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- Immigration, Live in Portugal
D7 Visa: Moving to Portugal With Passive Income or a Pension
🏖️ What Is the D7 Visa?
The D7 is a residence visa for non-EU citizens who have a regular, stable passive income that allows them to live in Portugal without depending on a local job.
It allows you to:
- Live in Portugal with a residence permit
- Bring your family, under the family reunification rules
- Travel freely within the Schengen area
- Work in Portugal, if you later decide to (as long as the conditions of your permit are met)
- Apply for permanent residence after five years
👤 Who Is It For?
- Retirees with a pension
- Property owners with rental income
- Investors with dividends, interest or other financial income
- People with royalties from intellectual property
Income from a salary or remote work generally doesn’t qualify for the D7 — in that case, the D8 (digital nomad) visa is usually the right route.
💶 How Much Income Do You Need?
The reference is the Portuguese minimum wage — €920 per month in 2026:
- Main applicant: at least €920/month (€11,040/year)
- Spouse or other adult family member: +50% (€460/month)
- Each child under 18: +30% (€276/month)
For example, a couple would need around €1,380/month, and a couple with one child around €1,656/month.
These are minimums. In practice, consulates assess whether your income is regular and sustainable, and many expect you to show savings in a Portuguese bank account — often the equivalent of 12 months of the minimum (around €11,040 for a single applicant). Higher income and savings strengthen your application.
📋 Documents You'll Usually Need
- Passport valid for at least the duration of the visa, with blank pages
- Visa application form and two passport photos
- Proof of passive income — pension statements, rental contracts, dividend statements and similar
- Bank statements (usually the last 3 to 6 months) and proof of savings
- Portuguese NIF and Portuguese bank account
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal — usually a 12-month rental contract or property deed (some consulates accept a declaration from someone who will host you)
- Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and of residence, and authorisation for Portuguese authorities to check your record
- Travel/health insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation
- A motivation letter explaining why you want to live in Portugal
- Residence permit of the country where you live, if it’s not your country of nationality
Foreign documents usually need an apostille (or consular legalisation) and, if not in Portuguese or English, a certified translation.
🛤️ Step by Step
- Get your NIF and open a Portuguese bank account.
- Secure accommodation in Portugal.
- Gather and legalise your documents.
- Book your appointment at the Portuguese consulate or visa centre (often VFS Global) in your country of residence.
- Submit your application and pay the fee (around €110 for national visas, plus service fees where applicable).
- Wait for the decision — usually up to 60 days.
- Receive your visa — valid for four months with two entries.
- Travel to Portugal and attend your AIMA appointment to submit biometrics and documents.
- Receive your residence permit card by post.
📅 Validity, Renewals and Absences
- The first residence permit is valid for two years, renewable for periods of three years.
- To renew, you must show that you still meet the requirements (income, accommodation, no criminal record).
- You shouldn’t be absent from Portugal for more than six consecutive months or eight months in total during the validity of each permit, unless you have a justified reason.
- After five years of legal residence, you can apply for permanent residence.
👨👩👧 Bringing Your Family
The best option is usually for family members to apply at the same time, each with their own visa application, showing the additional income required. If you move first and want to bring family later, the family reunification rules apply — and since the 2025 changes, some family members may have to wait until you’ve held your permit for two years (minor children are exempt).
💡 Good to Know
- Taxes: once you live in Portugal for more than 183 days a year (or have your habitual home here), you’ll generally become a tax resident and be taxed on your worldwide income. Plan ahead.
- Healthcare: once you have your residence permit, you can register with the SNS (national health service).
- Tourists can no longer convert: since October 2025, you can’t apply for a D7 residence permit from inside Portugal after entering as a tourist — you need the visa first.
🚀 Final Considerations
The D7 is a solid, well-established route for people with stable passive income. The key to success is showing that your income is regular, sufficient and sustainable, and presenting a complete, well-organised application.
📢 Expert Advice: Don’t aim for the minimum. Showing income and savings comfortably above the threshold, together with a 12-month rental contract, makes a real difference in the consulate’s decision.
Planning your D7 application? Step Inside Portugal can help you from your NIF and bank account to your AIMA appointment — find out more about our immigration services here. ✨
This article is for general information only and doesn’t constitute legal advice. It reflects the rules as of October 2026; requirements can vary by consulate, so confirm the details that apply to your case.
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