Chinese applicants · Portuguese Republic

D7 visa (passive income / retirement) for Chinese citizens

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Residence visa for non-EU retirees and other applicants who can live from stable income of their own.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyResidence visa valid for the entry/residence process; temporary residence generally 2 years then a 3-year renewal. Permanent residence may be available after 5 years; naturalisation generally requires 7 years of legal residence for eligible EU/CPLP nationals and 10 years for other foreign nationals.

This page covers the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) specifically for Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.

Processing time
2 monthsPublished consular deadline; excludes the separate post-arrival AIMA residence-permit process.
Worked-example cost
€90
Typical duration
Residence visa valid for the entry/residence process; temporary residence generally 2 years then a 3-year renewal. Permanent residence may be available after 5 years; naturalisation generally requires 7 years of legal residence for eligible EU/CPLP nationals and 10 years for other foreign nationals.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Portuguese Government

Bilateral context

  • Schengen Area

Consular processing: Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou

Tourist entry vs. this route

Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Portuguese Republic. The D7 visa (passive income / retirement) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.

Key figures for Chinese applicants

Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.

Salary you must earn

€11,040/yr

D7 — passive income minimum

Verified 1 January 2026 · Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs — National visas

Worked-example route cost

€90

Single applicant, confirmed consular fee only

Fees are assessed per application and post-arrival residence service. Confirm each family member with the competent consular post and current AIMA table; financial-means uplifts are eligibility evidence, not fees.

Verified 21 July 2026 · gov.pt - Residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income

How long it takes

2 months

Portugal government guidance gives a 60-day deadline for the residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income.

Published consular deadline; excludes the separate post-arrival AIMA residence-permit process.

Verified 10 September 2026 · gov.pt - Residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income

Time to permanent residence

Arrival → permanent residence eligibility at 5 years → citizenship eligibility at 10 years for most non-EU/CPLP applicants under the law effective 19 May 2026.

Leads to Autorização de Residência Permanente, then Portuguese citizenship.

Diário da República - Organic Law 1/2026

Visa overview

Portugal's D7 is the commonly used name for the residence-visa route for retirees and people living from income of their own. Applicants must prove the source, amount and availability in Portugal of qualifying income, together with accommodation, insurance and criminal-record evidence. The entry visa leads to an AIMA residence-permit application; temporary residence is generally issued for two years and renewed for three. Permanent residence may be available after five years. Citizenship now has a separate, longer residence clock: under the law effective from 19 May 2026, eligible EU and CPLP nationals generally need seven years of legal residence, while other foreign nationals generally need ten years and must meet the other naturalisation conditions.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • Evidence of pension or other income of your own, including its amount and availability in Portugal for at least 12 months.Portuguese Republic official gazette
  • 2026 baseline means: EUR 920/month for the first adult, EUR 460/month for each additional adult and EUR 276/month for each child or dependent — respectively EUR 11,040, EUR 5,520 and EUR 3,312 for 12 months.Portuguese Republic official gazette
  • Accommodation in Portugal and travel medical insurance for the visa stage.Portuguese Government
  • Required criminal-record documents and permission for the Portuguese authorities to check the Portuguese criminal record.Portuguese Government

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Confirm the competent filing post

    Use the official service page and current consular notices to establish where your application can actually be accepted before paying for time-sensitive documents.

  2. Calculate and document the household means

    Build evidence for 12 months using the 2026 first-adult, additional-adult and dependent amounts, and show the money or income is available in Portugal.

  3. Secure accommodation and supporting documents

    Prepare accommodation, insurance and criminal-record documents in the form required by the competent post.

  4. File the residence-visa application

    Submit through the competent Portuguese post or its instructed channel. The official decision deadline is 60 days once the application is admissible.

  5. Enter Portugal and complete the AIMA stage

    Follow the visa instructions, attend the AIMA process and provide the residence-stage evidence, including tax and social-security registration where applicable.

  6. Renew and plan the long-term route

    Temporary residence is generally 2 years plus a 3-year renewal. Permanent residence may be available after 5 years; naturalisation generally requires 7 years of legal residence for eligible EU/CPLP nationals and 10 years for other foreign nationals.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check the official D7 service

    Confirm eligibility, required documents, competent post and the official 60-day decision period.

    Portuguese Government · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check AIMA residence requirements

    Prepare for the residence-permit stage and check current AIMA requirements and fees.

    AIMA · verified

Other Portuguese Republic routes covered for Chinese applicants

Not sure Portuguese Republic is right for you? Compare similar routes

Other countries offer residence general routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.

Frequently asked questions

Are Chinese citizens eligible for the D7 visa (passive income / retirement)?+

Eligibility for the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) is set by Portuguese Government. Chinese applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

Where do Chinese applicants typically file the D7 visa (passive income / retirement)?+

Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Portuguese Government — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.

Do Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for Portuguese Republic as well?+

Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Portuguese Republic. The D7 visa (passive income / retirement) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.

How much does the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) cost for a Chinese applicant?+

The stored worked example (Single applicant, confirmed consular fee only) totals about €90. Fees are assessed per application and post-arrival residence service. Confirm each family member with the competent consular post and current AIMA table; financial-means uplifts are eligibility evidence, not fees. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: gov.pt - Residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income, verified 21 July 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.

What salary do Chinese applicants need for the D7 visa (passive income / retirement)?+

The D7 — passive income minimum floor is €11,040/yr, effective 1 January 2026 (Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs — National visas). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.

How long does the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) take to process from China?+

Portugal government guidance gives a 60-day deadline for the residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income. Published consular deadline; excludes the separate post-arrival AIMA residence-permit process. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: gov.pt - Residence visa for retirees and people living on their own income, verified 10 September 2026.

How long until permanent residence in Portuguese Republic?+

Arrival → permanent residence eligibility at 5 years → citizenship eligibility at 10 years for most non-EU/CPLP applicants under the law effective 19 May 2026. The route leads to Autorização de Residência Permanente, then Portuguese citizenship. See Diário da República - Organic Law 1/2026 for the qualifying-residence rules.

Does the D7 route lead to permanent residence or citizenship?+

It can. Temporary residence is generally issued for 2 years and renewed for 3, and permanent residence may be available after 5 years if the conditions are met. Citizenship has a different clock under the law effective 19 May 2026: 7 years for eligible EU or CPLP nationals and 10 years for other foreign nationals, plus the other naturalisation requirements.

How much income is required in 2026?+

The statutory calculation uses the EUR 920 monthly minimum wage: 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child or dependent. For 12 months, that is EUR 11,040, EUR 5,520 and EUR 3,312 respectively. The competent post assesses the evidence and availability in Portugal.

Is a NIF or Portuguese bank account always a consular prerequisite?+

The national rules require proof that qualifying income is available in Portugal, but the official gov.pt D7 document list does not state a NIF or Portuguese bank account as a universal visa-stage prerequisite. AIMA does require tax registration at the residence stage where applicable. Follow any additional checklist issued by the competent post.

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Portuguese Government

Last checked: 1 August 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology