For the D7 visa in 2026, you need €920 per month in passive income. You also need at least one year’s worth of savings, which is roughly around €11,040.
Then there are the government fees, but they’re minimal. The D visa fee is about €110 per person. The VFS fee is about €41 per person. The initial AIMA residence permit fee is usually around €150 to €170 per person. Total fees: a little over €300.
So, is that it?
Not even close.
The real cost of the D7 is usually much higher because of legal help, document costs, travel, rent, bank setup, insurance, and the simple fact that many people start paying for housing before they actually move.
In this article, we’ll break down all of the D7 costs involved. Since everyone has slightly different expenses (some ship their cars, some don’t, for example), it’s impossible to give an accurate line total for every person. But hopefully, this article will give you a good idea of the main costs involved in obtaining a D7 visa.
Let’s start with legal costs.
Legal Costs
You do not need to use a lawyer. But should you?
Probably.
The process is messy, consulate requirements can vary, appointments can be hard to get, and a good lawyer can review your lease, guide you through VFS, and help with AIMA.
There are three broad options.
1. Do everything yourself
This is the cheapest route, but it is also the hardest.
You may still end up paying separately for things like your NIF (€70+), bank account setup (€300+), lease review (€100), tax advice (€100+), document review (€250+), and other costs. It’s pretty much impossible to have zero costs, but you can certainly reduce these costs by finding the cheapest possible service.
You may also be able to do some things yourself (e.g. open a bank account if you’re already in Portugal or find a property to lease) but many DIY-ers will be disappointed to discover that it’s pretty much impossible to do this without at least some external assistance.
2. Document review service
This is the middle ground.
Services like Anchorless and Novomove offer document review services. Novomove offers this as a standalone service for €250, while Anchorless packages this into their medium-tier package which also includes the NIF, bank account, and one lawyer consultation.
If your application is straightforward, this can work fine. However, price isn’t everything: some of the more affordable services use “relocation experts” rather than lawyers. In practice, this is fine if nothing goes wrong but they may not have the experience or expertise if your case is more complicated.
Estimated cost: €250 to €900
3. Full legal support
This is the expensive route, but it often includes the most useful help.
Yes, you can get the NIF and bank account yourself (well, in most instances you will need to pay a third-party to get these for you). And yes, you will most likely be responsible for obtaining key documents like marriage certificates and background checks. However, where lawyers prove their use is:
- Knowing the exact requirements for that particular consulate
- Documents review (making sure everything is correct)
- Arranging a VFS/Consular appointment (trying to book this yourself is incredibly time-consuming)
- Attending the AIMA appointment with you
Many law firms and relocation companies also offer a “property finder” service, which can be much easier than trying to find a rental yourself.
The proposals start at around €1,500 per person, but around €3,000 per person is a good estimate here. There may be discounts for adding additional family members, particularly children.
Admin Costs
The following admin costs typically apply if you do everything yourself.
NIF Number
You will usually need a Portuguese tax number before you can do much else. Expect to pay between around €70 and €200 to obtain this remotely, depending on the service you use. (We showcase the cheapest NIF service here).
- Estimated cost: €70 to €200
- Often included in legal package: Yes
Portuguese bank account
You will almost always need a Portuguese bank account for you application. This is where you’ll send your 1-2 years’ worth of savings.
Some people come to Portugal to open this in person, and this can make it free. However, it has become more and more difficult to open bank accounts as a non-resident.
Expect to pay between €280 and €500, depending on the service you use. (We showcase the cheapest bank account opening service here).
Estimated cost: €280 to €500
Often included in legal package: Yes
Bank fees
Free banking is not that common in Portugal. Once the account is open, expect a monthly fee of around €5-€15 depending on the bank and account.
You can always switch to a free bank or cheaper service once you move to Portugal. However, you’ll probably end up paying for around 3-6 months of premium banking at a cost of around €30-€90.
Estimated cost: €5 to €15 per month per account
Currency conversion and transfer fees
You will likely need to move money into Portugal for your proof of savings, rent, and deposit.
The cost for doing this will vary depending on whether you use your bricks-and-mortar bank (more expensive) or an online service (like Wise). As an example, the cost for sending USD$20,000 to EUR was $64.81 at the time of writing (with Wise).
There’s also the unavoidable currency realization costs: if you have to transfer $20,000 at a time when the USD is low, you’ve “lost” money. This is just unavoidable: some people get lucky and some people don’t.
Estimated cost: €50 to €250+
Lease review
If you are signing a Portuguese lease from abroad, having someone review it can save you from bad clauses, incomplete paperwork, or a property that is not suitable for the visa. You may also want clauses added in case your visa is denied or so that you can easily break it should you decide you want to move home.
Services like Anchorless and Novomove include this is a standalone service, and typically charge around €100 for this. Lawyers typically charge more.
This isn’t essential and most people don’t do this, but it’s probably a good idea.
Estimated cost: €100 to €500
Sometimes included in legal package: Yes, especially in higher tiers.
Tax consultation
It is incredibly difficult to get an accurate estimation of how much tax you’ll pay in Portugal without doing a tax consultation. And yes, you will most likely be a tax resident in Portugal if you are on the D7 visa.
Costs and the quality of service varies wildly here, much more so than with other services. At the lower end of the scale, Novomove charges $95 for this while high-end services like Fresh charge €420 per 30 minutes.
Estimated cost: €100 to €500+
Sometimes included in legal package: Yes, in some premium packages.
Appointment Booking
It has become incredibly hard for people to get a VFS appointment, to the point where people end up phoning hundreds of times and find themselves constantly checking the appointment slots on their phone.
This has lead to appointment booking services such as VisaBot, which can either notify you of new appointments for $45 per month or automatically book appointments for $100 per month. For severely backlogged locations like San Francisco, autobooking is definitely recommended.
Estimated cost: €100
Sometimes included in legal package: Yes, should be part of a legal package.
Insurance and Document Costs
These costs are easy to underestimate because they arrive as lots of small charges.
Travel insurance
You typically need Schengen travel insurance for the visa (VFS/Consular) stage. Some consulates require 4-6 months, others ask for 12 months.
As of March 2026, a 12-month non-deductible policy through Insurte (Mutuaide) costs $725.24 for one traveler under 74. Many people opt for a cancellable policy and cancel it once they are in Portugal and have health insurance.
Estimated cost: €140 to €600
Private health insurance
This is not needed before the visa application itself, and may not even be needed for the AIMA appointment, but many people choose to get private health insurance — typically just before the AIMA appointment. While you will be able to apply for the public healthcare system once you’re a resident, having health insurance gives you the option of also using the private system at a lower cost.
Those 70 or over, and those with pre-existing conditions, typically opt for Mgen as it’s one of the few companies that covers this age group. As of March 2026, a policy for a 71-year-old starts from €77.79 per month and goes up to €633.44 per month.
Someone who’s 51 would be eligible for Mgen policies that start from €34.20 and go up to €291.44. They would also be able to choose from a wider range of health insurance companies besides Mgen.
Estimated cost: €78 to €600+ per month per person
Passport photos
Small cost, but real.
Estimated cost: €10 to €20
background check and fingerprints
Background checks are typically affordable:
- FBI (for Americans): around $18 per person
- CBI (for British citizens): around £21.50
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (for Canadian citizens): around $CAD25
Fingerprinting (e.g. through USPS) can add an additional $50 to the cost.
Estimated cost: €60 to €100
Apostille for the Criminal Records check
In some countries (e.g. the US), the criminal records check needs to be apostilled. In the US, Monument charges around $75 excluding shipping. In the UK, Hague Apostille charges £82 with an option for free delivery.
Estimated cost: €90 to €160
Other certificates
Married couples may need a marriage certificate. Families may need childrens’ birth certificates. Divorced parents may need custody paperwork or court documents.
These costs are usually per document, not one flat household fee.
Estimated cost: Varies
Notarizing and apostilling other documents
Some supporting documents may also need notarization or apostille.
Again, this often scales per document.
Estimated cost: Varies
Certified translations
These typically aren’t needed for documents in English (or Portuguese, obviously) but may be needed for other languages.
Estimated cost: €30 to €100+ per page or per document
Copies, printing, and extra admin
Small individually. Annoying in total.
Estimated cost: Varies
FedEx Or Other courier costs
You may need to pay a courier fee to receive your passport back after your VFS appointment. You may also choose to Fedex or courier your passport to the VFS center.
Estimated cost: €50 to €100
Scouting Trip Costs
Not everyone does a scouting trip, but many do.
A scouting trip allows you to figure out where you want to live in Portugal, as well as if you want to live in Portugal. It’s also a chance to view properties, try to open a bank account, view potential schools and other admin tasks.
Flights to Portugal
A round-trip scouting flight from the US can vary a lot by season and city. A flight from the UK to Portugal might cost less than €100 while a flight from the US could be ten times that.
Estimated cost: Varies
Accommodation
This depends on where you stay and how long, with locations like Lisbon, Porto, the Azores, and the Algarve being more expensive than inland locations like Castelo Branco or Bragança. Assume €70 to €200 per night, depending on location and time of year, although it may be possible to find cheaper accommodation in less touristy parts of Portugal.
Estimated cost: €70 to €200+ per night
Food and drink
Not a huge cost initially, but it adds up over a week. This varies depending on the person and where you’re visiting. You can eat frugally at pastelarias and local restaurants, particularly in inland Portugal. You can also reduce costs by cooking some meals at a self-catering Airbnb.
A coffee and pastry for breakfast could cost €5 or less. A lunch at a casual restaurant with a “menu do dia” could set you back €10-15, often including dessert and coffee, and sometimes even wine. Dinners tend to be more expensive, and may cost €15-25 at a modest restaurant, excluding wine.
Estimated cost: €25 to €100 per day
Car rental or transport
If you are viewing places outside Lisbon or Porto, you may need to rent a car. While there is good public transport in some parts of Portugal, it doesn’t cover everywhere and will be slower than driving.
It is possible to find car rental deals for less than €100 per week, excluding insurance and fuel costs.
Train and bus travel is very affordable. A train ticket from Lisbon to Faro in the Algarve can cost as little as €12 when on promotion or around €25 when not on promotion (book with cp.pt). Rede Expressos and Flixbus offer affordable bus travel where trains are not available.
Estimated cost: Varies
Scouting trip service
Very optional. Some people pay for local relocation tours, which show you multiple cities and usually have people on hand to answer your questions about moving there. As an example, a tour with Expatsi in 2026 costs $5,198 for a single person and $7,598 for a couple.
Travel Costs
Even if you don’t come to Portugal on a scouting trip, you will still need to travel to your local VFS Office (or Portuguese consulate) and once your visa is approved, travel to Portugal.
Travel to VFS or the consulate
Some people live close enough to drive to their nearest consulate or VFS office. Others will need to travel there. This can easily add several hundred dollars in flights or other transport costs and a hotel for at least one night.
Estimated cost: Varies
Flight to Portugal
This is the actual flight for your move.
Again, the cost varies here. If you live in the UK, you might be able to get a Ryanair flight for less than €100. If you live in the US, particularly away from a major airport, you may need to spend more than $1,000 and even $2,000 or more on a ticket in coach.
Estimated cost: €400 to €1,500+ per person
Trip to AIMA
Once you arrive in Portugal, you will be required to attend an appointment with AIMA. This usually takes place within the first 120 days of your stay in Portugal.
Normally, you should be offered an appointment at your nearest AIMA office. However, due to a lack of appointments, it’s not uncommon for people to be granted appointments on the other side of the country — sometimes even in Madeira or the Azores.
If this is the case, you’ll need to factor in travel costs there. This could be a bus or train ticket, which may be less than €30 or it could be a flight which would typically be between €50-€200. For an overnight hotel, again it depends on the location. Expect to pay anywhere from around €50-€200+.
Estimated cost: €20 to €250+ per person
Property Costs
You need an address in Portugal before you apply for the D7.
You can either rent somewhere, buy somewhere, or, if you know someone willing to host you, get them to sign a term of responsibility form.
Most people rent somewhere, assuming they will buy once they’re more settled. Since most consulates no longer accept Airbnb bookings, you will typically need to rent somewhere for 12 months.
Deposit and advance rent
At a minimum, many landlords want a deposit and one or more months paid upfront. Legally, a landlord shouldn’t ask for more than two months’ rent as a deposit but in practice, foreign renters without a Portuguese guarantor are often asked for 6 to 12 months upfront.
With €1,000 per month as an estimate, this quickly adds up to several thousands.
Paying rent before you move
You may sign a lease, then wait weeks or months for the VFS appointment and visa approval. Assume three months, but in reality it could be much longer.
During this time, you may be paying rent or a mortgage on the place you’re actually living (i.e. in the US) as well.
Estimated cost: €3,000 (based on paying €1,000 per month for three months)
Property search costs
Finding the property you’ll rent costs money too.
There are three broad ways people handle this.
- Do it yourself using Facebook and classifieds websites: Cheapest option, but hard from abroad
- Come to Portugal on a “scouting trip”: You’ll need to factor in flights, accommodation, food and drink, and other costs. There’s also no guarantee you’ll find a suitable property during your trip.
- Use an agent or relocation company: Costs vary, but assume you’ll spend around 1-2 months’ rent (which may end up being less than the cost of a scouting trip).
Relocation Costs
These are optional, but in practice, most people either bring extra suitcases or ship their items. Some do a combination of both.
Checked luggage
At minimum, most people bring at least one checked bag. However, given this is an international move and not just a vacation, it isn’t uncommon for people to bring several bags, suitcases, and even boxes.
Estimated cost: €50 to €150 per bag
Shipping
This varies wildly depending on where you are in the world (someone in Omaha would likely pay more than someone in New Jersey) and the method you use. It can also vary depending on the state of the world at the time: during Covid, the start of the Ukraine War, and the start of the Iran War, shipping prices all increased.
Popular options for Americans include crates, pallets, and boxes with Upakweship. Portugalia, a shipping company based in New Jersey, offers an online quote service.
As of April 2026, a 50 cubic foot crate from UpakWeShip would cost $3,078 to ship. The 100 cubic foot crate is only fractionally more expensive at $3,589 and there are significant discounts for multiple crates. A bespoke quote is highly recommended.
For those coming from the UK, there are several companies that drive backwards and forth each week such as Trans Portugal, Algarve Removals, and Algarve Express. It’s also possible to ship via a shipping container, if needed.
It’s a good idea to over-estimate costs here and add in demurrage charges in case your shipment gets held up at customs.
Estimated cost: Varies
Pet relocation
If you are bringing a pet, add the cost of vaccinations, paperwork, crate, vet visits, and either airline fees or a pet relocation company.
Estimated cost: Varies
Furniture and household setup
Even in a furnished apartment, you will usually need things like cookware, towels, bedding, adapters, cleaning supplies, and day-one basics.
If the place is unfurnished, this number goes up fast.
Estimated cost: Varies
Car shipping and import
The vast majority of people buy a car once they move to Portugal. However, some people prefer to ship a car to Portugal (or in the case of those coming from the UK, drive it over).
This adds shipping costs, particularly if coming from the US. There are also car importation costs, which vary depending on the size of the car and the emissions. While the fees (e.g. inspection, changing the plates) are usually very small, the biggest cost will be from shipping (in a container) and paying an agent to import the vehicle for you. This isn’t strictly necessary, but the process is complicated and usually best left to the experts.
Estimated cost: Varies
Other Costs
As well as the costs mentioned above, it’s important to factor in some other costs that you may not have thought of.
Temporary accommodation
If you sell your place, leave a rental early, or arrive before your long-term housing is ready, you may need to stay in hotels or Airbnbs. The cost will vary considerably, depending on the location. If you need to stay long-term, it may be worth trying to negotiate with an Airbnb host. Some hosts offer monthly rates for stays of more than 28 days.
Estimated cost: €50 to €200+ per night
Storage
Some people keep furniture or boxes in their home country for months or years. Others ship their items to Portugal, but put them into storage if they’re staying in smaller accommodation temporarily.
Estimated cost: €50 to €300+ per month
Passport
If you need a new passport or want to renew before moving, this adds to the budget.
This obviously varies from country to country. In the UK, expect to pay around £94.50 for a standard passport renewal. In the US, expect to pay around $130.
Estimated cost: €100
Opportunity cost
This is not a fee, but it is still part of the real cost.
If you need to move €22,080 or more into a Portuguese account, that money may come out of investments, savings accounts, or retirement assets. That can mean lost returns, taxes, or withdrawal friction.
Estimated cost: Varies
What Does This Mean in Practice?
The true cost of the D7 varies: someone shipping all of their belongings, their pets, and flying first class will pay much more than an individual who’s just bringing a few suitcases and flying in economy.
However, both groups will have to pay thousands more than simply the visa fees. Even if it’s just to rent an apartment that’ll sit empty for a few months or basics like the NIF and a lease review, the cost of a D7 quickly adds up.
And while moving savings to a Portuguese bank account isn’t really a cost, it does mean that money is tied up for at least several months which can affect your cashflow.
There will be other costs once you move to Portugal: costs in changing your driving licence, renewal fees, unforseen legal and property costs, and everything else. However, this guide should give you an overview of the main costs in getting the D7 and moving to Portugal.
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