D7 Visa
If you want to move to Portugal from USA and other countries, the D7 Visa in Portugal may be your way in. For many years, Portugal has attracted people from all over the world to move to its sunny shores, especially retirees. If this is the case for you, the D7 Visa is perfect. Also known as the passive income visa, it grants non-EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who earn a regular passive income residency in Portugal.
In this guide, we’ve put together all the information you need to decide whether pursuing a D7 Visa Portugal is for you – let’s get started!
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What Is the D7 Visa in Portugal?
In response to the increasing interest of foreigners to live in Portugal, the Portuguese government introduced the D7 visa, also referred to as the passive income or retirement visa, in 2007. Meant to attract high-earning foreigners, the D7 Visa allows applicants to obtain temporary residency, leading to permanent residency and, ultimately, Portuguese citizenship.
Anyone who meets the passive income requirements may apply for the D7 Visa. Upon obtaining the visa, it’ll be valid for 2 years, after which you can renew it and get an additional 3 years. Once 5 years have passed, you may apply for Portuguese citizenship.
Residents’ Rights
Once you’re a D7 visa holder and a resident of Portugal, you’re entitled to the following:
- Portuguese healthcare services
- Local education services and schools
- Vocational and professional training, as well as retraining
- Legal protection and access to Portuguese law
- The opportunity to work as an independent professional
Benefits of the Portuguese D7 Visa
If your Portugal D7 visa application is successful, you’ll get to enjoy these benefits:
- Live, study, and work in Portugal
- Bring your dependent children and parents to live with you in Portugal
- Visa-free travel within the Schengen Area
- Start and run a business in Portugal
- The option to apply for NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) status, which will provide you with a number of benefits when paying taxes in Portugal
- The option to apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship after 5 years
- If you’re a resident for 1 year, your newborns may become citizens of Portugal
Eligible Dependants (Family Reunification)
As part of the family reunification statute, you’re allowed to bring your family members with you to live in Portugal on a D7 visa. Here’s who you can include in your application:
- A spouse/partner
- A child
- Children who are older than 18, are single, and study at a university in Portugal
- Your dependent parents or the parents of your spouse
- Siblings who aren’t yet 18 years old and legally dependent on you
What Are the Passive Income Requirements for Obtaining a D7 Portugal Visa?
All applicants need to meet certain minimum income requirements. Here’s how much you’re expected to earn:
- Single Applicants – You need to earn a minimum wage of €760 per month, or €9.120 per year.
- Married Couples – If you’re applying with your partner (considered the ‘second adult’), they, and any additional adult, will need to earn at least €4.560 per year (or €380/month). This equals 50% of the minimum monthly salary. In sum, you and your partner should have at least €13.680 in total per year.
- Dependent Children – Children under the age of 18 as well as dependent adult children should have at least €2.736 per year, which equals €228 per month or 30% of the minimum monthly salary.
- Elderly Parents – If you want to bring your parents or the parents of your spouse with you, you’ll have to move first and get settled before applying for a D7 for them. They will be considered financially dependent on you, meaning you will have to fully support them and let them live with you.
Passive Income Defined
The key to getting your D7 visa application approved is proving that you are financially stable, meaning you earn regular passive income that can fully support you, even without a monthly salary.
Passive income may be earned from:
- Your pension
- Intellectual property
- Transferable equity
- Royalties
- Real estate
- Interest from your savings
- Financial investments with long-term, fixed-rate returns
- Dividends, as long as you’re not an employee of the company
General D7 Visa Requirements
It’s important that you meet all of the following D7 visa requirements to be approved:
- NIF (A Portuguese Tax Number) – You may obtain your NIF remotely through a power of attorney.
- Portuguese Bank Account – After obtaining your NIF, you’ll have to open a bank account in Portugal (you can do this remotely as well). As a single applicant, you must have at least €7.000 deposited in your bank account. If you’re married and bringing your spouse, you’ll need to have at least €10.500 in your account.
- Proof of Financial Self-Sufficiency – To prove that you can financially support yourself and your dependent spouse or family, you’ll have to show a number of documents. These will show local authorities that you have enough savings, recurring income, or both.
- Proof of Accommodation – You can buy a property or rent an apartment long-term (for at least 12 months).
- Health Insurance – Your health insurance should cover you EU-wide and be paid for 12 months in advance. Each applicant in your party must have at least €30.000 worth of medical insurance.
- Clean Criminal Record – Certificate of your criminal record from country of origin
Renewals and Minimum Stay Requirements for D7 Visa in Portugal
Time Period | Minimum Stay in Portugal | Renewal Date | Available Renewal Option |
Years 1 & 2 | 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months per year | By the end of year 2 | Residency permit that is valid for 3 years |
Years 3, 4 & 5 | 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months per year | By the end of year 5 | Residency permit that is valid for 3 years, permanent residency, or citizenship |
D7 Application Process
To apply for the D7 Visa in Portugal, you’ll have to complete and submit a number of documents. Here are the steps:
- Obtain your Portuguese tax number by allowing a trusted third party to financially represent you in Portugal.
- Once you have your fiscal number, open a Portuguese bank account.
- Find a place to live in Portugal – you can opt to rent (long-term) or buy an apartment or a house.
- Go to an interview with the Portuguese Consulate in your country of residence.
- Arrange a meeting with Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF), which is the Immigration & Borders Service in Portugal.
The Cost of the D7 Visa in Portugal
A majority of your expenses when moving to Portugal will come from accommodation, flight tickets, relocation costs, health insurance, etc. In comparison, obtaining the D7, – including the legal fees – is quite cheap.
This is how much you’ll have to pay at the Portuguese Embassy:
- €102.20 for the D7 visa application
- €86 for the residence permit
FAQ
How Long Is the D7 Portugal Visa Valid For?
After your application is approved, the passive income visa will be valid for a 4-month period. Keep in mind that you’ll need to apply for your temporary residency permit at some point during this time.
When Should I Start My Visa Application?
You may apply for a passive income visa as early as 3 months prior to leaving for Portugal. If you’re American, you’ll also be required to undergo an FBI background check, which only has a validity of 6 months.
We recommend that you apply as soon as you can so you have sufficient time to get your documents in order and conduct all steps of the visa application.
How Long Does the Entire D7 Visa Application Process Take?
Since the passive income visa application requires two parts, it can be a lengthy process before you obtain residency. After applying rom your country, you can expect an application processing time of about 60 days. This may take longer if you need to provide additional documents or make corrections to your application.
Once your application is approved and you fly to Portugal, you’ll be required to obtain the temporary D7 residency visa by making an appointment at SEF. Getting an appointment may take up to 120 days, depending on where the office is located.
Can I Apply For the D7 Visa While I’m In Portugal?
You’re not allowed to submit an application for the D7 while you are in Portugal – you’ll have to apply for it from your home country and may only travel to Portugal after it is approved. Once you are in Portugal, you can apply for a temporary D7 residency permit.
Pearls of Portugal Is Here to Help
One of the best and most cost-efficient ways to get a residency permit in Portugal is to obtain the D7 visa, also known as the passive income visa. While the process is fairly straightforward, working with local experts may give you peace of mind that your application is processed correctly.
At Pearls of Portugal, we’re available to help you every step of the way to reap the Portugal D7 visa benefits. So, make your dream of living in Portugal come true and contact us to help you navigate the process.
1. Submission of Visa application
- Obtaining a NIF (Tax Identification Number).
- Opening a bank account in Portugal.
- Acknowledgment of signatures.
- Manage the legalization of documents, where applicable, in Portugal.
- Manage the legalization of documents, when applicable, in Switzerland.
- Collect, prepare, legalize the translation, and transmission of the initial documents for the visa application.
- Manage the initial administrative formalities.
- Provide all representation services.
- Submit the visa application to the competent local authorities, for the main applicant and family members, including dependants, if applicable.
2. Visa Application Follow-up
- Follow-up and coordinate the administrative processing with local authorities.
- After the request is accepted, collect and transmit the residence permits.
- Orientation and accompaniment during visits to Portugal.
- Organize the necessary appointments (namely for the biometric process) and provide all the necessary guidance during the stay in the country.
3. Services after obtaining the Visa
- Submit the residence permit application.
- Follow-up of residence permit renewals (after two years).
- Various administrative and support services (Numero de Utente and NISS).
- “Orientation Program”: The goal of this program is to offer orientation about Portugal, giving an overview of the lifestyle, cultural activities, infrastructure, transportation, health services, and commercial areas.
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