The short answer is yes—but it’s not quite as simple as showing the Portuguese government a bank statement and declaring you can support yourself. You’ll need to qualify for a specific visa or route to residency that accommodates your financial situation.
Let’s explore the options available for moving to Portugal with savings.
1. The Golden Visa (For Those with €500k or More in Savings)
The Golden Visa is specifically designed for individuals with substantial savings. The concept is straightforward: you take your savings and either invest them in Portugal or make a donation.
Unsurprisingly, most people choose to invest, typically into an approved fund (Previously, you could qualify by purchasing property, but this route is no longer available). The standard investment amount is €500k, while donations typically require €250k. Some companies offer loans and other financial schemes to reduce the upfront amount required.
At the end of the investment period—usually around 6 years, though this can vary depending on the fund—you can withdraw your investment, hopefully with some gains. After 5 years of living in Portugal you can apply for permanent residency and after 10 years of living in Portugal, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship (7 years for CPLP). In fact, with the Golden Visa, you only need to spend an average of 7 days per year to meet the physical stay requirements.
This is the most straightforward route to residency through savings, however, it does mean your money being tied up for at least 5-6 years.
2. The D7 Visa (The Passive Income Visa)
Here’s where things get interesting. You typically cannot apply for the D7 visa with savings alone. It’s nicknamed the “passive income visa” for a reason: you need demonstrable passive income, not just a lump sum in the bank.
The Portuguese government wants to see income that’s paid out regularly—think pensions, US Social Security, royalties, dividends, or rental income. A lump sum won’t cut it because you could easily spend it all on a house or other major purchase, leaving you without ongoing means of support.
So Can You Use Savings for the D7? Yes, but only if those savings generate passive income.
Here’s how the math works:
In 2025, an individual needs €870 per month in passive income to qualify. It’s also recommended that applicants show at least €870 × 12 in savings as a safety net (though many lawyers recommend showing more).
Some ways to demonstrate passive income include dividends or interest. Savings rates fluctuate constantly, but let’s say you can earn 3% interest (or 3% in dividends).
The Portuguese government wants you to show €10,440 in annual passive income (€870 × 12). To generate this at 3%, you would need approximately €348,000 in savings, plus the additional €10,440 safety net.
This is somewhat less than the Golden Visa requires, and it offers more flexibility with lower legal fees. However, the biggest challenge is proving that you won’t spend all of this on a house and lose your income stream. This likely means having more than €348,000 in savings or keeping them in some kind of structured account. Many applicants are rejected simply because they submit savings as a lump sum without demonstrating passive income generation.
Alternatively, you could invest in a rental property (though this requires management work) or purchase an annuity. The key is ensuring your funds generate consistent passive income.
After 5 years of living in Portugal you can apply for permanent residency and after 10 years of living in Portugal, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
3. EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens
If you’re an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you don’t need a visa to live in Portugal. You simply come to Portugal and, after 90 days, register for your CRUE at your local Câmara Municipal (town hall).
However, you still need to demonstrate how you’ll support yourself.
The good news? Savings are accepted, and there’s typically less scrutiny than for non-EU citizens applying for visas. That said, you should still be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself and not become a burden on the Portuguese state.
After 5 years of living in Portugal you can apply for permanent residency and after 7 years of living in Portugal, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship.
Why Savings Matter (Even When Not Required)
Some visa routes don’t require substantial savings or only ask for minimal amounts—but having a healthy financial cushion is still a really, really good idea.
Why? Because you’re moving to a foreign country, and the reality is that most people underbudget.
Nothing catastrophic even needs to go wrong. Moving to a foreign country typically involves spending at least 20% more than you initially expect. This could be home renovations going over budget, your car breaking down and needing replacement, unexpected furniture purchases, higher utility costs than anticipated, or any number of small expenses that add up quickly.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: you’re now in a country where you probably don’t speak the language fluently, and where the job market is limited for expats. Unfortunately, most business ideas catering to the expat market—dog boarding kennels, English-speaking builders, yoga studios—along with English teaching positions are already saturated. Everyone else has had the same idea.
This is why having a substantial safety net is crucial, even if it isn’t officially required by your visa category. Financial security gives you breathing room to adapt, handle unexpected challenges, and avoid the stress of scrambling for income in an unfamiliar environment.
Conclusion
So there you have it: moving to Portugal with savings is possible, but you need significant financial resources. Even if your dream is to live off the land in the countryside and renovate a ruin, you still must prove you can support yourself without becoming a burden on Portugal’s social welfare system.
Unless you’re an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you should consider either:
- The Golden Visa route if you have €500k+ available for investment
- Creating a passive income-generating structure for the D7 visa if you have substantial savings that can produce regular income
With proper planning and the right financial setup, your Portuguese dream can become a reality.
Thinking about Moving to Portugal?