Portugal D7 Visa: The Ultimate Guide

The Portuguese government introduced a special type of visa in 2023-24: the D7 Visa.  It is also known as Retirement Visa or Passive Income Visa.

This residence visa allows any non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who has a reasonable net regular passive income to apply for residency in Portugal. This income can be from pensions, transferable equity, real estate, intellectual property, or financial investment.

The minimum required value to be eligible for this visa is a yearly income of €8,460, plus 50 percent of this amount for the spouse and 30 percent for each dependent child. This is regardless of the person’s country of origin.

This visa allows you and your family legal residence in Portugal. It is intended to attract retirees and those living on passive income to reside in Portugal in an effort to boost the economy. Additionally, holders of this visa are not precluded from having a professional activity in Portugal.

You can apply for the D7 visa at the Portuguese consulate through a series of residence applications. After you have your visa, your immediate family also becomes entitled to a residence permit there under the family reunification regulations.

Additionally, this visa allows you to travel through the Schengen zone Visa-Free as it is registered with the Schengen Information system.

Benefits of the Passive Income D7 Visa in Portugal

High-Mobility

The D7 visa allows you visa-free entry and circulation through the Schengen Area.

Permanent Residency and Eventual Citizenship

Once you have the D7 visa you are allowed to obtain a residence permit in Portugal for one year. After that, you can renew for two years successively.

After five years of legal residency, you may apply for permanent residency. You can also apply to become a Portuguese National through naturalization. However, to be naturalized in Portugal you’ll have to pass a Portuguese language test.

Resident’s Rights in Portugal

Once you become a resident in Portugal you become entitled to certain benefits offered by the state. These benefits include:

• Access to the National Health Service Care
• Access to the National Education Service and schools in Portugal
• Conducting any professional activity as an independent professional
• Access and protection from the Portuguese Law and Legal System
• Access to Vocational Schooling in Portugal

Family Reunification

Once you have the D7 visa your family is entitled to join you in Portugal. You’ll need to request family reunification in SEF. You’ll have to legally prove your relationship to all and any members of your family whom you wish to include under this program.

The following is the list of family members that may qualify for family reunification under the D7 visa:

• Your spouse or partner
• Your children under 18 years of age, or incapacitated children of the couple or of one of their spouses/partners
• Children over 18 years of age who are dependent on you or your spouse. This means that they are single and studying in an educational establishment
• Your parents or your spouse/partner’s parents, as long as they are dependent on you

Portugal D7 Visa Requirements: Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a D7 visa, you must fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

• Evidence of passive income. The passive income must be at least the minimum salary required in Portugal, which is 8,460€ per year.
• Get a Portuguese NIF number. The NIF number (Numero de Identificacao Fiscal) allows you to do business and financial activities in Portugal. You can apply for a NIF number at a Finance service center in Portugal.
• Open a Portuguese bank account. Your funds can be valid only after you open a Portuguese bank account and get a NIF number.
• Residency in Portugal for at least 16 months. In the first two years in Portugal, you must stay in the country for a minimum of 16 months.
• Application Process for the D7 Visa
• Step1: Acquiring a NIF Number and Opening a Bank Account
• The first thing you will need to do before any legal procedures in Portugal is to obtain a NIF(Numero de Identificacao Fiscal) This number is your legal taxation number and it allows you to carry out fiscal activities in the country. You can have a power of attorney obtain that number for you without the need to enter Portugal.
• After you acquire the NIF number you need to open a bank account in Portugal, which can also be done remotely.

§  Step 2: Securing Your Accommodation

• As part of the d7 visa application process, you will need to secure adequate accommodation in Portugal. You can do this by renting or buying property there.

Requirements for the Portugal D7 Visa

The following documents are required for a D7 visa for Portugal:

• Your valid passport.You must submit a passport that is valid six months after your D7 visa expiration date.
• Passive Income D7 Visa Application Form. You should complete the D7 visa application form correctly. You can find the application form on the Portuguese government webpage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Evidence of passive income.You must submit bank statements, a work contract, or any other document which proves that you will receive a passive income during your stay in Portugal.
• Proof of accommodation.You can prove that you have accommodation in Portugal by showing a rental agreement or proof that you have a property in Portugal.
• Passport-sized photos. You must submit two photos according to the Schengen visa application photo requirements.
• Cover letter.You should state why you want to stay, your financial status, and other important information about your job in a cover letter.
• Health insurance. You need travel insurance which is valid in Portugal and covers up to €30,000 during the initial period of your stay. After you enter, you must register for long-term health insurance, either private or public, which must be valid for the entire time you live in Portugal.
• Clean criminal record. You must prove that you have a clean criminal record by taking it to the competent authorities in your home country.

How to Apply for a Portugal D7 Visa?

To apply for a Portugal D7 visa, you must follow the steps below.

1. Arrange an appointment with the Portugal Embassy. You must schedule an appointment at the nearest Portugal Embassy.
2. Submit the required documents. After you have gathered the required documents for applying for a Portuguese D7 visa, you should submit them either by mail or in person, depending on the embassy where you are applying.
3. Travel to Portugal and register your residence. When your D7 visa is issued, you have to enter Portugal and go to the SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or Foreigners and Borders Service) within three working days to obtain your residence permit.

Attend the interview. Once you register your residence permit, you should attend the Portugal D7 residence permit i