Portugal D9 (Remote Work Visa) (formerly D8)
Official nomad visaWhat this visa gets you
Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
2 years, renewable
Permanent residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
Not via this programme
- Income requirement
- €3,680 / month
- Application fee
- €110
- Family allowed
- Yes
How do British citizens apply for the Portugal D9?
Can British citizens apply from inside Portugal?
Generally no: most applicants apply from outside Portugal before they travel.
The "fly in on a tourist stamp and convert" route is a widespread misconception and does not work for this visa. If you already hold legal residence in Portugal on another permit, different rules may apply, so confirm with the authorities.
How long does the Portugal D9 really take for British citizens?
18–26 weeks (≈ 4–6 months)
- Police clearance (verified)4w
- Apostille (verified)3w
- Consular appointment (typical)4w
- Processing 9–17w official9w
- Post-arrival registration (typical)2w
Official processing: 9–17 weeks. The rest is doc gathering + waiting in a queue, none of which the consulate counts.
Avoid these
What do people get wrong about the Portugal D9?
- The tourist-stamp convert myth. Flying to Portugal on a tourist stamp and converting it into the residence visa from inside the country is not possible for D9. Almost every application story that goes badly starts with this misconception.
- Underestimating timing by a factor of 2–3. The "60-day processing" line is real, but it's only the consulate's processing window. The door-to-door reality includes police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead, and post-arrival registration, so most applicants land between 4 and 7 months.
- Skipping or mis-formatting the apostille. Apostille is the single most cited rejection reason. Every supporting document from your home country needs an apostille from the right authority, and they expire. Don't apostille more than 4 months before submission.
Documents
What British applicants typically submit
Documents needing an apostille (British authorities):
- ACRO police certificate (criminal record certificate)
Worth knowing: UK passport holders are visa-exempt for short Schengen stays but, as post-Brexit third-country nationals, must apply for the national residence visa at a VFS Global centre (London, Manchester or Edinburgh) before travelling to Portugal. The criminal record certificate is the ACRO Police Certificate, which must carry a Hague Apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office. Translation requirements vary by consulate, so confirm whether a certified Portuguese translation is needed with the centre handling your application.
Tax
How is D9 income taxed for British citizens?
Tax residents (183+ days/year) are taxed on global income under Portugal's progressive system up to 48%. The NHR regime ended for most new applicants as of January 1, 2024. Freelancers may qualify for simplified regimes with reduced effective rates.
Money, roughly (indicative)
Regime: IFICI — ~20% flat (eligible income), about 41.4% effective tax on €60k/yr.
Portugal's NHR successor (IFICI) gives ~20% on eligible income; eligibility is narrower than old NHR. Self-employed social contributions are ~21.4% (first-year relief applies). You may owe nothing locally if a totalisation agreement keeps you in your home system. Verify.
Living comfortably to well in Lisbon runs about €2,000–€2,800/mo for one person, incl. rent. Roughly 50% less than the same living in London, which runs about £3,400/mo (≈ €4,000).
Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.
D7 Passive Income Visa
Official nomad visaThe D7 isn't a nomad visa. It's Portugal's passive-income residence visa, meant for people living on pensions, rental income, dividends, or other recurring income rather than active remote work. Plenty of remote workers still use it because the income bar is comparatively low and it leads to the same residency and citizenship timeline as the newer D9. If your income is salary or active client work, the D9 is usually the cleaner fit; if it's genuinely passive, this is the one.
What this visa gets you
Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
2 years, renewable
Permanent residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 10 years of residence
- Income requirement
- EUR 920/mes (100% do salario minimo nacional, 2026); +50% conjuge, +30% por filho dependente
- Application fee
- €110
- Family allowed
- Yes
How do British citizens apply for the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa?
Can British citizens apply from inside Portugal?
Generally no: most applicants apply from outside Portugal before they travel.
The "fly in on a tourist stamp and convert" route is a widespread misconception and does not work for this visa. If you already hold legal residence in Portugal on another permit, different rules may apply, so confirm with the authorities.
How long does the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa really take for British citizens?
19–24 weeks (≈ 4–6 months)
- Police clearance (verified)4w
- Apostille (verified)5w
- Consular appointment (typical)4w
- Processing 8–13w official8w
- Post-arrival registration (typical)2w
Official processing: 8–13 weeks. The rest is doc gathering + waiting in a queue, none of which the consulate counts.
Avoid these
What do people get wrong about the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa?
- The tourist-stamp convert myth. Flying to Portugal on a tourist stamp and converting it into the residence visa from inside the country is not possible for D7 Passive Income Visa. Almost every application story that goes badly starts with this misconception.
- Underestimating timing by a factor of 2–3. The "60-day processing" line is real, but it's only the consulate's processing window. The door-to-door reality includes police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead, and post-arrival registration, so most applicants land between 4 and 7 months.
- Skipping or mis-formatting the apostille. Apostille is the single most cited rejection reason. Every supporting document from your home country needs an apostille from the right authority, and they expire. Don't apostille more than 4 months before submission.
Documents
What British applicants typically submit
Documents needing an apostille (British authorities):
- ACRO Police Certificate (criminal record certificate)
Worth knowing: UK applicants must supply an ACRO Police Certificate; a Basic DBS check is not accepted, and the ACRO must carry an FCDO apostille or the consulate will refuse the application. Applications are submitted through VFS Global centres in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, with a national D visa fee of EUR 110 plus a VFS service fee of about GBP 32.85.
Tax
How is D7 Passive Income Visa income taxed for British citizens?
No D7-specific tax regime. Holders who become Portuguese tax residents are taxed on worldwide income under standard Portuguese rules. The former NHR regime is closed to new entrants (transition window ended March 2025); the successor incentive (IFICI, also called "NHR 2.0") is aimed at qualified/scientific and innovation activity and generally does not apply to passive-income retirees, so no special concession is tied to the D7 itself.
Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.
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FAQ
Portugal D9: common questions
Can British citizens get the Portugal D9?
Yes. The D9 is open to British passport holders as non-EU nationals. The main requirement is proof of income of at least €3,680 per month.
Can I apply for the Portugal D9 from inside Portugal?
Generally no. British applicants normally apply at the Portugal consulate responsible for their region before travelling. Note this is about converting a short tourist stay; if you already hold legal residence in Portugal on another permit, different rules may apply, so confirm with the authorities.
How long does the Portugal D9 take for British applicants?
Official processing is 9–17 weeks. Door-to-door, including police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead time, and post-arrival registration, most British applicants take about 9–17 weeks (roughly 2–4 months).
Do I need an apostille for the Portugal D9?
Yes. Supporting documents issued in United Kingdom (such as your police clearance) must be apostilled by the competent United Kingdom authority before submission. Apostilles can expire, so don't obtain them more than a few months ahead of applying.
How much does the Portugal D9 cost?
The government application fee is about €110. The consular fee paid in United Kingdom is approximately 110 EUR. Budget separately for police clearance, apostille (if required), translations, and required health insurance.
Does the Portugal D9 lead to permanent residency?
Yes. Time on the D9 counts toward permanent residency, for which you can typically apply after 5 years of legal residence.
Can I bring my family on the Portugal D9?
Yes. Spouses and dependent children can generally be included as dependants, usually with a higher combined income requirement and their own supporting documents.
What's next
Keep going
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Different answers may surface a programme you didn't consider.
Every dated change we've logged for Portugal: income thresholds, fees, consular policy.
Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.