Portugal Nomad Visa

What is the Portugal digital nomad visa?

It is a residence visa for people who live in Portugal while working remotely for an employer or clients based outside the country. Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls it the residence visa for professional activity provided remotely outside national territory; most people know it as the D8.

There are two versions. The residence visa is the route to a longer stay: you enter Portugal on it and then apply to AIMA, the immigration agency, for a residence permit. The temporary stay visa covers remote work for up to a year without moving on to a permit.

Who can apply for the Portugal digital nomad visa?

Non-EU nationals who already work remotely, either as employees or as independent professionals, can apply. You have to show the work relationship exists, not just that you plan to find remote work later.

• Employees provide a work contract or a declaration from the employer confirming the employment.
• Freelancers and business owners provide a company contract, a contract for services, or documents showing services provided to one or more clients.

If you are still looking for that first foreign employer or client, start with remote jobs and apply once the contract is in place.

How much income do you need for the Portugal digital nomad visa?

You need average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times Portugal's minimum monthly wage. Portuguese media report that Decreto-Lei 139/2025 set the 2026 minimum wage at €920, which makes the threshold €3,680 a month.

The official visa page states the rule as a multiple of the minimum wage rather than a fixed euro figure, so the amount rises whenever the minimum wage does. Expect it to change again in January 2027, and check the current figure before you apply. The consulate can also ask for extra documents, such as bank statements, to support the income you declare.

How long can you stay, and can you renew it?

On the residence route, the visa is your entry ticket and the AIMA permit is what lets you stay. AIMA states that the temporary residence permit for remote work is valid for two years from the date it is issued and can be renewed for successive periods of three years.

To get the permit you book an appointment and apply in person at an AIMA office with your passport, valid visa, a sworn statement from your foreign employer or client confirming the work relationship, and a declaration of your address in Portugal. If you rent, you also need a declaration from the landlord; if you own the property, a land registry certificate.

The temporary stay visa is valid for less than a year and does not lead to a residence permit on its own.

How much does it cost?

The consular fee for a national visa, which covers both the residence and temporary stay versions, is €110. On top of that you pay AIMA's fees for the residence permit (set out in AIMA's fee table) and any service charge from the visa application centre.

You also need travel insurance that covers medical expenses, urgent care and repatriation for the visa application, so budget for that.

What documents do you need?

• National visa application form, completed and signed
• Two recent passport photos
• Passport valid for at least three months after your planned return, plus a copy of the data page
• Proof of legal stay, if you apply outside your country of nationality
• Travel insurance covering medical costs, urgent care and repatriation
• Criminal record certificate, legalised or apostilled where required
• Proof of the work relationship (contract, employer declaration or client contracts)
• Proof of average income over the last three months of at least four times the minimum wage
• Proof of your tax residence

This is the mandatory list on the Ministry's visa portal. The consulate may ask for more.

How do you apply from Nigeria?

Applications in Nigeria normally go through VFS Global in Abuja or Lagos, not the Embassy directly. However, the Embassy of Portugal in Abuja suspended new visa applications through VFS Global from 20 July 2026 until further notice. Applications already lodged are still being processed.

1. Check the Embassy of Portugal in Abuja's website for news that applications have reopened.
2. Gather the documents above, including a police clearance certificate prepared for use abroad and three months of payslips, invoices or bank statements.
3. When applications reopen, book an appointment with VFS Global in Abuja or Lagos and pay the €110 visa fee and the service charge.
4. Attend the appointment to submit your file and biometrics.
5. Once the visa is issued, travel to Portugal and attend your AIMA appointment to apply for the two-year residence permit.

If you legally live in another country, Portugal's visa portal says you can apply at the Portuguese consulate responsible for your country of residence instead. Premium membership includes nomad visa assistance if you want help preparing the file.

How long does processing take?

By law the consulate has up to 60 days to decide a residence visa and 30 days for a temporary stay visa. The AIMA permit is a separate step after you arrive, and AIMA has had long waiting times for appointments, so leave room in your plans.

Do you pay tax in Portugal on a digital nomad visa?

Possibly, yes. Under article 16 of Portugal's personal income tax code, you become tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Portugal in any 12-month period, or if you have a home there that suggests you intend to live in it as your habitual residence.

Portuguese tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income, which would include your salary or client fees from abroad. The visa itself does not come with a tax exemption. This is general information, not tax advice.

Can you bring your family?

Possibly, but the rules got stricter. Law 61/2025, in force since October 2025, generally requires a residence permit holder to have held legal residence for two years before applying for family reunification. Law firm Cuatrecasas reports that exceptions remain for minor or dependent children, for a spouse who is a parent of a minor child, and for holders of certain permits such as highly qualified workers, investors and EU Blue Card holders. The remote work permit is not on that list of exempt permit types.

Check with AIMA or the consulate before you plan a family move around this visa.

What to know before you move

• Working hours: mainland Portugal is on UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer. That means Lisbon is one hour behind Lagos in winter and on the same time as Lagos in summer.
• Getting paid: keep your income easy to prove. AIMA renewals and the initial visa both lean on contracts, payslips and bank statements, so use accounts that produce clear statements in your name.
• Housing: you need a real address for the AIMA application, backed by a landlord's declaration or a property record. Arrange a lease you can document rather than short holiday lets.
• Health cover: travel insurance with medical and repatriation cover is part of the visa file. Keep it valid until your status in Portugal is settled.

If Portugal's timing does not work for you, compare Spain's teleworking visa, which has a published 10-working-day decision deadline for visas, or Greece's digital nomad visa.