The D8 has separate stages. Prepare remote-work and income evidence for the consular residence-visa application. That visa permits entry for the subsequent residence-permit application with AIMA; it is not the residence permit itself.

Reader structure updated 5 October 2026. New visa-stage statement checked against Portugal’s MNE portal on that date; existing source-dated sections below retain their recorded review scope.

Visa first, residence permit next

The MNE portal states that a residence visa allows two entries and a stay of four months. During that time, its holder must apply for a residence permit with AIMA. Portugal also has a separate temporary-stay route. Choose the permission that matches your intended stay; do not treat consular visa approval as approval of the later residence permit.

Portugal MNE: visa types and the AIMA step

D8 documents and income

For remote work, Portugal’s consular portal asks employees for a work contract or employer declaration and self-employed applicants for a company or services contract or proof of services provided. Applicants must prove average monthly income over the last three months of at least four minimum monthly salaries, and provide proof of tax residence. The portal gives the 2026 minimum monthly salary as €920; four times that is €3,680.

Portugal consular portal: residency visa documents Portugal consular portal: means of subsistence

D7: retirement or passive income

The residence visa for retirement or passive income asks for documents certifying the pension or income from property or financial assets. Means of subsistence are assessed against the minimum monthly salary: 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child. The consular post may request additional documents.

Portugal consular portal: residency visa documents Portugal consular portal: means of subsistence

Decision period and citizenship

The consular portal gives a 60-day period to decide a residence visa application, except where the law provides otherwise; this is not a promise about appointments or later residence-permit steps. Organic Law 1/2026, published on 18 May 2026 and in force from the following day, requires at least seven years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens, and 10 years for others, before naturalisation.

Portugal consular portal: visa decision deadlines Diário da República: Organic Law 1/2026 (Nationality Law amendment)

Tax: IFICI is narrower than the old NHR

Article 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute (IFICI) allows a special 20% rate on net employment and self-employment income from listed activities for 10 consecutive years, for new tax residents who were not resident in Portugal in any of the previous five years. People who benefit or benefited from the former non-habitual resident regime are excluded. It is not a general flat rate for every D7 or D8 holder.

Portal das Finanças: Tax Benefits Statute article 58-A (IFICI)

Your next steps

  1. Choose the route. Match remote professional activity to D8; use the separate D7 guidance if your plan concerns retirement or passive income.
  2. Organise your work evidence. Separate employee documents from independent-activity documents and keep the income assessment period beside your proof.
  3. Ask the competent consulate. Confirm how it assesses your documents, income and accompanying family. The checklist here does not decide your application.
  4. Plan the residence stage. Follow the official AIMA process after the residence-visa step. Check tax and social-security questions separately.

Open the Portugal D8 programme record · Compare the D7 and D8 purposes · Browse Portugal programmes

Questions before acting

What income does the D8 require in 2026?

Average monthly income over the last three months of at least four minimum monthly salaries; with €920 stated for 2026, that is €3,680. Ask the consulate how it assesses your income.

Does every D8 holder get a 20% tax rate?

No. IFICI covers income from listed activities and has residence-history conditions.

Corrections in this revision

The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:

  • Statements without direct official support: removed, or replaced with the official rule. Removed figures are not repeated on this page.

Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.

See recorded sources

These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.

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About the author

António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.

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