What is Portugal D7 Visa? Living in Europe with Passive Income (2026 Guide)

Investors, retirees, and global citizens are shifting their focus to Portugal for an exceptional quality of life and a robust European passport. If you don't want to lock hundreds of thousands of Euros into a property (Golden Visa), there is an incredibly advantageous alternative that recognizes your existing economic stability: The Portugal D7 Visa.

What is the Portugal D7 (Passive Income) Visa?

The D7 Visa is a residence program designed by the Portuguese government for non-EU citizens who possess a reliable, regular, and sustainable passive income from sources outside of Portugal. Whether it is rental yields, stock dividends, financial investments, or pension funds, demonstrating your financial independence grants you the legal right to reside in Portugal.

The massive appeal is clear: you do not need to invest a minimum capital into the country; you merely need to prove that you earn enough money passively to safely sustain yourself in Portugal.

Passive Income Requirements for 2026

Your passive income must be equal to or greater than the Portuguese minimum wage, which adjusts annually (averaging around 820 Euros in recent updates). The calculation expands if you include family members:

• Main Applicant: 100% of the minimum wage (~820€ / month / ~9,840€ / year).
• Spouse/Partner: +50% of the minimum wage.
• Each Dependent Child: +30% of the minimum wage.

Expert Tip: Those are the legal minimums. To secure a safe approval margin from the consulate, Rona Legal highly recommends showing a documented monthly passive income of at least 1,500€ to 2,000€ per month.

What Qualifies as Passive Income?

• Rental income from real estate owned globally.
• Dividends from companies, LLCs, or stock portfolios.
• Pensions / retirement income from federal or private funds.
• Royalties from intellectual property.

Salaries from remote employment or active freelance income are generally handled under the D8 (Digital Nomad) Visa rather than the D7.

Step-by-Step D7 Visa Process

Securing a D7 visa demands bureaucratic precision. Here is how the roadmap works with Rona Legal:

1. Obtain a Portuguese Tax Number (NIF)

The Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF) is the cornerstone of your financial identity in Portugal. Our legal team can acquire this for you remotely via power of attorney before you even step foot in Europe.

2. Open a Portuguese Bank Account & Fund It

Consulates mandate that you open an active bank account in Portugal and deposit funds equivalent to at least one year of your required living expenses (approximately 10,000€ to 15,000€) as a guarantee.

3. Secure a Long-Term Accommodation

You must prove undeniable intent to reside in Portugal by presenting a 12-month registered rental agreement or a property purchase deed. Short-term tourist stays like Airbnb no longer pass immigration compliance.

4. Submit the Consulate Application

Apply via the VFS Global or Portuguese Consulate in your country of residence, submitting your thick dossier: NIF, bank statements, rental contract, criminal records globally Apostilled, health insurance, and comprehensive passive income tracing.

5. Travel to Portugal & AIMA Appointment

Once the initial 120-day D7 entry visa is approved, you fly to Portugal and attend an in-person biometrics appointment with AIMA (formerly SEF) to receive your residency card.

The Ultimate Goal: EU Citizenship in 5 Years

The D7 grants you immediate free movement across the Schengen area. The ultimate prize is that, after legally holding residency in Portugal for exactly 5 years, you are eligible to apply for Portuguese Citizenship (EU Passport), provided you pass a rudimentary A2 level Portuguese language test.

Warning on Stay Requirements: Unlike the Golden Visa (where you stay 7 days a year), the D7 requires you to actually live in Portugal. You must not be absent from Portuguese territory for more than 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months per validity year. If your core businesses demand you to be traveling outside the EU constantly, this visa may pose compliance risks.