Visa routes · D8

Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa

A residence route for remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Portugal, available as a temporary-stay or residence visa.

The short answer

The D8 is for people earning remotely from outside Portugal. Income is generally assessed at four times the Portuguese minimum wage for the main applicant, with uplifts for family, and you must show contracts plus several months of matching income evidence.

Route code

Best for

Remote employees and freelancers with foreign clients

Income to prove (single applicant)

€3,480 / month

Work in Portugal

Permitted

Typical processing

Typically 2-4 months at the consulate

Initial validity

Temporary stay up to 1 year, or residence visa

Leads to residency

Yes, renewable towards permanent

Last verified

8 September 2026

This route suits you if

▸You work remotely for a company or clients outside Portugal
▸Your monthly income comfortably clears four times the minimum wage
▸You can show contracts and several months of bank statements

It is the wrong route if

!You intend to look for a job in Portugal
!Your income is irregular or below the threshold

Two versions of the same visa

The D8 comes in two forms and the choice matters. A temporary stay visa suits people who want up to a year in Portugal without committing to residence. A residence visa is the one that leads to a renewable residence permit and, in time, permanent residence — that is the version most people actually want.

The income test

Four times the minimum wage sounds simple; proving it is where files fail. Consulates want to see that the stated income is real, recurring and from outside Portugal. That normally means employment contracts or client contracts, three months of payslips or invoices, and six months of bank statements that match those documents line for line. Freelancers with several clients should present all of them coherently rather than cherry-picking a strong month.

Documents

Contracts with employers or clients outside Portugal, plus a letter confirming remote work is permitted.
Income evidence and bank statements.
Tax residency document from your current country.
NIF, Portuguese bank account and proof of accommodation.
Travel and health insurance.
Criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated.

Tax is a separate decision

A visa decision and a tax outcome are two different things. Spending most of the year in Portugal generally makes you tax resident here, which has consequences for the income you earn abroad and may interact with a double taxation treaty. Do not assume a special regime applies to you; take advice on your specific case before you move money or restructure contracts.

Common reasons D8 files fail

Income just barely at the threshold; contracts that do not name remote work; bank statements that show a different figure from the payslips; a single client with no contract; and accommodation evidence that expires before the visa does.

Questions people actually ask

Can I work for a Portuguese company on a D8?: No. The route is built around income earned from outside Portugal. Portuguese employment belongs on the D1 or D3 route.
Which D8 should I choose?: If you want a path to permanent residence, choose the residence version. The temporary-stay version does not build towards it in the same way.
How many months of statements should I bring?: Six months is a safe default, matched to three months of payslips or invoices.

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