Ways to live in Portugal
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Digital nomad visa Digital nomad visas →
Remote work temporary-stay visa (D8, temporary stay)
For employees of foreign companies and freelancers with foreign clients who want to work remotely from Portugal for up to a year without moving their residence.
- What you need
- Average income over the last 3 months of at least 4 Portuguese minimum wages (€3,680 a month in 2026). Proof of remote work or freelance contracts, tax residence elsewhere, insurance and a clean criminal record.
- Income
- from about $4,270 a month
- How long
- Up to 1 year
- Renewable
- No
- Cost
- €110 visa fee
- Processing time
- Depends on the consulate
- How to apply
- At the Portuguese consulate or its visa centre in your country of residence; see vistos.mne.gov.pt
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- No. It is a temporary-stay visa; to settle, apply for the D8 residence visa instead.
Remote work residence visa (D8, digital nomad)
Residence route for remote workers: a 4-month entry visa, then a renewable residence permit that counts towards permanent residence and citizenship.
- What you need
- Average income over the last 3 months of at least 4 minimum wages (€3,680 a month in 2026). Proof of remote work or freelance contracts, tax residence, housing in Portugal, insurance and a clean criminal record.
- Income
- from about $4,270 a month
- How long
- Visa valid 4 months (2 entries); then a residence permit for 2 years, renewable for 3 years
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €110 visa fee, plus residence permit fees
- Processing time
- Visa: depends on the consulate; immigration agency appointments can take months
- How to apply
- Visa at a Portuguese consulate abroad, then the residence permit from the immigration agency in Portugal (book at aima.gov.pt)
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- Yes: permanent residence after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries).
Work permit Work permits →
Residence visa for employment (D1)
For people with a job contract or job offer from an employer in Portugal. After arrival you get a residence permit from AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum).
- What you need
- Work contract or job offer, a professional licence if the job is regulated, criminal record certificate, travel insurance and proof of means (the salary can count).
- How long
- Visa valid 4 months with two entries; then a residence permit from AIMA
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €110 visa fee
- Processing time
- Up to 60 days for the visa decision
- How to apply
- At a Portuguese consulate or visa centre in your country of residence
- Family
- Family members can come with you
EU Blue Card (EU work permit for qualified specialists)
Residence visa and permit for highly qualified employees with a well-paid contract in Portugal.
- What you need
- Contract or job offer for at least 6 months with a salary of at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary (1.2 times for shortage occupations), plus proof of higher qualifications or a licence for regulated professions.
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €110 visa fee
- How to apply
- At a Portuguese consulate or visa centre, then AIMA for the residence card
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Student visa Student visas →
Residence visa for studies (D4)
For students admitted to a Portuguese university or, for ages 14–21, a secondary school.
- What you need
- Admission to the study programme and enough money to live on. Students of officially recognised institutions are exempt from some documents (proof of admission, insurance, means).
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €110 visa fee
- How to apply
- At a Portuguese consulate or visa centre in your country of residence
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Freelancer and self-employed Freelancer and self-employed visas →
Residence visa for self-employed people and entrepreneurs (D2)
For freelancers in liberal professions and for people starting or investing in a business in Portugal. A startup track exists for founders accepted by a certified incubator.
- What you need
- Freelancers: a service contract or written proposal from a client. Entrepreneurs: proof of investment made or planned in Portugal and of money available there. Startup track: a statement from IAPMEI (the state agency for small business) confirming an incubation contract.
- How long
- Visa valid 4 months with two entries; then a residence permit from AIMA
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €110 visa fee
- How to apply
- At a Portuguese consulate or visa centre in your country of residence
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Passive income visa Passive income visas →
Residence visa for retirees and passive income (D7)
For people living on a pension or regular passive income (rent, dividends, interest, royalties) who want to move to Portugal.
- What you need
- A pension or income from property, intellectual property or investments of at least the minimum wage (€920 a month in 2026), more for family members. Housing, insurance and a clean criminal record.
- Income
- from about $1,070 a month
- How long
- Visa valid 4 months; then a residence permit for 2 years, renewable for 3 years
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- €110 visa fee, plus residence permit fees
- Processing time
- Depends on the consulate; the immigration agency step can take months
- How to apply
- Visa at a Portuguese consulate, then the residence permit from Portugal's immigration agency
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- Yes: permanent residence after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries).
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| Room in a shared flat | $500 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | $830 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $1,340 |
| Bills | $80 |
| Typical local salary | $1,520 |
| Budget for one person | $1,460 |
Cities to consider
- LisbonHills, trams and Atlantic light≈ $849 a month for one person, before rent
- PortoGranite, river and port wine≈ $802 a month for one person, before rent
- CascaisLisbon's seaside suburb≈ $746 a month for one person, before rent
- BragaBaroque churches, young crowd≈ $700 a month for one person, before rent
- CoimbraPortugal's student city≈ $741 a month for one person, before rent
- FunchalIsland spring all year≈ $746 a month for one person, before rent
- FaroGateway to the Algarve≈ $728 a month for one person, before rent
- Ponta DelgadaAzores island capital≈ $746 a month for one person, before rent
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Lisbon and Porto mix tiled hills, river views and lively neighbourhoods, while the Algarve and Madeira offer sun and coastline. Fresh fish, pastéis de nata and cheap wine are everyday pleasures, and the mood is calm and safe.
Day to day
Trains and buses connect the main cities, and Lisbon has a metro. The public health service is decent, private insurance shortens waits. Multibanco cards and MB Way are used everywhere. Internet is fast, and English is widely spoken in cities.
Trade-offs
Bureaucracy is slow and appointments are hard to get. Old houses are poorly insulated, so winters feel cold indoors, and housing in Lisbon is tight.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States90 days
United Kingdom90 days
Australia90 days
Canada90 days
New Zealand90 days
SwitzerlandVisa-free
NorwayVisa-free
Singapore90 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
Israel90 days
United Arab Emirates90 days
Hong Kong90 days
South AfricaVisa
Mexico90 days
Brazil90 days
Questions
Does Portugal have a digital nomad visa?
Yes. Portugal offers: Remote work temporary-stay visa (D8, temporary stay); Remote work residence visa (D8, digital nomad).
How much money do I need to live in Portugal?
A single person can live on from about $1,460 a month. A one-bedroom flat costs about $830 a month.
How can I move to Portugal?
The routes we have checked are: Digital nomad visa, Work permit, Student visa, Freelancer and self-employed, Passive income visa.
When was this information checked?
The residence routes for Portugal were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
Sources and last check
Residence routes for Portugal were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
- MNE visa portal: residence visa documentation
- MNE visa portal: temporary stay visa documentation
- MNE visa portal: fees
- AIMA: means of subsistence
- Diário da República: Organic Law 1/2026 (Nationality Law amendment)
- https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.
