Visas for Portugal - Types

D8 Visa (Digital Nomad)

If you have a regular source of income and want to effectively live in Portugal as a remote worker or a digital nomad, then the D8 visa would be an option with 2 choices:

• 1 Year - Temporary Stay Digital Nomad Visa, or 
• 2 Years - D8 Digital Nomad Residency Permit (4-month visa converted to 2-year residency permit after you arrive in Portugal

Advantages:

1 Year - Temporary Stay Digital Nomad Visa

• Live and work legally in Portugal as a freelancer or self-employed business owner for up to 1 year
• Try out Portugal without having to commit to long-term residency
• Visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area
• Option to renew for an additional 6 months
• Maintain tax residency in your home country or current tax residency
• No need to open and fund a Portuguese bank account

2 Years - D8 Digital Nomad Residency Permit (4-month visa converted to 2-year residency permit after you arrive in Portugal

• Live and work legally in Portugal as a freelancer or self-employed business owner for up to 2 years
• Option to create a Portuguese company or establish your existing business in Portugal
• Obtain a Portuguese residency card to replace the 4-month visa in your passport
• After converting your visa into a residency permit, enjoy visa-free Schengen Area travel
• Option to apply for Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) status and enjoy added tax benefits
• Option to renew for an additional 3-year residency permit (for a total of 5 years)
• Qualify to apply for permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal after 5 years
• Enjoy Portuguese rights of residency such as education and healthcare
• Option to bring family with you under family reunification

Disadvantages:

• Need to have a minimum threshold of income per month (typically minimum €2820pm) 

D7 Visa 

If you have a regular source of income and want to effectively live in Portugal and change your tax regime to Portugal, then the D7 would be the visa for you. 

Advantages:

• No need to purchase a property
• Low costs 
• Less expensive to re-group the wife/husband and family then the Golden Visa
• Can be used alongside the Non Habitual Residency scheme

Disadvantages:

• Need to have a minimum threshold of income per month (typically minimum €800pm) 
• Requires you to live in Portugal for the majority of the year
• Requires you to be a tax resident in Portugal

D2 Visa

For clients who are looking at starting a business in Portugal.

Advantages:

• If you don't have a stable income then this is an option. 
• The size of investment is less compared with other European Business visas. 
• Less expensive to re-group the wife/husband and family then the Golden Visa
• Can be used alongside the Non Habitual Residency scheme

Disadvantages:

• The challenge of running a new business 
• Generally accepted norm as an investment is €5000
• Requires you to be tax resident in Portugal
• Probably requires you to live in Portugal for the majority of the year

Tourist Entry - UK to EU

Following the Brexit agreement UK nationals can stay in Portugal (and the Schengen area) for any 90-day period within a 180-day rolling period.

Advantages:

• Convenient and no additional costs
• Flexible periods of time within the threshold - come and go as you wish
• The 180-day period is not fixed. It is a moving window, based on always looking backwards

Disadvantages:

• May not be suitable for clients wanting to spend longer than 90 days each year
• If there are multiple visits then you need to ensure you don't exceed the thresholds
• May need to keep records of the entry and exit points

OliveHomes.com are here to help and guide you. Should you require any of the above visas then please speak to us and we can help with your application. For more information on the Non Habitual Residency scheme please click here.