TRUST THE D7 VISA EXPERTS WITH YOUR APPLICATION
Ready to start your new life in Portugal? Whether you’re retiring or relocating as a remote worker, the team at D7 Visa can help make your residency application a breeze.
YOUR 1-STOP SHOP FOR D7 SETTLEMENT
Offering assistance with everything from your document compilation and bank account opening to obtaining your NIF (Portuguese tax number)… including public healthcare registration and drivers licenses, PLUS rental contract assistance – which is one of the hardest parts of the process to do remotely – we do ALL the heavy lifting.
Our expert team can help you coordinate every moving part of a complex process, and even accompany you to your SEF appointment to ensure that everything runs smoothly the first time round.
WHY DO CLIENTS CHOOSE TO WORK WITH US?
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For business professionals, entrepreneurs and knowledge workers, time = money. Would you rather be working on your core business, or spend hours on administrative tasks involving foreign bureaucrats who may not speak your first language well..?
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There is a lot of inaccurate and dated information about the D7 Visa program on the internet. The exact requirements also vary from one consulate to the next, and can change at any time.
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If your file is missing a single support document, or it’s submitted in the wrong format, your application can get rejected outright, or “parked” indefinitely, leading to major time delays and costly appeals processes.
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Mistakes and false starts cost time and money. And if you go the DIY route, there will still be unavoidable costs to obtain a bank account, get a NIF, and obtain a proof of domicile by renting or buying.
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When you add up all those hard costs and wasted time spent trying to navigate a foreign country’s immigration, it makes a lot of sense to pay one price and get it all done, the first time round, with the help of a professional. In fact, going it alone could end up costing you more.
And with us, you’re not alone in a foreign process.
PORTUGUESE RESIDENCY IN 4 MONTHS – NO INVESTMENT REQUIRED.
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 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 that can lead 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 D7 Visa 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 or Recurring Income Required | No | Yes |
| Medical Insurance Required | Yes | Yes |
| Portuguese Tax Number (NIF) Required | Yes | Yes |
D7: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the physical presence requirements for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2022-03-26T10:35:32+00:00
Under the D7 Visa program, in order to keep your residency permit renewable, you have to spend a minimum of 183 days per year, uninterrupted, in Portugal (that’s 6 months+). You also have the option of spending 8 interrupted months in the country, e.g. 2 stays of 4 months each.
Failure to meet this requirement will likely lead to your residency permit not being renewed. While there may be some instances where spending less than the required minimum time in-country may not lead to non-renewal, but it is advisable to assume that it will, and “do your time” commensurately.
If you are NOT able to spend 183 days (or more) in Portugal, the Portuguese Golden Visa or the HQA Visa Program may be better suited to your needs.
Can remote workers apply for the D7 Visa?Andre Bothma2022-04-24T19:10:42+00:00
Yes, they can. Provided that you earn enough stable, foreign sourced income, and that your foreign employer allows you to work remotely from Portugal, you should be able to get the D7 Visa.
IMPORTANT: Based on our first-hand experience, many consulates will require you to have a permanent employment contract, and you should have been stable in your current role for at least one year (12 months+).
In addition, you’ll require a formal letter of authorization from your employer, confirming both your employment, and explicitly stating that you are allowed to work remotely from Portugal. This letter has to be on an official company letterhead.
While the minimum required recurring income per month, as of 2022, is €705+ (€8,424,+ per year), the more you can show above this amount, the better.
You’ll ideally need to earn several times more than this minimum.
Your application will also be more likely to succeed if you have additional passive income, e.g. from renting out a property, and if you have access to significant savings.
You’ll also be required to have a minimum of €7,500+ in a Portuguese bank account in your name, but we typically recommend depositing at least €12,000-15,000 in this account to further boost your chances of getting approved.
While this remote work visa historically required stable passive savings, e.g. in the form of pension benefits or long-term rental income, the Portuguese immigration authorities and consulates have recently been favoring remote workers with significant offshore salary earnings as well.
Contact us now for more information and to see if you are eligible.
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 Bothma2022-04-14T15:18:59+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 or 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 around €250 per person.
The visa application fee at your consulate should cost around €100, while the fee associated with your SEF appointment and residency card issuance in Viana do Castelo, in March 2022, was set at €156 for a single applicant.
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 and Residency Permit application process at a glance
Obtaining Portuguese temporary residency via this program is a 2-step process: First, you apply for the D7 Visa, which is an “entry stamp” type visa which is valid for 4 months, and allows for two entries into Portugal. This visa allows you to travel to Portugal for your residency permit, which allows you to legally settle in the country.
If your D7 visa is set to expire before the date on which your SEF residency interview is scheduled for, you can still travel on this visa by presenting your SEF interview confirmation letter along with the visa – but more on that later…
THE D7 VISA APPLICATION PROCESS: KEY STEPS
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).
THE RESIDENCY PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS: KEY STEPS
Step 8: Schedule your SEF appointment at the bureau branch closest to where you’re renting or where you’ve bought a home. If you’re using a service provider such as ourselves, we can assist with this, or your local Portuguese embassy can assist.
You can also book it yourself via SEF’s website. You can also view a list of the various SEF services branches here.
STEP 9: Have your core application documents translated into Portuguese, including marriage and birth certificates, if relevant to your application. (Contact us for more on the specific requirements in this regard).
STEP 10: Complete the Portuguese residency permit application form – this is NOT your D7 Visa application form.
STEP 11: Travel to Portugal to attend your SEF interview. The interview typically takes around 20 minutes to complete. You’ll have to authorise the authorities to check your criminal record in Portugal to ensure you’ve not committed a crime since arriving in the country. You’ll also have to supply proof of your tax residency or tax situation;, e.g. a tax clearance certificate from the country in which you’re tax domiciled.
STEP 12: Obtain your Portuguese temporary residency permit (typically issued with 1 to 2 years’ validity, and mailed to your address in Portugal or to the local post office in around 2 weeks).
Step 13: Renew your temporary residency permit every 2 years, and apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship after 5 years (at this point, you’ll be expected to prove real world ties with Portugal and speak intermediate level Portuguese. You’ll also have had to stick to the minimum in-country stay requirements for the first 5 years of holding Portuguese residency status.
D7 Minimum Income Requirements 2022
| MINIMUM STABLE RECURRING INCOME REQUIREMENT (2022) | PER MONTH | PER YEAR | PER 2 YEARS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | €705 | €8,460 | €16,920 |
| Married Couple | €1,057.50 | €12,690 | €25,380 |
| Per Additional Minor Dependent | €211.50 | €2,538 | €5,076 |
| Per Additional Adult Dependent | €211.50 | €2,538 | €5,076 |
| Per Family of 4 (2 dependent children) | €1,480.50 | €17,766 | €35,532 |
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 6 months or more, and that it should 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 have, in the past, approved D7 applications based on demonstrable savings only. In practice, this is no longer a viable option in 2022; you are realistically going to require both adequate savings AND income to be approved for residency.
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 indefinitely is generally acceptable to meet this requirement. NOTE: We can assist with a solution for this.
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 must be apostilled, and cannot be older than 6 months.
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PORTUGUESE BANK ACCOUNT: While this requirement was suspended during Covid, you will now be required to open a Portuguese bank account and deposit a significant amount of savings in it (€12,500+ recommended for a single person). 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.
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UNABRIDGED BIRTH AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES: If your application will include a spouse and/or minor children, these documents will have to be obtained as well. Again, these documents will have to be apostilled.
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VALID PASSPORT COPY: This document does not have to be certified or apostilled if you are applying from South Africa. Be sure to confirm this requirement with your local Portuguese embassy or consulate for all other countries.
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TWO PASSPORT PHOTOS: These need to meet the size and color requirements for Portugal. Confirm the exact, up to date requirements with VFS or directly with your local Portuguese embassy or consulate.
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.
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.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR SERVICE FEE?
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 Portuguese drivers license application.
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Assistance with Portuguese healthcare services registration
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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
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We can also accompany you to your SEF appointment in Portugal (optional extra).