What is the D7 visa?
The Portuguese government introduced a special type of visa in 2007: the D7 Visa. It is also known as Portugal 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 school 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 AIMA (which was known as SEF before). You will 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 who 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
- You minor siblings
Portugal D7 Visa Requirements: Eligibility Criteria
There is a set of criteria to be eligible for the Portugal D7 Visa. You can apply for D7 visa Portugal if you meet the Portuguese D7 visa requirements:
- Are a non-EU national,
- Have the funds to support yourself during your stay in Portugal,
- Have a clean criminal record,
- Can show a residence address in Portugal,
- Are able to spend at least 16 months in Portugal during the first 2-year period.
Finances for Portugal’s D7 Visa Application
It is understandable that your Portugal D7 Visa application will need some financial requirements and implications to be met. There are some financial considerations to prove that you meet the D7 visa conditions and that living in Portugal is sustainable for you.
What are the Tax Implications for D7 Visa Holders?
Becoming a tax resident of Portugal through the D7 Visa means that there are tax obligations you need to understand and be aware of from the beginning of your journey. To become an official tax resident in Portugal, the requirement is to stay in the country for more than 183 days in a given fiscal year or to have a residence in Portugal by the end of the year. When you become a Portuguese tax resident, the change for you is that your worldwide income becomes subject to Portuguese tax.
However, before the old NHR regime ended in 2023, the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) helped benefit from reduced tax rates for a specific period of up to ten years. The new Portuguese government is planning to create a new NHR program in June 2024 with the aim of supporting high-skilled professionals.
The new NHR regime is to provide potential tax advantages on foreign-sourced income for identified applicants. This new NHR system is expected to offer fixed or lower rates for various income types.
Cost of Living as Another Consideration
You can live in Portugal with your passive income but it helps to learn the cost of living and the financial environment in Portugal. So you need to think about your financial planning, and it is crucial that you need to be able to cover the cost of living expenses needed in Portugal. Remember that it changes according to region and the lifestyle choices you make. So you may need to make a deeper analysis yourself considering the location you will be living in. However, in general, the cost of living in Portugal is quite lower than in many Western European countries.
Portuguese minimum wage is important as it might help you understand the baseline idea of living costs in Portugal. Having a general idea of estimated monthly expenses, including housing, utilities, food, transportation, and healthcare, can also be supportive of making a budget plan.
Banking Requirements for Portugal’s D7 Visa
Financial stability is important to prove when the goal is to secure your D7 Visa. You can achieve this goal through your Portuguese bank account.
Your bank statements will show proof of your monthly passive income for the prior six months. When it comes to your minimum income, you need €820 monthly passive income at least. It becomes €9,840 when calculated per year. If you plan family inclusion, you may consider an additional 50% for your spouse and 30% for each child as well. Opening a bank account in Portugal is a similar process. You need to be in Portugal in person or have a power of attorney from Portugal. The most necessary documentation to open a bank account in Portugal will be your passport, your tax number (NIF), and your proof of address.
Get Golden Visa: Who We Are And What We Do
Get Golden Visa is a full-service investment immigration agency & investment advisory company. We provide end-to-end solutions on residence and citizenship by investment programs in numerous countries worldwide.
We have a local office in Lisbon, Portugal with legal professionals and chartered real estate professionals in our team.
We work with clients from all around the world, interested in obtaining Portugal Golden Visas, D7 Visas, and in making real estate investments in Portugal.
Contact us and talk to one of our experienced team members to help you with any questions you might have on how to apply for D7 visa Portugal.
Application Process for the D7 Visa
Step 1: 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 number. 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.
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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.
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Step 3: D7 Visa Application at the Portuguese Consulate
You will need to apply online for an appointment at the Portuguese consulate in your current region. The exact required documents can change between regions. In most cases, you will need the following documents:
- A passport valid for at least six months after the expiry date of the Portugal passive income visa
- Two recent colored passport-sized photos
- A declaration outlining reasons for obtaining Portuguese residency
- Health insurance policy which provides coverage in Portugal
- Alternatively, you can offer an affidavit stating that you will acquire health insurance in Portugal within 90 days of arriving there
- Criminal record certificate
- Travel insurance
- Evidence of having accommodation in Portugal. This could be a title deed, rental agreement, or property loan agreement
- Proof of sufficient finances available to the applicant in Portugal
- Proof of having a reasonable net regular passive income
- To be eligible you must prove that you have pensions or income amounting for 12 months: €8,460 for the applicant, plus 50 percent of this amount for your spouse and 30 percent for each dependent child.
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Step 4: Applying for a Residence Permit in Portugal
If you wish to apply for the D7 passive income resident permit then you need to enter Portugal with the D7 visa after the steps mentioned above. The special visa allows you a maximum of two entries and to live in Portugal for up to 4 months. During those four months, you’ll need to enter Portugal and apply for a residence permit.
To apply for a resident permit, you’ll need the following documents:
- Your passport which contains the D7 visa issued by the Portuguese consulate in your region
- Proof of accommodation (the same one you submitted to the Portuguese consulate)
- Proof of sufficient financial means (the same one you submitted to the Portuguese consulate)
- Health insurance policy in case you acquired it in Portugal
In general, it’s a smart idea to consult a professional as the bureaucratic system can be a bit complicated, you can always contact us with all your questions.
The Time Frame of D7 Visa and Residence Permit
Acquiring all of the documents will usually take about a month. We highly recommend that you hire a specialist to help you collect all the required documents, otherwise it might take you months just to find the right ones.
As for the Consulate and the Visa Application Center, the procedure can take up to 60 days to be ready. That is, of course, in the case that all the correct documents are submitted directly and that the process is well-formed. In the case where there’s a missing form or a badly filled one, this process will take significantly longer. Each time a mistake is discovered, the consulate will inform you, and you will often have to appear in-person to fill in the gaps or clarify any issues.
Once in Portugal, the first thing you will need to do is apply to AIMA (SEF). The time it takes to obtain the residence permit depends greatly on where you choose to live. In Lisbon or Porto, for example, it may take an average of 120 days to get an appointment with SEF. This is due to the high demand there. However, if you choose to live in the countryside or in a less populous city, then you might be able to get an appointment with AIMA (SEF) within 15 days.
Residency and Citizenship Pathways through D7 Visa Portugal
The Portugal D7 Visa process might make you wonder about the roads to residency or citizenship. Throughout this process, you will need to renew residency permits to meet the qualifications for permanent residency in Portugal, and in the end, you may go after the option of applying for Portuguese citizenship.
Renewal Process of Residency
When you get your D7 Visa, initially you can receive a temporary residency in Portugal. It is a residency permit that is valid for two years. If you aim to continue your stay in Portugal after two years of your permit, you need to remember to renew it before the expiration date of the validity. When you complete the first renewal, you will also receive a two-year extension.
There are some requirements to ensure the renewal of your residency permit. You need to stay in the country for a minimum of 16 months within the first two-year period of your residency. Also, you are expected to maintain a stable income and meet the minimum requirements.
Achieving Permanent Residency
You can meet the eligibility criteria for Portugal’s permanent residency when you complete five years of legal residency in the country, including the time you spent in temporary residence.
Applying to Citizenship
When it comes to applying for Portuguese citizenship, five years of permanent residence is required as well.
How is Life in Portugal?
There are many aspects of evaluation when you are planning your retirement or becoming a digital nomad in Portugal. The living conditions are considered, including the healthcare system in the country, accommodation options, and more lifestyle choices as a retiree or digital nomad.
Healthcare System in Portugal
Portugal has a comprehensive and cost-effective public healthcare system. Being a Portuguese resident under the D7 Visa will grant you access to this system.
Real Estate and Accommodation Options
You will find many opportunities in Portugal regarding real estate and accommodation. You can buy property in Portugal or enter into a rental agreement. There are various options depending on the region you choose, whether it is in the center of Lisbon and Porto or around the Algarve region, which promises a more serene environment.
Retirees Living in Portugal as a Retiree
If you are a retiree and planning to live in Portugal through a D7 Visa, you will discover many benefits in addition to the relaxing lifestyle and temperate climate of this country. You will also have simpler access to visit other European countries with your D7 Visa as an appeal for Portuguese residency.
Potential Challenges
In order to prevent the potential challenges of applying for a D7 Visa, being prepared will help you. As long as you meet the income requirements, residency obligations, and all other needed procedures, you will have higher possibilities to have a smooth process when you are applying for this visa type.
D7 Visa Portugal 2024: The Cost of the Portuguese D7 Visa
The actual government fees for Portugal’s D7 visa are very small. They are usually between €50 to €300 per applicant. The primary costs will be the relocation, rent or purchase of property, professional fees, and so on.
The Minimum Stay Requirements for the D7 Visa Portugal
The priority to get the expected outcome can be reachable by meeting the D7 Visa Portugal requirements. If the individual doesn’t meet the minimum stay requirements without demonstrating justifiable reasons to be absent from the country, their residence permit may be canceled.
- To hold on to the temporary residence permit, individuals shouldn’t be absent from the country for six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months within the overall validity period of the residency.
- To keep the permanent residence permit, individuals shouldn’t be absent from the country for 24 consecutive months or 30 non-consecutive months within three years.
In particular cases where specific provisions are applied, this practice may change. Under some circumstances, such as professional duties and force majeure reasons, the said periods of absence may be exceeded.
If you found this article insightful, you can also take a look at “Portugal Digital Nomad Visa” and check other possibilities.
Comparison of D7 and Portugal Golden Visa
There are some factors that differentiate two programs Before we explain further, we can start with the top distinction factor; application motivations. If you are planning to get residency in Portugal by investing in or planning a plan B by getting residency by investment in Portugal, you can follow the route to Portugal Golden Visa.
However, D7 Visa mostly relies on your passive income, and you do not need to make an investment whereas you are expected to, for instance, make a 500 Euros fund investment to apply for a Portuguese Golden Visa. There are also some other investment options with different criteria. Check out them here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become a Portuguese Citizen with a D7 visa?
Yes, you can. The residence permit under this visa is granted for one year. After this year, you can renew this visa for successive periods of 2 years. After five years of legal residence, you can apply for a permanent residence permit or Portuguese citizenship.
Is Portugal a Good Place for Retirement?
Portugal has attracted retirees for decades. It has high living standards, low cost of living, excellent healthcare, and many social activities for retirees. All of this makes retiring in Portugal a very attractive option. Portugal Retirement Visa (Portugal D7 Visa) is an option to move to Portugal and find your most convenient spot for retirement.
Is Portugal Expensive?
Not at all. As a matter of fact, the cost of living in Portugal is very cheap when you look at the quality of life there. A couple can comfortably live in a small town in Portugal for €1,500-2,000 for a month.
What is NHR?
The New Non-Habitual NHR Program is announced in June 2024 and is expected to provide benefits to non-habitual residents in Portugal.
What is NIF number?
NIF number is your legal taxation number in Portugal. With your NIF number, you can carry out fiscal activities in the country.
Can I live Portugal as a crypto trader?
Bitcoin is tax-free in Portugal, this is why many crypto traders are moving into the country. Make sure you speak to a lawyer and accountant before planning your relocation.
Who is eligible for a D7 Visa in Portugal?
The D7 Visa is commonly known as the Passive Income Visa. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss residents with a consistent, foreign-sourced income are eligible to apply for Portugal’s D7 Visa. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old, have a clean criminal background, and have private health insurance. The main criteria is to prove that you own a minimum passive income of €8,460 per year (around $9,700). If you have dependents, the sum increases. You are expected to demonstrate €4,230 for a spouse and €2,538 for each dependent child.
What is the disadvantage of a D7 Visa in Portugal?
One disadvantage can be considered as the need for minimum income. However, it is not as high as the financial proof expected by some other visa programs. Still, to keep your visa status, you must show this passive income on a consistent basis.
What is the income requirement for retirement visa in Portugal?
The D7 Visa is generally referred to as a retirement visa, but there is no age requirement. The emphasis is on establishing a consistent passive income that meets the minimal requirement (€8,460 per year for a single applicant). This income can be derived from pensions, rental properties, investments, or other non-employment sources. You can apply for the D7 Visa at any age.
Can you buy property in Portugal with a D7 Visa?
You are not required to own a property in Portugal to get a D7 visa. You can either rent or buy a home to reside in.
