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Portuguese Republic · residence general · Leads to settlement

D7 visa (passive income / retirement)

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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.
Processing time
The official decision deadline for this residence visa is 60 days after an admissible application; consular access and the later AIMA stage can make the end-to-end timeline longer.
Government fees
EUR 90 national residence-visa fee. AIMA residence-permit fees are separate and follow its current fee table.
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 ↗

In short

As of 1 August 2026, the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) for Portuguese Republic has a typical government cost of about €90 and typical processing of 2 months (Published consular deadline; excludes the separate post-arrival AIMA residence-permit process.). Sources: official Portuguese Republic government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/portugal/d7-passive-income#answer

What is the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) in Portuguese Republic?

D7 visa (passive income / retirement) is an unsponsored Portugal route. Indicative government fees are EUR 90 national residence-visa fee. AIMA residence-permit fees are separate and follow its current fee table; indicative processing time is The official decision deadline for this residence visa is 60 days after an admissible application; consular access and the later AIMA stage can make the end-to-end timeline longer; typical duration is 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. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Portuguese Government on 21 July 2026.

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.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

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.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For D7 visa (passive income / retirement), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official D7 visa (passive income / retirement) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to PortugalFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

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

Fees and processing time

A typical D7 visa (passive income / retirement) application runs about €90 in government fees (single applicant, confirmed consular fee only). A decision then typically takes 2 months (Published consular deadline; excludes the separate post-arrival AIMA residence-permit process.). Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

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Frequently asked questions

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.

My remote income is below the D8 threshold — is the D7 a lower-income alternative?+

The D7 has a lower income bar — regular monthly passive income of at least the Portuguese minimum wage (approximately €920/month in 2026) — but it is built around passive income such as pensions, rental, or dividends, and active remote-work income can be classified as active rather than passive by the consulate, which is a common D7 blocker. Verify the current figure on the VistosMNE portal.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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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: 21 July 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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