The D7 visa in Portugal to move abroad with passive income

Do you have a passive income and want to move abroad?

Portugal is one of the most attractive European destinations for expats, thanks to its living environment, mild climate, and relatively affordable cost of living.

A few years ago, the country introduced the D7 visa. Its objective is to simplify administrative procedures for people living on passive income.

In this guide, we explain how this visa works, what are the conditions to be met, the minimum income required and what steps to follow to obtain one. Let’s get started!

Key points to remember

• The D7 visa is a residence permit for foreign nationals who wish to reside in Portugal living off their passive income;
• This income includes retirement pensions, rental income, and dividends;
• The D7 visa is also for nationals wishing to exercise religious functions in Portugal;
• It is valid for 4 months (120 days), during which the holder must apply for a residence permit to be able to live in Portugal ;
• The D7 visa allows two entries into the country during its period of validity;
• The processing time for the request is approximately 60 working days;
• The visa is also valid for family (spouse, children or dependent parents).

What is the D7 visa in Portugal?

The D7 visa is a Portuguese residency visa, often touted as a passive income visa, for individuals with sufficient passive income to live in Portugal.

Eligibility for a D7 visa is for non-EU, EEA, or Swiss foreign nationals, as long as they can prove regular and stable passive income.

The visa application is made at the Portuguese consulate in the country of origin. Once obtained, it constitutes an official route to residency and residency in Portugal, provided that it is made your main residence and that you meet specific financial, administrative and residence criteria. It allows you to stay in Portugal for 4 months in order to apply for a residence permit.

What is the minimum passive income required?

Candidates must have a stable passive income of at least €11,040 per year, or around €1,000 per month for a single person, with a reference threshold at least equal to the Portuguese minimum wage, which is €920 (index May 2026).

If you are planning an expatriation with your family, this income increases according to the number of dependents: 50% for the spouse (i.e. an additional €460 per month) and 30% for each child (i.e. €276 per month).

For example, the reference threshold for a single person is around €1,000 per month, then increases according to family composition.

Income requirements for the Portuguese D7 visa

Applicant	Minimum monthly income	Minimum annual income
Single candidate	920 €	11 040 €
Married couple	1 380 €	16 560 €
Dependant child	1 656 €	19 872 €

Note : For religious people, the minimum income can be reduced by 50% or more if proof of accommodation is provided.

What documents do I need to present?

To apply for a D7 visa, you must provide the following documents:

• A completed and signed application form
• Two recent passport-sized passport photos
• A passport valid for at least 3 months after the duration of the stay
• Proof of legal status if you are applying from a country other than your home country
• Valid travel insurance
• A clean criminal record
• Evidence of sufficient financial resources (rental income, investments, intellectual property, dividends, etc.)
• Proof of accommodation
• A document attesting to the availability of this income in Portugal
• For retirees, additional documents are required:
  • A document attesting to the amount of the pension;
  • A document guaranteeing the payment of the pension even from abroad.

For persons engaged in religious activities, a document attesting to religious status is required.

How long does it take to get the D7 visa?

The Portuguese authorities process D7 visa applications within a maximum of 60 working days.

How to get the D7 visa in Portugal?

1. Apply for a Tax Identification Number (TIN)

This first step may be surprising, but obtaining a tax identification number is mandatory. It will allow you to open a bank account in order to transfer your passive income.

The application for the NIF is free of charge and can be done entirely online through the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority’s electronic portal.

Find all the necessary information on the government’s dedicated page: the NIF for foreign citizens.

2. Open a bank account and transfer funds

Once you have obtained your TIN, you need to open a Portuguese bank account and transfer funds to it corresponding to about one year’s living expenses, or 11,040 euros if you apply alone.

3. Find accommodation

At the same time, you must find accommodation in order to obtain proof of accommodation.

You can rent or buy a property, but it is generally advisable to rent, as a property purchase can require several weeks of administrative and legal procedures.

Tip : We recommend that you search for accommodation on Idealista Portugal or Imovirtual, two very effective local platforms.

4. Apply for a D7 visa

You can then submit your D7 visa application at an appointment with the relevant Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country of residence, making sure to select the correct type of visa in the file. This step launches the application before the formalities with AIMA on your arrival.

Don’t forget to gather all the necessary documents beforehand to save time in the process.

5. Apply for a residence permit

Once you have obtained the D7 visa, you will need to apply for a residence permit with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) as soon as you arrive in Portugal.

This permit is valid for 2 years, provided that you reside in the country for at least 16 months during this period.

What other visas are available to move to Portugal?

Portugal mainly has 7 types of visas:

• Tourist: valid for 90 days for a first stay in the country;
• Work: to work in Portugal;
• Entrepreneur (D2 visa): for entrepreneurs or independent professionals, usually with a solid project supported by a business plan;
• Highly Skilled Profile (D3 Visa): for highly qualified applicants;
• Digital nomad (D8 visa): for digital nomads and other people working remotely, especially for a foreign company; income from teleworking or freelancing is no longer covered by the D7 visa;
• Student and researcher (D4 visa): for those who wish to pursue their higher education in Portugal or work as researchers;
• Golden Visa: for investors willing to invest at least €250,000 in the country.

What is life like in Portugal?

After a few days in Portugal, most expats highlight its quality of life, with a very pleasant living environment and a mild Mediterranean climate. The cost of living in Portugal is lower than in many Western European countries, and above all there is a strong sense of security.

It must be said that Portugal is ranked 7th safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index 2026.

The health system is also of good quality, supported by public health insurance. Although reliable, it has some limitations, such as the impossibility of freely choosing one’s health provider, and sometimes there are long waiting times due to a shortage of medical staff.

For more comprehensive coverage and flexibility, many expats choose international expat health insurance in Portugal. This is valid in Portugal and around the world, and allows access to private hospitals and clinics of your choice, with reduced waiting times.

At Global Health, a specialist in insurance for people with a mobile lifestyle, we offer personalised health plans, designed 100% for expats!