Can self employed Americans get Portugal's D8 visa?

Yes. Independent professionals are expressly covered by the MNE's remote-work visa lists.

Can I be paid by my own LLC?

Yes, with documents that trace client income through the LLC to you.

Do I need a minimum time with each client?

The MNE lists don't set one, but the income test looks back 3 months, so you need that history.

What proof of income do freelancers need for the Portugal D8?

Updated 2026-11-12 · Income & work guide · Not legal advice

Freelancers show the work and the money: service contracts (or a company contract, or documents proving services to one or more clients) plus invoices and bank statements proving an average of at least €3,680 a month over the last 3 months. US freelancers usually add their last tax return (Schedule C) and 1099s to prove tax residence and income history.

Freelancer proof pack
Proof	Purpose
Client contracts or statements of work	Show the remote professional activity (MNE)
Invoices, last 3+ months	Show the income average
Bank statements, same months	Show the money arrived
Last tax return / 1099s	Tax residence and income history
LLC/company registration (if any)	Show the business exists

Single client or many

One long-term client is fine; so are many small ones. What matters is that clients are outside Portugal and the average clears the bar. If income is lumpy, add six or twelve months of history to show it's stable.

Paid through your own LLC

Show the LLC's registration, client contracts with the LLC and what the LLC pays you. Officers want to follow the money from clients to you.

Quick answers

Can self employed Americans get Portugal's D8 visa?: Yes. Independent professionals are expressly covered by the MNE's remote-work visa lists.
Can I be paid by my own LLC?: Yes, with documents that trace client income through the LLC to you.
Do I need a minimum time with each client?: The MNE lists don't set one, but the income test looks back 3 months, so you need that history.

What to do next

Enter your income and household in the free D8 check: it shows the exact gap (if any) against the current threshold and what proof to bring. A human review of the full file is $599 one applicant, $999 family.

Check my income for the D8

Sources

Checked: 2026-11-12. Rules change; confirm current values on the official pages above before you file.