The Portuguese government introduced a special type of visa in 2007: the D7 Visa.  this visa is also known as 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% of this amount for the spouse and 30% 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.

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.

Option to Become an NHR Resident

Portugal has a special tax program known as NHR(non-habitual resident). Under this program, you are exempt from or pay very little taxes on any foreign-sources income.

There is a set of criteria to be eligible for Portugal D7 Visa. You can apply for D7 visa Portugal if you:

• 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.

1: Acquiring a NIF Number

2.A rental agreement in PT for 12 months or more (legalized by an entity with a notary power in PT);

3. An opened bank account in PT, with significant funds (legalized by an entity with a notary power in PT);

4. A motivation letter, explaining the reason of moving to PT, as well as demonstrate an intention to invest in PT/buy a property;

5. Demonstrate all the sources of active income (if going to work remotely in PT, proof from a company);

6.Demonstrate all the sources of passive income (properties, bank statements and etc.)

D7 Visa Application at the Portuguese Consulate in your country

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.

Note: 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.

Once in Portugal, the first thing you will need to do is apply to SEF.  The time it takes to obtain the residence permit depends greatly on where you chose 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 chose to live in the countryside, or in a less populous city, then you might be able to get an appointment with SEF within 15 days.

The Cost of the Portuguese D7 Visa

The actual government fees for the 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.

Minimum Stay Requirements for the D7 Visa Portugal

Under the D7 residence permit, you are expected to spend at least 16 months in the country during the first 2-year period. You are also expected to be in the country for 28 months in each 3-year subsequent period. If you are absent for 6 consecutive months your residence permit might be invalidated.

The permanent residence that the D7 provides, requires you to stay a minimum of 30 months during each 5-year period. If you are absent for 25 consecutive months, your residence permit might be invalidated.

Keep in mind that the absence periods might be exceeded under some circumstances such as professional duties and force majeure reasons.