Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) vs Portugal Golden Visa
Portugal digital nomad route: $103 fee, 4 months. Portugal golden visa route: $678 fee, 24 months.
- Portugal Golden: $1,256 a month, $2,644 less than Portugal Digital Nomad.
- Portugal Digital Nomad: $103 to apply, $575 less than Portugal Golden.
- Portugal Digital Nomad: about 9.7 weeks, 42.8 weeks sooner than Portugal Golden.
- Portugal Digital Nomad: 183 days a year required, 176 more than Portugal Golden.
- Income
- $3,900/mo
- Fee
- $103
- Duration
- 4 months
- Income
- $1,256/mo
- Fee
- $678
- Duration
- 24 months
Next steps
Portugal Digital Nomad
Portugal Golden
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Side by side
Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8)
Portugal Golden Visa
Visa type
Status
Initial duration, months
Renewable
Built for
Minimum age, years
Practical minimum age, years
Nationality restrictions
Processing time, minimum (weeks)
Processing time, maximum (weeks)
Where to apply
Interview required
Medical exam required
Minimum income, per month
Minimum savings, one time
Minimum investment, one time
Investment types
Application fee, one time
Renewal cost, one time
Extra income per adult dependent
Extra income per child dependent
Income sources accepted
Employment types accepted
Social Security counts as income
Pension income recognized
Local work permitted
Health insurance required
Local bank account required
Apostille required
US FBI background check required
Certificate of coverage required
Required documents
Leads to permanent residency
Years to permanent residency
Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization
Days in country, per year
Tax regime
US tax treaty
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Digital nomad | Golden visa |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Initial duration, months | 4 | 24 (Longest initial stay) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | Digital nomads, Freelancers, Remote employees | Passive investors |
| Minimum age, years | Not specified | 18 |
| Practical minimum age, years | 18 | 18 |
| Nationality restrictions | Non-EU nationals only | Non-EU nationals only |
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income, per month | $3,900 | $1,256 (Lowest known income requirement) |
| Minimum savings, one time | $12,658 | Not specified |
| Minimum investment, one time | Not applicable | $224,152 |
| Investment types | Not applicable | Investment fund, Business creation, Capital transfer |
| Application fee, one time | $103 (Lowest known fee) | $678 |
| Renewal cost, one time | Not specified | $691 |
| Extra income per adult dependent | 50% | Not specified |
| Extra income per child dependent | 30% | Not specified |
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Income sources accepted | Remote work | Not specified |
| Employment types accepted | 1099 contractor, Self-employed | Not specified |
| Social Security counts as income | No | No |
| Pension income recognized | No | Not specified |
| Local work permitted | No | No |
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Processing time, minimum (weeks) | 2 weeks | 1 weeks (Fastest known processing) |
| Processing time, maximum (weeks) | 17.3 weeks (Fastest known processing) | 103.9 weeks |
| Where to apply | Apply initially at the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your home country or country of legal residency. After visa...See where to apply on the visa page | 2 items listedSee where to apply on the visa page |
| Interview required | Yes | No (No interview required) |
| Medical exam required | No | No |
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Leads to permanent residency | Yes | Yes |
| Years to permanent residency | 5 years | 5 years |
| Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization | 15 years | 15 years |
| Days in country, per year | 183 days | 7 days (Fewest days required in country) |
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Tax regime | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| US tax treaty | Yes, full treaty | Yes, full treaty |
| Field | Portugal Digital Nomad Visa (D8) | Portugal Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance required | Yes | Yes |
| Local bank account required | Yes | No (No local bank account needed) |
| Apostille required | No (No apostille needed) | Yes |
| US FBI background check required | Yes | No (No US FBI background check needed) |
| Certificate of coverage required | No | No |
| Required documents | 8 items listedSee full list on the visa page | 6 items listedSee full list on the visa page |