Can I Move to Portugal If I’m Not an EU Citizen? (Yes — Here’s How)

So you’ve heard the stories: the sunshine, the pace of life, the pastel de nata addiction—and the fact that Portugal is one of the easiest places in Europe to get residency.

But if you’re not from the EU, the big question usually comes first:

“Can I actually move to Portugal?”

Yes. You can. If you’re British, American, Canadian, Indian—whatever. There are visa options available.

In fact, Portugal has some of the most welcoming residency pathways in Europe. If you can show either income, remote work, a business, or an investment, there is almost certainly a possible route for you.

So whether your motivation is:

• Escaping political chaos (looking at you, US)
• Affordable living (rent in Lisbon is half of Toronto or Sydney)
• Regaining EU rights (Brexit refugees, this is your way back)
• Safety and stability (Portugal ranks as one of the world’s safest countries)

…Portugal remains one of the most realistic, achievable paths to European residency.

And the best part?

Once you’re a resident, you can:

• Access public healthcare (as well as affordable private health insurance)
• Enroll in Portuguese universities
• Travel freely in the Schengen Area
• And after 10 years, apply for citizenship (and the coveted EU passport)

So whether your motivation is sunshine, safety, slower living, or simply escaping the turbulence in your own country, Portugal remains a viable and realistic route.

Let’s break it down clearly — no jargon, no overwhelm.

The Simple Pathway (How It Works)

Whether you’re from the US, UK, Canada, South Africa, India, or almost anywhere else, the structure is the same:

1. Apply for the right visa → at the Portuguese consulate (or VFS Office) where you live.
2. Move to Portugal → and have a meeting with AIMA (Portuguese borders and immigration) who’ll then issue your residency permit (usually a few weeks-months later).
3. Renew residency as required (usually every 2-3 years).
4. Apply for permanent residency at year 5 (optional but recommended)
5. After 10 years of legal residency → Apply for citizenship (again optional, but recommended).

That’s it.

Well, almost. Obviously, you need to qualify for a visa, and jump through quite a few hoops, but thousands make the move every year.

Before We Go Further: A Quick Note About EU Citizens

If you’re from the EU/EEA/Switzerland — you skip the visa process entirely and move as an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. You simply register locally after 90 days and receive a CRUE certificate.

In fact, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can also bring their dependents (e.g. spouse or long-term partner, dependent children, or dependent parents).

But this article is really for everyone else — the non-EU crowd.

Residency Routes for Non-EU Citizens

Visa Route	Best For	Income Requirement (2026)	Tax Residency Required	Time in Portugal Required
D7 Visa	Retirees, landlords & passive income earners	€920/mo+ passive income	Yes	Live in PT most of the year
Digital Nomad Visa	Remote workers + freelancers	€3,680/mo+	Yes	Live in PT most of the year
D2 Visa	Entrepreneurs & business owners	Income to support yourself (≈€920/mo+), plus business plan & funds	Yes	Live in PT most of the year
Golden Visa	Investors who want flexibility	~€500,000 investment (or €250k donation)	Not Obligatory	Only ~7 days per year required

Now let’s break each route down in real language.

If You’re Retired or Have Passive Income → The D7 Visa

The D7 is one of Portugal’s most popular residency options — especially with:

• People with pensions (private or state), US Social Security income, Canadian CPP/OAS
• Landlords (or just those that can rent out a property)
• Investors earning dividends or other passive income
• Those earning royalties (e.g. musicians, authors)

Income Requirements (2026)

• Main applicant: €920 per month
• Spouse/partner: + 50% (€460)
• Each dependent child: + 30% (€276)

You’ll also need savings, which is typically calculated as your monthly passive income requirement e.g. €920 for a single person or €1,380 for a couple X 12. Some lawyers recommend having more—maybe even as much as 24 months, just to show how secure you are.

	Monthly passive income	Savings Requirement
Single Person	€920 per month	€11,040
Couple	€1,380	€

You’ll also need:

• Proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental agreement or property ownership)
• Clean criminal record
• Portuguese NIF (tax number) and bank account

Important Notes

• Passive income must be stable and recurring
• Savings without ongoing passive income are usually insufficient.
• Income from a remote job, freelancing, or employment is rarely accepted (Portugal now has the Digital Nomad Visa for this)
• The Portuguese minimum wage and D7 income requirements are updated yearly, so check the latest figures before applying

Read more about the D7

If You Work Remotely → The Digital Nomad Visa

If you work for a non-Portuguese employer or freelance for non-Portuguese clients, the D8 (sometimes the D9), is your path. The requirements are significantly harder than the D7, especially if you are bringing family members such as a spouse or dependent children, but nonetheless, it offers a clear route to residency in Portugal.

Income Requirement (2026)

• 4 × Portuguese minimum wage = €3,680 per month
• Add 50% or €1,840 for a spouse or long-term partner
• Add 30% or €1,104 for each dependent child

This visa is very popular with:

• Tech workers
• Designers
• Marketers
• Consultants

However, despite the nickname “Digital Nomad Visa,” this visa isn’t exclusively for those who work in front of a laptop. It doesn’t matter on the nature of the work, as long as you’re able to do it remotely from Portugal and the income comes from non-Portuguese sources. You can be a psychologist, sculptor, or anything else—as long as your income comes from outside Portugal. It also doesn’t matter what form it comes in, whether that’s as an employee, a freelancer, or a limited company. The key point is that the income comes from abroad.

Important: Check your boss or clients are okay with you working from Portugal. Many are fine with the idea of remote work in theory, but get nervous at the legal or tax implications in practice. Increasingly, AIMA want to see a contract or declaration from the company stating that you’re allowed to work in Portugal.

Can’t work remotely? Consider:

• Becoming a contractor
• Checking if your company has a Portuguese office that you could transfer to
• Speaking to your boss about working through an EOR (Employer of Record)
• Finding a job in Portugal (and applying for the D1 or D3 visas)

Read more about the Digital Nomad Visa

If You’re Starting or Relocating a Business → The D2 Visa

The D2 is for people who want to build something in Portugal. And the good news is, it can be just about anything.

Examples:

• Opening a café or small shop
• Moving your online business headquarters to Portugal
• Starting a consulting agency
• Launching a startup
• Freelancing for Portuguese clients

You can also transfer an existing business to Portugal or buy a Portuguese business that’s already operating. There’s no fixed minimum investment, but you do need to show:

• A real business plan that’ll support you (at least €920/month for an individual)
• Capital that makes sense for your industry
• How your business will contribute to Portugal (e.g., jobs, services, innovation)

As well as funding for the business, and evidence that it can support you any any dependents, you will need to show savings or means of sustenance to support yourself while you get your business off the ground.

Like other residency visas, the general rule is you cannot leave the country for more than six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months per within the residency permit validity (two years initially, then three). However, the D2 Visa allows you to request more time outside of Portugal based on a business needs. Authorities realize that those involved in business may require more time outside of the country to conduct business elsewhere. This isn’t as flexible as the Golden Visa, but it does offer a little more flexibility than other visas like the D7 or Digital Nomad Visa.

Read more about the D2 visa

If You Have Savings to Invest → The Golden Visa

One of Portugal’s most popular visa options is the Golden Visa due to its low physical stay requirements (an average of seven days per year). It’s particularly popular with two groups of people:

Those who want residency in Portugal but don’t want to live there full time.

Portugal’s Golden Visa allows you to have your cake and eat it. Namely, you can obtain residency in Portugal and get all the benefits that go with that (path to citizenship, access to the public healthcare system) without having to stay there for around eight months of the year. You can also potentially avoid tax residency as well (by spending less than 183 days in Portugal).

This is perfect for those who:

1. Don’t want to move to Portugal just yet
2. Want a foot in Europe, but don’t want to commit to a full move unless they have to

Those who have savings but don’t qualify for another visa

For the D7, you need passive income (e.g. a pension or rental income). For the Digital Nomad Visa, you need a salary from a remote job or freelancing income. But what if you have savings of €500k or more, but neither of these things?

That’s where the Golden Visa comes in.

Investment Options:

In late 2023, Portugal removed the Golden Visa pathways that involved buying property or simply moving money into a Portuguese bank account. Those are no longer available. However, the Golden Visa program did not end — it just shifted focus toward investments that support the Portuguese economy, innovation, and culture.

As of 2026, the main investment options are.

1. Investment Funds

• Invest €500,000+ into qualifying funds (typically venture capital or private equity).
• The key point: the fund cannot primarily invest in real estate.

2. Business Investment + Job Creation

• Invest €500,000+ into a Portuguese company, and either:
  • Create 5 new jobs, or
  • Maintain 10 existing jobs

Donation-Based Routes

These are for those who want a more philanthropic approach:

• €500,000 into scientific research (public or private institutions)
• €250,000 into projects that support arts, cultural heritage, or restoration

Key Points:

• Most qualifying investments start around €500,000 (or you can donate €250k)
• Real estate no longer qualifies (nor does commercial real estate such as hotels)
• Must spend ~7 days per year in Portugal (14 days in the first two years in practice).

This route still allows you to apply for citizenship after 10 years—just with minimal time in Portugal. However, as Portugal is likely to want to see more “ties” to Portugal as part of the citizenship application process (membership of local clubs or other signs you’ve connected with Portuguese culture in some ways), it’s important that you are able to create these connections—even if you’re spending minimal time here.

Over the past few years, the Golden Visa has suffered from processing delays. While AIMA have constantly promised to improve the backlog, improvements have been slow. As such, it’s important to assess the delays and decide whether this is the right option for your needs.

Read more about the Golden Visa

If You Are Highly Skilled → The D3 Visa

The D3 Visa is designed for people with specialized or highly qualified professional skills who have a job offer from a Portuguese employer. It’s one of the most straightforward ways to live and work in Portugal if your work requires training, certification, or expertise.

This visa is commonly used by:

• Software engineers & IT professionals
• Doctors, nurses, dentists, and other medical staff
• Architects, engineers, researchers, academics
• Analysts, managers, and other specialized roles

If your profession normally requires a degree or recognized qualification, the D3 is likely worth considering.

What You Need to Qualify

You must have one of the following:

• A signed employment contract, or
• A formal job offer (promise of contract), or
• A services contract (if you’ll work as a highly skilled independent professional), or
• An invitation from a university, research lab, or academic institution

The key point is that the work must be based in Portugal, not remote work for a foreign company.

Salary Requirement

The salary must reflect the “highly qualified” nature of the role. Generally, this means:

• At least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary or three times the social support index (IAS). As of 2026, the minimum wage in Portugal is €920 per month.

In practice, the job offer should be meaningfully above entry-level pay and competitive in the Portuguese market for your field.

A Key Advantage of the D3

Unlike many other visas (such as the D7 or Digital Nomad D8), the D3 can often be applied for while you are already in Portugal, as long as you entered legally.

This is especially helpful if:

• You want to attend interviews in person
• You receive a job offer while visiting Portugal
• You’re already here on a short-stay Schengen period

This flexibility makes the D3 one of the easiest visas to transition into after arrival. Another benefit: employees that are seen as highly qualified, may also qualify for Portugal’s new NHR regime: IFICI.

Read more about the D3 Visa

All Other Employees → The D1 Visa

The D1 Visa is the standard work visa for Portugal. It’s for people who have a job offer or employment contract with a Portuguese company and will be working on the ground in Portugal.

It’s more general than the D3 (which is specifically for “highly qualified” roles), but that doesn’t mean the D1 is only for lower-skilled jobs. Many skilled workers relocate through the D1.

Key Requirement: The Employer Must Recruit Locally First

For the D1, the employer must show that they tried to hire within Portugal or the EU first. This usually means they need to demonstrate that the role was advertised in Portugal and across the EU for at least 30 days and that no suitable candidate was found.

Income Requirements

The salary must be at least the Portuguese minimum wage, which will be:

• €920 per month/month in 2026 for the main applicant
• +50% (€460) if bringing a spouse
• +30% (€276) per dependent child

This makes the D1 one of the more accessible residency routes financially. Unlike the D3, the D1 application usually needs to be started at the Portuguese consulate in your home country or country of legal residence.

You Want to Study in Portugal → The D4 Visa

The D4 Visa is Portugal’s student visa, designed for anyone enrolled in a university, master’s program, PhD, professional training course, or recognized educational program in Portugal. It’s not just for 18-year-olds fresh out of school — it’s for anyone who wants to study here.

And here’s the good news: Portugal has affordable international university fees, especially compared to the standard fees in the US and UK. You’ll also find more English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programs each year (especially in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, and Braga).

Who the D4 Is For

You can apply for the D4 if you can show:

• Proof of enrollment in a recognized education program
• Proof of financial support (either your own income/savings or a sponsor such as a parent)
• Accommodation in Portugal
• A clean criminal record

There is no upper age limit. There are students here in their 20s, 30s, 40s — and yes, people in their 60s and 70s completing degrees for personal development or life change. Portugal’s universities are generally very welcoming to mature students.

Residency & Long-Term Options

The D4 is technically a temporary residence permit. Time spent on the D4 counts toward the 5 years needed for Permanent Residency and toward the 10 years required before applying for citizenship. However — and this is important —If you want to stay in Portugal after your studies, you’ll need to switch to another visa type, most commonly:

• D1 Work Visa (if you get a job with a Portuguese employer), or
• D3 Visa (if the role is considered highly qualified)

Nonetheless, it could be an option for moving to Portugal at least temporarily if not for longer.

Read more about the D4 visa

Understanding Your Path to EU Citizenship

Once your visa is approved, and you’ve you’ll receive a temporary residence permit in Portugal. This is where life in Portugal really begins.

Stage 1: Temporary Residency

• Your first residence card is usually valid for 2 years
• After that, it’s renewed for 3 years
• Total: 5 years of temporary residence

Despite the name, it’s not “temporary” in the sense of unstable. If you continue to meet the requirements (address, income, etc.), it’s generally renewed without issue.

And yes — once you’re a resident, you can use Portugal’s public healthcare system.

However, there are two key conditions to understand:

Stage 2: Permanent Residency (5 Years In)

After 5 years of legal residency, you can apply for Permanent Residency.

This comes with:
Fewer renewals → card usually renewed every 5 years
More flexibility → you can spend longer periods outside Portugal
Work, study, and travel rights continue

Residency Type	Max Time You Can Be Outside Portugal	Practical Meaning
Temporary Residency (Years 1–5)	≤ 6 months in a row OR ≤ 8 months total per year	You must live mainly in Portugal
Permanent Residency (After Year 5)	≤ 24 months in a row OR ≤ 30 months total in 5 years	You can live abroad for long periods and still keep residency

This stage is much lower effort than the temporary residence phase.

However:

• You still don’t automatically have the right to live long-term in other EU countries
• Some EU countries make it easier if you are a permanent resident of Portugal, but it’s not automatic or guaranteed

This is why many people continue to the final step: citizenship.

Stage 3: Citizenship (10+ Years of Residency Total)

Portugal’s nationality law now allows you to apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residency.

But: Processing times are currently averaging 2–3 years (as of 2026).

Once you become a citizen:

• You get a Portuguese passport
• You gain full EU freedom of movement
• You can live in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, etc.—not just visit
• You’re protected from future immigration policy changes

Optional: You do not have to give up your original citizenship. Portugal allows dual nationality.

Final Thoughts: Your Life in Portugal Is Absolutely Possible

If you’re not from the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland, it’s easy to assume that moving to Portugal will be complicated or out of reach — but it isn’t. Portugal has built clear and accessible residency routes for retirees, remote workers, business owners, students, and employees. If you have income, work, a business plan, or investment, there is a pathway.

And once you’re here, Portugal isn’t just a place you live — it becomes a part of your life. The café you always go to. The neighborhood bakery that knows your order. The slower mornings. The evening walks along the river. The feeling of safety.

This is what Portugal is all about.

And if your long-term goal is to stay — to root yourself here, to build a life here — Portugal makes room for that too.
Temporary residency → Permanent residency → Citizenship → EU freedom of movement.
It takes time. It requires presence. But it’s real. And it’s achievable.

Whether you’re looking for:

• A gentler pace of life
• Stability and safety
• A reset
• A way back into Europe
• Or simply more sunshine and better coffee

Portugal remains one of the most welcoming, realistic, and human paths to a new life.