Eligibility quiz
Will you work remotely from Portugal as an employee for an employer outside Portugal?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Portugal
You can live in Portugal while your residence permission is valid.
It normally lasts two years from issue and can be renewed for successive three-year periods.
Work in Portugal
You can work as an employee.
You can also work independently, but you must ask for your residence card to be replaced to reflect that work.
Visit Schengen countries
With a valid residence card, you can generally visit other Schengen countries without another Schengen visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The country you visit may have other entry rules.
Bring your siblings
You can seek to bring minor siblings in your custody to live with you in Portugal.
You need suitable housing and enough money to support your family.
An approved family member's residence permission normally lasts as long as yours.
Use public healthcare
As a legal resident, you can get a public health service number and use public health services.
For the service to cover costs, your record normally needs your identification, Portuguese tax number, full address in Portugal and valid residence permission.
Receive social support
Registration and contributions can give you access to social security support for sickness, unemployment, parenthood or incapacity.
Payments depend on the conditions and contributions for each benefit.
How to apply
From outside PortugalFrom outside Portugal
Find your consulate
Find the Portuguese consulate responsible for your application where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Portuguese consulate handles residence visa applications for someone living in your city?”
Download the application form
Download the Portuguese national visa application form.
Download the formFill in the form
Complete and sign the national visa application form.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Portugal national visa application form for remote work?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate and the residence application.
See required documentsStart your request online
Create an account on the e-Visa portal and start a residence visa request for remote work. Upload documents where the portal allows; this does not complete your application.
Start your requestArrange your submission
Get an appointment or submission instructions from your consulate or its designated visa centre. Follow its instructions for handing in your application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange submission of a Portugal residence visa application for remote work at the consulate serving your city?”
Pay the visa fee
Pay the visa fee using the method specified by your consulate or its designated visa centre.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Portugal residence visa fee for remote work at the consulate serving your city?”
Hand in your application
Bring your signed form, passport and required documents to the consulate or its designated visa centre as instructed. Give your fingerprints or attend an interview if requested.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I hand in a Portugal residence visa application for remote work at the consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate’s decision and respond if it asks for more information or documents.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I follow up on a Portugal residence visa application for remote work at the consulate serving your city?”
Receive your passport
Collect or receive your passport as instructed by the consulate or visa centre. If your visa is approved, you can use it to enter Portugal.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect my passport after a Portugal residence visa application for remote work at the consulate serving your city?”
Enter Portugal
Travel to Portugal while your residence visa is valid.
Find entry informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Portugal with a residence visa for remote work?”
Once in PortugalOnce in Portugal
Download the residence form
Download AIMA’s Modelo 1 residence application form and, if applicable, Modelo 4.
Download the formsFill in the form
Complete and sign Modelo 1, and prepare Modelo 4 if it applies to you.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in AIMA Modelo 1 for a Portugal residence authorisation for remote work?”
Request an appointment
Use AIMA’s Contact Us form to request a residence appointment, unless AIMA gives you another appointment channel. Select “Autorização de Residência” and then “Autorização de Residência com Visto Consular (Não CPLP)”, and provide the requested passport and visa details and copies.
Request an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I request an AIMA appointment in Portugal for a residence authorisation with a consular residence visa?”
Go to your appointment
Bring your signed form and required documents to your booked AIMA office. Give your fingerprints or other material if requested.
Find your AIMA officePay the residence fees
Pay the residence authorisation fees when AIMA instructs you, using the method it gives you.
Find payment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay AIMA fees for a Portugal residence authorisation for remote work?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for AIMA’s decision and respond if it asks for more information or documents.
See how to follow upSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I follow up on an AIMA residence authorisation application for remote work in Portugal?”
Receive your residence card
Receive your card as AIMA instructs; it lets you live in Portugal and work remotely. Keep it and renew it before it expires.
Find card instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my AIMA residence card after approval of a Portugal residence authorisation for remote work?”
Documents needed
Required to applyRequired to apply
Passport and copy
Bring your valid passport or travel document and a copy of its personal details page. For the visa, it must remain valid beyond your planned stay as required by the checklist.
Proof of accommodation
Provide proof of where you will live in Portugal. For AIMA, sign a declaration giving your address and explaining your right to live there; if you own the property or have a right to use it as a usufructuary, include its land-registry certificate or access code, and otherwise include a declaration from your landlord or accommodation provider explaining the basis on which you use it.
Application forms
For your visa, submit the signed national visa application form. For your residence authorisation, submit signed Modelo 1 from AIMA’s forms page; include Modelo 4, the term of responsibility, if it applies to you.
Proof of work
If you are an employee, provide your employment contract or an employer declaration; if you work independently, provide a company contract, service contract or evidence of services for one or more clients abroad. For AIMA, also provide a declaration from your employer or client abroad confirming your employment or services.
Proof of income *
Provide evidence of your income from remote work over the last three months. Your average monthly income must be at least four times the Portuguese minimum monthly wage: €3,680 in 2026.
* Only if you apply for the visa.
May need translationProof of funds *
Provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself. At AIMA, your employment contract, employer declaration, company contract, service contract or evidence of services can be used as proof, as appropriate to your work.
* Only if you apply for the visa or AIMA asks for it.
May need translationProof of tax residence *
Provide a document showing where you are resident for tax purposes.
* Only if you apply for the visa.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationTravel medical insurance *
Provide proof of travel or medical insurance accepted in Portugal. It must cover necessary medical expenses, urgent medical assistance and possible travel home for medical reasons.
* Only if you apply for the visa.
May need translationProof of lawful residence *
Provide a document showing that you are living lawfully in the country where you apply.
* Only if you apply for the visa in a country where you are not a national.
May need translationPassport photos *
Provide two recent passport photos of yourself.
* Only if you apply for the visa.
Residence visa *
Bring your valid D8 residence visa with your passport.
* Only if you apply to AIMA for residence authorisation.
Police certificate *
Get a criminal-record certificate from the office that issues it in your country of nationality or, as required, the country where you have lived for more than one year.
* Only if you apply for the visa.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Residence maintenance
You must renew your residence card to keep it valid and keep your passport, address, tax and social security information accurate.
To work independently, you must ask for the card to be replaced to reflect that work.
Residence can end
Your residence can end on expiry, non-renewal, expulsion, fraud, false papers or statements, serious crime, or public order or security grounds.
Six months away in a row or eight in total during its validity can lead to cancellation; exceptions and advance or later explanations can apply.
Unmet conditions can also end it; job loss is not automatic cancellation, and you can challenge cancellation in court.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Algarve Expats, Portugal
English Facebook group for people living in Portugal interested in Portuguese visas
Join on Facebookr/PortugalExpats
English Reddit group for people living in Portugal interested in Portuguese visas
Join on RedditMoving to Portugal- D7 & D8- Living and Retiring
English Facebook group for people living in Portugal interested in Portuguese visas
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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