The D8 is Portugal's remote-work residency route. The income bar is the highest of the major European nomad visas, and the process has a second stage that catches people who think the consulate decision is the finish line.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum income | €3,680/month (€44,160/year) |
| How it's set | 4× the Portuguese national minimum wage — rises each January |
| Initial grant | Residency visa (consulate) → 2-year residence permit (AIMA) |
| Renewal | Extendable for a further 3 years |
| Tax number | Portuguese NIF required |
| AIMA window | 120 days from visa issue |
| Where to apply | Portuguese consulate or VFS Global centre |
Schengen note. Portugal is in the Schengen area. Until your residence permit is issued you are subject to the 90/180 rule — which matters, because the AIMA stage happens while you are already in the country. Since April 2026 it is tracked automatically by the Entry/Exit System. See the 90/180 rule after EES or work out your days.
The income figure moves every year
€3,680/month is derived from four times Portugal's minimum wage. That means it is not a fixed number — it increases whenever the minimum wage does, typically each January.
Two practical consequences:
- Any guide quoting a figure without a year attached is unreliable. Numbers from 2023 and 2024 are still circulating widely and are now well below the real threshold.
- Budget above the line, not at it. If you apply in November at exactly €3,680 and your renewal falls after a January increase, you may no longer qualify at renewal on the same income.
The two-step process is where people get caught
Step 1 — Residency visa, from outside Portugal. Apply at your Portuguese consulate or a VFS Global centre. This produces a visa that lets you enter and stay temporarily. It is not residency.
Step 2 — Residence permit, inside Portugal, via AIMA. You have a 120-day window from visa issue to attend an in-person appointment with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — formerly SEF), submit biometrics, and finalise the permit.
AIMA appointment availability is the single biggest source of delay in the D8 process. The 120-day window is a legal deadline; appointment supply is not guaranteed to meet it. Request the appointment as soon as your visa is issued, not after you arrive.
Get the NIF early
The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is Portugal's tax identification number, and almost everything downstream depends on it — opening a bank account, signing a lease, and the residency application itself.
Non-residents can obtain a NIF through a fiscal representative before arriving. Doing this early removes a dependency from the critical path, because the bank account usually cannot be opened without it and accommodation is easier to secure with one.
Order that works: NIF → bank account → accommodation → visa application.
Documents
- Passport valid beyond the intended stay
- Proof of €3,680+ monthly income for the preceding months
- Employment contract or client contracts with non-Portuguese entities
- Portuguese NIF
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
- Health insurance valid in Portugal
- Criminal record certificate, apostilled
- Proof of sufficient savings
How Portugal compares
| Country | Monthly income floor | Initial grant |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | €2,333 | 1 year |
| Spain | €2,849 | 3 years (in-country route) |
| Portugal | €3,680 | 2 years |
| Estonia | ~€4,500 gross | 1 year |
Portugal asks for meaningfully more income than Spain or Italy. What it offers in exchange is a clearer path onward — the D8 leads to a renewable residence permit and, in time, a route to permanent residency.
If the income threshold is the binding constraint, Italy at €2,333/month is the more accessible European option. If long-term settlement is the goal, Portugal's structure is built for it.
What the process is actually like
[Author section — first-hand or sourced account. AIMA wait times by city are the most useful thing you can add.]
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for the D8 in 2026? €3,680 per month, or €44,160 per year. The figure is four times Portugal's minimum wage and rises each January.
What is AIMA? The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum — the body that issues residence permits, replacing the former SEF. You must attend an in-person AIMA appointment inside Portugal to convert your visa into a residence permit.
How long do I have to attend the AIMA appointment? 120 days from visa issue. Request the appointment immediately, as availability is the main source of delay in the process.
Do I need a NIF before applying? Yes, and get it early. It is required for the residency application and for opening a bank account, which most applicants need for the accommodation step.
How long is the residence permit valid? Two years initially, extendable for a further three.
Official sources
- AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
- Portuguese consular services — visa information
- Autoridade Tributária — NIF registration
Requirements verified 29 July 2026. The income threshold is indexed to Portugal's minimum wage and changes annually. Confirm the current figure with an official source before applying.