Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8): Income Requirement 2026

The D8 is Portugal's visa for remote workers and freelancers whose income comes from outside Portugal. Launched in 2022, it has become the country's most searched-for visa — and the requirements are strict but simple: prove you earn four times the Portuguese minimum wage, remotely.

The 2026 income requirement

The bar is 4× the Portuguese minimum wage. With the 2026 minimum at €920/month:

Requirement	2026 value
Monthly remote income (main applicant)	€3,680
+ spouse/partner	+50% → €5,520 total
+ each dependent child	+30% → +€1,104
Savings in a Portuguese bank account	€11,040 (12× minimum wage)

Show income via the last 3 months of payslips/invoices and bank statements. Consistency matters more than peaks — three months averaging above €3,680 beats one great month.

Two versions of the D8 — pick the right one

1. Residency visa (the one most people want): double-entry 120-day visa → AIMA appointment in Portugal → 2-year residence permit, renewable, counting toward permanent residency and citizenship at 5 years.
2. Temporary stay visa: up to 12 months, renewable, but does not lead to residency or citizenship. Simpler, but a dead end for settling.

If you might stay long term, apply for the residency version — switching later means restarting.

Who qualifies

• Employees of a non-Portuguese company with a remote work agreement, OR
• Freelancers/contractors with non-Portuguese clients (contracts + invoices as proof), OR
• Business owners paying themselves from a foreign company
• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (EU citizens don't need a visa at all)

The income must be genuinely foreign-sourced. Working for Portuguese clients puts you in D2 visa territory instead.

Required documents

• Passport, photos, application form (~€90 fee)
• Proof of remote work: employment contract + employer letter authorizing remote work from Portugal, or freelance contracts with clients
• Income proof: 3 months of payslips or invoices + matching bank statements
• Portuguese bank account with ≥ €11,040 (open one remotely)
• NIF (get it before anything else)
• Criminal record certificate, apostilled
• Proof of accommodation for 12 months (rental contract; some consulates accept shorter arrangements)
• Health/travel insurance covering Portugal

Process and timeline

1. NIF + bank account remotely (2–4 weeks)
2. Documents + apostilles (4–8 weeks, parallel)
3. Apply at your consulate/VFS → wait 6–12 weeks
4. Enter Portugal on the 120-day visa → AIMA biometrics appointment → 2-year residence permit

Realistic total: 4–7 months. The AIMA appointment is the wildcard — slots are scarce in 2026; if yours isn't pre-booked with the visa, book immediately on arrival.

Taxes — read this before you commit

Living in Portugal 183+ days = Portuguese tax resident, taxed on worldwide income. Key points:

• The old NHR flat-tax regime closed to new applicants; its successor (IFICI, for scientific/innovation professions) covers far fewer people. Who still qualifies
• Standard progressive rates run to 48%+ at high incomes; freelancers deal with recibos verdes and social security (~21.4% after the first year). Freelancer taxes explained
• US citizens: you file in both countries; the tax treaty and FEIE prevent most double taxation but not the paperwork.

Budget for an accountant (€50–150/month) — English-speaking accountants in our directory →.

Where nomads actually settle

Lisbon and Porto dominate, but the value picks in 2026 are elsewhere: Madeira (the Digital Nomad Village in Ponta do Sol, our honest review), Braga and Coimbra for cost of living, and the Algarve off-season. Every city links to real coworking spaces, cafés and services in our directory.

FAQ

Is €3,680 gross or net? Consulates assess gross income as shown on payslips/invoices. Bank statements should show the money actually arriving.

Can couples combine incomes? The main applicant should meet €3,680 alone; the spouse adds a 50% requirement on top. Two earners often each apply as main applicants — cleaner, if both qualify.

Can I bring my family? Yes, spouse and children join the application (or follow via family reunification) with the increments above.

D7 or D8 — I have both savings and a remote job? Remote salary → D8. The D7 is for passive income (pensions, dividends, rentals). Full comparison

Does time on the D8 count toward citizenship? The residency version, yes — 5 years of legal residence, then citizenship with A2 Portuguese. The temporary-stay version, no.

Can I apply from inside Portugal as a tourist? No. National visas are applied for at the consulate serving your country of legal residence.

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Last updated: July 2026. The income requirement tracks 4× the Portuguese minimum wage (€920 in 2026) and changes every January. Confirm specifics with your consulate — document lists vary between them.