Hummingbird Law · Immigration
Living in Portugal — a practical guide
For international clients · 2025–2026
Updated · Law no. 61/2025
Checklist
Documents required for all residence visas
Identity
Valid passport with at least 2 blank pages and more than 6 months of validity remaining
Criminal record
Criminal record certificate from your country of origin, apostilled or legalised, issued within the last 90 days
Health
Travel or health insurance with coverage valid in Portugal, issued by a recognised insurer, covering the full intended period of stay
Finances
Portuguese bank account with demonstrated means of subsistence (NIF required)
Accommodation
Rental contract with a minimum term of 12 months or property deed
Residence
After arrival in Portugal: application for Residence Authorisation with AIMA
Quick reference
What sets each visa apart
Employment
D1
Subordinate activity
Work contract ≥ 1 year with a Portuguese company · Salary ≥ minimum wage (€870) · IEFP declaration confirming the position was not filled by an EU citizen
Employment
D2
Independent / self-employed
Contract or services agreement · Qualification to practice the activity in Portugal · Demonstrated means of subsistence
Income
D7
Passive income holder
Regular income from a foreign source ≥ €920/month · Dividends, rent, pensions, investments · Bank deposit in Portugal equivalent to 12 months of income
Remote work
D8
Digital nomad
Remote work for an entity outside Portugal · Income ≥ €3,480/month (4× minimum wage) · Contract or proof of freelance activity
Business
D2
Entrepreneur
Detailed business plan · Sufficient capital to launch and sustain the business · Demonstrated economic, social or technological relevance
Family
D6 / IRN
Portuguese family ties
Marriage to a Portuguese citizen → D6 visa (family reunification) · Portuguese descent → Nationality process at the IRN
Digital nomad visa (D8) — what most people don't know
The D8 is open to freelancers, remote employees and online business owners — as long as income comes from clients or employers based outside Portugal. Income from Portuguese sources disqualifies the application.
The visa itself is valid for 4 months and allows two entries. Once in Portugal, the holder must book an AIMA appointment and apply for a 2-year residence permit, renewable for a further 3 years. After 5 years of legal residence, permanent residency or citizenship may be pursued.
Key thresholds: ≥ €3,480/month in verifiable remote income (last 3 months of bank statements), plus a recommended savings buffer of €10,440. For the visa stage, travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical expenses within the Schengen Area is required. For the AIMA residence permit stage, a local Portuguese health insurance policy is required instead — two different documents at two different stages.
The D8 also grants free movement within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Legal context · 2025–2026
Three things every client needs to know
Abolished · Jun 2024 / Oct 2025
End of the Manifestação de Interesse
The Manifestação de Interesse was once a common path for foreign nationals in Portugal to regularise their immigration status — having a NIF, NISS and employment contract was enough to initiate the process from within the country. That pathway was closed in June 2024 by Decree-Law no. 37-A/2024, and definitively abolished by Law no. 61/2025, in force since October 2025.
In practice: those who arrived in Portugal as tourists and wished to regularise their stay from within the country no longer have that option. Today, the starting point is always a residence visa, applied for in the home country at the Portuguese consulate or through VFS Global.
If your client arrived in Portugal intending to stay and does not yet hold a residence visa, the path forward is to leave, obtain the correct visa, and re-enter legally. We are here to plan that process carefully.
Family reunification
Bringing your family to Portugal
Once a residence permit is granted, holders have the right to apply for family reunification under Portuguese law. Eligible family members include a spouse or partner in a recognised union, dependent children under 18, and dependent parents. EU citizens and their family members follow a separate, more streamlined process under EU free movement rules (Lei n.º 37/2006).
Applications are submitted to AIMA and require proof of the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate), proof of accommodation in Portugal, and proof of sufficient financial means to support family members. Documents from abroad must be apostilled and officially translated.
Family members granted reunification receive their own residence authorisation, giving them the right to live, work and study in Portugal independently. Processing times through AIMA vary — we recommend submitting applications as early as possible and booking appointments promptly once the main applicant's permit is confirmed.
Active · investment route
Golden Visa — residency by investment
Portugal's Golden Visa (Residence Permit for Investment Activity — ARI) remains fully active in 2026. Since 2023, real estate purchases no longer qualify. Current investment routes include: qualifying fund units (minimum €500,000), business creation with job generation, scientific research (minimum €500,000), and arts or cultural heritage contributions (minimum €250,000).
The minimum stay requirement is exceptionally low — just 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two-year period — making it suitable for investors who do not wish to relocate full-time. Family members can be included in the same application. Processing through AIMA typically takes 12 to 18 months.
After 5 years of legal residence, holders may apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship. Important: proposed nationality law amendments — not yet in force as of April 2026 — may extend the citizenship period to 10 years for new applicants. We monitor developments and advise clients on the implications for their individual timelines.