How to apply for a Digital Nomad visa to Portugal

Portugal finally got its own Digital Nomad visa. Although it is called for digital nomads but if you are, for example, a sales manager or a producer of an online school, and this income is legal and permanent – welcome to Portugal! There are two types of а Digital Nomad visas, each giving different opportunities.

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Main requirements
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👉 You must apply in the country where you hold citizenship or a residence permit.
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👉 If you apply for a DN visa, your family can apply simultaneously for accompanying visas. These visas will have the same duration as the primary holder's Digital Nomad visa - either long-term and converted to a residence permit by SEF or short-term.
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👉 You do not need a Portuguese bank account, and the official requirements for the Digital Nomad visa do not mention mandatory savings for the principal applicant. However, based on experience, it is recommended to show at least €9,120 per person in some countries. To increase the chances of getting approved for a long-term visa, some applicants aim to offer a €12,000-16,000 deposit.
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👉 Proof of income must be provided, including contracts, tax declarations, and bank statements.
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👉 Proof of accommodation: 4 months, so Airbnb may be an option for some cases (depending on consulate requirements in your country).
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See more in the guide.
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There are two types of Digital Nomad visas, each giving different opportunities.

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Short-term visa

The first type of visa is for those who just want to live in the country for a while and then move on. This visa is for one year. It may be suitable for those who would like to test life in Portugal and ensure that the country to move to is correct.

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Long-term visa

The second type of visa allows you to get a two-year residence permit, after you can extend it for another three years. If you plan to go to Portugal for a long time, you need this. After five years of legal residence in the country, you can apply for citizenship.

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Average visa process

✅ Step 1. Preparation of documents.
Obtain business registration, invoices, and tax documents. Gather information on your source of income, bank statements, and taxes paid for at least three months prior to the application. A longer period is preferred.
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✅ Step 2. Visa application.
Submit your application to the consulate or VFS in your country and obtain your visa. The consulate will paste the visa into your passport with the date of application in Portugal. Some embassies do not provide this pre-appointments with SEF
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✅ Step 3. SEF Application.
Upon arrival in Portugal, apply at the SEF. Simply arrive on the designated date and provide the necessary documents. You're almost there!
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✅ Step 4. The residence card is ready.
On average, you can wait 2-3 weeks for the arrival of your ID card. However, it may take up to 3 months in some cases.

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Follow our step-by-step guide

✅ Step 1. Fill in the visa application form
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First of all: determine how documents should be submitted in your country – directly at the consulate or through the VFS Global visa center.

Register to apply by entering your personal information and attaching the required documents. Upon completion, a PDF file containing the application form will be sent to your email. You can edit the form if necessary before submitting it. See more in the guide.

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Note: To apply for accompanying visas for the family, each family member, including minors, must complete a separate application form.

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✅ Step 2. Get a police criminal record
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All applicants over 16 must provide a certificate of no criminal record from their country of citizenship and any countries where they have lived for more than a year after age 16.
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Obtaining the Certificate: Request the certificate in paper format from your country, then obtain an apostille, translate it into Portuguese, and have it notarized by a notary. It is better to order the document as soon as possible and start gathering other required documents while it is being processed.

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Validity: The validity of a certificate depends on the country of issuance and can range from 30 to 90 days. If you have a criminal record, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a lawyer. The specific offense and the time since the conviction may impact the decision regarding your visa.

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Translation and Notarization: Remember to translate the certificate into Portuguese and have it notarized before submitting it to the consulate or VFS.

Here are some examples of popular countries.

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✅ Step 3.  Prepare the rental contract

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For a D visa, providing a long-term lease agreement is essential. The SEF ignores an apartment's cost, size, or location.  But we do not recommend using false documents – the SEF can selectively check applicants.

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Where to find an apartment?
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Try to monitor local lease sites. Hiring an agent is not obligatory, but a professional may help ease the search and communication with the landlord.

Where to find an apartment?

Try to monitor local lease sites. Hiring an agent is not obligatory, but a professional may help ease the search and communication with the landlord.

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Some useful websites

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Long-term rental:

• ‍Imovirtual
• ‍CustojustoCasa
• SapoBQuarto

Try also:

• ‍Airbnb
• Flatio
• SpotahomeUniplaces‍
• ‍Nestpick

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Not sure - use platforms with free cancellation

Some platforms charge a commission, but the contract could be terminated at any time if you do not plan to live in rented housing. SEF accepts such agreements.
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Airbnb offers just short-term accommodation offers. So we don't recommend using it for applying for residentship. In Portugal, you must prove your trustworthiness with resumes, essays, income statements, and work contracts to your potential landlord.
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Documents you need to rent an apartment:
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• Documents for landlord
  Prepare income statements, contracts, and even a motivational letter about why you want to live in particular and how you will pay for it.
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• A landlord might ask you for a guarantor
  Some owners require a guarantor who lives and works in Portugal (they usually ask for an IRS declaration). If you don't have a guarantor, then it could be circumvented by offering to pay several months of rent in advance or several deposits at once (in the amount of a monthly rent)
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• Landlords pay for agent services
  However, some agents may want to keep the commission private from your agent, which may affect your ability to view apartments. To avoid this issue, we recommend offering the agent an additional fee to negotiate with other agents.
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• Ask your landlord to register the agreement
  The lease agreement must be registered in Finanças (tax office). Do not agree to stay illegally. It may cause problems for both sides. For the lease agreement, you need NIF and a bank account.

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✅ Step 4.  Proof of Monthly Income

You must show proof of an average monthly income for the last three months that is at least 4 times the minimum wage in Portugal (for 2023, the minimum wage is €760, so you must show a monthly income of €3040).
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We advise you to check with your local consulate if they consider it before or after-tax income (taxed in you current country of residence), because from our experience these requirements may vary from country to country. Also you must show the basis for this income, such as a work contract or contract with a client. It is also to provide a tax return for your income as evidence that you receive income legally and declare it.

Documents to Prove Your Income:

Freelance

• Provision of services agreement with a client
• Bank statement with client receipts
• Tax declaration with proof of payment of taxes on received income

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Working at the company

• Working contract
• Employer's certificate stating that you can work remotely (if not stated in the work contract)
• Bank statement with paychecks in your account
• Tax return or certificate from your employer regarding taxes paid
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Before submitting your application, it is advisable to ask a lawyer to review your paperwork to ensure that everything is prepared correctly.

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‍✅ Step 5.  Savings in a bank account

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Official requirements for the Digital Nomad visa do not mention mandatory savings for the principal applicant. However, based on experience, it is recommended to show at least €9120 per person in some countries. To increase the chances of getting approved for a long-term visa, some applicants aim to show a €12,000-16,000 deposit.

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‍✅ Step 6. Health insurance
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It is important to note that insurance for a D visa and a residency permit differ. For a D visa, it is sufficient to obtain standard travel insurance for 120 days (the length of the visa).

However, for a residency permit, you must obtain Portuguese insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 in case of hospitalization.

You will need to attach it to your application to SEF. Options include Tranquilidade and Fidelidade, among others. You may obtain this insurance through your Portuguese bank when opening an account.

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Read more here.
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‍✅ Step 7.  Book your ticket to Portugal
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You do not need to purchase actual tickets, only show proof of ticket reservations for the approximate date of your planned arrival in Portugal with a D visa.

Typically, it is best to show ticket reservations for a date 1,5-2 months after your visa application to the consulate. The exact date on the tickets does not affect the processing speed of your visa application.

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✅ Step 8. Your family documents (if applicable)
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Yes, you can apply for all D visa categories with your family. For each family member, you must fill out an application form online here.

On the form, you must select “Accompanying family member.
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✅ Step 9. Write a cover letter
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It is not necessary, but it will help to convince the consulate.

Write an essay explaining why you chose Portugal, demonstrating your financial stability, dependability, and plans for the future in Portugal.

Although not required, a well-written motivation letter can positively impact your visa application. In the letter, you can briefly describe your source of income, the reason for choosing Portugal, and your plans.

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You can prepare a letter with a lawyer to choose the most relevant arguments for your case.

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✅ Step 10. Apply to consulate or VFS
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You’re ready to apply!

Make an appointment at the consulate or VFS and apply. In some countries (for example, Brazil or USA), you can send all your documents by mail.

Wait 1-2 months (in some countries, waiting times may be longer, up to 6 months; check out country guides), and the visa is yours.

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👉 If you apply in person, arrive 15-20 minutes before your appointment time, at the Portuguese consulate or VFS.
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👉 Ensure all documents are translated, certified, and required official documents have been apostilled. A notary must approve all translations.

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👉 Don't forget to make changes to the Questionnaire (in the pdf editor) if you have changed any information during the preparation of documents.

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Want to be sure everything is ok with your application, documents and motivation letter? Check it with an attorney.

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Check youself

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• International passport valid for at least three months after the planned date of return from Portugal
• Proof of regular income
• Bank account statement
• Accommodation proof for a year
• Criminal record from your country
• Minimum 120 days insurance for $30K+
• Airplane ticket booking
• Motivation letter

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Want to be sure everything is ok with your application, documents and motivation letter? Check it with an attorney.

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✅ Step 12. Come to Portugal and apply in SEF
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Your visa is approved! Once the visa is granted, you will be scheduled to visit the SEF. If you do not have a visit scheduled by the consulate, you must make an appointment.

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• Your D visa will be valid for 120 days and will allow you to enter the EU twice during that time frame.
• If your appointment with the SEF is scheduled after your visa expiration date, don't worry, you will still be legally in Portugal until your appointment. The most important thing is to arrive while your visa is still valid.
• If you are not comfortable with the date assigned to you, you may call the SEF at 217 115 000 to reschedule if there are available slots.

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Get your residence permit card

About two to twelve weeks after your SEF appointment, you will receive an envelope in the mail containing your residence permit card, which will be valid for 2 years.

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