Residence permit in Portugal: D7
For financially independent people with a pension or passive income.
- A non-EU national aged 18 or over
- with no criminal record and a regular passive income (pension
- rent
What the D7 visa to Portugal is
The D7 is a national visa for financially independent people: those living on income unconnected with work in Portugal. A pension, investment income, dividends, royalties. For remote work for a foreign client the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal issues a separate visa — the D8 for digital nomads.
The logic of the status is simple: the state checks that the person will support themselves and will not become a burden on the system. Hence the requirements — evidenced regular income, a home in the country and a Portuguese bank account.
The income threshold is tied to the minimum wage in Portugal, and that is revised every year. Going by last year's figure will not do.
Who it suits
- A non-EU national aged 18 or over
- With no criminal record and a regular passive income (pension
- Rent
- Dividends)
- Pensioners
- People living on investment income
- Families
Residence permit in Portugal: comparing the options
The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.
| Option | Best for | Timeline | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital nomad residence permit in Portugal — D8 | People relocating, families, remote professionals | 6–8 months | from $5,830 |
| Residence permit in Portugal: D7you are here | Pensioners, people living on investment income, families | 3–6 months | from $7,840 |
How a residence permit differs from citizenship by investment
A residence permit is the right to live in a country lawfully for a limited period, with renewal. It gives no passport, no vote, and is almost always tied to its basis: once the basis is gone, the status is not renewed.
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For a person that means three things. The status has to be maintained: keep the investment, the income or the home, and file for renewal on time. The status can be lost — for breaching the conditions or for spending too long outside the country. And the status does not convert into citizenship automatically: the naturalisation clock runs separately, and some programmes do not count towards it at all.
In return, a residence permit costs several times less than citizenship by investment and opens up what people most often take it for: lawful residence, a bank account, healthcare, school for the children and travel around the Schengen area.
Why the NHR tax break no longer exists
This is the main misconception around the D7, and it costs money. The preferential NHR regime was abolished for new applicants from 1 January 2024 — by Law 82/2023.
The IFICI regime that replaced it, the one called “NHR 2.0”, is built on a fundamentally different principle: it is narrow and covers only seven categories of qualified activity — science, start-ups, exporting companies and the like. A pension, investment income and dividends — the typical income of a D7 applicant — do not fall within those categories.
So calculations along the lines of “I'll move on a D7 and pay a preferential rate for ten years” no longer work. Tax status is worked out individually, before the move rather than after.
What is required to obtain the D7
Mandatory
This option- Regular evidenced income at or above the threshold
- A home in Portugal — rented for a year or owned
- An account with a Portuguese bank
- A NIF tax number
- Medical insurance
Worth understanding
- Presence in the country is mandatory — this is not a “golden visa”
- The income threshold rises along with the minimum wage
- Income is counted additionally for each family member
- A tax break is not guaranteed
What the service includes
| NIF | |
| A bank account | |
| An AIMA appointment and the document pack | |
| Support throughout | |
| Property— billed separately |
Official terms
Who can apply for the D7
The D7 suits non-EU nationals who receive a stable regular income and do not need active employment.
Pensioners with an officially confirmed pension
- An adult non-EU national
- Receives a pension (state, private or occupational)
- The pension is not below the set minimum
People with passive income from property or investments
- An adult non-EU national
- Regular income from rent, dividends, patents or copyright
- The income is not below the set minimum
People with sufficient financial reserves
- An adult non-EU national
- Confirmed personal savings in a bank account
- The sum is enough to demonstrate financial independence
When the programme is not a fit
You need to be able to work before the residence permit is issued
A visa for independent professional activity (if you plan your own business) or a visa for an employee (if you have a contract with a Portuguese employer)
Income below the set minimum
An investment visa (if you have capital to invest), an employee visa, or looking for sources of passive income
You need the case arranged within a few weeks
A Schengen visa for a short stay (up to 90 days), if time is the priority
You plan to be out of the country for more than six months at a stretch
A Schengen visa or a short-term stay, if there is no obligation to live in Portugal permanently
What it costs
| National visa (state fee)Paid when the visa application is filed at the consulate | 110 EUR |
|---|
Paid separately
- AIMA fee for arranging the residence card — Not part of the consular visa fee. Under the AIMA fee table in force from 1 March 2026: receiving and considering the application — €99.80, issuing the card — €85.80, €185.60 in total. These are the rates with the 25% reduction under point XIV, charged both in person and through the digital channel. The base rates of Portaria n.º 307/2023 are €133 and €114.30.
- Translator's services and notarial certification of documents — If further services are required, they are paid for separately
Documents to gather
The full set of documents needed to file a D7 visa application at a Portuguese consulate.
- Passport (valid for at least 90 days beyond the intended date of return, issued no more than 10 years ago, with at least 2 blank pages for visas)
- Copy of the passport (the pages with the photograph, the personal details and the signature)
- Completed and signed national visa application form (available on the consulate's website)
- Two recent colour photographs to the ICAO standard (35x45 mm)
- Criminal record certificate issued by the competent authorities of the country of nationality (the original, with an apostille or legalisation)
- Evidence of passive income or of a pension: pension fund statements, certificates of income from property, dividend records, certificates from banks or credit institutions
- Bank statements for the last three months evidencing that funds arrive regularly
- Evidence of an address of residence in Portugal: a tenancy agreement for at least 6 months or a title document for the property
- Medical insurance valid in Portugal (it must cover emergency medical care, necessary treatment costs and repatriation, for at least 6 months)
- A statement of the reasons for wishing to settle in Portugal
How the process runs
Obtaining the D7 visa runs through several stages, from preparing the documents to receiving the residence permit.
- 1
Collecting and preparing the documents
2-4 weeksCollect every required document, including the criminal record certificate, the evidence of income and the insurance. Make sure all documents are translated into Portuguese or English where required.
- 2
Booking the consular appointment and filing the application
1-2 weeksBook an appointment at the Portuguese consulate through VFS Global or the consulate's own booking system. Bring the original documents and the completed application form on the appointed day.
- 3
Consular interview
the day of filingAttend the consulate on the appointed day. The consul may ask about your financial situation, your reasons for moving and your plans for living in Portugal. Biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) are collected at this stage.
- 4
Consideration of the application and the decision
about 60 daysThe consulate processes your application. Timelines vary with the consulate's workload and how complete the documents you provided are. You will be notified of the decision by letter or email.
- 5
Receiving and activating the visa
a few daysOnce approved, the visa is placed in your passport. It is valid for four months and allows two entries to Portugal. After receiving the visa you have to travel to Portugal within the stated period.
- 6
Registering with AIMA (the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) and receiving the residence card
3-6 monthsAfter arriving in Portugal you have to register with AIMA (the local branch of the Agency for Integration) and apply for a residence card. The wait for the first residence card runs from 3 to 6 months, and during it you may live in the country on the visa.
Who you can bring with you
Family members, including a spouse and children, can be included in the D7 visa application or file separate applications, with the financial requirement adjusted accordingly.
Spouse
Children under 18 and other dependants
Adult children (over 18)
Renewal and the grace period
The first residence card is issued for two years. Once that first two-year period ends, the card can be renewed for three years. Any later renewal also runs for three years. The overall maximum period of continuous residence before moving to permanent residence is therefore five years.
Documents and programme requirements
- 1An income from €920/month
- 2A home rented for a year
- 3An account with a Portuguese bank
How the process runs
3–6 months- Step 1We check the income and the documents against this year's consulate requirements.
- Step 2We arrange the NIF tax number and open an account with a Portuguese bank.
- Step 3We find and arrange the housing — a one-year tenancy agreement or a purchase.
- Step 4We prepare the pack and book the D7 visa appointment at the consulate.
- Step 5Entry into Portugal on the visa.
- Step 6Filing for the residence card with the AIMA immigration authority and receiving the status.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NHR tax regime apply to new D7 applicants?
What income is needed for the D7?
Do I have to live in Portugal on a D7?
Does the D7 suit a remote worker?
Sources
- Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira — IFICI FAQ (the regime that replaced NHR)
- Diário da República — Lei n.º 82/2023, art. 236 (abolition of NHR from 1.01.2024)
- Portal das Vistos Nacionais (Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — income criteria for national visas
- Diário da República — Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025 (minimum wage €920/month from 1.01.2026)
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