English 
Français | Criteria | Netherlands DAFT | Portugal D8 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | No fixed threshold | €3,680 |
| Income basis | Savings accepted | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | Yes | Yes |
| Path to citizenship | Via permanent residence | Yes |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Standard resident taxation (Possible 30% ruling (if eligible)) | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Not specified |
| Application fee | ≈ €423 | ≈ €110 (better) |
| Where to apply | In country | Embassy / consulate, In country |
| Processing time | — | 8.6 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Netherlands DAFT →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Portugal D8 →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Residence permit self-employed person | IND (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government IND form 7524 — self-employed (DAFT code 453 / Dutch-Japanese treaty 510) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Fees — IND (self-employed incl. DAFT: EUR 423) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government MFA Visa Portal - Residency visas: necessary documentation (digital nomads income formula, insurance wording, document list) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MFA Visa Portal - Means of subsistence (RMMG 2026 = EUR 920 per PCM Regulatory Decree 139/2025 of 29 Dec; family scale 100/50/30%) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Embassy of Portugal in Islamabad - Residency visa for remote work 'Digital Nomads' official checklist (04.07.2025): travel insurance, 4x minimum wage income, tax residence certificate, CPLP exemptions (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MFA Visa Portal - Travel Insurance subpage (verified empty of substantive content; no minimum coverage published) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MFA Visa Portal - National visa fees (EUR 110; appeal EUR 75) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government AIMA - Tabela de Taxas (residence-permit fees: EUR 133.00 reception/analysis; EUR 114.30 grant/renewal of temporary AR, Art. 75(1)) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MFA Visa Portal - Decision deadlines (residency visa: 60 days) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MFA Visa Portal - Type of visa (residency visa: 4 months, two entries, AIMA permit application; digital nomads listed) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government AIMA - Autorizacao de Residencia, atividade remota 'Nomadas Digitais' (Art. 88(1) REPSAE): 2-year permit, 3-year renewals, document list without insurance, Art. 198 offence (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government AIMA - Autorizacao de Residencia Permanente, Art. 80 REPSAE (5 years of temporary residence, A2 Portuguese, 5-yearly title renewal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Diario da Republica - Lei n.º 61/2025, de 22 de outubro (full text: family reunification Arts. 98/101/105, qualified job-seeker visa Art. 57-A, CPLP Arts. 75/87-A; Art. 61-B not amended) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Diario da Republica - Lei Organica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio (Nationality Law: 7-year naturalization for CPLP/EU nationals, 10 years others; pending cases under old rules) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government gov.pt news - Foreigners Act changes creating the remote-work (digital nomad) visa, effective 30 Oct 2022, with 4x-minimum-wage income rule (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Portugal - Information on residency for tax purposes (Tax and Customs Authority via OECD AEOI portal; Art. 16 CIRS, 183-day and habitual-home rules) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Law firm PwC Portugal - Tax incentive for scientific research and innovation IFICI (NHR 2.0): 20% rate, foreign-income exemption except pensions/tax havens, 10-year duration, eligible activities (Tier 2) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10