Portugal D8 digital nomad visa: what you need to know

Documents you will usually need

• Passport valid for at least three months beyond your stay
• Completed application form and two passport photos
• Proof of remote work: an employment contract, or service contracts with clients
• Proof of income for the last three months
• A Portuguese tax number (NIF) and, for the residence visa, a Portuguese bank account
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal for at least 12 months (a lease or a letter from a host)
• Criminal record certificate from your country of residence, apostilled or legalised
• Travel or health insurance valid in Portugal
• Authorisation for AIMA to check Portuguese criminal records

Applying

You apply at the Portuguese consulate or through the visa centre (often VFS Global) in your country of residence. Processing is often around two months, though consulates vary. Brazilians sometimes have additional options under the agreement between Portuguese-speaking countries, so compare routes before choosing the D8.

After arrival: AIMA

If you hold the residence visa, your consulate usually books or indicates an appointment with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), the body that replaced SEF in 2023. At the appointment they take biometrics and issue your residence permit.

Check official AIMA updates at aima.gov.pt.

Tax and social security

Living in Portugal for more than 183 days a year, or having a habitual residence there, generally makes you a Portuguese tax resident, taxed on your worldwide income. The old NHR regime closed to most new applicants in 2024. A new incentive regime for scientific research and innovation exists but covers a narrower set of professions. Talk to an accountant before you move, especially if you are self-employed and need to register activity with the tax authority.

Practical first steps

• Register at your local Junta de Freguesia if you need a certificate of residence
• Register with the health centre (Centro de Saúde) to get a user number
• Get a local SIM with a Portuguese number for two-factor codes
• Consider joining a coworking space for community and a stable connection

Is the D8 right for you?

If you earn comfortably above the threshold from clients abroad, the D8 is one of the most straightforward EU remote work visas. If your income fluctuates, keep good records of every payment, because consulates look closely at consistency over the three months you show.

This guide is general information for planning. Rules and prices change, so always confirm with the official source before you apply or sign anything.