Portugal D8 visa from the UAE

The D8 is Portugal's visa for people who work remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal.

It suits:

• remote employees of a company based outside Portugal, including UAE companies that allow remote work
• freelancers and contractors with clients outside Portugal
• founders and company owners, including owners of UAE free-zone companies, who are paid by their own business

You can't take a job with a Portuguese employer on a D8.

• The figure is your average over the last 3 months, from remote work for non-Portuguese employers or clients.
• For families, the table adds 50% per adult and 30% per child of the D8 amount. Some consulates expect this, so it is the safer figure to plan around.
• There is no fixed savings rule for the D8, but a buffer of a few months' income in a Portuguese account helps.
• The threshold is linked to the Portuguese minimum wage, which usually rises each January. Expect a higher figure in 2027.
• AED amounts are approximate. The euro figure is the one that counts.

The D8 comes in two versions:

• The D8 residence visa leads to a residence permit. Your years in Portugal count toward permanent residence and, later, citizenship.
• The D8 temporary-stay visa lasts up to 1 year. It does not count toward residence, so it doesn't start your path to permanent residence or citizenship.

If you plan to settle in Portugal, the residence visa is usually the right choice. We'll help you decide.

• Employees need an employment contract or an employer letter confirming the job, plus your employer's written agreement that you can work remotely from Portugal. Many UAE contracts don't allow this by default, so ask early.
• Freelancers and contractors show service contracts, invoices and bank statements proving payment from clients outside Portugal.
• Founders show company documents and proof of the income they draw from the business, such as salary or dividends.

• Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned return, with copies
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, valid beyond the end of the visa you're requesting
• An employment contract or employer letter, or service contracts with clients outside Portugal
• Proof of income for the last 3 months, averaging at least €3,680/month (2026)
• Proof of tax residence, for example a UAE Tax Residency Certificate
• A police certificate from your country of nationality
• A UAE police certificate, attested by the UAE MOFA and legalised by the Portuguese embassy in Abu Dhabi
• Accommodation in Portugal (a lease is strongly recommended)
• Travel medical insurance covering urgent care and repatriation
• Your NIF (Portuguese tax number) and a Portuguese bank account
• The national visa application form, completed online and signed, plus two passport photos

The embassy can ask for more documents. A complete file makes a refusal less likely, but it never makes approval automatic.

The UAE is not part of the Apostille system, so UAE documents go through two steps:

1. Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
2. Legalisation by the Portuguese embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Documents from your home country follow that country's rules. If it is in the Apostille system (India, Pakistan, the Philippines and the UK, for example), an apostille is usually enough. If it is not (Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, for example), the documents need consular legalisation. Police certificates usually take longest, so we start them first.

• About 4–7 months from your first chat with us to the visa in your passport.
• The residence visa is valid for 4 months. In that time you travel to Portugal and attend your AIMA appointment for the residence permit.
• About 6–14 months or more from the start to your residence card, depending on AIMA.
• The first residence permit lasts 2 years and can then be renewed for 3 years at a time.

Your spouse and children can apply with you. Plan on the family figures in the table above.

Since October 2025, bringing family over later can mean a waiting period of up to 2 years. Applying together is usually the better choice. If both adults earn enough on their own, separate applications can also be an option.

Government fees for 2026:

• Visa fee: €110 per person (≈ AED 455)
• First AIMA residence permit: about €186 per person (≈ AED 770)

You'll also pay the VFS Global service charge, attestation and legalisation, any translations and insurance. We pass these through at cost. Our own fees are on the packages page.

Once you are tax resident in Portugal, income from work you do there is generally taxable in Portugal, even if your employer or clients are abroad. The old NHR regime is closed to new applicants. We don't give tax advice. A tax adviser should confirm your position before you move.

• Check your 3-month income against the 2026 figure for your household
• Help you get the right employer letter or client evidence
• Build your document and attestation plan, in the right order
• Coordinate your NIF, Portuguese bank account and fiscal representation through our provider in Portugal
• Prepare your application pack and arrange your VFS appointment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi
• Prepare you for AIMA and follow up until your residence card is issued

Start with the eligibility calculator, or book a free 15-minute call. Decisions are made solely by the Portuguese authorities.