OBTAIN PORTUGAL RESIDENCY IN 4 MONTHS – NO INVESTMENT REQUIRED.
Ready to start your new life in Portugal? This is your Ultimate Guide To the Portuguese D7 Visa.
Exploring everything from the financial requirements and timelines to the application process and pricing, this site covers everything you need to know.
Not yet ready to relocate to Portugal due to overseas business commitments? Be sure to check out the Portugal HQA Startup Visa, a concierge-style program leveraging Portugal’s D3 Visa legislation.
The D7 Visa is an excellent choice for foreigners seeking to settle or retire in Portugal. If you have stable recurring income, or if you’re able to work remotely for an employer outside of Portugal, you could be eligible to apply.
The D7 is a long-term residency visa leading to eventual permanent residency and/or citizenship. And unlike with a Golden Visa, you don’t need to purchase a property at all.
Find out more about this relatively unknown Portuguese visa class below, or contact us now for more information…
The D7 is suitable for salaried remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads who can meet the program requirements.
Key program benefits
Live, work or study in Portugal with visa-free access to the EU for up to 90 out of 180 days.
Save money on taxes with the Portuguese Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) Program.
Your entire family are eligible for inclusion – and your spouse can work in Portugal as well.
Obtain Portuguese residency in as little as 4-6 months – we do all the heavy lifting.
Gain access to Portugal’s world-class National Health Service (SNS) as a Portuguese resident.
Once you’ve held D7 residency for 12 months, your newborn children can become Portuguese citizens.
Gain the right to work and do business in Portugal as an independent professional.
Gain access to Portugal’s schools, National Education System and vocational training opportunities.
Who should consider applying for the D7?
TIP: If you need the flexibility of a Golden Visa – i.e. super low minimum in-country stay requirements – but you’d like to reduce your total capital layout by 60-75%, be sure to check out the Portugal HQA Visa Program.
Priced at €175K ALL-IN, and with approvals granted in 30 days, this is THE cheapest Golden Visa alternative on the market…
While the D7’s program requirements are essentially “applicant agnostic”, it is nonetheless well-suited to the following groupings of applicants:
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Retired people receiving sufficient levels of stable recurring pension income.
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Remote workers, long-term digital nomads and information industry professionals earning adequate stable recurring income outside of Portugal. If you have significant savings available, this can count in your favor.
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Remote consultants, life coaches, digital entrepreneurs, affiliate marketers and even crypto traders with sufficient stable recurring income, ideally combined with significant accessible savings.
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Landlords earning sufficient long-term income from the rental of movable and/or immovable assets abroad.
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Individuals earning stable recurring income from investments, or those earning sufficient stable dividend income.
For those actually seeking to relocate to Portugal for longer than 6 months per year, the Portuguese D7 Visa offers unrivaled value compared with the Portugal Golden Visa Program.
It is also significantly more affordable than the Spanish Non Lucrative Visa.
D7 VISA VS GOLDEN VISA
| CONSIDERATION | GOLDEN VISA | D7 VISA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | €350,000+ | €0 |
| Application Process Duration | 9 – 12 months | 3 – 4 months |
| Family Eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Road to Permanent Residency & Citizenship | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum In-Country Stay Requirement Per Year | 1 Week | 6 Months |
| Portuguese Language Test Required | No | No |
| Non-Habitual Residency Program Eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Professional Services Fees | €30,000+ | From €2,495 + |
| Passive Income Required | No | Yes |
| Medical Insurance Required | Yes | Yes |
| Portuguese Tax Number (NIF) Required | Yes | Yes |
D7: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get residency if I already own a property in Portugal?Andre Bothma2021-04-25T15:43:32+00:00
Can you get a Portuguese Golden Visa retroactively? The answer is yes, potentially – provided that the following criteria are met:
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The property has to have been purchased after December 2012, when the Golden Visa Program was launched.
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The property must fall into one of the following pricing categories:
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The property was worth €500,000 or more when purchased, and is situated anywhere in Portugal.
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The property was worth €400,000 or more when purchased, and is situated in a low-density area as defined by the Portuguese authorities.
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The property was worth €350,000 or more when purchased, was 30 years or older, and required renovation.
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The property was worth €280,000 or more when purchased, is more than 30 years old, and is situated in a low-density area where the average GDP is 75% lower than the average GDP in Portugal.
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The property is in the name of either a single person or one of the spouses.
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If the property is jointly owned (50%:50%), neither of the spouses will be eligible for the Golden Visa as the per-person ownership value does not meet the minimum thresholds.
If the property is fully owned by one of the spouses, they are eligible to apply for the Golden Visa, whereas their spouse is not. However, the spouse is eligible to apply as a dependent to the primary applicant, as are their minor children.
If you already own a property in Portugal that was purchased after December 2012, yet the value is – for example – €250,000, and said property is not older than 30 years and didn’t require any renovations, you can invest in a “top-up” property worth another €250,000, anywhere in Portugal (and in any condition), in order to reach the €500,000 minimum investment threshold.
Once this investment requirement has been met, you can then apply for a Golden Visa.
If you own a property of €100,000, and are not able to invest an additional €400,000, you also have the option to apply for the D7 Visa, provided that you can prove sufficient recurring income, savings, and/or savings.
In order to maintain your D7 residency, however, you should plan to spend at least 6 months per year living in Portugal.
The rules for both the Spanish and Greek Golden Visa Programs are broadly the same, yet in Greece, you can apply for a Golden Visa even if your property, worth a minimum of €250,000 at the time of purchase, was bought prior to the launch of the Greece Golden Visa Program in 2013.
Contact us now for more information and to determine whether your existing property is eligible for a Golden Visa or not in 2021.
How much does the D7 Visa cost?Andre Bothma2021-08-01T07:03:11+00:00
Compared with the Portuguese Golden Visa, the D7 Visa is dirt cheap. Whereas the Golden Visa has a minimum investment requirement of €280,000, and typically €350,000, both excluding significant transfer duties and ancillary costs, the D7 does not have an investment requirement at all.
And while your Golden Visa services fees can be as high as €30,000 for a married couple and more for a family, you can expect to pay as little as €2,500 in professional service fees for your D7 Visa application as a single applicant, and only €3,000 per married couple.
In addition, while the governmental application and processing fees for the D7 Visa does vary depending on where you’re applying from, you can expect the total cost per person for this component to come in at less than €450 per person.
Contact us now to find out more.
Does Portugal Have A Non Lucrative Visa?Andre Bothma2021-01-09T15:31:41+00:00
Yes, the Portuguese non-lucrative residency visa is formally known as the D7 Passive Income Visa. While the residency visa requires applicants to spend a minimum of 6 consecutive months per year in Portugal (similar to the Spanish Non Lucrative Visa), it can lead to citizenship after only 5 years, whereas Spanish citizenship can typically only be obtained by non-EEA nationals after a period of 10+ years. In addition, the D7 Visa Program features some of the least onerous financial requirements of any EU residency visa currently available. Find out more here, or contact us now for more information.
Do I need to buy a property to apply for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2020-10-28T06:47:11+00:00
You are not required a property in Portugal to apply for a D7 residency visa, however you will be required to submit proof of accommodation in Portugal. A rental agreement should typically suffice.
Should you wish to buy a home in Portugal, there are no minimum purchase price requirements, however it is expect that whatever property you rent in Portugal will be “fit for purpose”. In other words, you cannot rent a studio apartment in order to house a family of 5 people.
How long does it take to get a D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2020-10-28T06:44:32+00:00
The application process for the D7 residency visa can be completed in as little as 3 to 4 months, however given the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns and international travel restrictions, you should expect the process to take approximately 6 months to complete.
Can Hong Kong nationals apply for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2020-10-28T06:42:55+00:00
As of late 2020, Hong Kong citizens can apply for the D7 Visa, provided they can meet the minimum passive income requirements.
Can Americans apply for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2021-05-10T12:20:35+00:00
USA citizens can apply for the D7 Visa, provided that they can meet the program’s requirements, and the passive income requirement, in particular.
Is the D7 Visa only open to retirees?Andre Bothma2020-10-28T06:25:51+00:00
No. Provided that you can meet the minimum passive income requirements of the D7 program, and that your source of passive income can be reasonably expected to remain stable over time, you can apply for this Portuguese residency visa category.
What are the minimum passive income requirements for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2020-10-28T06:24:24+00:00
In order to be eligible to apply, you need to earn at least €635 per month as an individual (€7,620 per year). As a married couple, your combined passive income should be at least €952.5 per month (€11,430 per year), so an additional €317.50 per month for your spouse).
For every dependent child being applied for, the minimum monthly passive income requirement increases by €190.50 (€2,286 per year) which is around 30% of the minimum national wage in Portugal.
What age do I need to be to apply for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2021-05-10T12:20:55+00:00
In order to apply for the D7 Visa, you have to be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. As of November 2020, no formal guidelines have been provided in terms of the maximum acceptable age limit, however the program is exceedingly popular among wealthy retirees.
The D7 Visa application process at a glance
Step 1: Contact us by completing the form below.
Step 2: Introduction to your case manager, fee quotation and contract signature.
Step 3: Booking of consular appointment
Step 4: Compilation of application file with your case manager
Step 5: Attend consular appointment
Step 6: Submit full visa application and receive notification of your application outcome within approximately 60 days.
Step 7: Receive your temporary visa (valid for 4 months).
Step 8: Travel to Portugal to attend your SEF interview and obtain your Portuguese temporary residency permit (typically issued with 1 to 2 years’ validity).
Step 9: Renew your temporary residency permit every 2 years, and apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship after 5 years.
D7 Minimum Income Requirements 2021
| MINIMUM STABLE RECURRING INCOME REQUIREMENT (2021) | PER MONTH | FOR 2 YEARS |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | €665 | €15,960 |
| Married Couple | €997.50 | €23,940 |
| Per Additional Minor Dependent | €199.50 | €4,788 |
| Per Additional Adult Dependent | €199.50 | €4,788 |
While personal net worth and savings are typically considered during the D7 Visa application process, the Portuguese authorities are primarily concerned with your ability to accommodate and sustain yourself in Portugal without having to rely on salaried income.
As such, the key requirement for the program is having one or more sources of stable passive income – that is income derived from fixed-rate investments, royalties, monthly pension payouts, retirement annuities, company dividends (provided that you’re not active involved in the management of the company), as well as income derived from the rental of movable or immovable assets.
In addition, you will be required to prove that your passive income has been stable for up to 3 years, and will be remain stable in the medium term.
NB: The above minimum income thresholds should be considered a minimum – depending on individual consular requirements, you may be expected to earn more and/or provide proof of significant savings.
CAN I APPLY ON THE BASIS OF SAVINGS?
The Portuguese authorities may, at their discretion, also approve your application based on demonstrable savings. In such cases, you’ll be expected to have a minimum of €22,860 in accessible savings – that’s €7,620 x 2 (€15,240) for the primary applicant, and an additional €7,620 for your spouse, to cover your living expenses and accommodation for the 2-year period for which the initial residency permit is issued.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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PROOF OF ADDRESS: Being a recurring income visa, no property purchase is required – however, you will be required to have a residential address in Portugal. A 1-year rental agreement or letter from a sponsor authorising you to live in their Portuguese property is generally acceptable to meet this requirement.
Or you can buy a home in Portugal, should you so choose, but unlike with the Golden Visa program, there is no minimum pricing requirement for such a property. We can assist you in this regard.
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CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD: In order to apply, you’ll be required to submit a police clearance certificate from your country of current residence. This document cannot be older than 6 months.
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PORTUGUESE BANK ACCOUNT: While this requirement was suspended during Covid, you will most likely be required to open a Portuguese bank account and deposit a significant amount of savings in it. We can assist you with opening a suitable account if needed.
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COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE: You, along with any dependent applicants, will be required to have comprehensive health insurance coverage, without any holding periods or co-payments.
This can be cancelled once your visa is approved, however you will again require this in order to renew your residency permit after 2 years.
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NIF (PORTUGUESE TAX NUMBER): In order to apply for the D7 Visa, you’ll also be required to obtain a local tax number, or Número de Identificação Fiscal in Portuguese.
We can assist you in this regard via power of attorney, and serve as your interim tax representatives in Portugal ahead of your arrival in the country.
Please note: In order to keep your residency permit renewable, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 6 months per year in Portugal, whereas the minimum stay requirement for a Golden Visa is around 7 days per year.
Why choose us
D7 Visa assists non-EEA nationals to obtain residency in Portugal. In addition, we specialise in helping entrepreneurs to set up, manage and grow their businesses in Europe.
Powered by one of Portugal’s leading immigration firms, D7 Visa gives you access to the leading professionals specializing in the D7 Residency Program, HQA Visa, Golden Visa, and Non-Habitual Residency Programs.
Given the large swathe of government discretion involved in approving D7 Visa applications, the bulk of independently submitted applications are not approved. Working with an expert firm can help ensure that your application is approved without any complications.
We offer an end-to-end visa application service, and can also advise you on where to settle and how to go about purchasing property in Portugal.
Immigration can be a challenging process, but working with a professional firm can make the process seamless and ensure that your transition to Portuguese residency is hassle-free.
Let us do the heavy lifting for you…
We provide an end-to-end, white-glove service, including:
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Obtaining a Portuguese NIF (tax number) by power of attorney
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Assistance with Portuguese bank account opening
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Assistance with property rental agreements (proof of domicile)
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Assistance with company formation, if appropriate (e.g. for D2 Visa applications)
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Assistance with business plan writing and development, if appropriate (e.g. for D2 Visa applications)
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Pre-arrival tax representation service
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Client case file building – document formatting and sequencing, motivational letter input and review, SEF interview preparation and more.