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!
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.
Once you’re a D7 visa holder and a resident of Portugal, you’re entitled to the following:
If your Portugal D7 visa application is successful, you’ll get to enjoy these benefits:
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:
All applicants need to meet certain minimum income requirements. Here’s how much you’re expected to earn:
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:
It’s important that you meet all of the following D7 visa requirements to be approved:
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 |
To apply for the D7 Visa in Portugal, you’ll have to complete and submit a number of documents. Here are the steps:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
2. Visa Application Follow-up
3. Services after obtaining the Visa
Schedule a free consultation with one of our experts now!
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