Long-Stay (Type D) — Digital Nomad / Remote Worker (D9) Verified 2026-05-12Portugal D9 Digital Nomad Residence Visa (Informational)
Informational guide to the popular Portugal D9 Digital Nomad Visa for Indian remote workers and freelancers serving non-Portuguese clients.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Portugal visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Please note: SureshotVisa does NOT process Portugal long-term residence visas (D1 Work, D2 Entrepreneur, D3 Teaching, D4 Research/Study, D7 Retiree, D8 Family Reunification, D9 Digital Nomad, CPLP Mobility, Golden Visa, etc.). This page is provided for informational purposes only. For Portugal residence visas, apply directly via the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi + AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) — or consult a licensed Portuguese immigration lawyer. We specialise in short-stay Schengen visas where our Indian-side expertise adds the most value.
Processing
60–90 days typically (D-visa preliminary decision by Embassy + AIMA substantive review)
Stay Duration
4-month entry D-visa; residence permit (initial 2 years, renewable; permanent after 5)
Starting Fee
€90
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Portugal visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1SureshotVisa does NOT process D9 — informational only.
- 2Income must be from NON-Portuguese sources — if your clients are Portuguese, use D2 instead.
- 3Threshold of 4× minimum wage updated annually — verify current rate.
- 4Portuguese tax residency triggers if you spend 183+ days in Portugal — plan with a tax advisor.
Who Can Apply
- Indian remote workers employed by non-Portuguese companies
- Freelancers / consultants with non-Portuguese clients
- Earning at least 4× Portuguese minimum wage (€3,280/month gross in 2024)
- Demonstrable ability to work fully remotely
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Portugal / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| D9 Residence Visa — Embassy fee | €90 |
| AIMA Residence Permit fee | €84 |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,052 |
Government fees set in EUR. Plus Portuguese setup (accommodation, NIF, bank) — typically €1,500-3,000 in legal / advisory fees.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Income / Work Documents
4 items- Employment contract with non-Portuguese employer OR client contracts (for freelancers)Required
Must show fully remote arrangement
- Proof of minimum income — 4× Portuguese minimum wage (€3,280/month gross 2024)Required
Bank statements showing this income for last 3-6 months
- Income tax returns (last 2-3 years)Required
- Employer letter confirming remote-work approval (for employed applicants)Required
Portugal Setup
3 items- Portuguese accommodation — rental contract (12 months) OR property deedRequired
- Portuguese Tax Number (NIF)Required
- Portuguese bank account with initial depositRequired
Core Documents
5 items- National D-Visa application form (signed)Required
- Valid passportRequired
- Passport-size photosRequired
- PCC India + every country lived 1+ year past 5 years (apostilled)Required
- Travel medical insurance (first 4 months)Required
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
8 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Verify income meets €3,280/month threshold
Document 3-6 months of income at the threshold.
- 02
Get employer's remote-work approval
For employed applicants — letter confirming Portugal-based remote work is OK.
- 03
Open NIF + Portuguese bank account
Via Portuguese lawyer — typically done remotely.
- 04
Secure Portuguese accommodation
12-month rental contract OR property.
- 05
PCC + apostille
India + countries lived 1+ year past 5 years.
- 06
Fill D-visa application + submit at VFS
visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/prt.
- 07
Consulate + AIMA decision
60–90 days.
- 08
Enter Portugal + AIMA residence permit
Within 90 days of arrival.
What works
5 levers that flip a borderline case.
- D9 launched October 2022 — replaces D2 / D7 misuse by remote workers. Use D9 if your income is from non-Portuguese sources.
- Income threshold: 4× minimum wage (€3,280/mo gross in 2024) is firm — applications below this are routinely refused.
- Tech workers from Indian / US / European companies are the most common D9 applicants.
- Portugal's tax position for remote workers reformed significantly in 2024 (NHR changes) — engage a Portuguese tax advisor.
Download official forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens the official VFS Global page for Portugal
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Schengen Visa Application Form (Embassy of Portugal)
Portuguese MFA visa portal. Download the Schengen / National Visa application form, complete in English/Portuguese, sign.
VFS Global Portugal (India)
Book biometrics appointment, view checklists, track application status.
AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
Successor to SEF (since Oct 2023). Handles substantive decisions on Portugal long-term residence permits.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Portugal D9 Digital Nomad Residence Visa (Informational) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently asked
Questions, answered straight
4× Portuguese minimum wage. In 2024 that's €3,280/month gross (€820 × 4). Updated annually. Document with 3-6 months of consistent income at or above this level.
Yes — once you have D9 residence, family can apply for D8 Family Reunification. Subsistence requirements increase for dependants.
Yes — if you spend 183+ days/year in Portugal, you become Portuguese tax resident. The NHR regime offered favourable rates historically but was reformed in 2024. Engage a Portuguese tax advisor.
D9 covers all of Portugal including Madeira and the Azores. Madeira has been particularly active in attracting digital nomads (digitalnomads.startupmadeira.eu).
Renewals re-check income. Sustained drops can result in renewal refusal. Build a financial buffer; aim 25-50% above threshold for safety.
Still have a question about your case? Ask us directly — we usually reply in 5 minutes.
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other Portugal visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
Other Portugal Visa Types
Portugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Apply for a Portugal Schengen tourist visa from India — fees, documents, VFS process and tips for Indian travellers.
View guidePortugal Business Visa (Schengen Type C)
Portugal Schengen business visa from India — for meetings, conferences and training. Fees, documents, invitation letters and VFS process.
View guidePortugal Visit Visa (Family & Friends — Schengen Type C)
Portugal Schengen visa to visit family or friends from India — host invitation, Statement of Responsibility, fees and VFS process.
View guidePortugal Student Visa (National Type D — Long Stay)
Portugal National Type D student visa from India — for study, research or internships over 90 days. Documents, process and AIMA route.
View guidePortugal Work Visa / Permit (National Type D — Information Only)
Information about Portugal's National Type D work visa/permit. SureshotVisa does NOT process work visas or permits — this page is informational only.
View guidePortugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting Portugal for tourism — Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Madeira, Azores — up to 90 days.
View guidePortugal Business / Conference Visa (Schengen Type C)
Short-stay Schengen visa for Indian business professionals attending meetings, conferences, training, or trade events in Portugal.
View guidePortugal Visa for Visiting Family & Friends (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends resident in Portugal — up to 90 days.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Portugal website and Embassy of Portugal. Last verified 2026-05-12. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.