PortugalWork
Portugal digital nomad visa (D8)
Residence or temporary stay visa for remote professional activity (D8 digital nomad visa)
In short
The D8 is for people who work remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal. You must show average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage, which is EUR 3,680 at the 2026 wage of EUR 920, and proof of your tax residence. A residence visa leads to a two-year AIMA permit; a temporary stay visa covers stays under a year.
Apply on Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – national visas checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Temporary stay visa: under one year, multiple entries; residence visa: two entries, 4 months to apply for the permit
- Validity
- AIMA remote-work permit: 2 years, renewable for successive 3-year periods
- Fee
- €110National visa fee EUR 110, paid in the way the mission sets; not refunded on refusal.
- Funds required
- €3,680 per monthAverage monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the minimum monthly wage; EUR 920 x 4 = EUR 3,680 in 2026
- Processing time
- Legal deadline 60 days (residence visa) or 30 days (temporary stay)
- Work
- Remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal
- Family
- Family can accompany a temporary stay visa holder or join a resident through family reunification (two-year rule, minors exempt)
- Path to permanent residence
- Permanent residence after 5 years of temporary residence with basic Portuguese (A2)
- Where to apply
- The Portuguese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, by appointment
Who can apply
Employees need a work contract, a promise of contract (temporary stay) or a declaration from the employer confirming the employment relationship. Self-employed people need a company contract, a service contract, a written service proposal (temporary stay) or a document showing services provided to one or more entities. In both cases the work is done remotely for people or companies based outside Portugal.
Income requirement
You prove average monthly income over the last three months equal to at least four times the guaranteed minimum monthly wage. With the 2026 minimum wage of EUR 920, that is EUR 3,680 a month. Income comes from the employment contract, company contract or service contracts, and you also submit a document certifying your tax residence.
Fees
EUR 110 for either visa. The residence permit itself is charged by AIMA: EUR 133.00 for receiving and analysing the request plus EUR 114.30 for granting a temporary permit (in-person rates in the fee table updated 26 February 2026; 25% less through a digital channel).
Processing time
By law the consulate decides a residence visa within 60 days and a temporary stay visa within 30 days, so apply well before your start date.
AIMA permit for remote work
With a residence visa you apply to AIMA by appointment, presenting the passport and valid remote-work residence visa, a sworn declaration from the foreign employer or client confirming the employment or service relationship, and an address declaration with the owner’s or landlord’s document. The permit is valid two years and renewable for three-year periods.
If the visa is refused
A refused national visa can be challenged by a complaint to the consulate within 15 days, a hierarchical appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs within three months, or an action before the Administrative Court of Lisbon within three months. The routes are not mutually exclusive, and each appeal procedure costs EUR 75 (except for visas following a family reunification approval). Since Lei 61/2025, a visa is also refused to anyone who entered or stayed in Portugal illegally and is subject to an entry ban.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- National visa application form, completed and signed
- Two identical recent passport photos
Travel
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond the planned return, with a copy of the data page
Money
- Proof of average monthly income over the last 3 months of at least 4 x the minimum wage (EUR 3,680 in 2026), e.g. payslips and bank statements
Work
- Employees: work contract or employer declaration confirming the employment link
- Self-employed: company contract, service contracts or documents showing services provided to one or more entities
Insurance
- Valid travel insurance covering medical expenses, urgent care and repatriation
Other
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin (and from any country where you lived over a year), apostilled or otherwise certified and translated where required; not needed under 16
- Document certifying your tax residence
How to apply, step by step
- Request an appointment from the Portuguese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, following its instructions for national visas.
- Collect your contract or client documents, three months of income proof and a tax residence certificate.
- Have documents translated where the mission requires it and apostille (or otherwise certify) the criminal record and civil registry documents.
- Attend the appointment in person with originals and copies and pay the EUR 110 fee.
- After the visa is issued, travel to Portugal within its validity (a residence visa allows two entries and four months) and file for a residence permit with AIMA.
Forms
- National visa application form (Portuguese MFA) · Used for all temporary stay and residence visas; a parent or guardian signs for minors.
- AIMA fee table (Portaria 307/2023, updated 26.02.2026) · Residence permit fees; 25% lower when a request is filed through a digital channel.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for the Portugal digital nomad visa in 2026?
At least four times the minimum wage as a monthly average over the last three months: EUR 3,680 with the 2026 minimum wage of EUR 920.
Can freelancers apply for the D8?
Yes. Self-employed applicants show a company contract, service contracts or documents proving services to one or more entities.
Should I choose the temporary stay or the residence D8?
For less than a year in Portugal, the temporary stay visa is enough and allows multiple entries. If you want to settle, the residence visa leads to a two-year AIMA permit that counts towards permanent residence.
Can I work for a Portuguese company on the D8?
The D8 covers professional activity carried out remotely for entities outside Portugal. Working for a Portuguese employer is subordinate work under the D1 or D3 routes.
Official sources
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Residency visa: necessary documentation
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Temporary stay visa: necessary documentation
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Means of subsistence for national visas (2026 minimum wage)
- AIMA – Residence permit for remote professional activity (digital nomads)
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – National visa fees
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Deadlines for national visa decisions
- AIMA – Fee table (Portaria 307/2023), last updated 26.02.2026
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Portugal
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Transit visa Maximum stay: Up to 5 days per transit
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Schengen visa: up to 90 days in 180; temporary stay visa: the duration of treatment, under one year
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, 4 months; a temporary stay visa exists for temporary independent work under one year
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months, two entries, to apply for the permit; temporary stay visa: the programme, under one year
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to apply for the AIMA permit; temporary stay visa: under one year
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to obtain the permit; temporary stay visa: the programme, over 3 months and under one year
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months, to apply for the AIMA permit
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months; a temporary stay visa covers highly qualified work under one year
- EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to apply for the card
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: ICT permit: up to 3 years in total for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainee employees
- Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Short stay: up to 90 days; temporary stay: more than 90 days and up to 270 days (9 months)
Family
- Family reunification visa Maximum stay: D6 residence visa: two entries, 4 months; must be applied for within 90 days of the AIMA approval
- Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: Temporary stay visa for family of Portuguese citizens: stays over 3 months, under one year
Residence
- Retirement visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months, to apply for the AIMA permit
- Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: Temporary ARI permit valid 2 years from issue, then renewable while the investment is maintained
- Residence permit Validity: 2 years from issue, renewable for successive 3-year periods (unless a specific rule sets other periods)
- Permanent residence Validity: Permanent; the EU long-term resident card is valid at least five years and renewable
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Urgent card: issued by the second working day after the approval decision; returning seasonal workers: decision within 15 days
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Validity: Refugee status: residence permit for 5 years, renewable; subsidiary protection: 3 years, renewable after review