Requirements Guide • 10 min read

D8 Visa Requirements for US Citizens 2025: Complete Checklist

Everything you need to qualify for Portugal's D8 Digital Nomad Visa as an American. Complete requirements breakdown with income thresholds, document specifications, and eligibility criteria updated for 2025.

2025 Requirements
US Citizens Only
Updated Jan 2025

Requirements at a Glance

Minimum Income

$42,000+/year

€3,280/month gross income from remote work

Core Documents

8-12 items

Passport, contracts, bank statements, background check

Clean Record

Required

FBI background check, apostilled

Portugal Address

Proof Required

Rental agreement or accommodation booking

The Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa has clear, straightforward requirements that most American remote workers can meet. Unlike some European visa programs, Portugal doesn't require extensive asset documentation, Portuguese language skills, or minimum investment amounts. The focus is simple: prove you can support yourself financially through remote work.

High Approval Rate for Americans

US citizens who meet these requirements and submit complete applications have approval rates exceeding 95%. Portuguese consulates in the US are experienced with digital nomad applications and process them efficiently.

1

Minimum Income Requirement

€3,280/month
≈ $3,500-3,600 USD/month
≈ $42,000-43,200 USD/year

This is 4x the Portuguese minimum wage (SMN), the legal baseline for D8 visa applicants. The amount is gross income (before taxes).

Income Requirement by Family Size

The minimum income increases when applying with dependents. Here's the breakdown for 2025:

Single Applicant
€3,280/mo
Annual (USD)~$42,000/year
Applicant + Spouse/Partner
€4,920/mo
Annual (USD)~$63,000/year
+50% for first dependent
Family of 3 (2 dependents)
€5,904/mo
Annual (USD)~$75,600/year
+30% for second dependent
Family of 4 (3 dependents)
€6,888/mo
Annual (USD)~$88,200/year
+30% for third dependent

Calculate Your Exact Requirement

Use our income calculator to determine your exact income requirement based on your family size, get it converted to USD at current exchange rates, and see if you qualify.

Use Income Calculator

What Types of Income Count?

Accepted Income Sources

  • ✓W-2 employment salary (US companies)
  • ✓Freelance/consulting income
  • ✓Remote business ownership income
  • ✓1099 contractor income
  • ✓Commission-based remote work
  • ✓Online business revenue (e-commerce, SaaS)

NOT Accepted

  • ✗Income from Portuguese sources
  • ✗Portuguese employment contracts
  • ✗Work for Portuguese clients (direct)
  • ✗Passive investment income only*
  • ✗Rental income (unless business)*
  • ✗Cryptocurrency gains*

*Consider D7 Passive Income Visa instead

Proof of Income: What You'll Need

For Employees (W-2)

  • Employment contract or offer letter - Must show your position, salary, start date, and ideally mention remote work permission
  • Employer letter on company letterhead - Confirming remote work arrangement, your role, and salary
  • Last 3 months of pay stubs - Showing consistent income meeting the threshold
  • Last 3 months of bank statements - Clearly showing salary deposits from employer

For Freelancers & Self-Employed

  • Active client contracts - Minimum 3-6 months of contracts or service agreements
  • Invoices issued to clients - Last 3-6 months showing consistent income
  • Bank statements - 3-6 months showing client payments and income pattern
  • Business registration - LLC, S-Corp, sole proprietorship documents
  • Tax return (previous year) - Form 1040 with Schedule C or C-EZ
2

Remote Work Arrangement

You must prove that your work can be performed remotely from Portugal and that your income comes from sources outside of Portugal.

Who Qualifies?

💼

Remote Employees

Working for US or international companies with permission to work from Portugal

🎯

Freelancers

Independent contractors serving clients outside Portugal with ongoing contracts

🚀

Business Owners

Entrepreneurs running online businesses registered outside Portugal

Critical Requirement

Your work and income must be from outside Portugal. You cannot work for Portuguese companies, provide services to Portuguese clients, or enter the Portuguese labor market on a D8 visa. If you want to work locally in Portugal, you need a different visa type.

3

Valid US Passport

Passport Requirements:

  • Valid for 6+ months beyond entry date

    Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned entry to Portugal

  • Minimum 2 blank pages

    Needed for visa stamps and entry/exit stamps

  • Original passport required at submission

    You'll need to submit your actual passport (not a copy) during application. You'll get it back with your visa affixed.

Need to renew your passport? Do it now! US passport renewal takes 8-11 weeks for routine service or 5-7 weeks for expedited. Apply early to avoid delays in your D8 visa timeline.

4

Clean Criminal Record

You must provide an FBI background check showing you have no serious criminal convictions. This document must be apostilled by the US Department of State.

FBI Background Check Process:

1
Request FBI Identity History Summary Check

Submit electronically through FBI's website or mail fingerprint cards. Electronic is faster (3-5 days vs 12-14 weeks).

2
Receive Your FBI Report

You'll receive a document showing your criminal history (or lack thereof). This needs to be on official FBI letterhead.

3
Get It Apostilled

Send the FBI report to US Department of State for apostille certification. This validates the document for international use. Cost: $15, processing: 3-8 weeks (or use expedited service).

4
Submit with Application

The apostilled FBI check is valid for 90 days from the apostille date. Time your application accordingly.

Pro Tip: Use an Expedited Service

Document processing companies like OneSourceProcess, VisaHQ, or CIBTvisas can handle the entire FBI check + apostille process in 7-10 days for around $200-300. This is much faster than DIY (which can take 3-4 months total).

Recommended for Americans with tight timelines or who live far from DC
5

Proof of Accommodation in Portugal

You must show where you'll live in Portugal. This proves you have a plan and aren't entering as a tourist.

Accepted Options

  • ✓
    Rental Agreement

    6-12 month lease (most common)

  • ✓
    Property Deed

    If you purchased property

  • ✓
    Hotel Booking

    Minimum 3-6 months

  • ✓
    Invitation Letter

    From Portuguese resident

Finding Accommodation

Most Americans secure a short-term Airbnb/hotel for their first month, then sign a proper rental agreement after arriving. This is acceptable as long as you have proof of at least initial accommodation.

Popular sites: Idealista, Uniplaces, Spotahome
Average rent (Lisbon 1BR): €900-1,400/month

Check Your Eligibility Now

Take our 2-minute quiz to see if you meet all D8 visa requirements and get personalized next steps.

Take Eligibility Quiz

Next Steps