Portugal — Digital nomad visa (national)
Canadian citizens can apply for Portugal's D8 digital-nomad visa — a national long-stay route for remote workers — at the Portuguese consulate covering where they live, showing income of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage.
Portugal's D8 temporary-stay / residence visa for remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Portugal.
- Validity
- Temporary Stay visa up to 1 year (renewable); or a Residency visa leading to a 2-year residence permit
- Entries
- Multiple entry
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 1 year on the Temporary Stay visa; longer via the residence permit
When to start
Start 30 days–2 months before your travel date.
Assemble your signed application form, photos, passport, proof of income (4× the Portuguese minimum wage over the last 3 months), travel insurance, a recent police clearance certificate, return ticket, and proof of your remote-work link.
Provide proof of average monthly income earned in the last three months, meeting the required minimum for the remote-work visa.
Provide proof of your remote-work link — for employees, a declaration by the employer confirming the labour link; for the self-employed, a service contract or proof of services provided.
Submit the national visa application form, duly signed, with your documents at the Portuguese consulate or its visa centre (VFS) covering where you live.
Portugal's published decision deadline for residence and temporary-stay visa requests is 30 days. Apply early enough for the consular post to complete that review before travel.
What you'll need
- National visa application form — A national visa application form, filled in and duly signed by the applicant. ✓ verified
- Passport photos — Two identical, recent passport-sized photographs. ✓ verified
- Passport — A passport or travel document valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay, plus a photocopy of the biographical data page. ✓ verified
- Proof of income (4× minimum wage) — Proof of average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage (≈€3,680/month for 2026). ✓ verified
- Travel insurance — Valid travel insurance covering medical expenses, urgent assistance and repatriation. ✓ verified
- Police clearance certificate — A police clearance certificate issued less than 90 days before submission, apostilled or legalised. ✓ verified
- Return transport ticket — A copy of your return transport ticket. ✓ verified
- Employment / service proof — Proof of your remote work link — an employment contract or employer declaration (employees), or a service contract / proof of services to clients (self-employed). ✓ verified·
- Tax residence certificate — A tax residence certificate. ✓ verified·
Where you'll apply
Where you'll apply in Canada
Apply in your districtApply at the Portuguese consulate (or its VFS visa centre) covering where you legally reside. This is a NATIONAL Portuguese visa, not a short-stay Schengen visa.
Getting a slot — book early · community-reported, checked 2026-06-13
- Slots are released in batches with no fixed public schedule — most often early morning local time, on Monday mornings, and around the 1st of the month.
- For popular consulates (e.g. France, Italy and Spain in big cities), a fresh batch can be gone within minutes — be registered and logged in before you look.
- Cancellations free up slots throughout the day, so check daily even when it shows ‘no availability’.
- Because of this, apply as early as you are allowed — up to 6 months before travel. Waiting until 1–2 months out often means no slots are left at all.
Fees
| National visa fee | EUR 90 |
Gotchas to watch
- This is a NATIONAL Portuguese (D8) visa — not a 90-day Schengen visa; you apply to Portugal directly and live there.
- Income must be earned from OUTSIDE Portugal and meet 4× the Portuguese minimum wage (≈€3,680/month for 2026).
- The police clearance certificate must be issued within 90 days of submission and apostilled/legalised.
