D7 Passive Income Visa

Portugal's D7 Passive Income Visa is a residence visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who can support themselves through passive income, including pensions, rental income, investment returns, dividends, or intellectual property royalties. It is one of Portugal's most popular residence pathways, targeting retirees, pensioners, and financially independent individuals who wish to reside in Portugal without relying on local employment. The visa provides a clear pathway to permanent residency after five years and potentially to Portuguese citizenship.

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national with stable, recurring passive income
• Minimum monthly income of EUR 920 (Portuguese minimum wage as of 2026, set by Decreto-Lei 139/2025)
• At least 12 months of the minimum income threshold available in savings
• Qualifying income sources: pensions, rental income, dividends, investment returns, intellectual property royalties, or other non-employment income
• Valid passport with at least 3 months validity beyond intended stay
• Valid travel insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental contract, property deed, or host declaration)
• Criminal record certificate from country of origin or residence (apostilled)
• Portuguese NIF (tax identification number)
• Portuguese bank account (recommended to set up before consular appointment)

• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport (minimum 3 months beyond intended stay)
• Two recent passport-sized photographs
• Valid travel insurance
• Criminal record certificate with apostille (minors under 16 exempt)
• Authorization for Portuguese criminal record check
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal
• Proof of passive income: pension statements, property deeds, rental contracts, brokerage statements, dividend records, or intellectual property royalty agreements
• Bank statements for the preceding 3-6 months

The residence visa is initially valid for 2 entries and 4 months, during which the holder must apply for a residence permit. The initial residence permit lasts 2 years and is renewable for successive 3-year periods. Renewal must be submitted up to 30 days before expiry, with applications accepted from 90 days prior. If the permit expires, there is a 6-month grace period to submit a renewal. Renewals can be submitted online through AIMA's Renewals Portal or via scheduled appointment at IRN (Instituto dos Registos e Notariado) locations. Continued compliance with income requirements, valid accommodation, and tax/social security obligations must be demonstrated at renewal.

Eligible family members include a legally married spouse or partner in a documented stable union (2+ years of cohabitation), minor children under 18, dependent adult children (over 18, unmarried, in full-time education or financially dependent), and dependent parents over 65 or those who are economically dependent. Each additional adult requires 50% of the minimum wage (EUR 460/month in 2026) and each child 30% (EUR 276/month). Family members may apply concurrently or join later through family reunification. Since October 2025, family reunification for family members abroad requires the primary holder to have held a valid residence authorization for at least 2 years, with exceptions for minor/dependent family members and co-parent spouses; the period is reduced to 15 months for spouses with 18+ months of prior cohabitation. All dependants receive their own residence permits with the same validity as the primary applicant's.

Holders residing more than 183 days in Portugal become tax residents and are subject to progressive income tax (IRS) on worldwide income. Under the 2026 State Budget, tax brackets were updated by 3.51% with rates ranging from 12.5% to 48%, plus a solidarity surcharge of 2.5%-5% on income above EUR 80,000. Pension income has a EUR 4,104 annual exemption, with the remainder taxed at progressive rates. Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains) is generally taxed at 28%, and rental income at 28% or at progressive rates at the taxpayer's election. The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime ended for new applicants on 1 January 2024, and the replacement IFICI regime does not cover passive income holders or retirees.

The applicant applies in person at the Portuguese consulate or embassy in their country of nationality or legal residence. Some consulates route applications through VFS Global. The consulate has up to 60 days to process the application. Upon approval, the residence visa is issued with validity for 2 entries and 4 months. Within those 4 months, the holder must enter Portugal and schedule an appointment at an AIMA store to apply for the temporary residence permit, providing biometric data and documentation. The consular visa fee is EUR 110 (increased from EUR 90 in March 2025), with AIMA residence permit fees of approximately EUR 156 plus a card issuance fee.

Despite being a passive income visa, holders are not prohibited from working in Portugal. However, work income cannot be used to meet the minimum income threshold at the application stage — only passive income qualifies.

A temporary residence permit may be cancelled if the holder is absent from Portugal for more than 6 consecutive months or more than 8 non-consecutive months during the permit's validity period. In practice, this means spending a minimum of approximately 16 months in Portugal during the initial 2-year permit. Exemptions may be granted for justifiable professional, business, cultural, or social reasons.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for permanent residence, subject to demonstrating means of subsistence, housing, and basic Portuguese language proficiency (A2 level). Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation currently requires 5 years of legal residence. Parliament approved revised nationality law amendments on 1 April 2026 (by 152 votes to 64) that would increase this to 10 years for third-country nationals (7 years for EU/CPLP nationals), count residency from the date of first residence permit issuance, and bar applicants with serious criminal convictions. The law awaits presidential action — the President may promulgate, veto, or request constitutional review. Until the new law enters into force, the existing 5-year citizenship rule remains in effect.