Portugal has a number of attractive visas that are designed to entice third country citizens (people from outside of the EU/EEA/Switzerland[1]https://www.sovereigngroup.com/portugal/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa/), particularly affluent or self-sufficient people, to Portugal. Of these, the D7 visa has quickly become one of the most popular.
The D7 is aimed at those that can live off their own income [2]https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/type-of-visa#people-living-on-their-own-income, and that have an income that’s at least above the Portuguese minimum wage, which, as of 2022, is around €705 per month [3]https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-12-03/minimum-wage-increasing-from-january/63948.
After five years of holding a temporary residency permit you will be able to apply for both permanent residency [4]https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/residir/art80/ [5]https://moviinn.com/services/visas/types-of-visa#own-income-visa[6]https://www.cscadvogada.com/residency/d7-residence-visa-for-foreigners and Portuguese citizenship through naturalisation [7]https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/servicos/pedir-a-nacionalidade-portuguesa[8]https://moviinn.com/services/visas/types-of-visa#own-income-visa. Portuguese citizenship means an “EU passport”, which then makes it considerably easier to move to another EU country.
Other benefits include:
- Permanent via-free entry and circulation in the Schengen Area [9]https://www.belionpartners.com/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa
- Access to Portugal’s Non-habitual tax regime[10]https://www.belionpartners.com/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa[11]https://www.sovereigngroup.com/portugal/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa/
- Access to Portugal’s public health service [12]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal
- Access to schools and education services [13]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal
- Ability to work as an independent professional [14]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal[15]https://www.belionpartners.com/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa or as an employee[16]https://www.sovereigngroup.com/portugal/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa/
- Rights as a resident under the Portuguese legal system [17]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal[18]https://www.belionpartners.com/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa
- Family reunification [19]https://lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/ [20]https://moviinn.com/services/visas/types-of-visa#own-income-visa
- Typically faster approval time than the golden visa and it doesn’t require you to purchase a property or make a large investment in Portugal (although you may decide to do this anyway)
Criteria
Income
- Your income (as the main applicant) needs to be greater than the Portuguese minimum wage, which is around €705 per month
- Secondary applicants (namely a spouse or long-term partner) only require 50%[21]https://atlanticbridge.com.br/en/visto-d7-como-viver-de-aposentadoria-ou-de-rendimentos-em-portugal/[22] jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16997_1_22').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16997_1_22', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); [23]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/">https://lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/ [24]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/of the main applicant amount
- Children under 18 require 30% of the main applicant amount[25]https://atlanticbridge.com.br/en/visto-d7-como-viver-de-aposentadoria-ou-de-rendimentos-em-portugal/[26]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/[27]https://lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/
- You must not have a criminal conviction that would carry a one-year jail sentence or more in Portugal [28]https://www.uglobal.com/en/questions/applying-for-d7-visa-with-a-dismissed-criminal-record/.
Income can be made up of multiple income types and if you have a few different people on the same application (e.g. a husband and wife) they can combine their incomes.
It’s worth mentioning that while €705 per month is the minimum wage, and it would be difficult to live in many parts of Portugal, especially Lisbon and Porto, on that. In fact, just finding an apartment in Lisbon for that would be a challenge. Most people living on minimum wage do not live particularly well and will most likely either be living with family or getting a lot of help from them.
One relocation company, Moviinn, suggests an annual income of around €30,000 for the main applicant and €50,000 for a family [29]https://moviinn.com/services/visas/types-of-visa#own-income-visa.
Savings
Increasingly, more and more people are expected to have savings of at least €8,000 for the main applicant, 50% of that for a spouse or partner, and 30% of that for each child. These funds usually need to be transferred to a Portuguese bank account and simply showing them in a non-Portuguese bank account could mean your application is rejected. Pensioners are less likely to be asked to show savings as a pension is seen as a reliable income source.
€8,000 is roughly equivalent to one year’s Portuguese minimum wage, so having this would give you a year of runway if your income dried up. In practice, it would actually be quite hard to survive on this, especially if you are paying rent and especially if you live somewhere like Lisbon where rents are high. While €8k may be enough to satisfy the visa requirements, ideally you should have more savings that you can access in case you need to.
Although some people borrow this money for a few months simply to satisfy the visa requirements, this really isn’t recommended. Having these savings is a safety net and in a country with a limited job market, particularly for foreigners, a safety net is essential.
Accepted forms of income
People apply for the D7 with many different forms of income, but some of the most accepted types include:
- Real estate [30]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal and rental income [31]https://www.sovereigngroup.com/portugal/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa/ [32]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/
- Intellectual property [33]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal
- Financial investments [34]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal
- Pensions [35]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal[36]https://www.sovereigngroup.com/portugal/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa/ or annuities
- Dividends [37]https://www.sovereigngroup.com/portugal/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa/ including dividends from a company that you don’t play an active role in the management of [38]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/
- Income from a remote job [39]https://www.portugalist.com/d7-savings/
- Savings*
*Applications with savings alone and no other form of income are less likely to be accepted, even if you have hundreds of thousands in savings. There are exceptions, and it may depend a little on the consulate you apply through, your age, and pure luck, but overall this is a more challenging route than having a regular, steady income.
What almost all of these forms of income have in common is that they are a type of income that’s stable and regularly paid out. A pension is probably the most common example of this, as dividends could fluctuate or a tenant may not pay their rent, and this is probably why the Portuguese government have focused on attracting pensioners. But basically, the aim of this visa is to find people that have their own source of stable income – from a pension to a salary from a job in another country – which allows the person to live in Portugal and that’s unlikely to dry up and mean they need assistance from the Portuguese state.
The D7 VS the golden visa
As well as the D7, another visa that’s popular among prospective expats is the golden visa. This visa offers you residency in Portugal in return for investing in Portugal. That investment could be as simple as purchasing a property in Portugal (usually at €500k or more, but it could be as little as €280k). Like the D7, the golden visa offers the same residency benefits (e.g. access to healthcare, ability to apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years, family reunification etc).
So what’s the difference? The main reason to apply for the golden visa would be if you only want to spend a short amount of time in Portugal as the minimum stay requirements work out to an average of seven days. It’s ideal for those that are still working, don’t really want to live in Portugal (but want a Portuguese passport), or those that mainly want to travel.
Another visa to consider is the D2, but this is only applicable to those who are thinking of freelancing or opening a company in Portugal.
Read more about the D7 versus the golden visa (and the D2 visa) here
The D7 Process
The words D7 Visa and D7 Residence Permit are used interchangeably because essentially they’re part of the same thing, but it’s worth being aware of the difference.
The D7 visa gives you permission to come to Portugal for 4 months[40]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/ [41]https://moviinn.com/services/visas/types-of-visa#own-income-visaor 120 days[42]https://www.portugalresident.com/best-ways-for-brits-to-be-able-to-live-in-the-algarve-after-brexit-from-tourist-visa-to-d7-visa-or-golden-visa-whats-the-best-solution-for-you/[43]https://joeinpt.medium.com/portugal-d7-visa-application-process-5dfcbecf12f6. During that period you will book and attend an interview with SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) [44]https://www.sef.pt/en/Pages/homepage.aspx where you’ll be given your temporary residence permit. The D7 residency permit, or temporary residence permit, is then granted for two years initially [45] jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16997_1_45').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16997_1_45', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });[46]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/">https://lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/[47]https://tom-bradford.com/the-portugal-d7-visa-for-those-with-passive-income/ (some other, perhaps older, articles suggest one year [48]https://www.portuguese-nationality.com/residency/the-d7-visa-portugal) and then renewed for three years [49]https://lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/. This permit can then be renewed each time until you’re eligible to apply for permanent residency in year five [50]https://lamarescapela.pt/en/what-is-d7-visa/. Permanent residency is granted for longer periods of time (currently 10 years) but applicants must have at least an A2-level of Portuguese [51]https://www.belionpartners.com/portuguese-language-test. After five years of living in Portugal, it’s also possible to apply for Portuguese citizenship [52]https://www.belionpartners.com/portugal-passive-income-d7-visa. An A2-level of Portuguese is also required for Portuguese citizenship.
Step #1: Apply for the D7 Visa
You apply for the D7 Visa at the nearest Portuguese consulate [53]https://www.embassypages.com/portugal (or VFS Global Office [54]https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html) in the country where you are resident. You will need to work out which consulate or VSF office has jurisdiction where you live.
The particular consulate can make a big difference, particularly in the US, as they all operate differently. If you aren’t using a lawyer (who can explain all of this to you) you will need to work this out yourself.
You will typically need:
- Application form
- Valid passport (valid for at least six months after your 120-day D7 visa ends)
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Motivational letter or personal statement explaining why you’re seeking Portuguese residency, where you’re going to stay, and how you’re going to support yourself (see below)
- Proof of financial means (e.g. pension, contract for a remote job)
- Criminal records check
- Authorisation for a Portuguese criminal records check
- Travel insurance with at least €30,000 coverage (see below)
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal (either a house deed, rental contract, or invitation letter if staying with friends) (see below)
You may also be asked for:
- Portuguese bank account, funded with sufficient funds
- 6 months of bank statements
- A NIF (número de identificação fiscal)
- Proof of legal status if in a country where you’re not originally from
- Marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates (if your partner and children are applying as well)
- A letter stating your job security or income won’t be affected by you moving to Portugal (for those using a remote job as their source of income)
Note: The requirements change from time-to-time and consulates will often have their own particular requirements as will VSF [55]https://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/portugal/southafrica/english/pdf/d7-document-checklist.pdf [56]https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/portugal/uae/english/pdf/dsv-checklist-n.pdf [57]https://www.vfsglobal.com/portugal/singapore/pdf/National-visa-application3.pdf.
Step #2: Come to Portugal, attend SEF Interview, and get your residence permit
If successfully granted, the visa gives you a 120-day (4 months) period in which you can move to Portugal, get settled, and attend an interview with SEF. Although you should bring all of your documentation with you, this interview is often very easy and many things aren’t asked for. That said, it’s a good idea to show:
- You still have savings (balance of Portuguese bank account)
- Examples of your income source(s) going into your Portuguese bank account
- Proof of accommodation (e.g. rent being paid to landlord or deeds to a property)
- Your NIF
- You health insurance policy
Don’t worry if SEF don’t give you an answer within the 120 days in which your visa is valid for Portugal. You are still able to remain in Portugal while you wait for the answer.
(A good rule of thumb in Portugal is to bring ALL your documents but ONLY show the ones you’re asked for.)
Once you have your residence permit, you are then able to live in Portugal for a specified period of time (which is renewable). Previously, this was initially for one year but it now seems to be granted for two years initially and then renewed for three years. After 5 years of living in Portugal, you would be eligible to apply for permanent residency and also, should you wish, Portuguese citizenship.
Specific Points
Health Insurance
When you first move to Portugal for that 120-period in which you wait for an interview with SEF, you’ll need Schengen travel insurance (or health insurance) to cover you in case of emergency medical treatment or you need to be repatriated.
According to the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The insurance should be valid for the entire territory of Member-States and cover the entire duration of stay or transit of the visa applicant. The insurance should be valid only for the duration of the stay and not for the duration of the visa.
“The insurance should cover medical expenses including those of medical repatriation, medical emergency and/or hospital emergency, and the minimum required coverage is 30,000 Euros.”
AXA Schengen is a popular option, but it’s not the only one.
You also need to obtain health insurance prior to your interview with SEF, but, confusingly, some interviewers require it while most don’t. Some people have also been told that they need to keep up a health insurance plan for a period of time after the interview and becoming resident. One thing that is true, unfortunately, is that it can sometimes take a while to get a número de utente (number for using the public health system), so it’s worth keeping your health insurance as a backup. It may even be a good idea to keep it after. Health insurance is not expensive in Portugal, and it means faster referrals and a better chance of getting English-speaking medical staff.
Read more: What type of insurance for I need for the D7?
Proof of accommodation
Increasingly, more and more people are being asked to show a rental contract (or property deeds for a purchased house) at the visa application stage (i.e. before moving to Portugal). While some people manage to get away with 3-6 month contracts, even through Airbnbs or at hotels, others are being asked for as much as a one-year rental contract. This is obviously quite a demanding requirement and you should speak to your consulate or VFS Global office to see what they require (this point can vary from consulate to consulate).
Most people come to Portugal on a scouting trip to find a property to rent, while others take virtual viewings and rent a property online. Others come to Portugal on a longer scouting trip and search for somewhere to buy rather than rent. Buying can make more financial sense than renting, especially considering how fast rental prices are rising in Portugal, but only if you buy somewhere you’re happy with.
If you have someone who’s willing to offer you accommodation, they can sign a term of responsibility form [58]https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/images/termoderesponsabilidade.pdf. This should be notarised and a copy of the host’s identification should be included with the form [59]https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/country-hub/europe/portugal/portugal-visa-and-residency-information/.
Read more about accommodation for the D7
The Motivational Letter
For many people, one of the hardest parts of the application is the motivational letter or personal statement, but this is the bit you should be more excited about. Why? Because this is a part of the application where putting in effort can make a difference – unlike stating your earnings or savings, which you will simply state on the form. The motivational letter, on the other hand, is where you can get creative and make your application stand out from all of the others.
When writing your application, it’s a good idea to think about what the person on the other end might be looking for. They are most likely looking for someone:
- Who really wants to live in Portugal (and not just anywhere in Europe)
- Who has ties to Portugal (mention any friends or family members who live here)
- Who’s really connected to Portuguese culture and really going to integrate here (mention any Portuguese courses you’re taking, for example)
- Who has the means to support themselves (e.g. pension or remote job) and a significant safety net (e.g. savings, investments) should their main income source dry up
- Who’ll be an asset to Portugal (this is where you sell yourself in terms of education and previous career)
As with all sections of the application, having a lawyer will make this section easier as they’ll be able to recommend what pointers you should include in your statement.
The criminal records check
Unfortunately, getting a criminal records check isn’t always as simple as just getting a criminal records check. How difficult will depend on the consulate. In the US, for example, some consulates will accept the criminal records check electronically, others require it to be apostilled, while another will accept it without an apostille as long as the envelope hasn’t been opened. If you’re applying without a lawyer, you will need to check the requirements of your nearest consulate or VSF office.
Do It Yourself or Hire a Lawyer?
Although there is a lot of useful information on the internet about applying for the D7, it’s going to be a lot easier if you pay for a lawyer to handle everything for you. While you can work out how to fill in the form yourself, a lawyer will be able to read between the lines and understand what to put on the application. Different consulates have their own sets of requirements, which aren’t published online, but an immigration company will deal with these consulates every day and so will know what they are. They should also be much more up-to-date on any relevant law changes, and these changes seem to happen quite regularly.
Costs vary from company to company, but expect to pay somewhere between €1,000 and €3,000, depending on the company and whether you already have certain requirements (like the NIF or a Portuguese bank account). If you have a partner or children, they will incur costs as well, but the costs will be lower than for the first applicant.
A lawyer can also recommend an insurance broker (for the health/travel insurance), a rental agent, or a realtor. However, you can also find all of these people yourself fairly easily, and don’t have to take their recommendation (but it’s certainly a good starting point).
When choosing a lawyer, it’s a good idea to focus on lawyers that have a strong focus on immigration – ideally one that handles a lot of applications. Even more ideal would be if that lawyer handles a lot of applications with the type of income you’re applying with (e.g. pension, rental income, or remote job) and has experience with the particular consulate or VSF office you’re applying through.
Read a longer article discussing the pros and cons of using an immigration lawyer
Additional reading
Want to read even more about the D7? We have a lot of articles.
- Full comparison of the D7 VS the golden visa VS the D2 entrepreneur visa
- Can You Apply for the D7 With Just Savings?
- What Insurance Do I Need for the D7 Visa?
- Accommodation Options for the D7 Visa
- Should You Use an Immigration Lawyer For Your Portuguese Visa (D7, D2, Golden Visa, etc)?
Notes
Hi James
We have an appointment at the consulate in Manchester on 1st July 2022. Do you know once the D7 visa is approved by the SEF in Portugal how long do you have before you actually have to move to Portugal.
Hello,
I have a question on whether the authorities would accept income from crypto wallets instead of bank statements?
Maybe this is technical, but freelancers working in crypto can choose to get paid in crypto. Therefore the salary that matches the contract arrives in crypto wallets.
Have you seen this examples for freelancers?
Thanks
Hi James!
My cousin is a US citizen and currently in Portugal . He is suppose to leave before the 90 days is up, around Nov 20, but would like to stay longer. Is there a way he can apply for a visa to stay longer so he doesn't have to leave Portugal? If so, what kind of visa would he apply for and where would he apply for it?
If he does have to leave Portugal and return to the states to apply for the visa can he go back to Portugal once the interview is booked in Portugal or does he have to wait the 90 days to return (180 days minus the 90 days he was there)?
Thanks!
Would it not be more helpful to get more detail, information, from people who did and did not get D7? The woman who's been denied but seems to have more than enough financial requirements from her spouse, but thinks it may be because of an erroneous background check, we would like to know how your appeal went. For those who are seeking the D7 now, from all I've seen approved in the last 6 months, it's October 2021 now, the common denominator was income, proof of much more than the minimum wage of about 700 euro and substantial savings, minimum of 30000 euro plus. In balance this means if you had 6 figure savings and passive income of 3++× the minimum and all other requirements. You're going to get approved. Let's be honest here and frank. This is not even close to reality for most. But for the privaleged who meet these unwritten requirements congratulations. I hope you do adapt and integrated with respect. Certainly Portuguese people recognize the changes good for the foreign immigrants with money and the bad that the locals cost of living and quality of life is becoming to expenses. Again in balance I hope that all who seek a better quality of life try to participate in where's best to make the world a better place for all and not the few....
Hey James,
You stated that income from a remote-job is sufficient for the visa, yet on every official website usually only passive income is stated as eligible. Do you have an source for the eligibility of remote-workers or is it just your experience?
Best,
Konrad
Hi Konrad,
I'm trying to get a source for this. I haven't got one yet, but hope to find one in the future as, yes, it's more based on people's stories than from any lawyer's website. In the meantime, you can see in this article that the reply from the VSF office in Washington DC stated that remote income was one of the acceptable options: https://www.portugalist.com/d7-savings/
Hi Konrad, I am also wondering about the D7 visa and if one's income actually has to be passive or not. Have you found anything more about this? Thanks in advance!
Hello James, Can you give the contact details of a good lawyer for D7? Thanks.
Hi James,
I'm in the process of applying for the D7 Visa for the purposes of attending university for a Master's Program. I've found multiple versions of the "required" documents for the D7 and I hadn't yet come across the NIF and Portuguese Bank account just yet.
Are both of these items a new 2021 requirement?
Thanks a million,
Vega
Thank you James.
I am applying through VFS Global so that may account for the difference in requested documents.
Is there any benefit of applying with VFS Global instead of directly to the consulate?
James Cave
Thank you for your article.It has helped me a lot.
How can I prove that I am a remote worker and that I need a lawyer? Thank you.
Hi James, thank you very much for such an informative source! It is really becoming my Bible for the move. Do you know if, for proof of accommodation in Portugal, a consulate would accept a letter from a friend who is a Portuguese citizen stating that I will be staying with them for indefinite period of time while I look to purchase a property? Also do you by any chance know what is the approximate processing time of the visa eg how long your passport is at the consulate (I am planning to apply to a consulate in either Britain or Russia where I have citizenships). Would really appreciate your views/info. Thank you very much for your help! Inessa
Why not just get them to say you can stay there for the whole length of the temporary residency permit (2 years)? You can mention you're looking to buy in your personal letter of motivation.
I think you apply where you're resident not where you have citizenship butr could be wrong.
Thanks Inessa!
Hello! Great article! I have two questions, first is about rental agreement. Is it possible to present a hotel reservation for a month or two in consulate and - a year contract during the second appointment in Portugal already or should i need to fly to Portugal on a tourist visa and secure a yearly lease before applying for D7, but....who will sign it with a tourist for a year and even if i find such opportunity - what happens if visa is denied, so we lose 2 months rent? Second - I'm an american citizen, but i lived in many countries and even right now im in Europe, so...what about criminal record? Should it be applied from my last country of residency or from each country i ever lived?...thanks!
oh yeah P.S. I'm planning to relocate to Madeira
Hi James, your article is spot on information- very rare to find on internet with so clearity .
I’m interested for D- 7 visa and looking to take the application through a experienced relocation lawyer.
I have job and can work remotely. My monthly salary is 900 euros and mine and my wife’s saving ( government bonds) are over 10000 euros . I have 2 kids . Do you suggest that I should apply for D7 if my finances fall to the funds requirement for D-7.
Many thanks again for replying all the queries.
Hi Malay,
This is a question for a D7 lawyer, which I am not.
Personally, I think Portugal is more expensive than this to live in and wouldn't want to try and support a family of four of this salary. As well as meeting the D7 requirements, I think you should also consider the cost of living in Portugal. You can estimate some of the main costs by looking at rental prices on olx.pt and also the cost of food and drink at a supermarket website like continente.pt.
Hi James,
Thanks for a great article. My family and I (3) are thinking to move to Portugal on D7 visa route. We hold Canadian passport.
I think I should have enough income and saving to support my D7 application. I currently work remotely & also run an online business with total income over $5000 per month. I also have saving over $100k to support my family and I if needed.
I have a few questions:
- Should I apply the D7 visa in Portuguese embassy or could I apply in a Portuguese consulate.. which actually closer from where we live.
- Should I include my spouse and son in the D7 application.. or is it better to add them under family reunification instead?
- I have a friend who lives in Portugal, and she is willing to provide a proof of place to live in Portugal while I search for my own place once we land in Portugal. What kind of statement do I need from my friend?
- About a Portuguese bank account. How do I open a Portuguese bank account if I haven’t landed in the country yet?
- Similar question to NIF. How to get one before I land in the country?
Thanks so much.
Hi Mimi,
I'll let a Portuguese lawyer answer the first three questions for you (I believe you're now in touch with one).
As for the NIF and bank account, I've written articles about getting both before moving to Portugal here:
Hi James! 😊 Please help, in desperate need of a good Portuguese Attorney! My family and I (3) was denied our application. 1st due to insufficient income. My husband has a US Military Disability income of over $2200 monthly and he works remotely with an income of $3600 net monthly, we also have a 401k with over $20,000 in the account. We sent in proof of all documents.. 2nd my FBI report showed a criminal offense back in 03/1991 where I received probation and a fine. The consulate denied saying I was imprisoned for 1 year which is not true. They also didn’t take any of our income documents under consideration. We will be appealing the decision!
Hi Rachelle,
So sorry to hear your application was denied. I'll pass your details along.
In need D7 job please contact me back
Hi James,
After we acquire Portugal permanent residency, do we still need to be in Portugal for a mimimum of 183 days per year to keep the PR? I'm thinking about living in Spain after getting Portugal PR since I won't be qualified for the Non-lucrative visa of Spain. I'm a non-EU citizen. Thank you.
Hi James.
One more thing, 2020 with the pandemic has stirred an anti-Asian trend globally, plus the impacts of the Chinese wealth on Portuguese economy, being an older Asian Canadian, I wonder if the Asian Portuguese community has been experiencing anything like that? Thank you.
Hi Mike,
This is a global trend, as you say, and I don't think anywhere is free from racism unfortunately. Anecdotally, Asian people I know living in Portugal haven't suffered from it, certainly not in the same way as in other countries, so hopefully that'll continue.
Programs like the golden visa aren't loved by a lot of local Portuguese as it's been one of the things that has pushed house prices up in Lisbon and Porto, but again I haven't seen a public backlash and definitely nothing specifically against Asians. I'm aware of the issues against Asians in Canada due to house price increases there, for example, and haven't seen anything like that in Portugal.
Hi James,
Really appreciate your candid reply. I was afraid you may not feel comfortable to respond due to the sensitive subject.
Accidentally I stumbled upon this post
https://www.belionpartners.com/permanent-residency--citizenship
, and under Portugal Permanent Residence --> Non-European, EEA and Swiss Citizens – Non-Golden Visa Holders
it says "in practice,.. Portugal's minimum stay requirements should not be a major concern." Jusot want to confirm with you if it is correct. Thank you again.
No problem.
Racism in Portugal is a topic I've considered writing about, but it's so subjective. I will work out how to tackle it one day, though 🙂
Hi James,
Thanks again for your reply. Regarding racism, yes, I totally agree those perceptions tend to be subjective by nature and vary from one man to another. If you're not ready to share it publicly, I wonder if you'd be confortable to share them with me just casually perhaps by emailing me. I'm old enough to know this is just one man's experiences / opinion and won't take anything personally should there be anything touchy. Thank you again for your replies. I really appreciate that 🙂
James,
Great article! What if I want to apply and bring my girlfriend? Can my income be sufficient enough or does she have to make the minimum amount as well?
Thanks,
Hector
Can you still get the d7 after having a D.U.I?
HI, great article. Can you tell me if I go for the D7 visa to temp residency permit for my wife and I, do both of us need to be in Portugal for that? Also, if granted the D7 residency permit, do we have to be in Portugal for 183 days each year, thus having to pay taxes or can we do 180 days legally? Lastly, if we are US citizens and want to spend time in both locations, how many times may we leave the EU region per calendar year, for example both travel to US for our other home.
I am a UK Citizen on Old age pensions which amount to £15,000 per annum. I am resident in France at the moment but would like to relocate to Portugal. I am married to a non-EU person. Can you advise what I should do. Many thanks.
Hi James - Extremely informative write-up. Thanks!
I am very interested in seeking residency in Portugal and would likely go the D7 route (with NHR). A few specific questions for now...
My long-time partner and I have three children, all in their early 20's, and I'd hope for them to join us in the quest for Portuguese residency. What requirements must they fulfill? Additionally, my partner and I (both 'retired') have never married (or registered as domestic partners) - would this be a major issue? We are both on our home's title - we own it outright, and it's in an excellent real estate market.
We are both joint tenants on our brokerage accounts as well. Our stock holdings are quite decent, but most are not income producing, nor have substantial dividend income. Would it be necessary to convert some of these stocks into high dividend paying securities? Or would our stock totals and house value be sufficient?
I would be interested in hopefully starting the process in the first half of 2021 if feasible, so all up-to-date information would be greatly appreciated. Also, as it stands now would Covid be a huge hindrance coming from the U.S. ?
Thank you!
Hi Steven,
I'm going to pass your details onto the experts as they'll be able to answer your questions properly.
Hello! Great article. Can you give me the name of a few companies or lawyers who are the best to work with US Citizens to apply for the D7 and move from the US to Portugal?
Hi Kimberly,
I'm adding a directory of these companies to the website but it's still a work in progress so I'll send you an email for now.
I'd also love to receive your recommendations of companies to work with as a US citizen, if you wouldn't mind sharing them. Thank you!
Will do!
Hey James!
This article is AMAZING!! Reading through the comments now ; would you mind sending me your lawyers / people to get in contact with to assist with the d7 visa too?
Thanks!
Hi Caitlin,
Absolutely will do!
Thanks for the kind comments.
Dear James,
Thank you for your very informative website!
What is the amount of social security contribution payable by D7 visa residents?
Chris
Thanks James,
I have a US and UK passport. Is one preferable over the other to move to Portugal? Will Brexit change things for people moving to Portugal on UK passports?
Hi Harry,
The UK's withdrawal from the EU properly ends at the end of this year. Of course, getting to Portugal between now and the end of the year is a challenge for a lot of people.
James,
We (2 adults, 2 minor children) arethinking of moving to the Lisbon area initially. We have enough in savings to satisfy the requirements. I've seen conflicting info online. Must we have a lease before submitting the D7 application in the US? Do we need to open a bank account in Portugal and transfer a year's worth of living expenses or can we do this once we land there and begin our residency, acquire the tax ID, etc? Especially given Covid it seems odd to rent somewhere that we can't and won't use until our visa is approved and we have no way of knowing how long that will be. Ift course, if this is the only way, we will do it, but how long of a lease do we need? We expect that we will use it as a base to explore and then pick an area to settle. Also, if you can forward the contact info of someone who can help us with the bank account and rental that would be helpful. Thank you!
Hi there,
I am almost finished with my post-graduate education in the U.S. and am very interested in moving to Portugal. Ideally, I'd like to do so as soon as possible, but--as I've been a full-time student for most of my life--I don't have much money. If I were to find a remote job here in the States that paid around $2000-3000/month, do you think I'd have a shot at getting the D7 visa once I hit the six-month mark? Or is that just wishful thinking?
This is easily the most helpful article I've found thus far, so I'd greatly appreciate your insight!
Thanks!
Hi James,
Just to confirm, let’s say I have $50,000 in savings in the bank and I want to come to Portugal with my young daughter and wife. Can I obtain a D7 Visa?
Thanks.
Wow, after reading so many articles about the D7, I really believe this is the most clear and detailed one, I have one concern, does the D7 work with an active income(salary from a remote job) besides a good amount of money in the bank around 20 000 euro? Or should always be a passive income? Thanks.
James,
Will the funds from the remote work count as the "passive income" or is this only a means of additional income to live in Portugal? Would having enough funds to meet the minimum requirement in a Portuguese bank account be considered "passive income"?
So if I have both, a remote job with around 3000$ Monthly salary, and savings around 20 000 euro in a Portuguese bank account, I should have not problem in getting the visa right? I already started the process with a lawyer in Portugal.
My family and I (3) was denied or application. 1st due to insufficient income. My husband has a Military Disability income of over $2200 monthly and he works remotely with an income of $3600 net monthly, we also have a 401k with over $20,000 in the account. We had proof of all documents.. 2nd my FBI report showed a criminal offense back in 03/1991 where I received probation and a fine. The consulate denied saying I was imprisoned for 1 year which is not true. They also didn’t take any of our income documents under consideration. We will be appealing the decision!
Hi! Thanks a lot for all the information!
I would like to ask you if it's possible to apply for this visa *only* with my savings (more than the minimum amount requiered). (I'm from Chile)
Thanks again!
I was advised by Immigration lawyers in Portugal that really the passive income/remote work option is really the only way to get the D7 Visa. I have 400k in just cash savings and was told that would not be sufficient to obtain the D7 Visa alone.
My family and I (3) was denied or application. 1st due to insufficient income. My husband has a Military Disability income of over $2200 monthly and he works remotely with an income of $3600 net monthly, we also have a 401k with over $20,000 in the account. We had proof of all documents.. 2nd my FBI report showed a criminal offense back in 03/1991 where I received probation and a fine. The consulate denied saying I was imprisoned for 1 year which is not true. They also didn’t take any of our income documents under consideration. We will be appealing the decision!
One more thing, I believe the Portuguese government has updated some rules, now you get the visa for two years and next for three years, you should update this in your article.
This has now been updated.
Very helpful article! I was wondering if you had any advice at all about setting up a 6 month lease while being here in the states? I found some on AirBNB but then read your comment about that not being accepted as much anymore. Thanks again