Guide to Portugalβs DN/D8 Digital Nomad Visa
The D8 Digital Nomad Visa is perfect for a range of professionals seeking to live and work in Portugal. It caters to remote employees working for companies based outside the country, freelancers providing services to international clients, and business owners or digital entrepreneurs managing remote-friendly ventures that can be operated from anywhere.
100%
Visa approved or your money back
Free
Consultation with an expert
>99%
Visa success rate
Overview
β Processing Time: 1 to 4 months, depending on the country of application. The main blockers being the availability of appointments, and your ability to collect the necessary documents quickly.
β Income Requirement: Minimum β¬3,480 net per month (last 3 months).
β Residency: Two-year initial residence permit, renewable for three additional years.
β Citizenship Path: Eligibility for Portuguese citizenship after five years of residence.
β Complexity: this is the simplest visa pathway in terms of documentation and requirements. Weβd recommend going for the DN visa wherever possible
Key Requirements
Financial Documentation
Proof of monthly income: 4x the Portuguese minimum wage, currently at β¬3,480 net per month over the last three months for 2024.
If employed, you will need to show payslips with matching bank statements.
Freelancers must present consolidated income documentation from multiple clients, with invoices & bank statements to match.
Savings: Recommended β¬10,440 per adult (additional amounts required for dependents).
Employment Proof
Employment contract with explicit approval to work remotely, or a supporting letter from your employer outlining this.
Freelancers must prove their income can be generated remotely, which is usually clearly implicit by the type of services offered.
Additional Essentials
Criminal Record Certificate: Clean and recent record from all countries of residence, translated and notarized in Portuguese.
Valid Passport: At least six monthsβ validity beyond the application date.
Accommodation: A rental agreement valid for at least six months, registered with AT (the Portuguese tax authority)
Health Insurance: Travel insurance (β¬30,000 coverage) for the visa application, plus Portuguese health insurance for residency.
Step-by-Step Process
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Proof of Income:
Collect detailed records like bank statements, invoices, payslips and tax returns.
Savings:
Prepare bank statements showing at least β¬10,440 in savings (recommended).
Criminal Record Certificate:
Obtain, translate, and notarize the certificate in Portuguese.
Accommodation Contract:
Secure a valid rental agreement.
Health Insurance:
Purchase travel insurance for the visa duration.
Motivation Letter
This isnβt mandatory, but a cover letter explaining a little about yourself and your reasons for moving to Portugal always helps.
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Description text goes hereOnline Registration:
Apply through the local Portuguese consulate or VFS Global depending on your origin country.
DIY: Application forms will be available online in Portuguese.
With Yon: we will submit your application.
Document Submission:
Prepare and print all documents needed. Some of which may need to be notarized and translated.
DIY: weβd at the very least reccomend cross checking your final documents with someone who has been through this process before, as VFS or your consulate likely wonβt be available to offer any assistance. Your first encounter with them will be at your appointment.
With Yon: we will be managing the document collection process and checking ahead of time whether they are sufficient and will be accepted at your appointment.
Schedule Appointment:
Book an in-person appointment.
DIY: These can be tricky to get, particularly if using the VFS system as it, quite frankly, hardly even works. We would advise checking daily for new appointments, on multiple browsers and often with multiple VPN settings.
With Yon: We will ask for your general availability and book these for you.
Attend Appointment
Attend your consulate or VFS appointment, with all the necessary documentation.
Pay consulate/VFS fee either online or in-person depending on the country of origin.
Receive temporary visa
After reviewing and accepting your application, you will receive a 120-day visa allowing entry to Portugal for residency processing.
If anything is missing or deemed invalid, you will need to submit an appeal.
DIY: you will be notified of one or multiple rejection reasons, and have to liaise with the consulate or VFS to appeal this decision with new documents.
With Yon: we will be communicating on your behalf and submitting any appeals behind the scenes.
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Travel to Portugal
The 120-day visa allows entry to Portugal for residency processing. You will either already have, or be waiting for, an AIMA appointment.
AIMA Appointment:
Prepare updated documents.
DIY: You will need to prepare a similar round of documents, but they will need to be updated. Please be aware your documents will be checked in a deeper way with AIMA so, for example, they will now be checking that a lease agreement is legitimately registered with the tax authority
With Yon: Once again we would handle the document collection & checking process for you, so that when you turn up at the appointment you know everything will be valid and accepted. We will also handle any appeals if needs be.
Complete biometric requirements.
Pay the AIMA appointment fee of β¬170 in person.
Receive your residence Card:
Initial validity: Two years (renewable for three additional years).
This will be posted to your registered address in Portugal, and usually takes a couple of weeks to arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Short-Term Visa: Valid for up to 12 months, suitable for temporary stays.
Long-Term Visa: Grants a renewable residence permit for stays exceeding one year and enables family reunification.
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Yes, spouses and children can apply for dependent visas. Additional savings and notarised documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, are required.
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After five years of continuous or accumulated residency, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship by fulfilling these conditions:
Clean criminal record.
A2-level proficiency in Portuguese.
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Free movement within the Schengen Area.
Access to Portugalβs healthcare and education systems.
Opportunity for long-term residency or citizenship.
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No! Although integrating into Portugal will be easier if you pick up the language, 60% of the population are competent at English.
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The D8 Visa is primarily for those with a remote position, but you still are able to work in Portugal if you like.
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You are required to earn 4x the minimum Portuguese salary every month. Currently, this would be β¬3480 per month
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Exact guidelines are sparse, but a suitable amount to show you can sustain yourself in Portugal. We reccomend one year of the Portuguese minimum wage, β¬10440. Additional is required per dependent.
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Yes, you need a rental agreement registered with the Portuguese ta authority for a minimum of 6 months from your arrival date.
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This depends on your country of origin - you will either book your initial appointment with VFS Global, or with your local Portuguese consulate.
Been there, done itβnow let us help you
βIn 2023, we moved to Portugal to build a hospitality business called Yon Living, but the high fees and confusing process of securing a visa caught us off guard. The lack of transparency made things harder than they needed to be, adding unnecessary stress to an already big life change.
Determined to make the process smoother for others, we began helping our guests navigate the complexities of visas. Since then, weβve quietly assisted hundreds of people in successfully relocating to Portugal, guiding them through every step with clarity and care.
Now, weβre opening up our expertise to everyoneβnot just our guestsβmaking it easier than ever for anyone to call Portugal home. Whether youβre chasing new opportunities, seeking a fresh start, or fulfilling a lifelong dream, weβre here to help you every step of the way.β
β Ant and Tom, founders of Yon
Navigating the bureaucracy on your behalf with a proven process
Dealing with visa applications can be overwhelming, but we make it simple. Let us navigate the complexities, so you can focus on what truly mattersβyour move to Portugal.
Ongoing legal support
You will have access via email, chat & calls to our immigration lawyers throughout the entire process. Not just a 30 minute chat at the start.
Thorough document checks
We'll lead the flow. We will ask for, store and validate your documents ahead of your appointments to maximise your acceptance chances.
Consulate bookings
We will obtain your appointment at your local consulate, or VFS global at a day and time that suits you.
Admin
We will handle your application forms, motivation letters and correspondence with the consulate throughout the process.
Additional documents
Whether it be a registered lease agreement, your NIF, or setting up a Portuguese bank account. We are on hand to advise you the smoothest & safest route forward.
Appeals
In the event of any rejections, we will be quickly submitting appeals behind the scenes to get the process back on track.
What people are saying about us
Hear why individuals and companies worldwide choose Yon to manage their visa applications.
Jessica Dixon
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βMoving abroad seemed intimidating but Yon made it effortless. From start to finish, I felt supported, and their tech-driven approach simplified everything. Their community has been amazing too - like an instant family of fellow nomads!β
Mairi and Flora McCrone
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"Thanks to Yon, the complicated visa process became manageable. They answered all our questions and provided clear guidance every step of the way. Now, weβre living our dream life abroad.β
Jonny Cleaver
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"I had no idea where to start with my visa, but Yon guided me every step of the way. They handled the paperwork and legal stuff, leaving me to focus on my work and move. Highly recommended!"
Anita and Bella
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βYon turned what could have been a stressful situation into a breeze. They were knowledgeable, and made it easy to track the visa process simple. I couldnβt be happier with the resultβvisas approved for the entire family and a whole new adventure ahead."
Join a community whoβve already made the move to Portugal
Through our sister company, Yon Living, we've built a vibrant community for those relocating to Portugal. Join our buzzing WhatsApp groups for answers to all your questions and enjoy weekly events like supper clubs, coworking days, drinks nights, boat trips, and more.
Get started with Yon, today.
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