Menu
Portugal D7 visa assistance, from first call to arrival.
Personalised support for people moving to Portugal on passive income. We help you confirm your route, prepare your application and settle into life in Portugal.
Free 15-minute call. You complete a short questionnaire first, so we can prepare for your situation.
Who is the D7 visa for?
The D7 is a Portuguese residence visa for non-EU nationals who live from their own regular income. It is often called the retirement visa, but you do not need to be retired. What matters is where your income comes from.
- Pensions, including retirement income paid by a social security scheme
- Rental income
- Dividends and interest
- Other income generated by assets or investments
Not the same as a remote-work visa
Salary, consulting and freelance income are active income, even when you earn them from abroad. If that is how you fund your move, the D8 digital nomad visa is likely the route to look at.
Meeting an income figure is only part of the picture. Whether the D7 fits you depends on your circumstances, and that is what the first call is for.
Passive income or remote work?
The two visas look similar from the outside, but they are built for different kinds of income.
| Criteria | D7 visa | D8 visa |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | People living on passive income | People working remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal |
| Type of income | Passive: pensions, rental income, dividends, interest | Active: employment, freelance and consulting income |
| Income benchmark (2026) | Linked to the minimum wage (€920 per month for the main applicant), with the household’s means of subsistence assessed separately | Average of the last three months of at least four times the minimum wage (€3,680 per month) |
| Core evidence | Source and history of passive income, and funds available for the household | Contract or service agreements, income records and proof of the remote-work relationship |
| Typical applicants | Retirees, investors, property owners | Remote employees, freelancers, independent professionals |
How a D7 application fits together
Four stages, in this order. Planning matters more than speed.
Confirm the route
Check that the D7, and not another visa, matches how you fund your move.
Evidence your finances
Show qualifying passive income, and the funds available for your household, each evidenced the right way.
Prepare and submit
Assemble a consistent file and submit it through the consular channel for your country, with time-sensitive documents timed to stay valid.
Residence in Portugal
An approved visa lets you enter Portugal. Your residence process then continues with AIMA.
Support for the whole move, not just the form
Your D7 is supported through Portugal Made Easy, our personalised relocation assistance. The same service supports clients on other visa routes, so we shape it around you.
Route assessment and plan
We review your circumstances and confirm the visa route and sequence that fit them.
Application preparation
Guidance through the visa application, and coordination of the documents your case needs.
Portuguese NIF
Your tax number is usually one of the first steps. We can handle it remotely for you.
Portuguese bank account
Support opening an account in Portugal, which plays a role in preparing a D7 application.
Accommodation
Help planning when and how to secure a home in Portugal, so it fits your application timeline.
Arrival and settling in
Help with the practical steps after you arrive. Other services, such as AIMA document review, are available separately.
From planning to living in Portugal
Initial consultation
We learn about your income, family and timing.
Personalised relocation plan
We agree the route, the sequence and what you need.
Preparation and visa application
We prepare your file and guide you through submission.
Arrival and settling in
We support you with your first practical steps in Portugal.
A boutique team, personally led
Owner-led and direct
You deal with a small team led by its founder, with direct communication instead of a call centre.
Portuguese, and based in Portugal
We speak the language and deal with Portuguese institutions every day, so we know how the process works in practice.
One team for the whole move
From visa preparation to NIF, banking and settling in, with a lawyer and a tax advisor on the team.
Portugal D7 visa: common questions
What is the Portugal D7 visa?
The D7 is a Portuguese residence visa commonly used by retirees and people who live from their own regular income. You do not need to be retired. The visa is not your residence permit: once it is approved you can enter Portugal, and your residence process then continues with AIMA.
Who may qualify?
Non-EU nationals who can show regular passive income, such as pensions, rental income, dividends or interest, together with the other requirements for the visa. Eligibility always depends on your own circumstances, so we assess them before recommending a route.
Can US citizens apply?
Yes. US citizens apply for the D7 while they are still in the United States, and applications are currently submitted through VFS Global. Procedures can change, so check the current rules when you prepare your application. Our D7 guide for Americans explains the process in detail.
What types of income may be accepted?
Pensions, rental income, dividends, interest and other income from assets or investments are commonly relevant. Salary, freelance and consulting income are active income and do not count as passive income, whatever the amount. Savings should not be treated as interchangeable with passive income either.
Is the D7 suitable for remote workers?
Usually not, if your income comes from remote employment or freelance work. That is active income, and the D8 digital nomad visa was created for it. Mixed situations, for example a pension plus part-time remote work, are assessed individually. Read D7 vs D8: which visa fits your move or see our D8 assistance page.
Can family members move to Portugal with me?
Family members can often accompany or join the main applicant, but the household’s means of subsistence are assessed too, and requirements depend on who is moving and how they are related to you. We review your family situation during the consultation.
How does Portugal Wizard help throughout the process?
Through Portugal Wizard’s Portugal Made Easy, our personalised relocation assistance. After an initial consultation we assess your circumstances, agree a plan, prepare and coordinate your application, and support practical steps such as your NIF, bank account and accommodation planning.
Can you help after arrival?
Yes. Portugal Wizard can help with any aspect of settling in. Some services may have an additional charge because they are not included in Portugal Made Easy, but we help either way. We agree the scope with you after your consultation.
Can I apply for the D7 without help?
Yes, there is no requirement to use a relocation company. However, a D7 involves much more than a visa form: your route, financial evidence, time-sensitive documents, NIF, banking, accommodation, submission and the stages after you arrive. Portugal Made Easy puts one team in charge of that whole sequence with you, so you can prepare with confidence and peace of mind.
Let’s look at your situation.
Book a call and complete a short questionnaire. We assess your circumstances, help you understand the right visa pathway and explain how we can help.