Everything You Need To Know About Portugal's D7 (Retirement) Visa
- World CBI
- 1 day ago
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Launched in 2007, the D7 Visa in Portugal, also known as the Portugal Retirement Visa or Passive Income Visa, is a 2-year temporary residency visa that allows non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, including UK and US citizens. To be eligible, you must comply with the Portugal D7 visa passive income requirements, which are indexed to the Portuguese minimum wage as stated on the official website. As of January 1, 2026, the Portugal D7 Visa minimum passive income requirement is €920 per month, totalling around €11,040 per year. This income can be from pensions, transferable equity, real estate, intellectual property, or financial investment.
The minimum passive income requirement for the D7 Visa in Portugal increases 50% for the spouse and 30% for each dependent child. Once obtained, you can renew it for another 3 years as long as you continue to meet the D7 Visa requirements.
2026 D7 Visa News: Citizenship Law Proposal
On June 23, 2025, the Portuguese government proposed changes to the nationality law that may affect D7 holders seeking Portuguese citizenship through naturalization after 5 years of residency in Portugal.
The draft law includes:
Extending the minimum residency period required to apply for citizenship from 5 years to 10 years
Starting the counting of the citizenship period from the issuance of a residence card, not from the application date
The draft law was resent to parliament by the Constitutional Court on 15 December 2025 in response to the Socialist Party’s “preventive review” request on November 13, 2025.
Is it law yet?
Not yet, the law cannot enter into force as it is; it must wait for parliament to revise or remove the provisions found unconstitutional. For more details, please read Portuguese Nationality Law Change News.
Additionally, as of October 2025, Portugal’s “Lei n.º 61/2025” has come into force. Now, Portugal D7 Visa holders must complete 2 years of residency, then bring their eligible family members to Portugal under the concept of “family reunification”.
Why Americans Retire in Portugal?
Our team at Get Golden Visa has been investigating why Americans are moving abroad since 2022. In 2024, we published our findings in The Great American Exodus. This report showed that Americans were seeking new lifestyles, security, and opportunities beyond the US.
For 2025, we focus specifically on retirement migration, its push-and-pull factors, and top destinations. Among these destinations, Portugal emerges as a top choice for American retirees, thanks to its welcoming residency programs, affordable cost of living, excellent healthcare, and relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle.
To get more insight and read the real-life stories, download your The Great American Retirement Exodus Report now.
What is a Portugal D7 Visa?
The D7 visa allows you and your family legal residence in Portugal. It is intended to attract retirees and others living on passive income to reside in Portugal, and at the same time, boost its 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 obtain your visa, your immediate family is also 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.
The benefits of a Portugal D7 Visa
Through Portugal’s retirement visa, retiring in Portugal can provide you with many benefits:
The D7 visa allows you to travel visa-free through the Schengen Area, giving you greater global mobility to spend your retirement in Europe.
After five* years of legal residency, you may apply for permanent residency. You can also apply to become a Portuguese National through naturalization, subject to the requirements in effect at the time of application.
Once you become a resident in Portugal, you become entitled to certain benefits offered by the state. These benefits include healthcare, education, and the Portuguese legal system. You can also conduct any professional activity as an independent professional.
You can also request a family reunification application in AIMA after 2 years of residency, as of October 2025’s new law.
The D7 Visa has a low rejection rate, making it one of the most accessible Portugal visas for non-EU/Swiss nationals, UK, and US citizens.
Who is Eligible for a Portugal D7 Visa?
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.
1. The Principal Applicant
To qualify:
You must be a non-EU national,
You have the funds to support yourself during your stay in Portugal,
You have a clean criminal record certificate,
You can show a residence address in Portugal,
You can spend at least 16 months in Portugal during the first 2-year period.
You must be at least 18 years old, have a clean criminal background,
You must have private and valid health insurance coverage.
You have to prove that you have a minimum passive income of €920 per month (approximately €11,040 per year).
If you have dependents, the sum increases. You are expected to demonstrate €1.380 for a spouse and €1.196 for each dependent child per month.
2. The Family Members
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 financially 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
Your minor siblings
Portugal D7 Visa Requirements for US citizens
According to SSA’s 2023 data, 10,723 retired Americans receive benefits in Portugal. This is not a coincidence. There are many benefits for Americans in Portugal, such as access to the EU, a double taxation treaty between the two countries, low healthcare costs, and a high quality of life. Plus, they can access free healthcare in Portugal once they become legal residents through available options.
American citizens can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days without a visa. However, if American retirees want to stay longer than this, they must prefer a long-term residence visa. The available options include the Portugal Retirement Visa (D7) and the Portuguese residency-by-investment program.
To qualify for a D7 Visa in Portugal, US citizens must:
Being over 18 years of age
Having enough sources of funds
Showing a residency address in Portugal (a rental or sale contract)
Spending at least 183 days per year in Portugal
Having a clean criminal record
Having a private and valid health insurance
Showing a minimum passive income of €920 (around $1081) per month, €11,040 per year. (Increasing 50% for the spouse and 30% for each dependent child)
Portugal D7 Visa Requirements in 2026
There are criteria for eligibility for the Portugal D7 Visa. You can apply for a D7 visa in Portugal if you meet the Portuguese D7 visa requirements:
Passive Income Requirements for D7 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 (€11,040 per year for a single applicant). This minimum income requirement for Portugal’s Retirement Visa depends on Portugal’s minimum wage.
As of 2026, the minimum wage in Portugal is €920 per month ($1084,97), which accounts for €11,040 per year for a single applicant.
This income can be derived from passive income sources such as:
Pensions
Rental properties
Investments
Non-employment sources
Note that this amount increases 50% for the spouse and 30% for each dependent child. The table below shows a brief example of D7 Visa passive income requirements for families of up to 4.
Application Composition | Monthly Minimum | Yearly Total |
Single Applicant | €920 | €11,040 |
Applicant + Spouse | €1,380 | €16,560 |
Applicant + Spouse + 1 Child | €1,656 | €19,872 |
Applicant + Spouse + 2 Children | €1,932 | €23,184 |
Accommodation Requirements for Portugal D7 Visa
To apply for a Portuguese D7 Visa, you must prove that you have a residency in Portugal. In other words, you either need to show that you own a property or have a long-term rental agreement (12 months or more). Therefore, you must submit either:
Rental agreement
Property deeds
The Minimum Stay Requirements for the D7 Visa Portugal
The priority is to get the expected outcome by meeting the D7 Visa Portugal requirements. If the individual doesn’t meet the minimum stay requirements and doesn’t have justifiable reasons for being absent from the country, their residence permit may be canceled:
To retain the temporary residence permit, individuals shouldn’t be absent from the country for 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months during the overall validity period of the residency.
To keep Portugal 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 certain circumstances, such as professional duties or force majeure, the said periods of absence may be exceeded.
Below, you can see the Portugal D7 visa duration and renewal process based on the minimum residency requirements.
The Minimum Stay Requirements for the D7 Visa Portugal
The priority is to get the expected outcome 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.
Phase | Physical Presence | Renewal | Next Status |
Years 1-2 | 6 consec. or 8 non-consec. months/year | Year 2 | 3-Year Permit |
Years 3-5 | 6 consec. or 8 non-consec. months/year | Year 5 | PR/Citizenship* |
The Required D7 Visa Document Checklist
You can live in Portugal with your sustainable passive income, but it helps to learn about 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 are 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.
The 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 within a day.
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 Portuguese tax number (NIF)
Your proof of address
Motivation Letter for D7 application in Portugal
During your application process, you will be required to submit a motivation letter reflecting your intentions. This letter must include why, how, and when you plan to relocate to Portugal. To do that:
Start by providing basic information about yourself, including your name, nationality, and source of income.
Then you can move on by mentioning why you intend to move to Portugal. If there are any specific reasons, you should indicate them.
Plus, you need to talk about your income sources. Do you receive income from pensions, rental income, dividends, or savings? If your answer is yes, you should highlight each of them in your letter.
After that, you can move on to the next: your banking information. Once you open your Portuguese bank account, you can state it here to highlight your eligibility for the program, as it is one of the requirements. Here, you should also explain how you plan to earn income regularly.
Then comes your accommodation plan in Portugal. You have to provide details on where you will stay during the validity period of your Portugal retirement visa. At this point, you can also state how you can integrate into life here by highlighting that it will be a smooth process. This can be done through learning Portuguese or contributing to society.
How to Apply for the Portugal D7 Visa
Step 1: Acquiring a NIF Number and Opening a Bank Account
The first step before any legal procedures in Portugal is to obtain a NIF (Portuguese Fiscal Number). This number is your legal tax identification number and allows you to conduct fiscal activities in the country. You can have a power of attorney to obtain that number for you, without having to enter Portugal.
After you obtain the NIF number, you can 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.
If you need support finding the right option, Get Properties, our real estate advisory team, can help you identify and secure a home that meets both visa requirements and your personal preferences.
Step 3: D7 Visa Online Application at the Portuguese Consulate
You cannot apply for a Portugal D7 Visa online via the official website. You need to apply online for an appointment at the Portuguese consulate in your current region. The required documents may vary by region.
Step 4: Submit your application for D7 Visa in Portugal
If you wish to apply for the D7 passive income resident permit, you must enter Portugal with the D7 visa after completing the steps mentioned above. The special visa allows you to make up to 2 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 complex. You can always contact us with all your questions.
The Processing Time for the Portugal D7 Visa
Acquiring all the documents usually takes 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.
If a form is missing or poorly filled out, 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. 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 AIMA. 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 within 15 days.
Stage | Timeframe |
Document Collection | Month 0–1 |
Consulate & Visa Application | Month 2–4 |
Visa Approval & Travel | Month 5 |
AIMA (SEF) Appointment | Month 6–9 |
Residence Permit Issuance | Month 10–12 |
Renewal | Year 2–3 |
Permanent Residency/Citizenship | Year 5* |
The Portugal Retirement Visa D7 Fees
The actual government fees for Portugal’s D7 visa are very small. You must:
Visa application: €110
Residence permit application: €99.80
Residence permit card issuance: €85.80
Apart from these, the primary costs will include relocation, property rent or purchase, professional fees, and so on.
Portugal D7 Visa Renewal Process
When you get your D7 Visa, it will be valid for 2 years. If you plan to continue your stay in Portugal beyond 2 years, you need to renew your permit before it expires. When you complete the first renewal, you will also receive a 3-year extension.
There are some Portugal D7 Visa renewal requirements
You need to stay in the country for a minimum of 16 months within the first two-year period of your residency.
You are expected to maintain a steady passive income and meet the minimum requirements.
Portugal Retirement Visa Program: Residency & Citizenship Pathways
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 pursue the option of applying for Portuguese citizenship.
Portugal D7 Visa to 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.
Portugal D7 Visa Path to Citizenship
To apply for Portuguese citizenship, D7 visa holders must have lived in Portugal for 5 years. However, since June 2025, there has been a debate over Portuguese citizenship requirements. The timeline for Portuguese citizenship may extend to 10 years if the proposed law is enacted. We will keep you updated as soon as there is a new announcement.
Plus, you must meet the A2-level Portuguese language requirement. Once you complete the process and meet the legal requirements, you can obtain Portuguese citizenship and a passport.
What are the Tax Implications for D7 Visa Holders?
Becoming a tax resident through the Portugal D7 Visa means you need to understand and be aware of your tax obligations 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 through a D7 Visa, your worldwide income becomes subject to Portuguese tax.
However, before the old NHR regime ended in 2023, the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) regime helped individuals benefit from reduced tax rates for up to 10 years. The new Portuguese government plans to launch a new NHR program to support high-skilled professionals.
The new NHR regime is to provide potential tax benefits on foreign-sourced income for identified applicants. This new NHR system is expected to offer fixed or lower rates for various income types.
How is Life in Portugal?
There are many aspects of evaluation when applying for a retirement or digital nomad visa 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.
Living Costs
You can live in Portugal on your sustainable passive income, but it helps to understand the cost of living and the local financial environment. So you need to think about your financial planning, and it is crucial that you can cover the cost of living in Portugal.
Remember that it varies by 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.
The 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 support budget planning.
Healthcare System in Portugal
As one of the best healthcare countries, 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 in the center of Lisbon and Porto or around the Algarve, which offers 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 of having a smooth process when you are applying for this visa type.
Comparison of D7 and Portugal Golden Visa
Some factors differentiate the two programs. Before we explain further, let’s start with the top distinguishing factor: application motivations. Suppose you are planning to get residency in Portugal by investing in or planning a plan B by getting residency by investment in Portugal. In that case, you can follow the route to the Portugal Golden Visa.
However, the D7 Visa relies mainly on your passive income, and you do not need to invest, whereas, for instance, you would need to invest €500,000 to apply for a Portugal Investor Visa. There are also some other investment options with different criteria.
Another distinguishing factor is residency requirements. For a D7 Visa, you must live there full-time and show a residency address -either rental or purchase-, while you only need to spend 7 days per year in Portugal through the Golden Visa. This underlines that the Golden Visa is for those who wish to preserve their capital, earn returns, and retain the flexibility not to move there full-time. On the other hand, the D7 Visa is for those with passive income who wish to live in Portugal full-time.
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