Comparing Portugal’s D7 and Digital Nomad Visa

Portugal offers two popular visa options for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens looking to live in the country: the D7 (Passive Income Visa) and the Digital Nomad Visa (some consulates refer to this as the D8 and some as the D9).

The D7 visa, often dubbed the “passive income” or “retirement” visa, opens doors for those with steady streams of income from pensions, investments, or property rentals.

On the other hand, the “Digital Nomad” visa, caters to the modern workforce – remote employees, freelancers, and digital entrepreneurs who can work from anywhere with a reliable internet connection.

But which visa is right for you? How do they differ, and what are the pros and cons of each?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the intricacies of the D7 and Digital Nomad Visa, helping you navigate the path to your Portuguese paradise.

From income requirements and application processes to long-term implications and paths to citizenship, we’ve got you covered.

Key Differences

	D7 Visa	Digital Nomad Visa
Target Audience	Retirees, pensioners, investors	Remote workers, freelancers, digital nomads
Income Type	Passive (e.g., pensions, rentals, dividends)	Active (e.g., remote work, freelancing)
Minimum Income (2025)	€870/month (single applicant)	€3,480/month (single applicant)
Savings Requirement	€10,440 for a single applicant (+50% for a couple and +30% for a child)	€10,440 for a single applicant (+50% for a couple and +30% for a child)
Stay Requirement	No more than 6 consecutive months (or 8 non-consecutive months) within a visa permit period	No more than 6 consecutive months (or 8 non-consecutive months) within a visa permit period
Visa Duration	2 years initial, renewable for 3 years	2 years initial, renewable for 3 years

The Digital Nomad Visa also allows for a 12-month temporary stay visa. This is aimed at those that want to stay in Portugal for longer than the typical 90 days allowed by the Schengen Visa, but aren’t looking to live in Portugal full-time.

Note: These figures are what is required in 2025. As this is based on the Portuguese minimum wage, it’s likely that these will gradually increase year-on-year.

Detailed Comparison

Income Requirements

D7 Visa:

Single applicant: €870/month
Couple: Additional €435/month (50% of main applicant requirement)
Each dependent child: Additional €261/month (30% of main applicant requirement)

Digital Nomad Visa:

Single applicant: €3,480/month
Couple: Additional €1,740/month (50% of main applicant requirement)
Each dependent child: Additional €1,044/month (30% of main applicant requirement)

Target audience

D7 Visa:

Retirees: Those receiving pensions or social security benefits from their home countries.
Property owners: Individuals earning rental income from real estate investments.
Investors: People with income from dividends, stocks, or bonds.
Intellectual property holders: Those earning royalties from books, music, patents, etc.
Trust fund beneficiaries: Individuals receiving regular distributions from trusts.

Digital Nomad Visa:

Remote employees: Individuals employed by companies outside Portugal but able to work from anywhere.
Freelancers: Self-employed professionals with clients primarily outside Portugal.
Digital entrepreneurs: Founders or owners of location-independent online businesses.

Although the Digital Nomad Visa typically attracts a younger audience in their 20s-40s, it is suitable for anyone who can work remotely. It could be a suitable option for those close to retirement age but not in a position to begin claiming a pension or social security.

Application Process

Both visas follow a similar application process:

Gather required documents
Apply at Portuguese consulate or VFS office
Receive initial visa (valid for 4 months)
Move to Portugal
Attend AIMA appointment
Receive residence permit, valid for 2 years
Renew residence permit, now valid for three years
After 5 years, apply for Portuguese citizenship and/or permanent residency if desired

Unlike the D7, it is possible to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from Portugal. However, most lawyers advise against this.

Benefits for Both Visas

Ability to live long-term in Portugal
Access to Portuguese public healthcare system
Visa-free travel within Schengen Area
Ability to work in Portugal
Path to permanent residency and citizenship after 5 years

Citizenship Path

After 5 years of residency, holders of either visa can apply for Portuguese citizenship. Requirements include:

Maintaining legal residence status
Passing a Portuguese language test (A2 level)
Demonstrating integration into Portuguese society
Clean criminal record

Pros and Cons

D7 Visa

Pros:

Lower income requirement
Suitable for retirees and those with passive income
Lower application fees

Cons:

Income must be passive

Digital Nomad Visa

Pros:

Designed for remote workers and freelancers
Clearer criteria for active income earners

Cons:

Higher income requirement
May be more challenging for families due to higher income thresholds
While many companies allow remote working, many do not allow remote work in another country. You may need to switch to being a contractor in order to be able to move to Portugal and continue working with your current company.

Popular Locations

Both visa holders can live anywhere in Portugal, but some popular areas include:

Lisbon: Capital city, bustling with digital nomads and expats
Porto: Smaller, more affordable alternative to Lisbon
Algarve: Southern coastal region, popular with retirees and digital nomads
Madeira: Island destination that’s popular with retirees and with a growing digital nomad community
Silver Coast: Coastal area between Lisbon and Porto, offering a more traditional lifestyle. More popular with retirees than digital nomads.

Tax Considerations

Both visa types make you tax resident in Portugal.
The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime ended in 2023, but a new system (NHR 2.0) is available. However, it is more restrictive and may not favour retirees or digital nomads.
Freelancers and remote workers can benefit from other tax regimes, such as the Simplified Regime.
Social security contributions need to be factored in if you’re working.
It’s recommended that you speak to an accountant or tax advisor before making any major decisions.

Final Thoughts

Both the D7 and Digital Nomad visas offer excellent opportunities for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens to live in Portugal. The choice between them depends on your income source, lifestyle, and long-term plans.

Generally speaking:

Choose D7 if you have stable passive income, especially if you’re retired
Choose the Digital Nomad Visa if you have active income from remote work or freelancing

Neither visa prevents the holder from working in Portugal. However, because the Digital Nomad Visa specifically requires you to earn a substantial income from non-Portuguese sources, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for taking on work locally.

Both visas allow for family reunification, but the higher base income requirement for the Digital Nomad visa makes it more expensive when adding dependents. This can be a significant factor for families considering the move to Portugal.