Portugal's D7 Passive Income Visa is a residence visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who can support themselves through passive income such as pensions, rental income, investment returns, dividends, or intellectual property royalties. It is one of Portugal's most popular residence pathways, aimed at retirees, pensioners, and financially independent individuals who wish to live in Portugal without relying on local employment. The visa offers a clear route to permanent residency after five years and, over the longer term, to Portuguese citizenship.
The residence visa is initially valid for 2 entries and 4 months, during which the holder must apply for a residence permit. The initial residence permit lasts 2 years and is renewable for successive 3-year periods. Renewal should be submitted up to 30 days before expiry (applications accepted from 90 days prior); if the permit lapses, there is a 6-month grace period to file. Renewals can be submitted online through AIMA's Renewals Portal or via appointment at IRN offices, and require continued compliance with income, accommodation, and tax obligations.
Eligible family members include a legally married spouse or partner in a documented stable union, minor children, dependent adult children (unmarried and in full-time education or financially dependent), and dependent parents over 65 or economically dependent. Each additional adult requires 50% of the minimum wage (EUR 460/month in 2026) and each child 30% (EUR 276/month). Family members may apply concurrently or join later through family reunification. Since October 2025, family reunification for relatives abroad requires the primary holder to have held a valid residence authorization for at least 2 years (reduced to 15 months for spouses with 18+ months of prior cohabitation), with exceptions for minor/dependent family members and co-parent spouses. All dependants receive their own permits matching the primary applicant's validity.
Holders residing more than 183 days in Portugal become tax residents and are taxed on worldwide income under progressive IRS rates ranging from 12.5% to 48%, plus a solidarity surcharge of 2.5%-5% on income above EUR 80,000. Pension income has a EUR 4,104 annual exemption, with the remainder taxed progressively. Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains) is generally taxed at 28%, and rental income at 28% or at progressive rates at the taxpayer's election. The Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime closed to new applicants on 1 January 2024, and its replacement (IFICI) is restricted to scientific research and innovation roles -- it does not cover passive income holders, retirees, or rentiers.
The applicant applies in person at the Portuguese consulate or embassy in their country of nationality or legal residence (some route applications through VFS Global). The consulate has up to 60 days to process the application. Upon approval, the residence visa is issued with validity for 2 entries and 4 months. Within those 4 months, the holder must enter Portugal and schedule an AIMA appointment to apply for the temporary residence permit, providing biometric data and documentation.
The consular visa fee is EUR 110. AIMA's fee schedule, in force from 1 March 2026, sets the granting or renewal of a temporary residence authorization at EUR 307.20 and permanent residence authorization at EUR 351.10.
Holders are not prohibited from working in Portugal. However, work income cannot be used to meet the minimum income threshold at the application stage -- only passive income qualifies.
A temporary residence permit may be cancelled if the holder is absent from Portugal for more than 6 consecutive months or more than 8 non-consecutive months during the permit's validity, meaning roughly 16 months of presence during the initial 2-year permit. Exemptions may be granted for justifiable professional, business, cultural, or social reasons.
After 5 years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for permanent residence, subject to means of subsistence, housing, and basic Portuguese language proficiency (A2). Following Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (in force since 19 May 2026), naturalisation now requires 10 years of legal residence for third-country nationals and 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals, up from a uniform 5 years. Most D7 holders are third-country nationals and therefore face the 10-year path. A transitional provision preserves the old 5-year rule for naturalisation procedures already pending on 19 May 2026; only applications filed on or after that date face the longer requirement. Eligibility for permanent residency remains at 5 years.