D7 Roadmap

Is the D7 Visa Right for You?

If you're considering a move to Portugal, the D7 Visa is probably the route you've heard about — but before I spend any money on an application, I want to understand exactly what it is, who it's for, and whether I actually qualify. This page walks through that.

Why This Matters

The D7 is Portugal's residency visa for people with stable passive income — retirees, landlords, investors, and anyone financially independent enough not to need local employment. Getting this step right first saves time and money later: there's no point preparing documents for a visa you don't yet qualify for.

What You Need

To qualify, you'll generally need to show all of the following:

Stable passive income — from pensions, rental income, dividends, interest, royalties, or trust income. The minimum required is tied to Portugal's minimum wage:

Main applicant: €920/month
Spouse or partner: +50% → €460/month
Each dependent child: +30% → €276/month

A couple with one child, for example, needs a combined income of around €1,656/month.

Savings — at least 12 months' worth of your required income held in a Portuguese bank account (€11,040+ for a single applicant).

Accommodation in Portugal — a 12-month rental agreement or property ownership, secured before you apply.

Private health insurance — valid in Portugal until you're registered with the public system.

A clean criminal record — a recent police certificate from your home country.

Intention to reside — you need to plan on living in Portugal more than 183 days a year. Under the two-year residence permit, you must stay at least 16 months of that period, with allowed absences of up to 6 consecutive or 8 total non-consecutive months. Travel within Schengen isn't restricted beyond the normal 90-in-180-day rule.

Portuguese Terms Explained

NIF — your Portuguese tax number, required before you can open a bank account or sign a lease.

Community Intelligence

[Reserved — as members share their own qualifying experiences in the Facebook group, a summarised, anonymised example will go here.]

Practical Tip

Treat this step as a checklist, not a formality. Consular officers are strict where applicants sit right at the minimum threshold with nothing extra to show — if you're close to the line, income or savings comfortably above the minimum strengthens your case.

Common Mistakes

Assuming savings alone can substitute for passive income — they usually can't; the D7 is built around income, with savings as a supporting buffer.
Applying before securing accommodation, when it's normally expected beforehand.
Assuming remote employment or freelance income qualifies — for the D7 it generally needs to be passive (pensions, rental, dividends); regular remote work income is D8 territory, not D7.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly counts as passive income for the D7?
Pensions, rental income, dividends and interest, royalties, and other investment income. It needs to be passive, recurring income — not active earnings from a job or freelance work. If your income comes from working remotely for a foreign employer or clients, that's the D8 Visa's territory, not the D7's (more below).

What if my income is just under the threshold?
You can usually combine multiple passive income sources to reach the minimum. Savings act as a supporting buffer, not a substitute — the D7 is built around demonstrating ongoing income, not a lump sum.

Can I bring my spouse and children?
Yes — family reunification is available as part of the same application, provided the combined income requirement is met (main applicant + 50% per spouse/partner + 30% per dependent child).

What about a bigger family — how does the income add up?
For example, a family of four (two adults, two children) needs roughly €1,932/month combined: €920 for the main applicant, €460 for a spouse, and €276 for each child.

What about the D8 Visa — does this roadmap apply to me too?
Mostly, yes. The process, documents, and life in Portugal are nearly identical between the D7 and D8. The two real differences: the D8 requires remote income from a foreign employer or clients rather than passive income, and the minimum threshold is higher — €3,680/month rather than €920/month.

Have a question this page doesn't cover? See our full FAQ page.

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