When we were planning our move to the Algarve, the D7 visa was the one that kept coming up. And once we got our heads around it, we understood why. For anyone who isn’t an EU citizen and wants to live in Portugal long-term, it’s honestly one of the most accessible visas out there.
The D7 visa Portugal basically says: if you have a regular income coming in from outside Portugal — a pension, rental income, dividends, that kind of thing — and you can show you can support yourself without needing a local job, you’re welcome to come and live here. That’s the simple version. The slightly longer version is what this guide is for.
Let’s get into it.
What is the D7 visa?
The Portugal D7 visa — sometimes called the Passive Income Visa or the Retirement Visa — is a residency route for non-EU citizens who have a stable income from outside Portugal. It’s been around since 2007 and it’s become one of the most popular ways for people from the UK, US, South Africa, Australia and elsewhere to make Portugal their permanent home.
The idea is simple. Portugal isn’t asking you to invest a fortune or create jobs. You just need to show that you can pay your own way — that you won’t need to rely on the Portuguese state — and that you plan to actually live here. In return you get the right to live in one of the best places in Europe, with access to public services, free movement across the Schengen area and eventually a path to Portuguese citizenship.
Not a bad deal.
Who is it for?
Despite often being called the retirement visa, there’s no age limit on the D7. It’s open to anyone who meets the income requirements. In practice the people who use it tend to be:
- Retirees living on a foreign pension
- People with rental income from property back home
- Those living off investments, dividends or savings
- Remote workers and freelancers (though there is a separate Digital Nomad visa — the D8 — which may suit you better if you’re actively earning from remote work)
- People who have sold a business and are living off the proceeds
The key thing is that the income needs to be passive or at least not dependent on working for a Portuguese employer. If you’re planning to work for a Portuguese company once you arrive, this isn’t the right visa for that.
How much income do you need?
This is the question everyone asks first, so let’s deal with it clearly.
For 2026, the minimum income requirement for the D7 visa Portugal is €920 per month for the main applicant. That’s tied to Portugal’s national minimum wage, which was set at €920 in 2026, and it’s the figure AIMA (the immigration authority) will use when assessing your application.
If you’re applying with family members, the requirement increases:
- Add 50% for a spouse or adult dependent — that’s an extra €460/month
- Add 30% for each dependent child — that’s an extra €276/month per child
So as an example, a family of three — two adults and one child — would need to show roughly €1,656 per month in income. That’s €920 + €460 + €276.
On top of the monthly income, you’ll also want to show savings of around €11,040 (12 months of the minimum wage) sitting in a Portuguese bank account. This isn’t always strictly required but it significantly strengthens your application and most advisers recommend having it in place before you apply.
One important thing to note: these figures are based on the minimum wage at the time of your AIMA appointment — not when you started your application. So if the minimum wage goes up before your appointment date, you’ll need to meet the new figure. Always build in a bit of headroom.
What counts as passive income?
The good news here is that Portugal is fairly flexible about what qualifies. Accepted sources of income for the D7 passive income visa include:
- Pensions (state pension, private pension, occupational pension)
- Rental income from property you own
- Dividends from investments or shares
- Interest from savings or bonds
- Royalties from intellectual property
- Income from selling a business or capital gains (if regular)
The key word throughout is regular. The authorities want to see consistent income coming in month after month, not a one-off lump sum. Bank statements showing a clear, steady pattern over at least three to six months will be your best friend here.
What documents do you need?
This is where the D7 visa can feel a bit overwhelming, but it’s manageable if you work through it methodically. Here’s what you’ll typically need:
- Valid passport — must have at least six months of validity remaining
- Completed visa application form — available from your local Portuguese consulate
- Two recent passport photos
- Proof of passive income — pension letters, bank statements, dividend statements, rental agreements — covering at least three to six months
- Portuguese bank account statement showing your savings (ideally around €11,040)
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal — a rental agreement of at least 12 months, or a property deed if you’ve bought
- Private health insurance that covers you in Portugal for your first year
- Criminal background check from your home country — must be recent (usually issued within the last three to six months)
- NIF number — your Portuguese tax identification number. You’ll need this before you apply
- Cover letter explaining your reasons for moving and how you’ll support yourself
If you’re including family members, you’ll also need marriage certificates, birth certificates and proof of the additional income to cover dependents.
One thing worth knowing: requirements can vary slightly depending on which consulate you apply through. Always double-check the specific list from your local Portuguese consulate or embassy before you start gathering documents.
The step-by-step process
The D7 visa process has two main stages. Here’s how it works in practice:
Stage 1: Apply at the Portuguese consulate in your home country
Start by gathering all your documents and booking an appointment at the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country. Wait times for appointments can be long — sometimes months — so book as early as you can.
Once you attend your appointment and submit everything, the consulate will process your application. If approved, you’ll receive your D7 visa, which is valid for four months and allows two entries into Portugal.
Stage 2: Convert to a residence permit in Portugal
Once you arrive in Portugal, you need to book an appointment with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — the body that replaced the old SEF). At this appointment you’ll submit the same documents again, have your biometrics taken (fingerprints and photo) and apply for your residence permit.
Once approved, you’ll receive a residence card valid for two years. After that you can renew it for a further three years. After five years of legal residency you can apply for permanent residency — though see the note below about citizenship.
The whole process from starting your application to holding your residence card typically takes three to nine months, depending on your consulate and how complex your situation is.
What happens after you have it?
Once you’re living in Portugal on a D7 visa and subsequent residence permit, there are a few things to be aware of.
You need to actually live here. The D7 isn’t a visa you can hold while living somewhere else. You can’t be absent from Portugal for more than six consecutive months, or eight months in total, during each two-year permit period. If you travel a lot, keep track of your days.
You’ll become a Portuguese tax resident once you’ve spent more than 183 days in the country in a calendar year. That means declaring your worldwide income in Portugal. See our guide to NHR and Portuguese tax for a full breakdown of what that means for you.
You can work. Despite being called the passive income visa, D7 holders are actually allowed to work or run a business in Portugal. The income requirement just needs to be met regardless of whether you also work.
Your family can come with you. Spouses, dependent children and in some cases dependent parents can all be included in your D7 application or join you later through family reunification.
A quick note on citizenship
One of the most attractive things about the D7 has always been the path to Portuguese citizenship. Historically that was possible after five years of legal residency. However, in April 2026 Portugal’s parliament approved amendments that would change this to ten years for most non-EU nationals.
As of the time of writing, these changes have not yet been signed into law — they are with the President for review. The situation may change, so if citizenship is part of your long-term plan, keep an eye on this and get advice from an immigration lawyer on the current position before you make decisions based on it.
Do you need a lawyer?
Technically no — the D7 application is something you can do yourself. But honestly, given the amount of paperwork involved, the specific document requirements and the fact that a rejected application wastes months of your time, most people find it worth paying for professional help. An immigration lawyer who specialises in Portuguese visas will know exactly what each consulate expects and can help you avoid the most common reasons for rejection.
The most frequent causes of rejection are insufficient proof of income, incomplete documentation, or bank statements that don’t show a consistent enough history. A good lawyer helps you avoid all three.
The honest summary
The D7 visa Portugal is genuinely one of the more straightforward ways to make a legal, long-term move to Europe — especially compared to what some other countries demand. The income threshold is reasonable, the process is clear, and once you’re here you have the same access to services and quality of life as any resident.
The main things to get right are: start early (appointments take time), make sure your income documentation is solid and consistent, and have your Portuguese bank account and NIF sorted before you apply. Do those three things and you’re most of the way there.
If you’re still figuring out where in the Algarve you’d actually want to live once you arrive, our guide to the best places to live in the Algarve is a good place to start. And for a realistic picture of what it costs to live here day to day, our cost of living guide has the numbers you need.