D7 Passive Income Visa

The Passive Income Visa is a residence permit for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss citizens who want to relocate to Portugal and have a reasonable net regular passive income. It also allows you to carry out a professional activity in Portugal and, unlike the Golden Visa, it does not require a minimum investment to be made in Portuguese territory.

You must demonstrate stable and regular means of subsistence at least equivalent to the Portuguese minimum monthly wage for the main applicant. The applicable reference amount increases by 50% for a second adult, such as a spouse, and by 30% for each child under 18 or dependent adult child. Qualifying sources may include pensions, rental or other property income, income from movable assets, intellectual property or financial investments. Applicants relying on financial investments must generally provide evidence of the existence and amount of the income and its availability in Portugal. Consulates may request additional evidence, including proof of sufficient funds for a 12-month period, and documentary requirements may vary between consular posts.

For a D7 residence visa application, you generally need a valid passport, a criminal-record certificate issued by the competent authority of your country of nationality or of a country where you have resided for more than one year, proof of accommodation, evidence of sufficient means of subsistence and valid travel insurance covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent medical assistance and possible repatriation. A Portuguese NIF is not expressly required as a universal statutory precondition, although the relevant consulate may request it as part of its practical checklist. The precise accommodation documents, any apostille or legalisation requirements and the required insurance terms should be confirmed with the competent Portuguese consular post.

The D7 process generally starts in the applicant’s country of habitual residence. The main applicant must normally apply for a Portuguese residence visa at the competent Portuguese consulate or visa centre. Once the residence visa has been granted, the applicant travels to Portugal and applies to AIMA for the residence permit. A residence visa is therefore required as a general rule, subject to limited statutory exceptions.

An absence from Portugal of more than six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months during the total validity period of a temporary residence permit may lead to its cancellation if there are no acceptable reasons. For permanent residence permits, the corresponding limits are 24 consecutive months or 30 non-consecutive months within a three-year period. Longer absences may be accepted where they are duly justified, including for professional, business, cultural or social reasons.

Portugal’s family reunification rules generally cover a spouse or legally recognised partner, minor or dependent children, dependent parents of the resident or their spouse, and certain minor siblings under the resident’s legal guardianship. The rules are applicable to same-sex spouses and partners where the marriage or partnership is valid and recognised under Portuguese law. Family members who are outside Portugal will generally need to obtain a residence visa for family reunification before entering Portugal; they are not normally entitled to enter as tourists and apply for residence afterwards.

A Portuguese D7 residence permit generally allows its holder to live and work in Portugal and grants access to a range of rights under Portuguese law, including education, professional activities, healthcare and access to social security, subject to the applicable rules. Residence permit holders are also entitled to equal treatment in areas such as trade union membership and the recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications. Becoming tax resident in Portugal does not automatically entitle the individual to a special tax regime; eligibility for regimes such as the IFICI depends on the person’s activities, tax history and compliance with the applicable conditions and registration procedures.

Permanent residence may generally be applied for after five years holding a temporary residence permit, subject to additional legal requirements. Under the current Nationality Law, naturalisation generally requires 10 years of legal residence for nationals of other countries and seven years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States. Applicants must also meet language, civic and other statutory requirements. A temporary residence permit is generally valid for two years and may subsequently be renewed for successive three-year periods.