Visa & Residency
D8 Visa (Portugal Digital Nomad Visa)
Also known as: Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, D8, Portugal Remote Worker Visa
Portugal's D8 visa was introduced in October 2022 (Portaria n.º 286/2022) as part of a wider package to formalise remote-worker pathways. It is open to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who earn an income remotely from a non-Portuguese source — either as employees of foreign companies, freelancers serving foreign clients, or business owners with foreign-incorporated entities.
The core eligibility threshold in 2026 is monthly income of at least four times the Portuguese national minimum wage (€870/month in 2026, putting the D8 threshold at €3,480/month gross or €41,760/year). Applicants must show three months of bank statements at this level, plus proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental contract, hotel booking covering the initial period, or property deed), Portuguese-recognised health insurance, a clean criminal record, and a Portuguese tax number (NIF).
The visa itself is issued for 4 months from a Portuguese consulate. On arrival, the holder books an SEF/AIMA appointment to convert the visa into a 2-year residence permit. That permit is renewable for two further 3-year terms, building toward permanent residence (5 years) and Portuguese citizenship eligibility (5 years from the residence-permit start under the recent Nationality Law amendments, though current government proposals would extend that to 7-10 years).
The D8 is sometimes confused with the D7 (passive income / retirement visa) and the older Portugal Tech Visa. The D8 is the one to use if your income is from active remote work; the D7 fits retirees and rentier income; the Tech Visa pre-dates the D8 and has narrower eligibility tied to certified Portuguese tech employers.
Sources
Last factual review: 2026-05-08.
Related terms
D7 Visa (Portugal Passive Income Visa)
Portugal's D7 visa is the residency pathway for non-EU citizens with stable passive income — pensions, rental yields, dividends, royalties, or capital-gain distributions sufficient to cover Portuguese living costs. Minimum income in 2026 is the Portuguese minimum wage (€870/month) for the main applicant plus 50% per dependent adult and 30% per child. Issued for 4 months, converted to a 2-year residence permit, renewable for 3 more, with a path to permanent residence at year 5.
IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação)
IFICI is Portugal's 10-year successor regime to NHR, available to new tax residents who haven't been Portuguese tax residents in the prior five years and who work in qualifying scientific research, innovation, higher education, or specific high-value tech roles. Qualifying Portuguese-source employment income is taxed at a flat 20%, with the same broad foreign-income exemptions as NHR. Approved by Decree-Law 249-A/2024.
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is a passport-free travel zone of 29 European countries (27 EU + Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein), where internal border checks are abolished. Non-EU short-stay visitors can spend up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the entire area. Romania and Bulgaria fully joined for land borders on 1 January 2025, completing the area's expansion.
Spain Digital Nomad Visa
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, launched in January 2023 under the Startups Law, lets non-EU remote workers live in Spain while working for foreign employers (or as freelancers serving foreign clients with Spanish revenue capped at 20%). Minimum income in 2026 is approximately 200% of Spain's monthly minimum wage (around €2,650/month gross). Issued for 1 year initially, renewable up to 5 years total. Pairs with the Beckham Law tax election.