Portugal digital nomad visa: Complete guide

Love the idea of living and working in sun-soaked Portugal? If you have the kind of job that means you can work anywhere in the world with an internet connection, you might want to become a digital nomad.

Like many countries, Portugal has a special digital nomad visa, officially known as the D8 visa. In this guide, we’ll look at what this visa is and how to apply for it as a UK national. This includes the fees, what documents you’ll need and the steps to apply.

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Portugal digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

Portugal is one of many countries which has a digital nomad visa.

Known as the D8 visa, it gives non-EU citizens the legal right to live and work in the country for the purposes of carrying out remote work.

There are two types available:¹

• The temporary stay visa - this visa lasts for up to 1 year, and you may renew it up to 5 times.
• The long-term residency visa - this visa is initially granted for 4 months, then you can apply to convert it into a 2-year residence permit. This can be renewed for up to 3 years, and you may be able to apply for permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years. This visa also lets you bring family members with you.

Both visas are good options for people wanting to stay in Portugal longer than you can with a tourist visa, while the residency visa is designed for people looking to settle there permanently. Read more about residence permits for Portugal here.

To meet the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements, you must be able to show proof of freelance or remote work and have a minimum income of at least €3,480 EUR a month.¹

How much does it cost?

The Portugal digital nomad visa costs €90 EUR, both for the temporary stay visa and the long-term residency option.²

You may also have to pay a service fee of £31.79 GBP to apply for your visa through VFS Global² - the official partner of the Embassy of Portugal in the UK, through which visa applications are processed.³

Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting private travel/health insurance.

What documents do you need?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a digital nomad visa for Portugal:⁴

• A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining
• Two identical and recently taken passport-sized colour photographs of yourself
• Completed visa application form
• Proof of address in Portugal - such as a land registry certificate if you own a property, or a rental agreement if you’re a tenant
• Proof of remote income totalling at least €3,280 EUR a month, such as payslips, business documents or contracts
• Bank statements from the last 3 months
• Proof of at least €30,000 EUR health insurance coverage
• A completed criminal background check
• Your Portuguese NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) tax number - you’ll also need this to open a bank account in Portugal. (You can get a NIF in person at a Finanças office, Loja do Cidadão, or through a local representative or lawyer if applying remotely)

You might also need to provide a cover letter explaining the nature of your remote work, why you’ve chosen Portugal and a statement that you intend to comply with all visa rules.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa in Portugal

According to the Consulate General of Portugal in London, all visa applications to visit or live in Portugal must be carried out through VFS Global.

Here’s how to do it:⁵

1. Check your eligibility - in particular, that you’re able to meet the minimum income threshold of €3,280 EUR a month
2. Get your documents together
3. Download the application form - you can find it here on the VFS Global website
4. Print and complete the application form
5. Book an appointment at your nearest visa application centre - there are centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. You’ll need to create an account with VFS Global, sign in and then book your appointment online.
6. Pay your visa application fee and any applicable service fees
7. Attend your appointment, making sure to take along your completed application form and all supporting documents
8. Wait for your application to be processed - VFS Global also offers a tracking service so you can see where your application is up to and how long it is likely to take.

Once your visa comes through, you can get on with your preparations for moving to Portugal.

How long can you stay in Portugal as a digital nomad?

It depends which visa type you have. A temporary stay digital nomad visa lets you stay for up to a year, while the long-term residency visa lets you stay for up to 2 years. Both options can be renewed multiple times.¹

Taxes for digital nomads in Portugal

While you’re living and working in Portugal as a digital nomad, you will need to register for a tax number (NIF). There’s no specific Portugal digital nomad visa tax, so you’ll need to pay income tax just like everyone else working in the country.

As you’ll be staying for at least a year, you’ll be classed as a tax resident of Portugal for that tax year. This means that you’ll need to pay income tax on all worldwide income, charged at a rate linked to the income band you fall into.⁶

You may potentially be able to reduce this if you qualify for the new Incentivised Tax Status (ITS) program in Portugal - this offers reduced tax rates for certain professionals.⁶

Save on your relocation costs with Wise

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Portugal. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.

Before moving to Portugal, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

FAQs

What is the difference between the D7 and D8 visas in Portugal?

The D8 digital nomad visa in Portugal is sometimes grouped in with another - the D7 passive income visa. However, they’re quite different.

While the D8 is designed for those looking to earn income through work, the D7 is best for people planning to retire in Portugal and transfer a pension there - or live there on the proceeds of passive forms of income such as from property or investments.

Does a Portugal digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

The temporary stay version of the Portugal digital nomad visa does not have a route to citizenship.

However, you may be able to apply for permanent residency and/or citizenship after 5 years of living in the country under the long-term residency digital nomad visa.

There are other routes to permanent residency and citizenship too - such as the Portugal Golden Visa.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 09-Jul-2025