Are you on a Europe trip and wondering what are the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024? Here in this blog, we dive into the intricacies of Portugal’s digital nomad visa requirements for 2024.
Find out what you need to know bout the digital nomad visa that can get you EU citizenship in this blog.
What is a Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?
The Portuguese digital nomad visa is a residence permit that enables you to live your life in Portugal and enjoy the benefits that come along with it. For instance, with this digital nomad visa, you can not only enjoy the residency in Portugal but also benefit from Portugal’s public health services.
After you have lived five years in Portugal with your digital nomad residence permit, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship. In addition to the Portuguese residentship, you also get an EU passport, which will enable you to work, live, and retire wherever you want in EU countries.
The D8, or digital nomad visa, is more like a blend of both temporary stay and residence vise for digital nomads from all over the world. With the temporary stay option that this digital nomad visa offers, you can live in Portugal for a year.
On the other hand, the residence visa option will permit you to stay for five years in Portugal with a digital nomad visa in your hands. After five years have passed, you can then apply for the Portuguese citizenship.
Factors | Temporary Stay | Residence Visa |
Duration | 12 Months | 24 Months |
Renewable | Yes | Yes (for 36 months) |
Accommodation | Min 4-month lease | Min 12-month lease |
Minimum Salary | €3,280 p/m* | €3,280 p/m* |
Portugal Bank Account Required | Some Consulates | Yes (not all required) |
Police Clearance | Yes | Yes |
Family Reunification | No | Yes |
The digital nomad visa in Portugal offers two options for the applicants which are:
- Long-Term or Residency Visa: With this residence visa, you can enter Portugal twice, and it is valid for almost four months. Furthermore, you can get two years of residence permit after you have arrived in Portugal.
- Temporary Stay Visa: The temporary stay visa is valid for up to one year, and you can enter Portugal multiple times with this visa.
You can follow the same procedure to get any of these visas and both types of visa require the same documents as well. However, the difference between the two types is that for the long-term visa, you will have to visit the Immigration and Borders Service after you have arrived in Portugal. Furthermore, you will have to apply for a residence permit when your visa is on the verge of expiring.
Benefits of a Digital Nomad Visa
The Portuguese digital nomad visa comes with a never-ending list of benefits. From EU residentship to access to healthcare and other public facilities, a Portuguese visa is all about reaping the benefits. Here are some of the many benefits you will get after receiving the digital nomad visa:
Low-effort and Cost-effective
Like other Portuguese visas, the digital nomad visa does not require the applicant to find an employer enroll in any degree, or even set up a start-up in Portugal. Instead, this digital nomad visa requires you to only show your income which is four times higher than the minimum wage in Portugal.
Residency in Portugal
With the digital nomad visa, you can live in Portugal for up to a year. On the other hand, the tourist visa only allows an applicant to stay in Portugal for up to 90 days after every six months.
Visa-free Travel Across Europe
Portugal is one of the Schengen countries which implies that you can freely move from one EU country to another. You can hop from country to country within the constraints of the European Union with Portuguese residentship in your pocket.
You can wander in EU countries for three months after every six months, which is more than enough time for a tourist. The digital nomad visa holders can globetrotter and pursue their careers simultaneously. Furthermore, they can travel in countries like France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Malta, and 21 other countries of Europe with their Portuguese digital nomad visa.
EU citizenship
If you have a digital nomad visa issued by the Portuguese government, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years. You can be a Portuguese citizen and be a part of its culture after you have spent more than five years. You must also pass the language proficiency test, and your proficiency should be at A2 level on even higher.
Reduced Tax Burden
After you have received the tax paying status in Portugal you can apply for Non-Habitual Resident status. According to the Non-Habitual Resident, you are eligible for 0% tax for global income while only 20% tax for income that you have earned in Portugal.
Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 2024
When you apply for a Portuguese digital nomad residentship, there are certain Portugal digital nomad visa requirements in 2024 that you must fulfill. Here are the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024:
- Your monthly income as an individual should be no less than €3,280.
- You should be more than 18 years of age.
- One of the many Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024 is that you should not be from any of the EU or EEA countries and from Switzerland.
- Furthermore, your criminal record should also be clean, and you should not have any past criminal records.
However, while you are looking for a Portugal digital nomad visa requirement 2024, you should also know the difference between the D7(which is wrongfully referred to as a digital nomad visa) and the D8 (which is actually a digital nomad visa).
People with passive income like pensions, dividends, or income from rental property are eligible for D7. For you to be eligible for D7, your passive income should be no less than €820 per month as per the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements for 2024. Likewise, the residency permit under D7 residency is for five years instead of two years.
On the other hand, the D8 resident visa is restricted to those with an active income. Their active income per month should not be less than €3,280 as per the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024.
Portugal Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 2024 for Couples
There is no special regime regarding the Portugal digital nomad requirements 2024 when it comes to couples or families. Hence, for families and couples, you can follow the rule of thumb. This implies that you will have to show more than 50% of your monthly income to your spouse. Likewise, you will have to show more than 30% of your income for each and every child of yours.
However, some believe that this percentage is unfair to those applying for D8 because they have to show their income, which is four times more than the Portuguese minimum salary. The €3,280 salary per month is enough to source a family of eight children. Hence, showing income for your children and spouse is a little more unfair.
Residence Visa for Semi-Settled Nomad
One of the two options that come with a digital nomad visa is a semi-settled nomad visa. If you are willing to settle in Portugal and enjoy the benefits of a residency there, a residence visa for a semi-settled nomad is the ideal choice for you.
For you to be eligible for this semi-settled residence visa, you should be able to earn four times the minimum wage in Portugal per month. This implies that your monthly income should be more than €3,280. Also, you can apply for permanent citizenship after five years have passed.
Recently, there has been a dense digital nomadic activity prevalent in Portugal, especially in areas like Lisbon, Madeira, Ericeira, and the Algarve (particularly Lagos). Now, with a surging trend in globe-hopping, more people tend to settle in Portugal. Here are the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024:
- You will have to show proof of your source of income. According to Portugal’s digital nomad visa requirements 2024, your income should be more than €3,280 for the past three months.
- You will also have to submit the motivation letter and provide your reason for settling in Portugal, as per the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024.
- Furthermore, you should have your travel insurance according to the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024. Also, you should provide your flight itinerary.
- In addition to this, you are also obliged to show your four-month lease before you move to Portugal for a temporary stay. However, according to the Portugal digital nomad visa requirement 2024, you should provide the 12-month lease for a long-term stay.
- You may also have to provide your Portuguese bank account.
- You will also be expected to provide your criminal background, and it should be clean as per the Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024.
- In addition to this, you will have to sign a Portugal release that will enable the Portuguese government to check your criminal record in Portugal.
- You will also be asked to provide your NIF number.
Here is the list of companies and their details that will help you get your Portuguese NIF number:
Cost | Time Frame | Fiscal Representation | |
Bordr | $140 when you use code PORTUGAL | Less than one week | 1 Year |
E-Residence.com | From €89 when you use code PORTUGAL | 3-10 days (depending on the selected option) | 1 Year |
NIFPortugal.pt | €80 | Up to 14 Days | 1 Year |
Apart from the minimum income requirement, the hardest requirement for a digital nomad visa is that you are expected to have a Portuguese bank account and accommodation in portugal, even before you are in Portugal.
However, there are companies that can help you get your bank account in Portugal while you are sitting outside Portugal. On the other hand, for the proof of accommodation in Portugal, you will have to do it on your own. You should visit and rent an apartment in your name in Portugal.
Portugal is a good place for digital nomads to reside. This country has the best weather, spectacular beaches, and a high standard of living. Also, the time zone in Portugal is suitable for international work.
With a nomadic residence in Portugal, you also get Portuguese citizenship after you have lived five years in Portugal. Furthermore, the taxation system is also lenient on the ex-pats in portugal under the NHR tax regime.
There is a list of benefits that you will receive after getting a residency in Portugal. Nevertheless, you should do your research before you move to Portugal. You should have a basic knowledge of Portugal’s digital nomad visa requirements 2024. You can speak to a professional or read more about Portugal digital nomad visa requirements 2024.
Short Stay Visa for Digital Nomads
The second option that comes along with Portugal digital nomad visa is a short-stay visa. The short-stay visa is ideal for those who wish to stay in Portugal for a period longer than the Schengen visa allows.
To be eligible for a short-stay visa, you should earn at least more than four times the minimum wage in Portugal. However, you do not receive Portuguese citizenship after getting a short-stay visa. You should apply for a long-term visa to get Portuguese citizenship.
Mostly, the digital nomads are the ones who hop from one place to another as world tourists. They stay in different countries as much as the visa allows them. Usually, tourists can stay for 6 months in a country however, in Portugal you can only stay for three months with your Schengen visa. You will have to leave Portugal or Schengen area for three months before you can return to the country again.
However, if you love Portugal and have made friends in the country, you can extend your visa to live in Portugal for up to one year. This visa extension is ideal for those who are interested in exploring the culture of Portugal or are in Portugal for some business. In case you are willing to extend your visa, you should speak to a lawyer or an accountant regarding the tax implications and other legalities.