Digital Nomad Insurance for Portugal

Portugal's D8 visa — commonly called the digital nomad visa — is one of the more established remote-work residency routes in Europe, and it carries a specific insurance requirement as part of the application.

What the D8 visa requires

• Minimum coverage: At least €30,000, covering medical emergencies, hospital care, and medical repatriation
• Geographic validity: Must be valid across the Schengen Area, not just Portugal specifically
• Duration: Should cover the intended stay period, commonly requested for at least the first several months of validity at the initial consular application stage

Multiple sources indicate that at the initial visa application stage (before you travel), a travel-medical-style insurance policy meeting the €30,000/Schengen-wide criteria is generally accepted, rather than requiring a full long-term health insurance policy from day one. After you arrive and convert to residency, many nomads eventually transition toward fuller private health coverage or access to Portugal's public system (SNS), but requirements and processes can change — confirm the current stage-by-stage requirement with AIMA (Portugal's immigration agency) or your consulate before applying.

Does a SafetyWing plan meet this requirement?

SafetyWing's Essential plan carries an overall medical coverage limit well above the €30,000 minimum and includes evacuation and hospitalization benefits consistent with what consulates commonly request. However, NomadSecure has not independently confirmed with Portuguese authorities or SafetyWing that Essential is accepted for D8 visa applications, and acceptance can depend on the specific consulate reviewing your file. Confirm directly with your consulate, and consider requesting a policy letter or certificate from SafetyWing that explicitly states the coverage amount and geographic scope, before relying on it for a visa application.

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