← Check a different combination

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

Typical pathway: D8 Digital Nomad

Last verified: September 22, 2026

• National Visa application form (Pedido de Visto Nacional) (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/images/formulario_visto_nacional_en.pdf
  The official Portuguese national visa form for residence/temporary stay, completed and signed by the applicant. UK applicants lodge it at the VFS Global centre acting for the Consulate General of Portugal in London (also Manchester/Edinburgh). Available as a PDF from the MNE visa portal.
• Valid United Kingdom passport (original) (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency
  Original UK passport, ordinarily valid for at least 3–6 months beyond the intended stay and with blank visa pages. As a post-Brexit third-country national, a UK citizen must hold this national visa route rather than EU free movement. The passport is surrendered at submission for the visa sticker to be affixed.
• Two biometric passport-type photographs of the applicant (before) — Source: https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/portugal/uk/english/pdf/portuguese_national_visa_2024.pdf
  Two identical recent passport-type colour photos, plain background, in good condition for identification. These are the physical prints submitted with the visa file — separate from any photocopy of the passport data page.
• Photocopy of the passport biographical data page (before) — Source: Consulate General of Portugal in London / VFS Global Portugal (UK)
  A plain photocopy of the passport identity page (and, where requested, of prior visas/entry stamps) retained in the consular file. This is a document copy only and is distinct from the biometric photographs and from the original passport itself.
• ACRO Police Certificate with FCDO apostille and Portuguese translation (before) — Source: https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
  UK criminal record certificate from the ACRO Criminal Records Office, normally issued within the last 3 months. Portugal is a Hague Convention state, so the original certificate is apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office; a certified Portuguese translation is commonly required. Some providers report Portugal also asking for prior notarisation — verify with the Consulate/VFS, as practice varies by consulate.
• Consent form for Portuguese criminal record check (AIMA/PJ) (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency
  Signed authorisation permitting Portuguese authorities (AIMA / Polícia Judiciária) to consult the applicant's Portuguese criminal record. Provided as part of the consular checklist alongside the foreign police certificate.
• Proof of remote work for a non-Portuguese employer or clients (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency
  Employment contract or signed employer declaration confirming the employment relationship with an entity domiciled outside Portugal and authorising remote work; freelancers instead provide company incorporation documents, service/partnership contracts or client agreements with non-Portuguese entities.
• Proof of average monthly income of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency
  Payslips, invoices or bank statements evidencing average monthly income over the preceding three months — reported at approximately €3,680/month for 2026, with uplifts of 50% for a spouse and 30% per dependent child. Confirm the current figure with the Consulate, as the threshold is indexed to the minimum wage and changes annually.
• Portuguese bank account statement showing accumulated savings (before) — Source: AIMA Portugal / Consulate General of Portugal in London
  Statement or certificate from a Portuguese bank account in the applicant's name evidencing liquid savings (commonly cited as around 12 months of the income threshold, approximately €11,040, plus additions for family members). A Portuguese NIF is needed to open the account, so this must be arranged before submission.
• Portuguese tax identification number (NIF) from Autoridade Tributária (before) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/en/migrantes-viver-e-trabalhar-em-portugal/migrantes-impostos-e-seguranca-social-em-portugal/como-pedir-o-nif-e-o-niss-para-cidadaos-estrangeiros-em-portugal
  Número de Identificação Fiscal issued by Finanças. While still UK-resident a fiscal representative in Portugal is generally required to obtain it; the NIF is a prerequisite for opening the bank account and signing a lease.
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency
  Long-term lease, property deed or notarised accommodation declaration covering the intended stay. Short-term platform bookings (Airbnb/Booking.com) are sometimes tolerated at consular stage but are generally not accepted later by AIMA, which prefers a registered lease of 12 months.
• International travel and health insurance policy (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/residency
  Private medical/travel insurance valid in Portugal and the Schengen Area covering medically necessary care, repatriation and emergency hospitalisation for the visa period; minimum €30,000 cover is widely specified. A UK GHIC does not satisfy this residence-visa requirement.
• Personal statement of purpose for the national visa (before) — Source: https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/portugal/uk/english/pdf/portuguese_national_visa_2024.pdf
  Applicant-written letter explaining the reasons for applying, referencing the intended address of stay in Portugal and sources of income. Explicitly listed on the Consulate General of Portugal in London checklist.
• UK tax residence certificate (before) — Source: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/necessary-documentation/temporary-stay
  Document attesting fiscal residence, issued by HMRC. Appears on Portuguese consular checklists for the remote-work/digital-nomad route; requirement and format can vary between the temporary-stay and residence variants, so verify with the Consulate before submission.
• Issued D8 residence visa sticker in passport (with AIMA appointment reference) (during) — Source: AIMA Portugal (aima.gov.pt)
  The approved two-entry visa valid 120 days (four months) for travel to Portugal. AIMA states that where an appointment is pre-attached to a consular visa, the date, time and place are accessible via the link printed at the lower right of the visa sticker; otherwise the applicant must book via AIMA.
• AIMA residence permit application form (Modelo 1) (during) — Source: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-regime-e-requisitos-gerais-art-o-77-o-n-o-1
  The signed AIMA application form for a temporary residence permit under the remote-work route (Art. 88.º REPSAE), lodged in person at a Loja AIMA; Modelo 4 is added where applicable for accompanying family. Fee is approximately €170 per applicant.
• NISS — Portuguese social security identification number (during) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/en/migrantes-viver-e-trabalhar-em-portugal/migrantes-impostos-e-seguranca-social-em-portugal/como-pedir-o-nif-e-o-niss-para-cidadaos-estrangeiros-em-portugal
  Número de Identificação de Segurança Social, requested from Segurança Social (online or at a branch) presenting identification, proof of work status and proof of residence status. AIMA now requires the NISS for residence permit applications and renewals, so obtain it promptly after arrival.
• Refreshed income and residence evidence for the AIMA appointment (during) — Source: AIMA Portugal (aima.gov.pt)
  Updated payslips, invoices or client contracts covering the months immediately before the AIMA appointment, plus current address evidence and the registered lease. Consular-stage documents can fall outside AIMA's validity windows (e.g. criminal record older than three months), so time-sensitive items must be reissued.
• Portugal-valid resident health insurance or SNS user registration (after) — Source: https://www2.gov.pt/en/migrantes-viver-e-trabalhar-em-portugal
  AIMA generally expects Portuguese resident health cover rather than travel insurance. Once the residence permit is granted, register with the local health centre for an SNS utente number; the NIF, NISS and SNS number can be requested together through the combined gov.pt application.
• Título de Residência card (2-year permit) and renewal file (after) — Source: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-regime-e-requisitos-gerais-art-o-77-o-n-o-1
  The physical residence card issued by AIMA after biometrics, valid two years from issue and renewable for successive three-year periods. Renewal requires continued proof of remote income, accommodation, tax compliance and minimum-presence compliance; keep tax returns (IRS) and lease renewals as the evidence trail toward permanent residence at five years.

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

Want a personalized plan? Start free →