Portugal’s D8 floor rises with the minimum wage

Portugal’s minimum wage rose to €920 ($996) a month on Jan. 1, 2026 and the D8 Digital Nomad Visa’s income floor now sits at €3,680 ($3,985) monthly or four times that amount. The higher threshold applies to residency visa applications processed after the wage change, even if applicants started earlier. The D8 is the route for non-EU remote workers, freelancers and self-employed applicants with foreign-sourced income.

Who the higher bar hits

The change lands hardest for remote workers planning a long stay, plus spouses and children added to a family file. Family members face proportional income bumps, with officials using 50% for an additional adult and 30% for each child under 18 under the subsistence rules.

Tourists are unaffected. The D8 is a residency visa, not a short-stay Schengen option and it can lead to permanent residency and citizenship after five years of legal stay.

What applicants need to show

Applicants still need contracts or other proof of remote income, bank statements, health insurance with €30,000 coverage, accommodation and a clean criminal record. The income must come from outside Portugal and passive income doesn’t count for the D8 standard.

Applications go through a Portuguese consulate first, then AIMA for the residence permit after arrival. Fees usually run about €90 to €120 for the visa and €170 to €180 for the permit per person. Read our full Portugal guide for the complete picture and check our visa updates page for the latest rule changes.