Relokato / Destinations / Portugal
🇵🇹 Portugal
D7 and D8 residence routes, NIF, AIMA residency and the IFICI (NHR 2.0) regime — with deadlines and the official source for each step.
23
Tasks in your Portugal playbook
5 yr
Path to permanent residency
20%
IFICI flat tax for eligible roles
€0
To start your plan
Pick your route
Residence routes
published by AIMA.
D7 — Passive Income
D7 Passive Income Visa
Live in Portugal on pensions, rental income, dividends or royalties. Minimum ~€920/month (Portuguese minimum wage 2026 per the MFA portal) plus 50% per adult dependant and 30% per child. Renewable, leads to permanent residency in 5 years.
D8 — Digital Nomad
D8 Digital Nomad Visa
Work remotely for non-Portuguese clients or employers. Minimum €3,680/month (4× minimum wage, 2026). Eligible for IFICI / NHR 2.0 in qualifying scientific, tech and innovation roles. Path to permanent residency in 5 years.
Your roadmap
Four phases, in the
right order.
Phase 1
Immigration
- Background check + apostille
- Vital records apostille
- Decide visa type (D7/D8)
- Private health insurance
- Consulate appointment
Phase 2
Pre-arrival
- Get NIF (tax number)
- Open Portuguese bank account
- Proof of accommodation
- Research neighborhoods
- Book temporary stay
Phase 3
Post-arrival
- AIMA residency appointment
- Register at junta de freguesia
- SNS healthcare number (utente)
- Social security (NISS)
- Exchange driving licence (IMT)
Phase 4
Tax & finance
- IFICI / NHR 2.0 application
- Become tax resident
- File Modelo 3 IRS
- Notify home tax authority
- Set up MB WAY + utilities
Special regime · IFICI / NHR 2.0
IFICI can lock in a 20% flat tax for ten years.
Portugal's old NHR closed to new applicants, but IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação) replaces it for qualifying scientific research, higher education, startup and highly-qualified roles. Eligible income from Portuguese sources is taxed at a flat 20% for 10 years, with most foreign-source income exempt.
Relokato tracks the IFICI registration window (by 15 January after becoming tax resident), surfaces the right portal, and walks you through eligibility — so you don't lose the regime to a missed date.
20% flat rate10 yearsForeign income exempt15 Jan deadline
Where you'll land
The four cities
most movers choose.
Lisbon
Capital & community
Biggest expat scene, strong tech jobs, hills, trams and the Tagus. Highest rents in the country.
Lisbon data →Porto
Charm & value
Smaller, slower, more affordable than Lisbon. Port wine, river views, growing remote-work hub.
Porto data →Cascais
Coast & families
Beach town 30 minutes from Lisbon. Popular with families, English-friendly, premium pricing.
Madeira
Nomads & nature
Year-round spring weather, Digital Nomad Village in Ponta do Sol, hiking, levadas, lower cost of living.
Common questions
Things people ask
before they commit.
How long does the whole process take?
Usually 4–8 months from background check to landing in Portugal. Consulate appointments and AIMA's backlog are the bottlenecks. Once in Portugal, NIF → AIMA → SNS → bank typically takes another 6–12 weeks.
Do I need to speak Portuguese?
Not for the visa. After arrival, basic Portuguese helps a lot at the junta de freguesia, SNS and Finanças — most appointments are not in English, even in Lisbon.
Can I bring my family?
Yes — D7 and D8 both allow family reunification (spouse, children, dependent parents). You'll need to prove additional income (50% per adult, 30% per child) and provide each member's documents.
What about my US/UK/Brazil taxes?
Portugal has tax treaties with 80+ countries, including a US treaty. Home-country obligations don't disappear — you'll likely need a cross-border tax advisor. Relokato reminds you to file home-country notifications (IRS Form 8822, HMRC P85, etc.).
Is Relokato a lawyer or contabilista?
No. Relokato is a planning tool — a personalised playbook with deadlines, official sources, and step-by-step guides. For the visa application itself and tax filings, we recommend working with a Portuguese contabilista or immigration lawyer.
Ready for
Portugal?
Portugal?
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