The D7 visa is Portugal’s residence route for people who live on passive income, such as a pension, rent or investments, and it is the visa most property owners from outside the EU look at first. A 2026 guide puts the income requirement at €920 a month for a single applicant, which is the national minimum wage, with €460 more for a partner and €276 more for each dependent child, and recommends savings of about twelve months of that income in a Portuguese bank account. A property deed is accepted as proof of accommodation, but owning a home does not replace the income. The D7 does not cover active work, and becoming a resident makes you a Portuguese tax resident. This guide explains the requirements, the process, the stay rules and the tax points for owners, using one commercial guide and one comparison guide. The consulate that handles your application sets the final checklist. It is general information, not immigration advice.
What is the D7 visa?
It is a national visa for people with regular passive income, which leads to a temporary residence permit. It is not a purchase visa: Portugal’s golden visa no longer accepts real estate (see what changed), and a purchase gives no residence right in itself. You can buy a home before or after you apply, as explained in our buying guide, and the home can help with the accommodation proof.
How much income do you need?
The requirement is tied to the Portuguese minimum wage, which a 2026 guide gives as €920 a month. The applicant needs 100% of it, a spouse or partner adds 50% and each dependent child adds 30%. The applicant normally shows three to six months of bank statements with the income arriving regularly.
| Household | Monthly income (2026) | Yearly | Approx. in £ / $ per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €920 | €11,040 | ≈ £800 / $1,000 |
| Applicant and partner | €1,380 | €16,560 | ≈ £1,200 / $1,500 |
| Applicant, partner and 1 child | €1,656 | €19,872 | ≈ £1,400 / $1,900 |
| Applicant, partner and 2 children | €1,932 | €23,184 | ≈ £1,600 / $2,200 |
Conversions are approximate and use the European Central Bank reference rates of 14 October 2026 (€1 = £0.844 = $1.120). Rates move every day.
The couple and child figures are our arithmetic from the percentages in the guide (50% and 30% of €920). The minimum wage is updated every year, so the amounts change, and consulates often expect a margin above the minimum. Passive income means pensions, rents, dividends and similar sources, not a salary for work you do.
How much savings do you need?
No law sets a figure in the sources we read, but the guide says the widely accepted best practice is to hold at least twelve months of the required income, which is €11,040 for one applicant, in a Portuguese bank account. Savings and income are judged together, so a higher income can make up for a lower balance and the reverse. Ask your consulate what it accepts.
Does owning a home help with the application?
Yes, with the accommodation proof. The guide says that a twelve-month rental agreement is the standard requirement and a property deed also works if you have bought. Owning a home does not count as income or savings, and the home must be suitable for the whole household. If you are still choosing, read our guide on the CPCV before you sign anything, and the mortgage guide if you need a loan.
What other documents do you need?
- NIF and bank account: a Portuguese NIF before you apply (see the NIF guide) and a personal Portuguese bank account where the proof of funds sits.
- Health insurance: a policy that covers you in Portugal for at least €30,000, according to the guide.
- Criminal record: a national-level certificate from your home country, and from any country where you lived for over a year, usually with an apostille.
- Income proof: bank statements, pension letters, dividend or rental statements.
- Translations: documents not in Portuguese or English may need a translation.
How does the process work?
- Get your NIF, open the Portuguese bank account and move the savings in.
- Arrange accommodation: a rental agreement or the deed of your home.
- Prepare the criminal record, insurance and income documents.
- Apply for the national visa at the consulate or visa centre that covers your residence.
- Enter Portugal with the visa, which the guide says is valid for four months and two entries.
- Attend the immigration agency appointment (AIMA) to obtain the residence permit.
How long does the permit last?
The temporary residence permit is typically valid for two years. The guide says it can then be renewed for three more years, and that after five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence. Note that the residence needed for citizenship has been lengthened for new applications since May 2026, as explained in the golden visa article.
How much time must you spend in Portugal?
The guide gives a minimum of about 16 months in Portugal over the first two years, with no absences of six months or more. This is much stricter than the stay required under the old golden visa. If you plan to keep a main home elsewhere, check this against your plans, because failing the stay can prevent renewal.
What about tax?
Once you are resident, you become a Portuguese tax resident, taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates that the guide gives as 12.5% to 48% for 2026. The special regime for new residents, NHR, closed to new applicants in 2024, and its replacement targets specific professions and researchers, so it generally does not apply to D7 applicants. Taxes interact with the purchase: a buyer who becomes a tax resident within two years can ask for a refund of part of the IMT paid at 7.5%, as explained in the IMT article. Take advice from a tax adviser who knows your home country and Portugal.
Can you work on a D7?
The D7 is for passive income, not for active work or setting up a business in Portugal. For remote employment, the guide points to the D8 digital nomad visa, with a higher income requirement (€3,680 a month). If your plan mixes work and passive income, ask a lawyer which route fits.
What are the common mistakes?
- Assuming that owning a home replaces the income.
- Planning on a lower income than the current minimum wage figure.
- Leaving the savings outside Portugal.
- Planning to work on a D7.
- Underestimating the time you must spend in Portugal.
- Ignoring the tax consequences of becoming resident.
What if your income comes from several sources?
Many applicants combine a pension, rental income and investment returns. Show each source with its own evidence: pension letters, rental contracts with bank deposits and statements from the investment account. Income that is irregular, such as dividends, is easier to accept if the statements show a pattern over several months. Ask the consulate whether it wants a single summary letter from an accountant, and whether it accepts income that depends on a business you run, since the D7 is for passive income and not for active work.
What should you do with an existing Portuguese home?
If you already own a home in Portugal, you can use the deed as the accommodation proof, and you should check that the property is suitable for the household and that the utilities and community fees are in order. If you plan to let the home to cover costs, remember that rental income counts as passive income only if it is regular and documented, and that rental activity has its own licence and tax rules. If you want to buy after you receive the visa, start with the buying guide, and note that the buyer’s tax status at the time of purchase changes the IMT, as explained in the IMT article.
How long does the whole process take?
The preparation of documents, translations and apostilles often takes several weeks, the consulate decision takes more, and the residence appointment in Portugal comes after you arrive. Plan the sequence of visa, bank account, housing and purchase with a lawyer, because a delay in one step holds up the next. Do not commit to a closing date for a purchase that depends on the visa until you know the real timetable.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for the D7 visa in 2026?
A 2026 guide gives €920 a month for one applicant (the minimum wage), €460 more for a partner and €276 more for each dependent child.
Do I need to own property to get a D7?
No. You need proof of accommodation, which can be a twelve-month rental agreement or a property deed.
Can I work remotely on a D7 visa?
The D7 is for passive income. The guide points to the D8 digital nomad visa for remote work.
How long is the D7 permit valid?
The first permit is typically valid for two years and can then be renewed for three years, according to the guide.
Does becoming a D7 resident make me a Portuguese tax resident?
Yes. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, so take tax advice before you move.
Sources
Official sources (check these for the current rule):
- AIMA: Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum
- Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visas
- Portal das Finanças (Autoridade Tributária)
Also cross-checked against published guides, because practice varies between notaries, registries and banks:
- Portugalist: Portugal’s D7 visa requirements in 2026
- BorderPilot: Portugal D7 visa passive income guide 2026
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and rates change, and your situation may differ. Confirm the figures with the tax authority and a qualified lawyer or tax adviser before you commit.
