Discover the requirements, documents, procedures, rights, and duties of the D7 Visa for individuals with passive income.

Last Updated on October 28, 2024 by Laila Oliveira

Passive income earners can’t say no to this! As you’ve probably heard, Portugal is a very attractive destination for those who want to enjoy life with great weather, excellent quality of life, and tax benefits. So if you’re someone with passive income, the D7 Visa can be your way to Portugal.

Pensions aren’t the only recognized source of passive income. Check out all the other ways you can live in Portugal without working here. Pretty soon, you’ll understand why retirees flock to this country and spend the rest of their lives near a stunning beach.

Who can apply? What documents do you need to present? How much income do you need to prove for one individual? We’ll answer all these questions and much more. Keep reading to learn the procedure and how you can qualify for the Portugal D7 Visa (Portugal Passive Income Visa)!

What is the D7 Visa to Portugal?

The D7 visa is intended for non-EU citizens who hold the minimum passive income requirements.

This visa, also known as a Visa for pensioners, grants its holder permission to enter Portugal and to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit.

This is one of many residency types of visas to Portugal.

Brief considerations about visas to Portugal

Before jumping to the main topic, it is worth spending some time explaining the process of obtaining a residence-type visa to Portugal.

Visas to live in Portugal

The initial procedure for obtaining a visa normally occurs at the Portuguese Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

The Consulate will make a prior analysis of the documents that you submitted. If they meet the requirements, the visa will be granted.

After obtaining the requested visa (which consists of an authorization stamped in your passport), the second stage of the procedure begins.

In this stage, you will apply for a temporary residence permit in Portugal.

So, briefly:

  • 1st Stage – Country of residence: The initial procedure to apply for a residence visa takes place at the Portuguese Consulate. 
  • 2nd Stage – In Portugal: You already have a visa stamped in your passport and will apply for a temporary residence permit at AIMA (formerly SEF) in Portugal.

However, although we have introduced the process of obtaining a Residence Permit, there are other types of visas for moving to Portugal, which vary according to the reason for residing in Portugal.

In this sense, the D7 Visa is intended for those who have passive income.

This visa will allow its holder to apply for a Residence Permit in Portugal, which is valid for 2 years, and renewable.

Beyond the D7 visa: Know the other types of visas

In addition to the Residence Visa, there are other types of visas to choose, as displayed in the table below:

Type of VisaSchengen VisaTemporary Stay VisaTemporary Residence Visa (or National Visa)
AuthorizationEntry into Portugal and countries that comprise the Schengen zoneStay in Portugal for up to 1 yearStay in Portugal for more than 1 year
Approval TypeVisa stamped in the passportVisa stamped in the passportVisa stamped in the passport that needs to be converted into a Residence Permit
Validity90 daysUp to 1 yearMore than 1 year

In this sense, the D7 Visa is a Residence Visa, as it happens with the D2 Visa (Business), the D1 Visa (Work), among others.

The D7 visa allows the applicant to obtain the Residence Permit once in Portugal.

Also, after residing in Portugal for 5 years, its holder may apply for a Permanent Residence Permit and Portuguese nationality.

Requirements for the Portugal D7 Visa

To obtain the D7 Visa, it will be necessary to present some information and documents to the Portuguese Consulate.

Among the documents, proof of passive income is one of the most important.

D7 visa application to Portugal

Check out some of the mandatory documents you need to apply for the D7 Visa (Portugal Passive Income Visa):

  • Passport: Copy of the passport profile page.
  • Proof of Passive Income: Documents that prove the monthly minimum passive income requirements.
  • Personal Statement: Statement that specifies the reasons for applying for the D7 visa, the period intended to reside in Portugal, and the place of accommodation.
  • Proof of Means of Subsistence: Proof of income that allows residence in Portugal for at least 1 year. You must transfer this amount to a Portuguese bank account.
  • Proof of Accommodation: Corresponds to the purchase or rental of a property in Portugal. In some cases, an invitation letter signed by a resident of Portugal is enough.
  • International Travel Medical Insurance: It must be valid for the period of residence in Portugal. The insurance policy must cover repatriation for medical reasons, urgent need for medical care, and emergency hospital treatment.
  • D7 Visa form: Complete the form to apply for the D7 Visa. Any mistake in filling may lead to the denial of the application
  • Criminal Background Certificate: This document must be related to the applicant’s residence country, by local regulations.
  • AIMA authorization: Approval at AIMA (formerly SEF) to consult your Portuguese criminal record, except for minors under 16 years of age.

In addition to the mentioned documents, the applicant may have to submit others, according to the Consulate’s decision.

Timeframe and cost to apply for the D7 visa

The procedure to obtain the above documents usually takes about a month.

The analysis of the process by the Consulate of Portugal can take between 2 to 3 months. This depends on the country where the process starts and the presented documents.

After obtaining the D7 Visa, the applicant will carry out an interview at AIMA in Portugal.

After this, the Residence Permit title will be issued in about 2 to 3 weeks.

The total cost of issuing the visa and residence permit is approximately €150.

Available funds

In addition, one of the most important documents you must present is proof of subsistence in Portugal for the main applicant and family.

This value considers the minimum wage in Portugal, which is €820 per month in 2024.

In this sense, the applicant must include the following information in the process:

Type of documentMinimum valueExample documents
Resources related to passive incomeAt least €9,840 per yearProof of passive income and bank statement proving the income
Resources in PortugalAt least €9,840Bank statement from a Portuguese bank

It is important to mention that the greater the resources available, the greater the chances of obtaining the D7 Visa.

Finally, to move to Portugal with family, the applicant must prove that they have a higher amount of savings. It’s €4,920 extra to bring a partner and €2,952 for each child. As you can tell, Portugal has minimum passive income requirements.

Rights and Duties that come with the Portugal D7 visa

Once you have your D7 Visa, it’s time to enjoy your new life in Portugal! 

Rights the D7 visa grants you

After obtaining your Residence Permit, the citizen will be able to perform some activities, such as:

  • Circulate through the Schengen area countries without needing a visa, limited to 90 days.
  • After obtaining the Utente Number, use the Portuguese Public Health Service.
  • Carry out a professional activity in Portugal.
  • Carry out a business activity in Portugal.
D7 Visa to Portugal - Expats in Lisbon

Duties to consider

In return, the resident must:

  • Not be absent from Portugal for more than 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months;
  • Prove the maintenance of the passive income;
  • Comply with general obligations applicable to citizens residing in Portugal;
  • Declare and pay income tax.

What you can’t do with the D7 visa

The resident citizen will not be able to work in another EU country, as each EU country has its own rules for authorizing work by foreigners.

Working remotely is totally fine, provided that your residence is in Portugal and your income is taxed in accordance with Portuguese laws.

Also, if you have a Residence Permit from another EU country, this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to live in Portugal.

The holder can indeed visit another Schengen country for up to 90 days. Still, to be able to reside and work in Portugal, it is necessary to comply with the requirements to become a Portuguese resident.

Taxation in Portugal

When talking about the Portugal D7 Visa, one of the first questions that come up is related to tax.

Let us consider a situation where a pensioner wants to bring his pension from his country of origin to Portugal.

In this sense, considering that the Portuguese resident receives a pension in his country of origin, how will this income be taxed if transferred to Portugal?

Taxation in Portugal must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, according to the specifics.

However, we can underline that Portugal has a tax regime called Non-Habitual Resident, which allows pensioners to transfer most retirement funds to Portugal and be taxed at a flat rate of 10%, which is a very low rate compared to that applicable in other countries. 

The NHR Regime can help expats with up to 10 years of tax incentives! 

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General rule for taxation

The income from retirement, after being transferred to Portugal, is considered a source of income originating from abroad.

Thus, as a rule, this amount must be declared in the Annual Income Tax Declaration in order to be taxed in Portugal.

Some exceptions may apply, considering the countries involved in this scenario.

Double taxation

It so happens that, currently, many international agreements aim to avoid double taxation of the same revenue by different countries.

The reason for this benefit is that the citizen, as a taxpayer, has already been taxed in the country of origin.

Therefore, no one should be taxed twice for the same income.

In this sense, for countries that have agreements with Portugal to avoid double taxation, as a general rule, income will only be taxed in the country of origin.

But remember, each situation must be analyzed individually.

Non-Habitual Resident

In addition to double taxation agreements, Portugal has a tax regime applicable to most Portuguese residents, including pensioners: The Non-Habitual Resident regime, commonly known as NHR.

Under the NHR, residing in Portugal can pay taxes at a lower rate, even if there is no tax agreement between the countries.

Viv Europe has a Complete Analysis of the Non-Habitual Resident Regime, with all the requirements, rights, and duties regarding this tax benefit.

As of 2024, the NHR Regime has undergone some changes to support the growing economy better. The new tax incentives are for the following:

  • Higher education careers and scientific research teachers;
  • Qualified jobs within the scope of contractual benefits to productive investment;
  • R&D jobs for workers with doctorates within the scope of SIFIDE.

If you already applied for the NHR Regime in 2023 and received your status, new changes will not impact your position as a resident. However, if you’re applying before the end of 2024, you must prove that you started your relocation process in 2023. There are many ways you can do that; check out our complete article on the new NHR changes: NHR Regime in Portugal Updates 2024.

Tax situation in your country of origin

Finally, another important issue concerns the tax situation in the country of origin after moving to Portugal.

In this sense, it is mandatory to analyze the tax situation in the country of origin before deciding to change the address. That’s because after residing for 183 days in Portugal, there is a change of tax domicile to Portugal.

This means that you must comply with Portugal’s tax obligations applicable to those living in this country. Among them is the need to declare and pay the Annual Income Tax (IRS).

It turns out that the registration of tax domicile in Portugal can have consequences in the country of origin, such as, for example, changing the residence status. In this sense, you may have to follow the guidelines of a non-resident citizen in your own country.

This is a complex subject that deserves individual analysis. After all, a wrong decision can cause substantial financial losses.

Applying for the Visa Without Assistance

Is it possible to complete this procedure without assistance? Sure, it is possible, albeit difficult.

The only thing to consider is that the chances of a visa being denied will be higher due to a few reasons:

  • Portugal is a bureaucratic country, which is reflected in the number of documents (not all mentioned on the AIMA website) to be presented in the application.
  • It is mandatory to carry out some activities before arriving in Portugal, such as obtaining a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and a Portuguese bank account.
  • Typically, Portuguese agents speak Portuguese, which can be a difficult barrier to overcome.

Legal processes can be highly confusing at times. This is why people opt to hire an immigration assistance company that can help save their time, effort, and money.

Why are people moving to Portugal?

We know that Portugal has been considered one of the most desired destinations by people who want to spend their free time in a different country.

Cascais, the Algarve coast, and Madeira Island are only some of the preferred destinations. There are many other gems that not all expats have found yet, or keep secret. 

Algarve is a place for retirees to live in Portugal

Among the main reasons why Popular became so popular, we can highlight:

Due to these benefits, the Portuguese Residence Permit has become even more popular in recent years and has turned into a “consumer dream” for many citizens outside Europe.

However, we cannot reduce the benefits resulting from the Residence Permit only to Portugal. Having this document also grants its owner some advantages in other EU countries.

As a result of the mentioned benefits, Portugal has faced an increase in the number of citizens who migrated to this country searching for a quality of life that, quite often, can not be experienced in their own countries.

Do you need help obtaining the Portugal D7 Visa?

In this article, we focused our attention on the Portugal D7 Visa. We verified the requirements to apply for this visa and also some tax-related topics. It’s one of the most requested visas due to the benefits granted to citizens in Portugal.

If you still have doubts or want more information, check out our FAQ about the D7 Visa. Or join our Facebook Group – All About Portugal For Expats, and connect to other Portugal enthusiasts. 

Moving to Portugal can be quite complex, but it is definitely worth it! Book a consultation now and let Viv Europe assist you through the process of obtaining your D7 Visa. Getting it right the first time is better than failing to live your dream again and again!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the D7 Visa?

Passive income in Portugal includes (there can be other sources):

  • Pensions
  • Rents
  • Financial investments (interest)
  • Dividends
  • Intellectual Property
  • Royalties
  • Savings

How much passive income is enough to apply for the D7 Visa?

In addition to depositing a specific amount into a Portuguese bank account, proving the following passive income amount is recommended:

  • Main applicant: €820/month
  • Partner: plus €410/month
  • For each child: add €228/month

Cryptocurrency is not accepted as proof of income in this case.

How do I prove accommodation in Portugal?

Proof of accommodation is an extremely important document in the D7 Visa application process.

Before applying for the Visa, the applicant must rent a property in Portugal and prove it by providing a lease agreement.

For more information about renting a property in Portugal, please click here.

Viv Europe professional real estate agents will gladly help find the perfect property and hassle-free handle all the negotiation, paperwork, and related activities.

What are the costs of the D7 Visa process?

The applicant is responsible for the following expenses:

  • Assistance fees
  • Public fees (charged by government agencies)
  • Process-related costs, such as issuing documents, translation, and notarization

As for assistance fees, each company or law firm can charge its own fees taking into account the expertise, knowledge, and structure of the business. It varies greatly. Public fees also vary, depending on the home country where you apply from.

The cost of issuing the D7 Visa varies between €80 and €100. The Residence Permit card costs around €150.

Other process-related expenses may apply, such as issuing certificates, sending documents through a postal service, etc., and costs vary depending on the applicant’s situation and country of residence.

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What happened in November? 🤯Interest in relocating has surged dramatically! The numbers speak for themselves — over 10,000 Americans moved to Portugal in 2023 alone, a remarkable 45% increase from the previous year. A 2024 InterNations survey revealed key motivations for Americans considering relocation:• 68% seek better work-life balance• 57% prioritize affordability and safetyCurious about what it takes to make the move? From visa options to settling into a new home, we’ve got the expertise to guide you. Check out the full article: viveurope.com/move-to-portugal-from-america/ #americatoportugal #relocationservices #expatsinportugal #uselections ... See MoreSee Less
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