Portugal’s digital nomad visa, usually called the D8 visa, is a national visa for people who work remotely for an employer or clients outside Portugal. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues it in two forms: a temporary stay visa for stays of up to one year and a residency visa for stays of over one year. Both require the same core file: a criminal record certificate with a Hague Apostille, a copy of your passport, proof of income of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage, and proof of your remote work.
Our local pages for Lisbon and Porto explain notarisation in Portugal.
Most guides list the documents. This one explains which of them must be apostilled or notarized before the consulate will accept them, because that is the step that delays most applications. It follows the document lists published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its visa portal and the checklist used by VFS Global, the external service provider that receives applications in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- Two visas, one name: the “digital nomad” category exists as a temporary stay visa (under one year) and a residency visa (over one year). The document list is almost identical; the residency visa is the route to living in Portugal long term.
- The income test for 2026: average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage. The 2026 minimum wage is €920, so the threshold is €3,680 per month.
- Two documents need an Apostille: the criminal record certificate, and for U.S. residents the FBI background check, both issued less than 90 days before you apply.
- One document needs a notary: the VFS checklist for the United States asks for a notarized colour photocopy of your passport.
- The deadline most people miss: the criminal record certificate and the FBI check must be less than 90 days old on the day you submit, so order the Apostille immediately after the certificate arrives.
What Is the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
The Portuguese visa portal lists “Remote Work / Digital Nomad” as a visa purpose for “the exercise of a professional activity done remotely”. It is available as a temporary stay visa, for stays of less than one year, and as a residency visa, for stays of over one year. Applicants often call both the D8 visa.
The visa is for employees of companies outside Portugal and for self-employed people whose clients are outside Portugal. If your income comes from a Portuguese employer, you need a work visa instead; if it is passive income such as a pension, a different residency category applies. Remote workers comparing countries can read our guide to the Spain digital nomad visa.
Applications are lodged at the Portuguese consulate responsible for your place of residence, or through VFS Global where the consulate uses an external service provider, as it does in the United States.
Temporary Stay Visa or Residency Visa?
| Temporary stay visa for remote work | Residency visa for remote work | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of stay | Less than one year | Over one year |
| Who it suits | Remote workers trying Portugal for up to a year | Remote workers who intend to settle |
| Core documents | Same general list, plus a copy of your return ticket | Same general list; no return ticket |
| Means of subsistence | Must cover the planned stay | Must cover the period of the visa |
Both lists come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Necessary Documentation” pages. The only general difference is the return ticket required for temporary stay visas.
Documents You Need for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the following general documents for every national visa:
- National visa application form, completed and signed by the applicant.
- Two recent passport-type photographs, one attached to the form.
- Passport valid for at least three months beyond the planned stay, and a photocopy of the biographical data page.
- Proof of regular status in the country where you apply, if you are not a national of that country, valid beyond the expiry of the visa you apply for.
- Travel insurance covering medical expenses, urgent medical assistance and repatriation.
- Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality, or from any country where you have lived for more than a year, with the Hague Apostille or legalised. Not required for applicants under sixteen.
- Proof of financial resources, as defined by government decree.
- For temporary stay visas, a copy of your return ticket.
For the remote work category, the VFS Global checklist for applicants in the United States adds the specific documents:
- a personal statement signed by you, explaining why you are settling in Portugal, where you intend to live and what type of accommodation you will have;
- for employees, your employment contract or a declaration from your employer confirming the employment relationship;
- for the self-employed, your articles of association, a service contract, or a document attesting the services you provide to one or more clients;
- proof of average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage;
- a tax residence certificate from your current country of residence;
- a notarized colour photocopy of your passport.
Children travelling without both parents also need a travel authorization signed by the absent parent or parents, or a court order, together with a copy of the parent’s ID.
Which Documents Need an Apostille, and Which Need a Notary?
| Document | What the consulate expects | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate | Hague Apostille or legalisation; issued less than 90 days before submission | Order the certificate, then the Apostille from the competent authority in the issuing country |
| FBI Identity History Summary (U.S. residents of more than one year) | Apostille from the U.S. Department of State; less than 90 days old | Request the FBI check, then the federal Apostille |
| Photocopy of passport | Notarized colour copy (VFS United States checklist) | Have a notary certify the copy against the original |
| Personal statement | Signed by the applicant | Sign it; notarize it if the consulate asks |
| Employer declaration or service contract | Original or signed copy | Ask the employer or client to sign; notarize if required by the consulate |
| Travel authorization for a minor | Signed by the absent parent | Notarize so the signature can be verified |
The Apostille is a certificate attached to a public document so that it is recognised in the other countries that have signed the Hague Convention. Portugal and the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia are all members, so an Apostille replaces consular legalisation for documents from those countries.
The Income Requirement for 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets the means of subsistence test for long-term visas by reference to the Portuguese minimum monthly wage, which in 2026 is €920 under Regulatory Decree 139/2025 of 29 December. For the remote work visa, the VFS checklist requires proof of average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times that amount, which is €3,680 per month.
Family members are counted on top of the applicant’s own requirement: 50 percent more for each additional adult and 30 percent for each child under 18 or dependent adult child. Income is shown with bank statements, pay slips or invoices for the last three months, supported by the employment contract or client contracts.
How to Apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa: Step by Step
- Choose the visa. Temporary stay for under a year, residency for over a year.
- Order the criminal record certificate and, if you have lived in the United States for more than a year, the FBI Identity History Summary. Start here, because both must be less than 90 days old when you submit.
- Apostille the certificates. State-issued certificates are apostilled by the state’s Secretary of State; the FBI summary by the U.S. Department of State, as explained in our FBI background check Apostille guide. NotaryPublic24 handles the Apostille for you.
- Have your passport copy notarized and gather your contract or client documents, three months of income proof and your tax residence certificate.
- Write and sign the personal statement and take out travel insurance.
- Book the appointment at the consulate or the VFS Global centre, pay the visa fee and submit the file with your passport.
- Wait for the decision, then travel to Portugal within the visa’s validity.
Common Mistakes That Delay a D8 Application
| Mistake | Why it fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record certificate older than 90 days at submission | The consulate requires a recent certificate | Order it last among the slow documents and apostille it immediately |
| Apostille from the wrong authority | A state Apostille does not cover an FBI document | FBI summary: U.S. Department of State; state certificate: state Secretary of State |
| Plain photocopy of the passport | The VFS checklist asks for a notarized colour copy | Have the copy certified by a notary |
| Income shown for one month only | The test is an average over three months | Provide three months of statements or invoices |
| Contract that does not mention remote work | The consulate must see that the work is done remotely | Ask the employer for a declaration stating the remote arrangement |
| Insurance that excludes repatriation | Repatriation cover is a listed requirement | Choose a policy that names medical repatriation |
How NotaryPublic24 Can Help
NotaryPublic24 prepares the two parts of the file that cannot be done from a laptop alone. We obtain the Apostille for your criminal record certificate or FBI background check, and we provide a notarized certified copy of your passport online, with your identity verified by a biometric and ID check and delivery within 24 hours. If your employer’s declaration or your personal statement must be notarized, we handle that in the same process.
Upload the document, complete the checkout, verify your identity, and a Notary Public is appointed to your case. Contact support first if your consulate requires a wet-ink signature or an Apostille from a specific authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a digital nomad visa in Portugal?
A completed national visa form, two photos, a passport valid three months beyond the stay with a photocopy, travel insurance with repatriation cover, a criminal record certificate with Apostille, proof of remote work through an employment contract or client contracts, proof of average monthly income over three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage, a tax residence certificate and a signed personal statement.
How much income do I need for the Portugal digital nomad visa in 2026?
At least four times the Portuguese minimum monthly wage, averaged over the last three months. The 2026 minimum wage is €920, so the threshold is €3,680 per month. Add 50 percent for each additional adult and 30 percent for each dependent child.
What is the D8 visa in Portugal?
D8 is the common name for Portugal’s visa for remote work. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists it as “Remote Work / Digital Nomad”, a visa for the exercise of a professional activity done remotely, available as a temporary stay visa for under one year or a residency visa for over one year.
Which documents need an Apostille for the Portugal digital nomad visa?
The criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or any country where you have lived for more than a year must carry the Hague Apostille or be legalised. For applicants who have lived in the United States for over a year, that means an FBI Identity History Summary with a federal Apostille, issued less than 90 days before submission.
Does the passport copy need to be notarized?
The VFS Global checklist for applications lodged in the United States asks for a notarized colour photocopy of the passport’s biographical page. Consulates in other countries may accept a plain copy; check the checklist for your consulate.
How long is the Portugal digital nomad visa valid?
The temporary stay visa covers stays of less than one year. The residency visa is for stays of over one year and is the version to choose if you intend to settle in Portugal.
Can I bring my family on the D8 visa?
The means of subsistence rules allow for family members by increasing the income requirement: 50 percent for a second adult and 30 percent for each child under 18 or dependent adult child. Children not travelling with both parents need a travel authorization from the absent parent.
Is it hard for a U.S. citizen to get the Portugal digital nomad visa?
The file is longer than for most visas but the requirements are published and objective. The two steps that take time are the FBI background check with its federal Apostille and the three months of income evidence. Applications from the United States go through VFS Global, which publishes the exact checklist.