Portugal’s Retirement Visa: Eligibility, Requirements, and Application Process in 2025

Due to its low cost of living and warm climate, Portugal has become a popular destination among retirees. To make the relocation easier for retirees with steady passive income, the country offers a D7 Visa, which allows financially independent foreigners to live and retire in Portugal.

In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about Portugal’s Retirement Visa, including: 

• Portugal’s D7 Visa requirements
• Advantages of holding the Portuguese D7 Visa
• Financial implications of obtaining a Retirement Visa for Portugal
• Portugal’s D7 visa application process

What Is a D7 Visa in Portugal?

The D7 Visa, also known as the Retirement Visa or Passive Income Visa in Portugal, offers long-term residency to foreign nationals who can demonstrate a stable, recurring passive income from outside Portugal sufficient to support their living expenses.

This visa typically appeals to retirees, but is also suitable for remote workers and investors who intend to reside in Portugal and eventually obtain Portuguese citizenship. The applicants must provide proof of steady passive income from sources like:

• Pension
• Rent
• Investments
• Dividends

Once you obtain the D7 Visa, it’s valid for two years, after which it can be renewed for another three years. 

The Retirement Visa allows you to bring your family to Portugal. Qualifying family members include: 

• Your spouse or legal partner
• Minor children
• Dependent children over 18
• Financially dependent parents
• Minor siblings who are legally under your care

Keep in mind that you must demonstrate sufficient income to support each family member.

Note: Dependents of the applicant can apply for family reunification at the immigrations office only after the main applicant has received their residence permit.

What Are the Requirements for a D7 Visa in Portugal?

Portugal’s D7 Visa is designed for retirees of countries outside of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who: 

• Are older than 18
• Have no criminal record
• Hold private health insurance
• Have secured accommodation in Portugal
• Have opened a Portuguese bank account

The applicants are required to demonstrate that they earn sufficient passive income to support themselves, based on the minimum yearly salary in Portugal. They must also meet specific residency and passive income requirements to retain the visa. 

Passive Income Requirements for a D7 Visa in Portugal

The passive income requirements for securing the D7 Visa in Portugal are tied to the minimum gross monthly salary in mainland Portugal, which is approximately €870 as of 2025. This means that the main applicant must provide proof of at least €870 in passive income per month, which is €10,440 per year.

The requirements for accompanying family members are reduced by 30% or 50% and set as follows:

Family Member	Reduction Percentage	Annual Passive Income
Spouse	50%	~ €5,220
Parent	50%	~ €5,220
Child	30%	~ €3,132

Portugal’s D7 Residency Requirements

The Portuguese D7 Visa is valid for two years, but you must be physically present in Portugal for 16 months during the first two years to maintain its validity. More specifically, you are expected to spend six consecutive or eight non-consecutive months in Portugal per year.

For this reason, the Passive Income Visa is suitable for expats who plan to reside in Portugal. If you don’t meet the physical presence requirements or don’t plan to live in Portugal long-term, the Golden Visa may be a better fit. Its residency requirements include staying in the country for seven days in the first year and a total of 14 days during the following two years.

What Are the Benefits of Holding a Retirement Visa in Portugal?

In addition to the option for family reunification, obtaining a D7 Visa in Portugal provides the following advantages:

1. Low-cost relocation to Portugal
2. Visa-free travel in the Schengen zone
3. Access to Portugal’s healthcare system
4. Permission to work in Portugal
5. Pathway to Portuguese citizenship

Low-Cost Relocation to Portugal

The D7 Visa has the lowest income or investment requirement compared to other Portuguese residency visas that aren’t tied to employment within the country. Here is how the requirements for the main applicant compare:

Portuguese Residence Visa	Minimum Required Income/Investment
D7 Visa	€870 per month
Digital Nomad Visa	€3,480 per month
Entrepreneur Visa	€5,000–€20,000 depending on the type of investment
Golden Visa (Investment Visa)	€250,000–€500,000 depending on the type of investment

Visa-Free Travel in the Schengen Zone

Under the D7 Visa, you can travel to and spend up to 90 days out of 180 in 29 Schengen countries without requiring any additional paperwork or permits. This includes 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein).

Additionally, you and your family members can receive treatment in medical facilities across all Schengen states using the visa-free traveling card.

Access to Portugal’s Public Healthcare System

Once you become a Portuguese resident under the Retirement Visa, you gain access to Portugal’s national health system (SNS). The service offers affordable, high-quality healthcare to all residents of Portugal, making it one of the most significant benefits for retirees with a D7 visa.

To enroll in the SNS, you must obtain a health user number (Número de Utente) and register at the local health center by providing proof of residency and identification.

The SNS covers various medical services, including hospital care, appointments with specialists, general consultations, and diagnostic tests.

Permission To Work in Portugal

Many expats believe Portugal’s D7 Visa imposes work restrictions on the visa holders. In reality, those residing in Portugal on a Passive Income Visa have the same fundamental rights as other Portuguese residents, including the right to work in the country.

While the visa’s primary requirement is having sufficient passive income to support yourself without the need to work in Portugal, applicants are still allowed to:

• Work remotely
• Find a job in Portugal
• Establish a business in Portugal

Pathway to Portuguese Citizenship

After legally residing in Portugal for five years, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization. Portuguese citizenship provides visa-free travel to over 175 countries worldwide.

You are eligible to become a Portuguese citizen if you satisfy the following conditions:

• Have a clean criminal record
• Have no tax liabilities in Portugal
• Pass an A2 language proficiency test
• Provide proof of integration into the Portuguese community

Additionally, Portuguese law permits holding a dual citizenship, so you aren’t required to give up your birth citizenship to become a citizen of Portugal. 

However, this only applies if your home country has the same law in place. For instance, since the U.S. allows dual citizenship, this advantage is particularly valuable to American retirees.

Financial Considerations of Holding Portugal’s Passive Income Visa

On top of the income requirements for obtaining the D7 Visa in Portugal, there are several other financial considerations you should consider, including the following:

1. Costs of obtaining the visa
2. Tax implications

Costs of Obtaining the Visa

The Passive Income Visa is more affordable than many other Portuguese residency routes. For a single applicant doing most of the process themselves, the upfront costs (excluding accommodation and private health insurance) typically fall in the €1,500–€4,000 range.

In the following table, you can find the typically included fees and their amounts:

Types of Portuguese Retirement Visa Fees	Fee Amount
Visa application fee	~ €90 per person
Residence permit fee	~ €160 per person
Tax number (NIF) application cost	€70–€150 if you use a representative
Document apostille and translation charges	€200–€500, depending on your home country’s legalization and translation requirements
Legal fees	€1,000–€3,000

Note that a NIF is necessary to open a bank account in Portugal, buy or rent a property, and pay taxes. While obtaining a NIF at the Portuguese tax office is generally free, non-EU expats applying for it from abroad must appoint a fiscal representative to handle the application on their behalf. These services aren’t free and include a fee ranging from €70 to €150.

Tax Implications

Moving to Portugal on a D7 Visa means you will have to file taxes in Portugal. 

Your tax obligations depend on your tax residency. Portuguese non-residents pay tax on income sourced in Portugal, whereas Portuguese residents are subject to tax on worldwide income. 

The tax rates for non-residents are lower than the resident rates. Portuguese non-residents pay a flat 25% rate on employment income. The taxes on other earnings, such as dividends and business income, are mostly 25% or 28%.

Foreign pension income is not exempt for new residents. The previous Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime—which offered special tax treatment for certain foreign pensions—is no longer available for new applicants as of 2024. Only individuals who already held NHR status before the reform may retain those benefits for the remainder of their 10-year period.

Because the D7 Visa requires you to live in Portugal, you’ll likely become a Portuguese tax resident if you meet one of the following conditions:

1. Spend at least 183 days in Portugal in a single tax year running from January 1 to December 31
2. Have a habitual residence (permanent home) in Portugal, even if you spend less than 183 days in the country

As a Portuguese resident, you are subject to a progressive tax rate of 13%–48% on worldwide income, depending on its amount. This also applies to income from foreign pensions. Additionally, taxes on other types of income may also increase for residents.

If both your home country and Portugal impose tax on specific types of income, you may use a double tax treaty to avoid paying taxes twice. Portugal has treaties with over 70 countries, including the U.S. and the UK. These agreements assign the taxing right to one of the jurisdictions to prevent double taxation.

How To Apply for a D7 Visa in Portugal

Once you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria, take the following steps to apply for the D7 Visa in Portugal:

1. Obtain a NIF and open a bank account
2. Submit a D7 Visa application
3. Apply for a residence permit

Obtain a NIF and Open a Bank Account

Acquire a NIF number in Portugal so that you can carry out fiscal activities in the country. As a non-EU citizen, you can do so remotely with the help of a fiscal representative. This can be a lawyer, an accountant, or a professional representation service.

When you obtain the NIF, you can open a Portuguese bank account. This can also be done remotely.

Having a bank account in Portugal will allow you to secure accommodation in the country by either renting or purchasing a property.

Submit a D7 Visa Application

Apply for a biometric appointment at your local Portuguese consulate online, and provide the necessary documentation. The requirements are subject to change, but they typically include:

• Two recent passport-sized photos
• A passport valid for a minimum of six months after the D7 Visa expiry date
• Health insurance coverage valid in Portugal
• A clean criminal record certificate
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal
• Evidence of the required passive income amount

You must submit the documentation and biometric data to the Portuguese consulate in your country of residence.

Apply for a Residence Permit

The D7 Visa is valid for four months from the date of issuance. During these four months, you are required to visit Portugal and apply for a residence permit at the immigration office.

You must provide your D7 Visa, along with your passport, health insurance, proof of sufficient financial means, and evidence of suitable accommodation in Portugal. 

Your Portuguese residence card will be valid for two years and renewable for another three years. You will qualify for a renewal as long as you continue meeting the eligibility criteria, and you must renew the visa before it expires.

Navigating the D7 Visa application process can be challenging without proper assistance. Even small oversights or missing crucial documentation can delay visa approval or lead to rejection. Nomad Capitalist provides expert guidance on obtaining both a visa and a residence permit in Portugal.

Streamline the D7 Visa Application Process in Portugal With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is an advisory firm that helps high-net-worth clients secure residence or citizenship abroad. It also provides assistance with offshore tax planning, cross-border asset protection, and global investment diversification.

We develop a personalized Action Plan for each client based on their unique financial circumstances and objectives, providing specialized guidance on:

• Legally reducing global tax liability 
• Obtaining a second citizenship
• Handling paperwork required to secure a residence abroad

To ensure your Action Plan fully aligns with your goals, get started by completing our online application form to determine if we’re a good fit. Once you’re approved, we will do the following:

1. Schedule an onboarding call to gain a better understanding of your needs
2. Develop and present a comprehensive Action Plan based on your goals
3. Handle the administrative work and implement the Plan
4. Provide ongoing advice and answer any questions you have 

As part of the Action Plan, we’ll take care of all the administrative tasks tied to your retirement visa and relocation, if that’s the right path for you. This includes direct communication with the relevant Portuguese authorities to ensure a smooth and stress-free process.