How We Secured the D8 Visa for Portugal as Remote Entrepreneurs

Starting a new chapter in Portugal through the D8 visa? That’s exactly what my spouse did  and the process, while detailed, was smoother than expected thanks to good preparation and the right support.

In this post, I’ll share our personal experience applying for the D8 visa as a remote entrepreneur, including what documents we prepared, how we opened a bank account, and how we handled the legal side of things.

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🧑‍💼 Why the D8 Visa?

The D8 visa is ideal for independent professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who want to live in Portugal while running their business remotely.

My spouse works remotely as he is eligiable  for the D8 visa .

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⚖️ Working with a Local Lawyer

Just like we did during my D7 visa process, we worked with a trusted local lawyer in Portugal. This was key for two reasons:

• They handled all communication with the authorities

• They made sure we had every document exactly as needed

They also acted as our legal representative, which simplified getting official documents like the NIF (tax ID) and verifying our eligibility.

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💳 Opening a Joint Bank Account in Portugal

Opening a bank account remotely can be a major challenge, but we were fortunate to have local support and our lawyer’s network.

We successfully opened a joint bank account in Portugal, which helped us show sufficient financial means and simplified future residency paperwork.

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📁 Documents We Submitted

Here’s a summary of the documents we included in the D8 visa application:

• Company registration 

• Recent bank statements showing income and account activity

• Proof of residence (rental contract)

• Criminal background certificate (clean)

• Health insurance

• NIF (Portuguese tax number)

All documents were organized, translated where needed, and submitted with the application through the proper consular channel.

 

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🏡 What Happened Next

Once everything was submitted, the process moved quickly. We didn’t encounter unexpected delays, and our preparation really paid off.

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✅ Our Residence Visa Was Approved!

We’re excited to share that the D8 visa was officially approved and we’ve now entered the residence permit stage in Portugal.

It’s a huge milestone  and a reminder that with the right steps, this move is very achievable for remote entrepreneurs.

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💬 Thinking About the D8 Visa?

If you’re a business owner or remote worker looking to relocate to Portugal, the D8 visa could be the perfect fit. With the right legal support, a strong application, and careful preparation, the process can be much smoother than expected.

Got questions? Drop them in the comments  we’re happy to share what we learned!