You will need a visa to live in Portugal for more than 90 days. And that can present a challenge for some people because you need to find a reason to get a visa.
For retirees, remote workers, or someone living off passive income, the D7 Visa—often called Portugal’s Retirement or Passive Income Visa—is probably your best shot at long-term living in Portugal.
The D7 doesn’t require hefty upfront payments, and you don’t need an employer waiting for you.
Interested? We have all the info you need below.
What Exactly Is the D7 Visa?
Introduced back in 2007, the D7 Visa allows non-EU citizens to live in Portugal if they have stable passive income, such as pensions, rental property income, dividends, or even salaries from remote work. It’s particularly popular among retirees who don’t want to work but do want to bask in the sunny lifestyle.
For more info on all the visas available, check out this resource.
Who Can Apply for Portugal’s D7 Visa?
Applicants must be:
- at least 18 years old
- from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland
- able to demonstrate consistent passive income
- ready to spend the majority of your time in Portugal
How Much Income Do You Need?
The major sticking point for the D7 visa is the qualifying income.
Portugal ties the income requirement to its minimum wage. In 2024, that was roughly €820 a month or about €9,840 a year for a single applicant.
To bring family along means adding 50% (€4,920) per year for your spouse and 30% (€2,952) per child.
Of course, it’s always better to far exceed the minimum. Though if you have a significantly higher amount of wealth, it’s worth checking out the Golden Visa program, which is a lot easier to navigate.
Beyond income, proving you have additional savings in the bank helps—typically enough for at least one year’s expenses (just in case things go south with your income stream). For example, having around €10,000 in savings will give Portuguese authorities extra confidence in your financial stability.
Two Steps to Get Your Portugal D7 Visa
Applying for the D7 involves two straightforward steps:
1. Apply
You’ll submit your application where you currently live. Documents you need include:
- Proof of Stable Income: Pension letters, rental agreements, or remote employment contracts.
- Bank Statements: Demonstrating at least three to six months of steady income deposits.
- Proof of Accommodation in Portugal: Usually, a 12-month rental agreement or property ownership.
- Health Insurance: Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 until you gain residency.
- Clean Criminal Record: A recent police clearance certificate with an apostille.
It’s a good idea to open a Portuguese bank account and secure your Portuguese tax ID (NIF) before applying.
Learn more about documentation requirements for this process here.
2: Get Your Residence Permit
After approval, you’ll have four months to enter Portugal. Once there, you’ll attend a short meeting at immigration (AIMA), confirm your documents, and get your two-year residence permit.
Et voila! You are an official, legal resident of Portugal.
How to Maintain Your Residency
Getting your legal residency, however, is only half the battle. You also need to know how to keep it.
To keep your D7 status, you’ll need to actually reside in Portugal most of the year—specifically, you can’t stay away from the country for more than six months in a row.
In two years, you’ll need to renew your visa.
After five continuous years living in Portugal with a D7, you’ll become eligible for permanent residency or even Portuguese citizenship. Full dual citizenship will require basic Portuguese language skills (just enough for daily interactions), but permanent residency doesn’t have a language requirement.
Learn about becoming a Portuguese citizen here.
Why Choose the D7 Visa?
Affordable and Straightforward
Unlike the Golden Visa, you won’t have to put down hundreds of thousands of euros. You only need reliable passive income and basic financial solvency.
Access to Public Services
D7 holders have full access to Portugal’s excellent public healthcare system (SNS). After your initial private insurance coverage, you can rely on affordable, high-quality public healthcare.
Freedom in Europe
A D7 visa in Portugal is also like a visa to all of Europe. You get to freely travel throughout the 26 Schengen countries. That includes countries like Italy, Spain, or France.
Financial and Tax Benefits
Portugal has historically offered attractive tax options, like the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) scheme, providing favorable tax treatment for certain foreign income. While the classic NHR benefits are winding down from 2024, Portugal still offers tax treaties preventing double taxation, making it tax-friendly for most foreign income earners. Learn more about Portuguese dual citizen tax liability here.
Ready to Get Your Portugal D7 Visa?
The Portugal D7 Visa offers retirees, remote workers, and passive income earners their single best chance at permanent residency in the country.
As you get ready for the adventure, make sure to take advantage of our free consultation calls. We work with thousands of clients looking to make long-term living in Europe a reality, and you can get a free talk with one of our experts just by contacting us.
