nationality.
Who it suits
Who the D8 digital nomad visa is for
The D8 is built for people whose income comes from active work done online for someone outside Portugal.
- Remote employees of foreign companies
- Freelancers with clients abroad
- Owners of a business registered outside Portugal
- Consultants and contractors working online
- Digital nomads who want a stable EU base
- Families moving together on one income
How it works
What the Portugal digital nomad visa is
The D8 is a Portuguese national visa for people who earn their living from remote work. Your job, contracts or company stay outside Portugal; only your home moves. It is designed for active income — a salary, freelance fees or business revenue — rather than pensions, dividends or rent.
You apply from your current country of residence through the Portuguese consulate, usually via a VFS appointment. Once the visa is issued you travel to Portugal and attend an appointment with AIMA, the agency that grants residence permits. AIMA issues a first permit valid for two years, which can then be renewed for another three.
The financial test is simple to state but easy to get wrong. Your net income over the last three months must average at least €3,680 a month, which is four times the 2026 minimum wage of €920. You also need savings of €11,040, and the income threshold rises for each family member who joins you.
After five years of legal residence you can apply for Portuguese citizenship, which opens the door to an EU passport.
- Work must be done entirely online for employers or clients based outside Portugal.
- Income is assessed net, over the three months before you apply.
- Health insurance, a clean criminal record and an address in Portugal are mandatory.
- Exact supporting documents vary from one consulate to another.
Eligibility
D8 visa requirements in 2026
Every applicant has to meet each of these conditions. We review them with you before anything is submitted.
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Net income of at least €3,680 a month
Earnings from remote employment, freelancing or self-employment must reach this level, measured net across the last three months. Payslips, invoices and bank statements are used as evidence.
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Remote work for clients or employers abroad
All work must be carried out online for people or companies outside Portugal. An employment contract, a freelance agreement or proof that you own the company you work through demonstrates this.
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Higher income for family members
A spouse adds €1,840 a month to the threshold (about 50%), and each child adds €1,104 (30%). A couple with one child therefore needs €6,624 a month.
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Savings of €11,040
Alongside the monthly income, consulates expect to see savings of €11,040 in a bank account in your name.
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Health and travel insurance
Private cover must pay for all medical expenses in Portugal for you and every dependant, and it must run for the full length of the visa or permit.
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Clean criminal record
You need a police certificate from your country of residence and from every country you have lived in during the last five years. Each one must be under 90 days old, apostilled or legalised, and translated into Portuguese.
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Somewhere to live in Portugal
A signed rental contract, a property deed or an accommodation booking shows the consulate where you will be staying.
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Portuguese tax number and consulate extras
A NIF is needed to sign a lease, open a bank account and file the application. Some consulates also ask for extra documents depending on your personal situation.
D8 or D7?
D8 vs D7 visa: key differences
Both routes lead to a two-year residence permit, but they test very different kinds of income.
Minimum monthly income
The D8 asks for €3,680 net a month, four times the minimum wage. The D7 asks for €920 a month, equal to the minimum wage.
Family uplifts
On the D8, a spouse adds €1,840 and each child €1,104. On the D7 the same 50% and 30% rule gives €460 and €276.
What you must prove
D8 applicants show a remote-work contract or company ownership plus three months of income. D7 applicants show where their passive income comes from and that it is stable.
What stays the same
Health insurance, police certificates, proof of accommodation, savings of €11,040, the two-year first permit and the five-year path to citizenship apply to both.
The process
How to apply for the D8 visa
From the first eligibility check to your residence card, these are the stages your application goes through.
- 01
Check eligibility and income
We confirm your work arrangement qualifies and calculate the threshold for your household, so you know before spending anything on documents.
- 02
Get a NIF and gather documents
You obtain a Portuguese tax number, order police certificates, arrange apostilles and certified translations, and secure insurance and accommodation. We review every document before submission.
- 03
Submit at the consulate or VFS
The application is lodged at the Portuguese consulate responsible for your place of residence, usually through a VFS appointment that we help you book.
- 04
Receive your visa and travel
Most decisions arrive within two to four months. Once the D8 is stamped in your passport, you can travel to Portugal.
- 05
Attend your AIMA appointment
In Portugal you present your documents and biometrics to AIMA, which decides on your residence permit.
- 06
Collect your residence card
AIMA issues a two-year residence card. Before it expires, you renew it for three more years, and after five years you can apply for citizenship.
What's included
How we help
At OlaVisa, we take on the bureaucracy so you can concentrate on the move itself. Our legal team owns your application from the first document to the final decision, making sure it is accurate, complete and aligned with what the consulate expects. We make a complicated process simple, so your attention stays on your next chapter rather than on paperwork.
Talk to an advisorFull-Service Visa Support
We run your application from beginning to end, so every step is done correctly, without wasted time and to the exact requirements of the consulate that will decide it.
Residency Permit Support
The visa is only the first milestone — the residence card is the real goal. Our support carries on until you hold it, and one fee covers the whole journey to your new life in Portugal.
Thorough Document Review
Each document is checked for accuracy and compliance before it is submitted, which prevents the delays and refusals small errors cause. A secure client portal keeps your files and our updates in one place.
Consulate Scheduling
We book and coordinate your VFS, consulate and AIMA appointments as quickly as availability allows, on dates that fit around your plans.
Appeals & Revisions
If something does not go to plan, we handle the appeal or correction to put your application back on course. It is never one attempt and done — we stay with you until there is an outcome.
Uncapped Access to Our Legal Team
Ask as many questions as you need, with no cap of one or two calls. Our legal team is available by email and phone throughout your case, with clear and timely answers.
Strategic Legal Planning
The most obvious route is not always the one with the best chance of success. We take the time to understand your whole situation and point you towards the path we believe serves you best.
After the visa
Legal & Financial Setup
Our support carries on once your visa is granted. From your Portuguese NIF number to your bank account, we take care of the details so you can settle in with confidence and peace of mind.
Taxes
Start compliant from day one, with tax guidance built around expats and businesses.
NIF / Bank
Get your Portuguese tax number (NIF) and a Portuguese bank account quickly and without the hassle.
Learn moreCompany Formation
Launch your business in Portugal with full legal support, from setting it up to registering it.
Employee Relocation
Move your team smoothly, with visa, tax and legal support at every step.
Portugal questions
D8 Digital Nomad Visa: questions answered
Get answers to common questions about visa applications, requirements, and processes.
How much income do I need for the Portugal D8 visa in 2026?
The main applicant needs a net income of at least €3,680 a month, which is four times the 2026 minimum wage of €920. A spouse adds €1,840 and each child adds €1,104. Income is measured over the three months before you apply.
How much savings do I need for the D8 visa?
Consulates expect savings of €11,040 in addition to the monthly income. Keep the money in an account in your own name so the statements line up with the rest of your file.
How long does the D8 visa take?
Most applications take two to four months. The timing depends on the consulate, how quickly you can get an appointment and how ready your documents are when you submit.
Can I work for a Portuguese company on a D8 visa?
The D8 is built around work done remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal. If your main income would come from a Portuguese employer, a different visa is usually the right route, and we can help you choose it.
Should I apply for the D7 or the D8 visa?
If most of your income is active — a salary, freelance fees or business revenue — the D8 fits. If it is passive, such as a pension, dividends or rent, the D7 is normally the better choice and has a much lower income threshold.
Can my family come with me on the D8 visa?
Yes. Spouses, children and dependent parents can be included. Each family member raises the income requirement and needs their own insurance and supporting documents.
How long is the D8 residence permit valid?
AIMA issues a first permit valid for two years. It can then be renewed for three more years, as long as you still meet the conditions.
Does the D8 visa lead to Portuguese citizenship?
Yes. After five years of legal residence in Portugal you become eligible to apply for Portuguese nationality, and with it an EU passport.
Right here with you, wherever you're headed
Local offices. Global support.
Relocating is easier with people on your side. With offices in Portugal, the UK, the UAE, Turkey and Australia, our team is on the ground to help you settle in with confidence.
- PT
Coimbra, Portugal
Praça da República 9, Sala 8, 3070-304 Mira, Coimbra, Portugal +351 938 599 748 - GB
London, United Kingdom
30 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6EF, UK +44 (0) 203 393 1028 - AE
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Silicon Oasis, Digital Park, IFZA Buildings A2, Dubai +971 56 00 65 007 - TR
İstanbul, Turkey
Bostancı Mah, Bağdat Cad. No: 472/A, Kadıköy / İstanbul +90 530 754 35 67 - AU
Melbourne, Australia
Suite 329/98-100 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia +61 1300 440 170
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