← Check a different combination
What documents do I need to move to Portugal as a Russia citizen?
Typical pathway: D8 Digital Nomad
Last verified: August 5, 2026
- Russian biometric international passport (zagranpasport) (before) — Source: https://moscovo.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/ru/
Original Russian foreign-travel passport valid at least 3 months beyond the intended stay (many consulates require 6+ months) with at least two blank pages. Applications from Russian citizens are accepted only for the passport holder in person at the Moscow centre or at a Portuguese consulate where the applicant holds legal residence. - Completed Portuguese national (type D) visa application form (before) — Source: https://moscovo.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/ru/%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8B
Official national visa form, signed by the applicant; downloadable in Portuguese or Russian from the Embassy of Portugal in Moscow. Note: the remote-work/digital-nomad category is commonly called D8, but the Moscow BLS checklist lists remote-work 'digital nomads' under a separate code — confirm the exact category label when booking. - Two biometric passport photos (35x45 mm) (before) — Source: https://blsrussiaportugal.com/russian/national-visa.php
Two recent identical colour photographs meeting Portuguese consular photo specifications; submitted with the paper file in addition to the fingerprints and digital photo captured at the visa centre. - Photocopies of every passport page and of each supporting document (before) — Source: https://blsrussiaportugal.com/russian/national-visa.php
The Moscow visa centre requires a separate photocopy of every page of the passport and of each document in the file, submitted alongside the originals. This is distinct from the biometric photos above. - Russian criminal record certificate with apostille and sworn Portuguese translation (before) — Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (ГИАЦ МВД) / Embassy of Portugal in Moscow
Certificate of absence of criminal record issued by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (ГИАЦ МВД), issued within the last 3 months, legalised with a Hague apostille and translated into Portuguese by a certified/sworn translator. Allow several weeks; translation requirements can vary by consular post — verify with the Embassy in Moscow. - Signed authorisation for AIMA to consult the Portuguese criminal record (before) — Source: AIMA Portugal
Standard consent form permitting the Portuguese immigration authority to check the applicant's criminal record in Portugal; submitted with the visa file. - Proof of remote professional activity for a non-Portuguese employer or clients (before) — Source: https://moscovo.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/ru/%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8B
Employment contract, secondment/remote-work declaration from the employer, or freelance/service contracts and invoices with clients established outside Portugal, showing the work is performed remotely. Documents in Russian require translation (Portuguese, or English where accepted). - Proof of monthly income at four times the Portuguese minimum wage (before) — Source: AIMA Portugal
Payslips, invoices or bank credit records for the last 3 consecutive months evidencing average monthly income of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage (threshold is indexed and rises annually; higher amounts apply if dependants are included) — confirm the current figure with the consulate before submission. - Bank statements showing accumulated savings (before) — Source: Embassy of Portugal in Moscow
Statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped/certified by the bank, showing a savings balance equal to roughly twelve months of the Portuguese minimum wage. Russian-bank statements are accepted as proof of means, but sanctions may restrict later transfers to Portugal — consider holding funds in an account outside Russia and verify acceptance with the consular post. - Russian tax residence / tax return evidence (before) — Source: Embassy of Portugal in Moscow
Tax residence certificate or filed personal income tax return (e.g. 3-NDFL or self-employed/IP tax statement) confirming that the declared income is taxed outside Portugal. Some consulates ask for 12 months of tax residence proof; verify with the official source as practice varies. - Proof of accommodation in Portugal (before) — Source: AIMA Portugal
Signed Portuguese lease agreement (12 months is the safest standard), property deed, or a hosting declaration from a Portuguese resident with proof of their own accommodation. Short-term bookings are sometimes accepted for the remote-work visa but may be questioned. - Travel/health insurance valid in Portugal (before) — Source: Embassy of Portugal in Moscow
Policy covering medical expenses, urgent care and repatriation in Portugal for the whole visa validity (commonly minimum EUR 30,000 cover). Policies issued by Russian insurers are frequently rejected because of payment/sanctions issues — an international or EU-issued policy is safer. - Portuguese tax identification number (NIF) (before) — Source: Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (Portal das Finanças)
Issued by the Portuguese Tax Authority; obtainable before departure through a fiscal representative or in Portugal at a Finanças office / Loja do Cidadão with passport and proof of address. Needed to sign a lease, open a bank account and complete the residence permit application. - Flight reservation showing arrival in Portugal (before) — Source: https://blsrussiaportugal.com/russian/national-visa.php
One-way ticket or itinerary confirming the intended entry date; a return ticket is not required for national visas, but Russian applicants should note there are no direct flights and should show the actual routing used. Some centres list this as optional. - Visa fee and BLS service fee payment receipt (before) — Source: https://moscovo.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/ru/%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8B
Proof of payment of the national visa consular fee (EUR 110 at the Moscow post) plus the separate BLS International service charge, paid at the visa application centre. - AIMA residence permit appointment confirmation (during) — Source: https://aima.gov.pt
Some residence visas are issued with a pre-scheduled AIMA appointment printed on or attached to the visa; if not, the appointment must be requested through AIMA's online channel immediately after arrival and held within the visa's 120-day validity. - Portuguese bank account confirmation with transferred funds (during) — Source: AIMA Portugal
Account opening declaration/IBAN and a statement showing the subsistence funds available locally, presented at the AIMA appointment. Russian citizens should expect enhanced compliance checks on the source of funds and on transfers originating from Russian banks. - Updated income evidence for the AIMA appointment (during) — Source: AIMA Portugal
Recent payslips, invoices or client contracts dated after the visa was issued, proving the remote activity and income are still ongoing; presented together with the original consular file and the passport bearing the visa sticker. - Portuguese social security number (NISS) (after) — Source: Instituto da Segurança Social (seg-social.pt)
Registration with Instituto da Segurança Social, required for self-employed/freelance remote workers who register an activity in Portugal, and often requested as supporting proof at AIMA where applicable. - Residence permit card (Título de Residência) and SNS/address registration (after) — Source: https://aima.gov.pt
Card issued for 2 years and renewable for 3 years after biometrics at AIMA; on receipt, update the NIF address with Finanças and register at the local Centro de Saúde for the national health service. Absences above 6 consecutive or 8 non-consecutive months during the permit's validity jeopardise renewal and the 5-year path to permanent residence/citizenship.
Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.