Portugal Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements and Application Process – 2025

Are you a digital nomad looking for a new exciting place to live? With its pleasant weather, welcoming local population, and exciting cultural and professional opportunities, Portugal may well be the perfect place to start your European adventure.

If you’re a non-EU/EEA citizen who wants to see what life’s like in the Old Continent, we have good news for you: the Digital Nomad (D8) Visa is a still-active scheme that allows remote workers from the United States (and elsewhere) to apply for permanent residency in Portugal.

In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, covering its benefits, basic requirements, application process, associated costs, and more.

 

What is the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?

The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the Portugal D8 Visa, is a residency visa that allows non-EU (European Union)/EEA citizens to work remotely while residing in Portugal for at least four months. Applicants cannot use the visa to find a local Portuguese job, and they must either work for a foreign company or run their own business.

Types of Visa:

There are two types of Digital Nomad Visa non-EU/EEA citizens can apply to:

1. Long-term visa: Initially valid for four months, the long-term visa gives applicants the right to apply for a two-year residency to work in Portugal and, ultimately, Portuguese citizenship;
2. Temporary stay visa: Valid for one year, the temporary stay visa cannot be used to apply for permanent residency in Portugal.

Benefits of the Digital Nomad Visa:

These are the main benefits of obtaining the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa:

• Access to the Schengen Area: As residents of the European Union, non-EU/EEA citizens who are granted the Digital Nomad Visa can travel without restrictions in the Schengen Area;
• Tax benefits: Titulars of the visa have the opportunity to retrieve tax benefits such as the NHR regime, which grants income tax exemptions for up to 10 years;
• Low cost of living: Holders of the visa get to reside in Portugal while getting paid by a foreign company, which is economically advantageous considering that Portugal has a lower cost of living than countries such as the United States;
• Free healthcare: All people residing in Portugal have the opportunity to access free healthcare, even if they are living in the country temporarily;
• Opportunity to stay in Portugal: After being granted the visa, non-EU/EEA citizens can apply for permanent residency in Portugal (after four months) and Portuguese citizenship (after five years).

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

Digital Nomad Visa applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside outside the EU/EEA, and work remotely for a foreign company or as self-employed workers. They also need to fulfill the following additional requirements:

• Have a monthly income of at least €3,280;
• Have at least €9,840 in the bank;
• Have accommodation in Portugal for at least one year.

The Digital Nomad Visa can be extended to any financially dependent family members of the titular of the visa, as well as their spouses and children under 18 years old.

How to Apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa

Anyone eligible for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa can apply in their country of origin via the Portuguese consulate or embassy. The whole process can be completed in 4 steps:

1. Prepare the Necessary Documents

The documents required to apply for the visa are:

• Valid passport
• Proof of remote employment
• Proof of a minimum monthly income of €3,280
• Bank statement with a minimum balance of €9,840
• Proof of one-year accommodation
• Letter of intention written in English
• Valid health insurance
• Clean criminal record
• Tax receipt
• Tickets to Portugal
• Two passport photos

The documents must be submitted to the Portuguese consulate or embassy. The applicant must pay a processing fee of €90 (long-term visas) or €75 (temporary stay visas).

2. Wait For the Visa’s Approval

Digital Nomad Visa requests are typically processed within 90 days. In case of approval, applicants are free to travel to Portugal, where they will have a scheduled appointment with the Portuguese Agência para a Integração, Migrações, e Asilo, or AIMA.

Titulars of a long-term visa can use their AIMA appointment to apply for a two-year residency permit that can be extended for three additional years. Titulars of the temporary stay visa cannot apply for permanent residency.

3. Apply For Permanent Residency

Visa holders need to apply for permanent residency, in person, at one of AIMA’s physical stores. The following documents are required:

• Valid passport
• Residency visa (granted before the meeting)
• Proof of remote work (via a dedicated form)
• Proof of accommodation (also via a dedicated form)

Residency requests for holders of the Digital Nomad Visa have a cost of €101,50, to be paid at the AIMA store. Each physical delivery of the residency titles has an additional cost of €28,50.

For more information on the different costs associated with AIMA’s services, please check the official pricing sheet.

4. Wait For the Residency Permit

The final step of the process is to wait for AIMA to analyze your residency permit application. The application is generally processed in up to 12 weeks and delivered via post.

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Costs

These are the costs typically associated with the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa:

Applying for the Digital Nomad Visa:

• Long-term visa: €90
• Temporary stay visa: €75

Applying for permanent residency (AIMA):

• Residency application: €101,50
• Residency title delivery: €28,50

Additional costs:

• Health insurance: Between €20 and €100 per month
• Rent: Estimated €700 per month

All things considered, Digital Nomad applicants are recommended to save around €250 (roughly $258) to apply for the visa and ensure they have a monthly budget of around €1,500 (roughly $1,546) to settle in the country. This should be fairly easy considering all visa holders must have a minimum monthly income of €3,280 (approximately $3,382).

Things to Do Before Getting the Digital Nomad Visa

To be granted a Digital Nomad Visa, non-nationals need to find accommodation in Portugal for at least one year, either via a rental contract or real estate acquisition.

So, before relocating to Portugal, every visa candidate should:

1. Choose a Portuguese City

Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto are among the best places to live in Portugal and are all highly favored by Expats. Lesser-known but equally promising regions include the cities of Funchal, Madeira, Coimbra, and Braga.

To make a decision, it’s important to understand one’s priorities and consider the different opportunities presented by each Portuguese region. This comparative table should help shed some light on the subject:

Region	Lifestyle	Price per m2 (renting)	Price per m2 (buying)
Lisbon	Cosmopolitan	€20.00	€4,279
Porto	Urban	€15.70	€2,916
Algarve (Faro)	Laidback	€14.30	€3,558
Madeira	Relaxed	€15.20	€3,251
Coimbra	Collegiate	€10.40	€1,524
Braga	Job-oriented	€9.50	€1,689
Aveiro	Familiar	€9.60	€1,829
Azores (S. Miguel)	Idyllic	€9.70	€1,925

A quick comparison of the best places to live in Portugal.

 

Before relocating to Lisbon, consider the differences in costs, infrastructure, and lifestyle presented by each of the city’s best neighborhoods.

2. Consider Buying a Property

Non-nationals applying for a long-term visa should consider the benefits of buying a property in Portugal instead of renting. Doing so can be beneficial for the following reasons:

• Asset appreciation: The Portuguese real estate market has grown regularly over the past years and is expected to continue to present solid opportunities to investors;
• Ownership: Buying a property in Portugal ensures ownership, while paying a monthly rent does not contribute to increasing one’s wealth (all the money goes to the landlord);
• Affordable house prices: For non-nationals coming from countries like the United States, house prices in Portugal are comparatively affordable;
• Fiscal and citizenship opportunities: Having a house in Portugal may grant fiscal benefits (such as deductible mortgage interest payments) and citizenship opportunities (such as access to alternative visas such as the Golden Visa scheme).

If you’re considering buying a property in Portugal, CAFIMO can help you find the best mortgage rate and navigate the administrative processes required to acquire a home:

3. Find Legal Support

Before relocating to Portugal, you should also contemplate the possibility of finding professional legal support. A lawyer specializing in Portuguese Law can help you bypass any possible issues and expedite your visa application.

Things to Do After Getting the Digital Nomad Visa

To live comfortably in Portugal, Digital Nomad Visa holders should obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF), open a Portuguese bank account, and join Portugal’s healthcare system by signing up to the Serviço Nacional de Saúde, or SNS.

1. Obtaining a Portuguese Tax Number (NIF)

The Número de Identificação Fiscal, or NIF, is the Portuguese equivalent of the American Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and obtaining one is crucial for living comfortably in Portugal. Without a NIF, Portuguese residents cannot perform tasks as fundamental as completing tax payments, paying utility bills, or signing up for a mobile phone contract.

To get a NIF as a non-EU/EEA citizen, all you have to do is:

1. Gather the necessary documents: These are limited to a valid ID with a photo and proof of address document. For minors, proof of birth is the sole requirement;
2. Visit an AT store: The Autoridade Tributária (AT) is the Portuguese tax authority in charge of issuing NIFs. You can check the complete list of available AT service desks here;
3. Wait for the NIF to be approved: This is a straightforward process that can take only a few minutes.

To obtain a NIF while residing outside of Portugal, it’s usually necessary to enlist the services of a legal fiscal representative.

2. Opening a Portuguese Bank Account

It’s relatively easy to open a Portuguese bank account as a non-EU/EEA citizen, with a Portuguese NIF being the only outstanding requirement. Other than a NIF, you will only need the following documents:

• Proof of ID (like a passport);
• Proof of address (like a utility bill or rental agreement);
• Proof of employment (only required by some banks).

After obtaining a NIF and collecting the necessary documents, the next step is to choose the best bank in Portugal for your specific needs. The whole process can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.

3. Joining Portugal’s Healthcare System

The only requirement to benefit from Portugal’s healthcare system is to have an SNS number. Any legal resident in Portugal, foreigner or otherwise, is entitled to get one for free.

Getting an SNS number is as simple as visiting any Portuguese public health institution and asking for one. To get the number, you just need to provide some basic personal information:

• Name;
• Gender;
• Date of birth;
• Country of origin;
• Nationality.

 

To enjoy public healthcare for free, you must associate the following documents with your SNS number:

• Valid ID;
• Portuguese NIF;
• Complete Portuguese address;
• Residency permit document.

 

Without the aforementioned documents, non-nationals can still benefit from the Portuguese healthcare system, but they are required to pay for any provided services.

For more information, please check our article on the steps to moving to Portugal, covering everything from applying for visas to requesting Portuguese citizenship.

Living in Portugal With a Digital Nomad Visa

Non-EU/EEA citizens living in Portugal with a Digital Nomad Visa can expect to find a welcoming country with pleasant weather and plenty of well-established Expat communities.

Since most Portuguese people can speak English, settling in the country shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. In cities like Lisbon and Porto, non-nationals can easily connect with other digital nomads, as there are more than 16,000 foreigners living in the city’s capital alone.

 

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Portugal is 36.4% lower than in the United States. Property prices, on the other hand, are estimated to be 50% cheaper than in the U.S.

In terms of lifestyle, Portugal can be described as a peaceful country with a mix of tradition and modernity. It ranks as the world’s 7th safest country, boasts excellent public infrastructures for health and education, and presents a decent number of services and cultural offerings.