Moving to Portugal was a dream, but before we could pack our bags, we had to tackle the not-so-glamorous part: the visa process.
If you’re considering a move to Portugal, the visa process can feel overwhelming. And honestly, there’s a lot of misleading and outdated information floating around—on relocation websites, Facebook groups, and even official sources. In this post, we’re breaking it down step by step—what we considered, what we learned, and what we wish we had known earlier. While everyone’s situation is unique, we hope these insights help make the process a little smoother.
The Two-Step Process: Residence Visa vs. Residence Permit
Before diving into visa options, it’s important to understand that moving to Portugal involves a two-step immigration process:
Step 1: Apply for a Portuguese Residence Visa
- You must apply while physically present in the U.S. through VFS Global, a third-party company that collects applications and submits them to the Portuguese government.
- Once approved, your passport will be stamped with a 120-day residence visa, and you must enter with Portugal with this in hand.
Step 2: Exchange Your Visa for a Residence Permit
- Within 120 days of arriving in Portugal, you must attend an appointment with Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) (formerly SEF) to exchange your visa for a temporary residence permit, valid for 1-2 years (depending on the visa you apply for). This appointment should be assigned after your residence visa is approved.
- After five years, you can apply for permanent residency or EU citizenship—but note that due to processing backlogs, this step can take an additional 1-2 years.
Choosing the Right Visa: D7 vs. D8
Portugal offers nine different National Type D Visas, but we’re focusing on the two most common options for remote workers and retirees: D7 (Passive Income) and D8 (Digital Nomad).
1. D7 Visa (Passive Income Visa)
- Best for: Retirees or remote workers with passive income (investments, rental properties, pensions).
- Main requirement: Prove passive income at or above Portugal’s minimum wage (€870/month for 2025).
- Savings requirement: Applicants must show one year’s worth of income (€10,440) deposited in a Portuguese bank account before applying.
- Residency rules: Must stay in Portugal 6 consecutive months per year or 8 months total per year to maintain residency.
- Tax implications: D7 holders automatically become tax residents of Portugal, subject to NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) tax benefits.
- Permit duration: Valid for two years, then renewable for three years.
2. D8 Visa (Digital Nomad Visa) → Our Choice
- Best for: Remote workers or freelancers earning active income from outside Portugal.
- Main requirement: Prove employment or self-employment with an income 4x Portugal’s minimum wage (€3,040/month for 2025).
- Savings requirement: Must deposit one year’s worth of income (~€10,440) in a Portuguese bank account before applying.
- Residency rules: Same as D7—must stay in Portugal for 6 consecutive months or 8 months total per year.
- Permit duration: Valid for one year, then renewable for two years.
Why We Chose the D8 Visa
While the D7 Visa is great for retirees or those with passive income, we ultimately went with the D8 Digital Nomad Visa because I was going to be actively working remotely for some US-based companies as a freelancer.
The Application Process & Required Documents
Once we chose the D8 Visa, we had to gather a mountain of paperwork—about 50 pages per applicant—for our in-person VFS appointment. Here are the core known requirements (VFS can ask for additional documents on the spot):
✅ Visa Application Form (from VFS Global)
✅ Passport (valid for at least six months) + two passport-sized color photos
✅ Proof of U.S. residency (if applying from a country where you’re not a citizen)
✅ Proof of income (last 3 months of bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns)
✅ Employment or business documents (work contracts, client invoices)
✅ NIF (Portuguese Tax Number)
✅ Portuguese Bank Account (you need your NIF to open this; show required savings)
✅ FBI Background Check (plus apostille from U.S. Department of State)
✅ Portuguese Criminal Record Check (AIMA form request)
✅ Health Insurance (we used AXA’s 180-day travel insurance policy)
✅ Accommodation Proof (we signed a 1-year lease since Airbnb wasn’t guaranteed to be accepted)
✅ Personal Statement (a brief letter explaining why you want to move to Portugal)
✅ Marriage & Birth Certificates (apostilled, only if applying with dependents)
Pro Tip: Start early! Some documents—like the FBI background check—can take weeks to process.
How to Get Your NIF & Portuguese Bank Account
You can get your NIF and bank account for free if you are in Portugal, but fair warning, it is a bit of a process. We had a straightforward process (compare to other horror stories online) when getting our NIF – we had to queue for an hour.
The bank account was another story – we visited several banks before successfully opening an account. Ironically, many banks claimed we needed a residence visa in hand to open a bank account…when this is a requirement to apply for our visa ☹.
Alternatively, you can pay a service (like Bordr) to handle both remotely. Many relocation agencies also offer end-to-end service.
Timeline: How Long Did It Take?
This was by far the most stressful part of the entire process. Gathering the required documents meant relying on multiple government agencies—the FBI, Secretary of State, and U.S. Department of State—all of which have wildly varying processing times and frequent delays.
At the same time, we were juggling other time-sensitive steps: securing a VFS in-person appointment, waiting for visa approval, and ensuring we could enter Portugal within the 120-day visa window to schedule our AIMA appointment. Each step depended on the timing of the previous one, creating a constant state of uncertainty. Looking back, we definitely wish we had started some things earlier to reduce stress and allow for unexpected delays.
Here’s a general breakdown of how long each step took for us:
📌 Gathering required documents: 2-3 months (FBI background checks & apostilles took the longest)
📌 Getting a VFS appointment: Up to 2 months (slots are limited—check daily!)📌 Visa processing & approval: 8-12 weeks (varies; don’t panic before 180 days)📌 AIMA appointment (in Portugal): 2-3 months after arrival
Total estimated timeline: 4-6 months from start to finish.
Our biggest takeaway? Give yourself extra time. You don’t want to be scrambling last-minute when a slow-moving government agency or a lack of available VFS slots throws a wrench in your timeline.
Things We Wish We Knew
🚨 Holiday Delays: If you apply around major holidays (like Christmas), expect processing delays. We applied in October and learned this first-hand.
🚨 Must Be in the U.S. for Approval: We knew we had to attend VFS in-person, but we didn’t realize we also had to be in the U.S. to receive our passport with the visa stamp before entering Portugal.
🚨 Get a Second Passport: Some people apply for a second passport to leave one with VFS while traveling with the other. You’ll still need to return for the visa, but this helps if you have travel plans.
Final Thoughts
The visa process was one of the most stressful parts of moving to Portugal, but once it was behind us, everything else felt easier.
Our advice?
✅ Start early and prepare for delays.
✅ Be patient—Portugal’s bureaucracy works on its own timeline.
✅ Join expat communities like Americans & Friends PT for real-time advice.
✅ Expect hiccups—but know it’s worth it in the end.
If you have questions, drop them in the comments—we’re happy to share more about our experience! 🚀
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