The Portugal D8 asks for average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the guaranteed monthly minimum wage. The 2026 minimum is EUR 920, so the bar is EUR 3,680 a month on the mainland. The visa application fee is EUR 110, the decision deadline is 60 days, and the residence permit AIMA issues after arrival runs two years and renews in three-year steps. Records: D8 and the shorter temporary stay route.
The numbers
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Income test | Average monthly income over the last 3 months at least 4 x the minimum wage | Visa portal |
| 2026 minimum wage | EUR 920 (Decreto-Lei 139/2025) | DGERT |
| Income bar, mainland | EUR 3,680 a month (4 x 920, our arithmetic) | derived |
| Visa fee | EUR 110 | Fees |
| Decision deadline | 60 days for a residency visa | Deadlines |
| Visa validity | Usually 4 months with two entries for a residency visa; not stated on the visa portal or AIMA pages we read, so confirm with the consulate | unverified |
| Residence permit | 2 years from issue, renewable in 3-year periods | AIMA page (translated) |
| Insurance | Travel insurance covering medical costs, urgent care and repatriation | Residency documents |
| Where to apply | The Portuguese embassy or consulate competent for your residence | Where to lodge |
D8 or temporary stay
Both routes use the same income proof. The portal lists a separate temporary stay visa for remote work, which allows entry and stay for less than a year with multiple entries (type of visa). Pick it if you want under a year; pick the D8 if you want a residence permit that renews. The two tracker rows are D8 and temporary stay.
What you have to show
- Employees: a work contract, a promise of one, or an employer declaration.
- Independent workers: a company contract, a services contract or proposal, or proof of services already provided.
- Proof of fiscal residence and the income proof above.
- Insurance and the standard residency-visa documents from the portal.
What we could not confirm from official pages
- Family: the portal has a family reunification visa for family of legal residents, granted after AIMA authorisation, but nothing specific to the D8 dependants. Commercial sites quote add-ons of about 50% for a spouse and 30% per child; we treat that as unverified until AIMA or a consulate states it.
- Savings instead of income: commercial pages quote a savings floor. The official pages we read state none, so the record is left blank.
- Tax: no official visa page states the tax outcome. Portugal taxes residents by day count and home; the tax residency basics explain the test in general terms.
- Processing time in practice: commercial pages disagree by months. Only the 60-day legal deadline is sourced.
How it compares
EUR 3,680 is the top of the Southern Europe range. Spain asks EUR 2,442, Greece EUR 3,500 and Italy about EUR 2,066; the full sort is on the lowest-income ranking. To live in the capital, see the Lisbon neighbourhood guide.
Method
Compiled from Portugal’s visa portal, DGERT and AIMA, read 29 Sept 2026; translated wording is paraphrased. The visa portal’s Portuguese pages can be slow to update after a wage change, so re-check the multiple and the minimum wage before you budget. General information, not immigration advice.
To set the income bar against what the city costs, see the Lisbon cost of living sums.