An Overview of

Portugal’s

Digital Nomad Visa

Are you a freelancer, digital nomad, or remote worker in search of your next adventure? How about a new life in Lisbon, with the opportunity to apply for Portuguese citizenship after less than five years?

If you earn more than four times Portugal’s minimum wage (€820 X 4 as of 2024) and that income comes from outside Portugal (e.g., a remote job or freelancing), then you could qualify for the D8 or digital nomad visa. This game-changing opportunity opens up a world of possibilities for remote workers looking to move to Portugal while continuing to work with clients and companies from the rest of the world.

Overview Of Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens to live and work remotely in Portugal. Applicants must demonstrate an income of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage (approximately €3,040 per month as of 2024).

This visa doesn’t just allow you to spend more time in Portugal; it offers all the benefits that come with having residency in this stunning country.

These benefits include:

Ease of travel within Europe: Enjoy the freedom to live in Portugal and travel throughout the Schengen Area without being confined to the 90/180 days Schengen Visa rule.
Public healthcare: Gain access to the Portuguese tax-funded public healthcare service and potentially more affordable private health insurance, should you wish to opt for this.
Pathway to citizenship: After five years of residency, you’ll be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, which means getting your hands on the highly coveted EU passport. This passport will then allow you to live, work, and retire throughout the EU—not just Portugal.

The D8 is both a “temporary stay” and “residence visa” for digital nomads: one allows you to stay for up to a year, while the other is a long-term stay visa. Most nomads opt for the long-term stay visa.

The renewable residence visa (most popular): This option is valid for 24 months initially and then renewable for 36, totalling five years. After 5 years, you’ll also be able to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
The temporary stay option: This option allows you to live in Portugal for up to 1 year. It’s ideal for those who want to stay for less than 12 months but more than the typical 90 days allowed by the Schengen Visa.

Requirements

The main requirements for the D8 are:

Age: Applicants must be over 18 years old.
Monthly Income: Earn more than €3,280 (net) per month on average for an individual (this is equivalent to four times the Portuguese minimum wage).
Criminal Record: Have a clean criminal record (crimes with less than one year of prison time can be overlooked).
Portuguese NIF Number: A nine-digit Portuguese tax number.
Portuguese bank account (not required by all consulates): A Portuguese bank account. This should be funded with one year’s savings.
Proof of address in Portugal: Normally that’s a registered rental contract (typically one-year, but sometimes six months), deeds to a property, or a letter of invitation from a Portuguese resident. For the short-term stay option, you only need to provide a 4-month lease.
Insurance: You will need qualifying travel insurance for your initial four-month stay in Portugal (while you wait for your AIMA appointment) and then health insurance when you attend your interview with AIMA.
Motivation Letter: A letter explaining why you want to move to Portugal.
Flight Itinerary: Some consulates require a ticket, and some just the itinerary.
Signed Portugal Release to check Portuguese Criminal System: This is a document (found here) which allows the Portuguese government to run a background check in Portugal.

Source: Portugalist

Living in Lisbon as a Digital Nomad

Lisbon is one of the hottest places to live as a digital nomad. There are literally thousands of other digital nomads here, many of whom live here long-term. As well as that, you’ll find plenty of coworking spaces (like Lisbon-Cowork), meetups, and mastermind sessions. There’s also a large Facebook group where you can easily connect with other digital nomads.

That’s combined with more than 300 days of sunshine, ease of access to the beach, and an affordable cost of living.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’re ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure, Portugal’s digital nomad visa might just be the key to unlocking your dream lifestyle. Start planning your move today and discover why Portugal is quickly becoming the go-to destination for remote workers from around the world!