Guidance written by Elias Verne · last reviewed 2026-07-07
Who this visa is for
The D8 is for remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Portugal at the monthly level shown above (tied to a multiple of the national minimum wage), with uplifts for a spouse and each child and a savings buffer on top. It rewards people planning a genuine relocation rather than a short stay.
If your aim is a lower bar and a quick approval, other countries fit better. The D8's value is what comes after the first year.
The citizenship path
The D8 leads to a renewable residence permit and, after five years of legal residence, onto the track toward permanent residence and citizenship. That long-term EU route is Portugal's real draw over faster, shorter visas like Japan's or the UAE's.
If a second passport is part of your plan, Portugal is one of the cleaner routes on this list, provided you can meet the income bar and sit out the wait.
Tax: NHR is gone
The well-known NHR regime closed to new entrants; its successor, IFICI (from 2024), is narrower and role-restricted. Older guides still selling the blanket NHR tax break are out of date.
Do not assume a flat exemption. If tax matters to your decision, confirm eligibility for IFICI with the Portuguese tax authority before you rely on it; the fiche above marks this as reported for that reason.
Plan for the backlog
Processing has been reported at six to nine months because of a backlog at AIMA, the migration agency. Treat the D8 as a decision made well ahead of your move, not a last-minute step.
The exact euro income figure is contested across sources because it is derived from the minimum wage, so verify the current amount before gathering documents. Health insurance valid in Portugal is required. Compared with Spain, Portugal asks more income and more patience in exchange for a stronger long-term payoff.
The figures above are the sourced, dated record; this guide explains and compares them and is not legal or tax advice.