Portuguese Digital Nomad Visa (D8 Visa)

D8/DR Visa Sharing experiences

From Nigeria

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1066697

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Portugal: Internet speeds & coverage

https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/20 … rnet/69657

https://www.portugalist.com/fastest-fibre-portugal/

https://nomadguide.eu/fastest-internet- … in-europe/

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@JohnnyPT Thank you for posting this important information.

Though in my situation it is still not clear to me whether this type of visa would be the right one.

I hold a Jordanian passport and live in Germany since 2015 and I wish to work in Portugal as a freelancer.

Do I need a Portuguese Digital Nomad Visa?

Thank you

@khaledabuhijleh123,

The visa that Germany granted you to live there allows you to visit Portugal, because both countries belong to the Schengen area.

The point is that these resident visas always require that you stay there for a minimum period in each year. So if you comply with these minimum requirements, you can live part of the year (not the whole year) in Portugal. As you are not an EU citizen, if you want to live in another EU country, you will always have to apply for a residence visa to that country. You can find out more about this at a Portuguese consulate in Germany.

@JohnnyPT Many thanks Johnny.

Hey JohnnyPT,

Thank you for sharing!

That's some great news.

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@JohnnyPT , is it known already what the mandatory stay in the country requirements are for this type? What is the number for this visa? Is it under D2 or D3 or a totally new type ?

@MikhailA,

This visa is completely new, specific for digital nomads. It has unique features that the previous visas did not offer for this target. It does not have that old nomenclature (Dx).

Before this visa, the digital nomads could apply for:

D7 Passive Income

D2 Entrepreneur Visa

With this new visa, they no longer need to use D7 or D2. The new visa does not require investments (like D2) or have an a priori disposable/passive income (like D7). It is more flexible, short term and renewable. It also has more favourable tax benefits.

There are great places to work in Portugal, and not just in the main cities. They are much cheaper places with a much better quality of life. One example is a small village in Madeira Island, Ponta do Sol. There are many digital nomads living in that local community, in villas or at a hotel and enjoying free, wi-fi, coworking stations and free specific events.

Madeira Digital Nomads

https://digitalnomads.startupmadeira.eu/

Some video reports:

Madeira remote working in vacationland

https://www.dw.com/en/madeira-remote-wo … o-57780854

Europe's first digital nomad village

https://150sec.com/europes-first-digita … ira/15148/

Madeira Govnt

https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1701169 … 6&_rdr

(Report TV in english and portuguese)

CNN Portugal

https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/videos/ponta … 56cd3d356b

(Report TV in english and portuguese)

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The big questions for this new visa are:

1. Does it require a Portuguese bank account like most other D visas?
2. Does it require a 12-months rental contract (the resident version of digital nomad visa) or just the 4-month contract?
3. Does it require NIF? (although that's an easy one).

No information on actual requirements is posted on SEF website (13 days after the program is launched). And no websites of Portuguese consulates abroad, with the exception of the one in Belgrade have posted information.

Anyone has comments per questions posted? Thanks!

@Alex Khodorkovsky Good questions. I would also wonder whether this new visa required the applicant to have health insurance. I would also like to understand what Portugal wants to achieve with this new visa. I mean except bringing more people spending some money into the country.

@Alex Khodorkovsky,

- Does it require a Portuguese bank account like most other D visas?

Maybe. Not required for stays of up to 1 year

- Does it require a 12-months rental contract (the resident version of digital nomad visa) or just the 4-month contract?

No

- Does it require NIF?

Maybe. Not required for stays of up to 1 year

According to the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the required documents are:

https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-v … s%E2%80%9D

This link also helps to clarify.

https://digitalemigre.com/relocation/po … omad-visa/

There are 2 ways to apply for the digital nomada visa.

NIF and bank account may be required if you choose the residence visa and not the temporary stay visa. However, having a bank account in Portugal helps you on a daily basis to be able to use the Multibanco, ATM & POS network.

Proof of accommodation is required, but not necessarily having a lease contract. See the videos in my previous post. Those digital nomads in Ponta do Sol don't have rental contracts. Airbnb, Private accommodation, Hostels, Co-living communities, Serviced Apartments, Hotels, ... are options for accommodation.

@JohnnyPT Happy New Year and thanks for this information! Can you possibly explain what taxes are digital nomads expected to pay in Portugal in case of staying in the country for less than 183 days on the digital nomads visa? Information on this topic on internet is quite vague. Also what happens to these taxes if someone chooses to extend their stay in Portugal on this visa for longer than 183 days and requests visa extension?

Dmitri, your message should not be addressed to me, I live in Canada.

@Dimitri,

1. If you become “resident” for fiscal effects in Portugal:

1a. If you become tax resident in Portugal, you can apply for non-habitual resident status:

The Portuguese Non-Habitual Residents NHR Tax Regime

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=911492

Tax Benefits:

- Flat rate of 20% for income from dependent work (category A) and independent work (category B) obtained in Portugal, derived from high value added activities.

You have related information in the previous link, including on remote working.

1b. If your profession is not in high value added profession list, you will have the tax rates normally applied in Portugal, for portuguese nationals.

_____

Digital nomads who wishes to obtain the NHR status must meet the following requirements:

(a) Not be fiscal resident in Portugal in the five previous years;

(b) Become “resident” for fiscal effects in Portugal: (i) staying in Portuguese territory for more than 183 days, consecutively or cumulatively, during a period of 12 months; (ii) having stayed for less time but having, on December 31 of the same year, a residence in Portugal in conditions that suggest an intention to maintain and occupy it as habitual residence; (iii) having a house, demonstrating the intention to establish in Portugal the usual and permanent residence; ....

__________________________________

2. If you stay less than 183 days in Portugal, then there is the issue of habitual residence.

If you do not have a residence in Portugal, you are not taxed in Portugal.

If the worker fulfils the concept of residence in more than one country, the double taxation conventions between Portugal and several countries, including EU, USA or UK, contain a criteria to determine which country will be considered the state of residence.

The first tie-breaker criteria in the OECD Convention is based, in the first place, on the existence of residence. If the worker has his or her own house in Portugal and leaves the place of residence that he or she had in his/her country, he or she will be considered resident in Portugal.

If he maintains two residences, one in Portugal and the other his country, he will be considered resident in the country with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests, including teleworking). If this is the case, Portugal will stop taxing you as a resident and the other country, will gain the right to tax you for your worldwide income (including income obtained from your work in Portugal).

@cecile latour apologies

@JohnnyPT Thanks a lot!

Some coworking spaces

https://remoteportugal.pt/espacos-de-co … -portugal/

(Select city / region)

I applied for Portugal D7 Visa from Embassy in New Delhi, now it's almost 7 months. Still, the decision is pending. My most of valid documents getting expire due to this delay. Any reason? Is any alternative which I can try out?

Hi Aruna,

Your question is out of context. Digital nomad visa is not the D7 visa.

Anyway, please read this:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 52#5586205

(Posts #16 & #17)

Sorry!

Thanks Johnny for your feedback!

Digital Nomads Meetup's

These groups are for digital nomads and people who are interested in the digital nomad lifestyle. If you are location independent, looking to start your journey towards it, or just generally interested in 21st century possibilities.

Lisbon Digital Nomads

https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/Lisbon-Digital-Nomads/

Costa de Caparica Nomads

https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/DNCAPARICA/

Porto Digital Nomads

https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/Porto-Digi … ds-Meetup/

Viseu Digital Nomads

https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/digital-nomads-viseu/

Lagos Digital Nomads

https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/lagos-digi … tup-group/

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@JohnnyPT Thank you so much for your clarity on such a confusing topic...

I am applying for the digital nomad visa in june 21, in Washington DC

I have this as my main guide of needs

https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/por … nomads.pdf

I have accommodation booked with the intention of getting a lease upon arrival.

That is clearly stated in my letter of intent as well...

My question to you!

"Request for criminal record enquiry by the Immigration and Border Services

(SEF) (Not applicable to minors under the age of sixteen)"

How do i obtain this? Do i need his for my consulate appt, or is this for the SEF?

Thank you kindly for your help.

Hi DRosen, Welcome.

Permission for SEF to check your portuguese criminal record

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 42#5212199

(Post #10)

Best Regards

Hi,

Sorry to ask a silly question. From these forums Ivery clear what to do in the SEF appointment. But my question is, how do I get an appointment.

I have my D8 visa from the embassy and I think the next step is to go to Portugal. How do I get the appointment with SEF?

Thanks if someone can explain the process - I truly appreciate it.

Hi KingDeku, Welcome.

There is a lot of information on youtube. Search for  "d8 visa process"

After you have gathered all the required documentation, you will need to set up an appointment with the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your home country.

Next, you will need to fill out the visa application form online and pay the application fee.

Once you have completed the application form and paid the fee, you will need to submit the application along with the required documents. You may also be required to attend a visa interview at the embassy or consulate.

The consular service in charge must request a legal binding opinion, after the submission of the file from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Police (SEF).

When an answer is obtained you will be requested to handle your passport to the embassy and a temporary visa will be stamped on one of the pages of your passport.

The deadline for the decision of the Portuguese consulate on the visa application is 60 days since an application with all forms and documents needed are submitted.

____

Type And Validity Of The Visa

The D8 visa is a residence visa that is intended to enable the holder to obtain a residence permit in Portugal. In this context, the visa is valid for two entries and entitles the holder to remain in Portugal for a period of 4 months, while the applicant waits in Portugal for a final resident permit issued by the immigration department.

First step:

Your local consulate stamps a temporary D8 visa on your passport

Second step:

the applicant travels to Portugal on that' D8 temporary visa and waits for the final visit to the SEF immigration department to convert the temporary visa to a final D8 residence visa.

@JohnnyPT Thanks so much for all your detail in your response. You really are an expert on the process I see :-) Thanks.

But, I actually have the visa in my passport from my local embassy already (most of what you mentioned I believe I've already completed).  What I was more concerned about is the part you mentioned at the end about going to Portugal. Like, do I just go there on my temp visa and wait? From one of these forums I read after landing I have 3 days to go to an SEF office. But then on another I read I will receive a letter in the mail to the address I applied the visa with (after about 2 months) with an appointment date and location.

If this is true about the letter in the mail, how do I change this address, as since receiving the visa, my address has changed.

Sorry that I sound so confused. But as not a lot of people of forums have spoken about the process once I get to Portugal, I feel I'm missing something... maybe they sent me instructions and I didn't see it or something.

Thanks again for all your advice, and I'll definitely look it up on youtube too - thanks :-D

As far as I know is this:

If the application at the consulate is successful, as is your case, you will have a double entry visa in Portugal valid for 4 months.

Then the second step is this: During this 4-month window of time, you will have to find a place to live in Portugal, fulfil all the conditions indicated for this visa and request a residence permit at the SEF, by appointment, to collect biometric data, deliver the requested documentation in order to exchange the visa for a residence permit.

SEF appointment in Portugal:

https://eportugal.gov.pt/servicos/agend … eiras-sef-

____

Eg.

https://youtu.be/nqaxfP_rYZk

@JohnnyPT  Thanks so much for the follow up message. I appreciate it! Will look at the links you sent too. :-)

From one of these forums I read after landing I have 3 days to go to an SEF office.
-@KingDeku

It doens't make sense. If you hold an Australian passport, you will not require a visa to enter the EU as long as your stay is no longer than 90 days within any 180 day period.

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/australia/tr … y_en?s=163

@KingDeku are you sure you have a D8 visa? Or os it a Schengen visa. For a D8 visa you will need to have several requirements that you don't seem yet to meet.

@Nia Queiroz Thanks for the question. Sorry if i've been confusing. I mean to say that I applied for the D8 digital nomad visa and was approved. The embassy gave me back my passport with a Visa in it. It last for like 4 months and is double entry. I called it the D8 visa but maybe after reading this forum, it's more like the temp visa that I should use to go to Portugal and go to an SEF interview.

I'm just trying to figure out how to get an SEF interview. My guess is to go to Portugal and approach the SEF office and make an interview. I received my passport back in the mail from the embassy with the visa in it. Now I'm just figuring out if I should be scheduling something before I arrive, or I just go there and work it out when I'm there.

I appreciate all your advice. The forum has been really helpful so far.

@JohnnyPT Thanks, yeah, I have no problem entering the EU. And plus, I have the temp visa (4 months, double entry) required to enter Portugal. I think my next step is to schedule a SEF meeting and then go to it. I just received the visa in my passport from the embassy and have no instruction from them about what to do next. Are people told when their SEF interview is when they get the visa, or do they sort it out once they get to Portugal? Sorry for the questions, I feel dumb for asking, because in forums I haven't came across someone asking about it yet. Of course thanks for all your help. I definitely appreciate it :-)

@KingDeku did you check if in your stamp there is a website address? If yes, that's your SEF appointment.

As @mariacmorenovarela wrote, in the case of D7 visas, there is a link in the letter that must be accessed with the appointment at SEF, location, day and time. I do not know if in the case of D8 visas, that link is also there. Maybe @Nia can help you better.

You have been given a D8 digital nomad visa. With that visa, SEF will grant you a residence permit. As with other types of visas. In the end they are all converted into temporary residence permits.

@mariacmorenovarela I think what you are saying is what I need to check. I felt silly for not knowing. I will check my stamp and see if there is an interview time and place, thanks :-)  I'll get back to you tomorrow if it was right... it's in the AM here. Thanks again

@KingDeku keep us updated!

@mariacmorenovarela You were right!! :-D Thanks everyone for helping. I found my SEF appointment. I must have thought about it too much and made it complicated when it should have been simple.

My mistake/problem was that the Portuguese embassy simply sent my passport to my house with no letter or instructions. I overcomplicated it by reading a lot of forums and combining a lot of information that was not specifically for my visa type.

Get the appointment info on your VISA stamp in your passport.

Now i'll use your advice from past post to help me prepare for the interview.

@KingDeku your appointment schedule is supposed to be written on your visa. On the bottom right.