What documents do I need to move to Portugal as a Germany citizen?

Typical pathway: D8 Digital Nomad

Last verified: August 5, 2026

German passport or national identity card (Personalausweis) (before) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-o-certificado-de-registo-para-cidadao-da-ue/eee/suica
Sole entry document needed. IMPORTANT: as a German (EU) national you are outside the scope of the D8 digital nomad visa, which Portugal grants only to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; you enter and stay under EU free movement (Lei n.º 37/2006) with just a valid ID or passport for the first 3 months, and no consular visa application exists for your nationality. Card/passport must be valid for the whole stay.
NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) attribution request (before) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-o-numero-de-identificacao-fiscal-para-pessoa-singular
Portuguese 9-digit tax number issued by Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira. Can be requested free of charge in advance at a Portuguese consulate in Germany, or in person after arrival at any Serviço de Finanças / Loja do Cidadão with your ID; needed for a lease, utilities and bank account. As an EU citizen you do not need a fiscal representative once registered as resident.
Remote employment contract or freelance/client service agreements (before) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-o-certificado-de-registo-para-cidadao-da-ue/eee/suica
Written proof of your remote professional activity (employer contract, or client contracts/invoices if self-employed). Not filed with any consulate for Germans, but used to substantiate the sworn declaration of subordinate or independent professional activity at the Câmara Municipal, and for Finanças/Segurança Social registration.
A1 certificate (A1-Bescheinigung) or Portuguese social security liability confirmation (before) — Source: Deutsche Verbindungsstelle Krankenversicherung – Ausland (DVKA) / Deutsche Rentenversicherung
If you continue working for a German employer while living in Portugal, obtain the EU A1 form determining which country's social security applies; if instead you become self-employed/insured in Portugal, no A1 is issued and you register with Segurança Social locally. Verify your specific case with DVKA/Deutsche Rentenversicherung before departure.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC / EU-Krankenversicherungskarte) or private health insurance policy (before) — Source: Deutsche Verbindungsstelle Krankenversicherung – Ausland (DVKA)
Health cover proof for the transition period. EHIC covers only temporary/necessary care, not settled residence; German statutory cover normally ends when residence moves, so plan Portuguese SNS enrolment or private cover. Portuguese law may require proof of health insurance for non-employed EU registrants where Germany requires the same of Portuguese citizens — verify with the municipality.
Abmeldung confirmation (Abmeldebescheinigung) from German municipal registry (before) — Source: Bundesportal / competent German Einwohnermeldeamt (Bürgeramt)
Deregistration certificate from your German Einwohnermeldeamt/Bürgeramt when you give up your German residence. Relevant for German tax residence, broadcasting fee and health insurance termination; keep the confirmation as evidence of the move date.
Recent bank statements evidencing sufficient resources (before) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-o-certificado-de-registo-para-cidadao-da-ue/eee/suica
Statements (typically last 3 months) showing income/savings enough to support yourself without recourse to Portuguese social assistance. Required chiefly if you register as economically self-sufficient rather than as employed/self-employed in Portugal; there is no fixed legal threshold — municipalities in practice look for income around or above the national minimum wage. Note: the D8 income thresholds (4x minimum wage) do NOT apply to German citizens.
Portuguese rental contract, property deed or landlord accommodation declaration (during) — Source: https://portaldomunicipe.cm-porto.pt/pt/-/registo-de-cidad%C3%A3o-comunit%C3%A1rio-sef
Document proving your address in the municipality where you will register. Municipalities such as Porto may additionally ask for the electronic rent receipt (Recibo de Renda Eletrónico) or Modelo II lease communication from Autoridade Tributária alongside the lease.
Atestado de residência from the Junta de Freguesia (during) — Source: https://portaldomunicipe.cm-porto.pt/pt/-/registo-de-cidad%C3%A3o-comunit%C3%A1rio-sef
Parish-issued residence attestation, accepted as an alternative address proof where you have no lease in your own name (e.g. shared housing, staying with a partner). Distinct from the lease itself; only needed if your municipality requests it — requirements vary by câmara.
Declaração sob compromisso de honra (sworn declaration of activity or self-sufficiency) (during) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-o-certificado-de-registo-para-cidadao-da-ue/eee/suica
Standard form, provided free at the Câmara Municipal counter and signed in person, declaring either that you carry out subordinate or independent professional activity in Portugal, or that you have sufficient resources (and health insurance where applicable) for yourself and family under Article 7 of Lei n.º 37/2006.
CRUE – Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (during) — Source: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/nacionais-ue-e-familiares/nacionais-ue/certificado-de-registo-para-nacionais-ue
Your actual residence document as a German citizen — this replaces the D8 residence permit route entirely. Requested in person (physical presence mandatory, no proxy) at the Câmara Municipal or Loja do Cidadão of your area of residence within 30 days after completing 3 months in Portugal, i.e. roughly between day 90 and day 120. Fee approx. €15 for adults; validity 5 years. Do not book an AIMA appointment for this.
NISS (Número de Identificação de Segurança Social) registration (during) — Source: Instituto da Segurança Social (Segurança Social Direta)
Social security number obtained from Instituto da Segurança Social, normally after the CRUE. Needed if you work, invoice or pay contributions in Portugal; not needed if an A1 certificate keeps you insured in Germany — confirm your situation with Segurança Social.
Declaração de início de atividade with Autoridade Tributária (during) — Source: https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt
Self-employment/freelancer opening declaration filed at Finanças or on Portal das Finanças, required only if you invoice clients as an independent worker from Portugal. Not needed if you remain a salaried employee of a foreign company.
Número de Utente do SNS (national health service user number) (after) — Source: Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) / Ministério da Saúde
Registration at your local Centro de Saúde to access public healthcare, normally requiring CRUE, NIF and address proof. Some health centres also ask for the NISS — verify locally as practice varies by unit.
Change of fiscal address / tax residency registration with Autoridade Tributária (after) — Source: https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt
Update of your NIF record from non-resident to resident at your Portuguese address, which triggers Portuguese tax residency and annual IRS filing obligations. Coordinate with the Germany–Portugal double taxation treaty to avoid dual residence.
IFICI application (tax incentive for scientific research and innovation, successor to NHR) (after) — Source: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (Portal das Finanças)
Optional application for the Portuguese preferential tax regime, submitted to Autoridade Tributária by 15 January of the year after you become tax resident; the deadline is generally not recoverable if missed. Eligibility is activity-based — confirm with AT or a licensed Portuguese accountant.
German EU driving licence registration with IMT (after) — Source: Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT)
A German EU licence stays valid in Portugal, but residents are expected to register it (or exchange it) with Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes after establishing residence. Deadlines and whether registration is mandatory in your case should be verified directly with IMT.
Certificado de Residência Permanente para Nacionais UE (after) — Source: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/nacionais-ue-e-familiares/nacionais-ue/certificado-de-residencia-permanente-para-nacionais-ue
Permanent residence certificate for EU nationals, applied for through AIMA after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Portugal; renewal of an expired CRUE is likewise handled by AIMA rather than the municipality.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

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