🇵🇹 Portugal · Residence / Long-stay visa
Portugal Residence / Long-stay visa approval odds
Portugal's D7 visa is for non-EU nationals living on stable passive income — pensions, rental income, dividends or other investments, not a salary. In 2026 you must show passive income of at least €920/month (about €11,040/year, tied to Portugal's minimum wage), plus roughly a year of that income saved in a Portuguese bank account. Approval is driven by proving your income is sufficient, stable and genuinely passive — not by discretionary factors — so most complete, well-documented D7 files succeed.
Last reviewed July 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: Portugal MFA — National Visas (vistos.mne.gov.pt) .
a residence visa to Portugal is decided mainly on whether you have stable, sufficient income or savings to support yourself without working. Public statistics point to an approximate base approval of around 88% for this route for a typical applicant — but your own profile can move that figure a lot in either direction.
Estimate my personal oddsEstimate your personal odds
Pre-filled for this route. A few taps and it’s done — privately, in your browser.
Your trip
The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.
Key requirements
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national with stable, regular passive income (pension, rental, dividends, royalties)
- Passive income of at least €920/month (100% of Portugal's 2026 minimum wage), +50% for a spouse and +30% per child
- Portuguese NIF (tax number) and a Portuguese bank account holding roughly 12 months' income
- A 12-month registered lease or property deed in Portugal (hotel bookings are not enough)
- Apostilled criminal-record certificate, valid passport and health insurance
- Genuine intent to reside in Portugal — the D7 expects you to actually live there
Money & funds
Passive income of at least €920/month — €11,040/year (100% of Portugal's 2026 minimum wage) — plus +50% for a spouse (~€460) and +30% per child (~€276). You also typically need ~€11,040 in savings in a Portuguese bank. Amounts rise every January with the minimum wage.
Typical timeline
Consulate stage ~60–90 days, then an AIMA appointment for the residence card — roughly 6–9 months in total, mostly driven by AIMA appointment backlogs. The initial permit is 2 years, renewable.
Common refusal reasons
- Income is active (a salary or freelance earnings) rather than passive — apply for the D8 instead
- Income insufficient, irregular or too thinly documented
- Missing or expired criminal-record certificate, or missing apostille/legalisation
- Weak accommodation proof — a short booking or an unregistered lease
- No Portuguese NIF/bank account, or savings below the required balance
What actually moves the needle
Passive income or savings clearly above the threshold
This is the heart of residence decisions for Portugal. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.
A stable, well-documented source of funds
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
Full health insurance and a clean criminal record
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
Avoid the common pitfall
The most frequent reason this route fails is income that is too low, irregular, or actually active employment rather than passive. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.
Frequently asked questions
What income do I need for the Portugal D7 in 2026?
At least €920/month (€11,040/year) in passive income for one applicant — 100% of the 2026 minimum wage — plus 50% more for a spouse and 30% per child, and around €11,040 saved in a Portuguese bank. The figure updates every January.
D7 or D8 — which one do I need?
If your money is passive (pension, rent, dividends), use the D7. If it's active remote-work income (a salary or freelancing), use the D8. Applying on the wrong one is a common refusal reason.
Is there an age or retirement requirement for the D7?
No. It's often called the 'retirement visa', but there is no minimum age — anyone with enough qualifying passive income can apply.
Can I work in Portugal on a D7?
Yes — the D7 residence permit lets you work or run a business once you hold it, but you must qualify on passive income first and show you can support yourself without working.
Does the D7 lead to citizenship?
It leads to permanent residence after 5 years, but since Portugal's May 2026 nationality reform, citizenship now requires 7 years (EU/CPLP nationals) or 10 years (others) of legal residence — no longer 5. This is an educational summary, not legal advice.
