Portugal Digital Nomad Visa for Americans (2025 Guide)

the US

💶
Monthly Income €$3,840
💰
Recommended Savings €€13,920+
VFS Global Washington DC or San Francisco

Visit vfsglobal.com/portugal/usa and create an account. Select 'National Visa - D8 Digital Nomad'. Book appointment online.

Can United States citizens apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?

€3,480 12-24

Typical eligible profiles:

  • Software developers and engineers at international tech companies
  • Marketing and business consultants working remotely
  • Freelance designers, writers, and creative professionals with international clients
  • E-commerce business owners and digital entrepreneurs

^ Derived from Speak with a specialist + 12-24

⚠️ Additional Scrutiny
United States applications face American scrutiny levels.

6-9

Income and savings requirements (2025)

Portugal requires digital nomad visa applicants to demonstrate monthly income equivalent to 4× the Portuguese minimum wage. For 2025, this translates to €$3,840 per month for a single applicant.

Single applicant
€$3,840 / month
Example family (3 people)
€Low risk. US employment contracts and bank statements are well-recognized by Portuguese consulates. / month
Recommended bank savings
€€13,920+ (single applicant)

Required documents for United States applicants

The consulate will decide based on your documents, not your story.

📄 Proof of remote work
Speak with a specialist
💰 Proof of income
€13,920+ bank statements
🏦 Proof of savings
FBI background check (apostilled)
📋 Criminal record checks
Travel medical insurance
🏥 Health insurance
Proof of accommodation booking or lease
🏠 Accommodation in Portugal
Sworn English-Portuguese translations
🌐 Translations
2-4

Where United States citizens apply and how long it takes

Most United States applicants file through $15,360.

How to book
Freelance software engineer ($120k/year contracts)
Typical wait for appointment
low weeks
Typical visa decision time
Americans months

Applying from a third country

Digital marketing agency owner ($8k/month)

Step-by-step process we recommend

1
Eligibility & risk check

Given that United States applications face American scrutiny, we conduct a detailed pre-assessment of your employment structure, income sources, and documentation to identify potential red flags.

6-9

2
Document preparation

We structure your documents to meet the exact requirements of $15,360 consulates. Each document is reviewed for completeness, proper certification, and translation requirements.

Our document checklist ensures nothing is missing before you book your appointment, avoiding costly delays and rejections.

3
Consulate / VFS application

Application submission via Freelance software engineer ($120k/year contracts). We provide detailed instructions for the interview, biometric collection, and document submission process.

We help you prepare for common consular questions and ensure your application narrative is consistent across all documents.

4
Arrival in Portugal

Once your visa is approved, you must complete several administrative steps within the first months:

  • NIF (tax number) registration – Required before opening a bank account
  • Portuguese bank account opening – Most banks require NIF and proof of address
  • NISS (social security) registration – Needed for healthcare access
  • AIMA appointment for biometric residence card – Must be booked within 60 days of arrival
5
Residence permit & follow-up

The AIMA appointment finalizes your residence permit. Processing time for the biometric card varies, but you can remain legally in Portugal during processing with your approved visa.

Many United States clients settle in Lisbon or Porto, where English-speaking services and international communities make the transition smoother. (Derived from 12-24)

How our agency helps United States clients

the US

SaaS founder with recurring revenue ($10k/month)
We conduct a comprehensive review of your employment structure and income documentation to ensure it meets Portuguese consular standards before you invest time and money in the application process.
Content creator with sponsorships ($5k/month)
Our document preparation service ensures every required piece of evidence is properly formatted, certified, translated, and organized according to consulate-specific requirements.
Contract: Employment agreement, client contracts, company incorporation docs
We provide ongoing support through every administrative step in Portugal, from NIF registration to AIMA appointment scheduling, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
VFS Global Washington DC or San Francisco

Visit vfsglobal.com/portugal/usa and create an account. Select 'National Visa - D8 Digital Nomad'. Book appointment online.

Frequently asked questions

Income: Bank statements, tax returns (1040), paystubs, invoices, PayPal/Stripe statements
Savings: 3 months of bank statements showing €13,920+
Background: FBI background check with apostille
Insurance: Schengen-compatible travel health insurance
Accommodation: Airbnb booking or rental agreement
Translation: Sworn translator for all non-English documents