I recently made the 6,000km move from Canada to Portugal on their D8 Digital Nomad Visa. For those of you who are either considering or in the process of your application, I've compiled a list of things I've learned that may be helpful to you.

Applying for the visa

I applied directly with the Portuguese consulate in Toronto, Canada. The first step is to collect all the required documents as outlined here. Then, you must submit the documents and select an appointment date from their portal.

You must also bring these printed documents to your appointment, along with a passport photo and a prepaid Canada Post envelope. During this step, they will keep your passport and will mail it back to you. Your passport will contain a temporary four-month, two-entry visa and an appointment date with SEF/AIMA in Portugal.

Getting your Portuguese documents

In order to apply for your residence permit, you'll be asked to provide a NIF & NISS number.

NIF

This is your tax ID which is required to open a bank account. You can visit a tax office to obtain this, but I found that an online service like e-residences was the simplest option, as they become your tax representative. Use promo code DIGITALNOMAD to save an extra €10.

NISS

Some people have applied without obtaining a NISS but I was asked for one. Since it's free, I recommend getting it just in case. You can fill out this form online and wait a few days for an e-mail confirming that it's been allocated. After that, you can visit a branch to get your document.

Bank Account

Once you have obtained your NIF, you can open a Portuguese bank account. I have heard reports of them accepting Revolut, but since they provide a Lithuanian IBAN, I recommend going with a Portuguese bank instead.

ActivoBank is a great choice for a free account and the one I went with. Some other options include Millennium, Abanca, and Novobanco.

After opening your account, you need to transfer €9,120 and obtain an official bank statement confirming this. Printing your digital statement or screenshot of your account isn't sufficient.

Your AIMA appointment

After completing all the previous steps, you should have all the proper documentation to attend your appointment with AIMA. They will photocopy your documents, take your picture & fingerprints, and submit your application for your residence permit. Receiving your card usually takes a few weeks, but can take up to 4-5 months.

What's next?

Congrats, you're all set! If you're reading this before the end of 2024, you should consider applying for the NHR tax regime.