Vlad Shifter
Founder
Entrepreneur and corporate consultant with 10+ years of experience with PwC, P&G, Coca Cola, Unilever and others. TechCrunch 200 Alum.
Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) 2026
Live in Portugal on your remote income if you earn €3,680+/month. We prepare the full AIMA dossier, and we tell you honestly when D3 with an employer would serve you better.
- Income from €3,680/mo
- IFICI 20% flat tax eligible
- EU residency in 5 years
- Family included
- 7,000+ cases handled
- 99.2% completed-case success rate
- Free re-file on directly handled Portuguese cases with a complete document set
- 30+ nationalities served
- HQ in Portugal
Why the D8
No employer setup required
Your existing remote job or freelance contracts qualify directly.
Schengen mobility
Once residence is granted, travel the Schengen area freely, up to 90 days in any 180.
Family on one file
Spouse, minor children and dependent parents apply alongside you; dependents need no separate income proof.
IFICI 20% eligible
D8 holders performing a qualifying highly-qualified activity get the 20% flat rate on Portugal-source income for 10 years.
EU residency ladder
4-month entry, 2-year permit, renewable for 3 years; permanent residency at 5 years; citizenship at 10 years (7 for CPLP and EU nationals) under the reform effective 19 May 2026.
D8 is simpler when your income is genuinely remote and comfortably above €3,680/month from a stable source. But if you are a freelancer or contractor, that income can be questioned at renewal, and freelance status can be reclassified. In those cases, structured Portuguese employment through our employer-of-record (a D3 setup) removes the ambiguity and unlocks IFICI more cleanly. We will tell you which one fits before you pay.
D8 or D3 + employer: the honest fork
| Portugal D8 | Portugal D3 + Employer | Spain Digital Nomad Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Stable remote employee | Freelancer wanting certainty; higher earner | Remote worker choosing Spain |
| Income floor | €3,680/mo | from €2,100/mo | ~€2,849/mo (200% SMI) |
| Employer needed | No | Yes (we can be it) | No |
| Reclassification risk | Higher for freelancers | Removed (real employment) | Varies |
| Tax hook | IFICI 20% | IFICI 20% | Beckham Law 24% |
| Path to PR | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
For the full trade-off between freelance D8 income and employed D3, read our D3 vs D8 freelancer guide. Comparing across countries? See our Spain vs Portugal vs Italy visa comparison.
Why Portugal for remote workers
-
Most accessible EU residency for stable remote income
With an Atlantic climate and an English-friendly business environment.
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Lower cost of living
Roughly 25% below Spain or France; Lisbon and Porto are practical bases.
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Universal healthcare
For legal residents; international schools in Lisbon, Porto and Cascais run €8,000 to €18,000/year, public schools are free.
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Honest about AIMA in 2026
Processing is slow, 9 to 18 months end-to-end in Lisbon/Porto and roughly 5 to 9 months via regional offices, but the consulate visa is reliable when the dossier is complete.
How to get the Portugal D8 Visa with Relovisa
From eligibility review to residence permit, your dedicated case manager handles every step.
1. Eligibility + income structuring
We confirm €3,680/month and structure the proof: foreign employment contracts, freelance contracts (ideally 3+ months of invoicing), or dividends.
2. NIF + bank guidance
We obtain your NIF; a Portuguese bank account is required and we send a step-by-step guide.
3. AIMA dossier
Income proof, accommodation, criminal-record certificate, health insurance, savings proof.
4. Consulate appointment
Booked and prepared; consulate visa typically issued in 30 to 60 days.
5. Biometrics + permit
After arrival, AIMA biometrics and permit. Realistic 2026: 9 to 18 months in Lisbon/Porto, roughly 5 to 9 months via regional offices; legal target 90 days.
6. IFICI application
If your activity qualifies, we file by 15 January after your first full Portuguese tax-residency year.
Let your personal case manager and lawyer handle all the paperwork
No more dealing with bureaucracy, we take care of every detail.
1. Understand Your Immigration Options
During a consultation, our expert evaluates your profile and outlines pathways, helping you make an informed decision.
2. Tailored Strategy for Approval
Lawyer analyzes your case, identifies challenges, and creates a step-by-step roadmap to maximize success.
3. Complete Document Preparation
With minimal input from you, we handle certificates, translations, and applications.
4. Smooth Application Process
Your manager schedules appointments, ensures compliance, communicates with authorities, and tracks progress.
5. Bureaucratic Tasks Solved
We handle finding housing, tax registrations, and residence permits, eliminating paperwork stress.
D8 or D3? We settle it in one call.
Tell us how you earn, from whom, and how much. We confirm whether D8 fits or whether structured employment protects you better, then quote the end-to-end cost. The €40 consultation secures a dedicated expert.
Ready to start?
Recommended
Portugal D8
€2,490
+ €990 per family member
For remote employees and freelancers. Government fees are separate: consulate visa €110, AIMA permit €307.20 (effective 1 March 2026).
- Eligibility review and personalized strategy guide
- Preparation of all required documents
- Initial consultation
- Unlimited chat with a dedicated visa expert
- Lawyer consultation for complex cases
- All required forms completed by us
- Pre-submission document double-check
- NIF
- Consulate slot booking where the jurisdiction allows it, or detailed step-by-step instructions where booking requires in-person verification by the applicant
- End-to-end case management through visa issuance
If your case is better served by structured employment, the D3 + Portuguese payroll route is €6,900 + €430/month. We route you there only when it genuinely fits.
About “Relovisa Advisors”
Relovisa is a premium full-service immigration consultancy (HQ Portugal, "Made in Portugal"). It is not a law firm: it works with licensed immigration lawyers and tax advisors per jurisdiction. Relovisa delivers EU/UK/US residency and citizenship to founders, skilled professionals, investors, and remote workers, handling the paperwork end-to-end. Distinctive: its own Portuguese EOR/payroll entity, packaged with the Portugal D3 and Spain DNV routes, plus deep specialist depth on the France Talent (Passeport Talent) innovative-project route, including DRIEETS dossiers and the no-incubator route with two letters of support.
99.2%
Average success rate
99.2% of clients get their visas and residence permits
7000+
Cases · 30+ countries
Clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the CIS
80+
Experts and lawyers
Professionals from around the world
8 years
Average experience
In immigration law & consulting
Our team, lawyers and partners
Our legal experts and professionals take care of everything, from document preparation to final approval, with 24/7 support, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
Olia Nemirovski
COO
10+ years specialist in client and partner relations, driving innovation through deep customer understanding.
Evgenia
Immigration lawyer
Licensed lawyer with deep knowledge of UK immigration law, she excels as a case manager for Talent Visas with 99.8% success rate.
Vladimir
Immigration consultant
Over three years of project management experience in German work immigration processes.
Daniela
Immigration Lawyer
Her expertise includes legal representation in court proceedings, expedited solutions for delayed residence processes, and all visa programs.
Petra
Immigration consultant
Specializes in D visas: Digital Nomad, D7, D2, D3, etc. She has experience working with various types of income.
Marilia
Immigration Attorney
Lawyer with 4 years experience works with global mobility processes for self-employed individuals through D8, D2, or IT workers through D3/Blue Card.
Thiago
Immigration Attorney
Relocated more than 300 high-qualified professionals to Portugal since 2018. Currently holding 100% success in lawsuits against AIMA (200+).
Vladislav
Tax Advisor
A licensed tax consultant with thousands of cases handled worldwide, from EU countries to Hong Kong and the USA. Specializes in finding solutions in the most unique and challenging situations.
Thomas
Tax Advisor
Thomas specializes in crypto business consultancy, with notable projects including market research for Bit2Me, a major Southern European cryptocurrency exchange.
Reviewed by the Relovisa immigration team. Published 2026-07.
Sources: Law 23/2007 Article 61-B , AIMA guidance , IFICI legislation
FAQs
Is the D8 the same as the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
Yes. D8 is the legal code under Article 61-B of Law 23/2007. "Digital Nomad Visa" is the commercial name introduced in October 2022.
Do I need to live in Portugal full-time?
To renew at year 2 and year 5, you must spend at least 16 months of every 2-year permit period in Portugal. We provide a residency-tracking framework so you do not lose status.
How long does AIMA actually take in 2026?
Consulate visa 30 to 60 days. Permit issuance 9 to 18 months in Lisbon/Porto, roughly 5 to 9 months via regional offices; legal target 90 days.
What income proves the €3,680/month threshold?
AIMA accepts foreign employment contracts, freelance contracts (ideally 3+ months of consistent invoicing) or company dividends. We structure the proof per Portuguese tax-registry conventions. If your income is purely passive instead, such as pensions or rental income, see the D7 visa instead.
Can I apply with crypto income?
Crypto income alone is typically rejected. We help convert crypto-derived earnings into a documented stream (registered freelance activity, or payment through a foreign-employer EOR) that AIMA accepts.
What about IFICI tax?
D8 holders performing a qualifying activity (most software, engineering, research, scientific and senior-management roles) qualify for the 20% flat rate. Apply by 15 January after your first full Portuguese tax-residency year. We do not promise the tax authority's decision.
My clients are outside the EU. Does that matter?
No, D8 income can come from foreign clients or employers. What matters is that the income is documented and clears €3,680/month. If your client base is unstable, we may recommend the D3 employment route instead.
When should I choose D3 with an employer instead of D8?
When your income is freelance and could be reclassified, when you earn below €3,680/month, or when you want structured employment and the cleanest IFICI path. In those cases, D3 with our Portuguese payroll is the safer route.
Can my family come, and when does the citizenship clock start?
Spouse, minor children and dependent parents apply on the same file. The citizenship clock starts from the date your residence permit is issued, not the consulate visa date, and runs 10 years under the post-19 May 2026 rules (7 for CPLP and EU nationals).