Portugal has temporary-stay and residence options for remote professional work for entities abroad. Commonly called D8, the remote-work residence category is labelled D9 on VFS China's checklist; D8 there means accompanying family.
Route overview
Remote Work / Digital Nomad temporary-stay visa or residency visa
Typical timeline / duration: Temporary stay: under one year. Residence visa: normally four months/two entries, followed by a separate residence-permit application.
Important notes
Document remote work for entities based outside Portugal with employment or service evidence and a tax residence certificate.
Last three months' average monthly income: at least four times the Portuguese monthly minimum wage. The 2026 €920 wage gives €3,680/month; this January baseline is not a new post-August increase.
Select the correct temporary-stay or residence checklist. Both require identity, insurance and criminal-record evidence; the temporary-stay list also asks for a return ticket.
Remote-work income is distinct from D7 pension/property/investment income.
From 11 September 2026, Article 82(5) sets an ordinary initial residence-permit decision period of 90 days, exceptionally extendable by 30 days with reasons and notification. Other statutory periods take precedence. This is not a visa deadline or an appointment/card-delivery guarantee.
The statutory decision period does not establish a current six-to-nine-month AIMA wait; appointment and delivery times must be checked separately.
Preparation checklist
Choose temporary-stay E11 or remote-work residence D9 on the China checklist, rather than the accompanying-family D8 category.
Collect employment/service contracts and evidence of the last three months' income.
Calculate the four-times wage floor for the application year and obtain the tax residence certificate.
Prepare the relevant identity, insurance and criminal-record documents; add a return ticket for temporary stay.
For residence, plan the AIMA permit stage separately from visa validity and keep appointment/application records.