D7 vs. D8 Visa: Which Portugal Visa Is Right for You? (2026 Guide)

D7 visa in Portugal is mainly for retirees or those with passive income from investments. D8 is for remote income – digital nomads and employees working remotely. – Which visa is for you? 

You have had enough. You feel that you can’t live in your country anymore. Whether it’s the politics, the climate, the culture, or the cost of living – one day you decide that it’s time to move. Someone told you about Portugal. “It’s amazing” – they said – “you’re going to love it”. So, you do a little research and yes – Portugal is the answer! It looks beautiful. You imagine drinking coffee at one of the cafes, enjoying the sunshine and being away from the reality that you don’t like anymore. Portugal is going to be your next home – you decide. But, then you look into visas and your dream suddenly is becoming harder to fulfill. Don’t worry! I’ve got you. I will help you with the most popular visas for Portugal – D7 and D8. We’ll look at who they are for and how to apply for them. After reading this post you’ll know everything that’s there to know about them and you’ll be closer to calling Portugal a home. 

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I have been living in Portugal for 8 years. I’m Polish, but also hold a British passport. After Brexit, I tried to apply for some of the documents here using my UK citizenship, but it turned out to be quite hard. Since then, I’ve been only using my other passport as it makes it easier for me to live here. However, I do know a bit about visas and how hard and confusing it can be for someone to go through the processes here. So, I’m going to help you with your visas, especially if you don’t know whether D7 or D8 is for you. 

Disclaimer: This post has been written in collaboration with StartAbroad – an international relocation company that helps people just like you moving to Portugal. 

Which Portugal visa is for you – Quick answer 

D7 visa is for people with passive income, mostly retirees and investors.

D8 visa is for active remote income – digital nomads and employees working remotely. 

	D7 Visa	D8 Visa
Income type	Passive (pensions, dividends, rental income, royalties)	Active (remote salary or freelance income from foreign clients)
Minimum monthly income	€920 (+50% for spouse, +30% per dependent)	€3,680 (4x minimum wage)
Best for	Retirees, investors, anyone living off passive income	Remote employees and freelancers working for companies/clients outside Portugal

D7 visa deep dive 

D7 visa for Portugal is for retirees and people who make their money by renting properties, earning dividends on investments and have pension schemes. The minimum income requirement is 920 Euros per month (as of January 2026). If you’re coming with a spouse, they need an income of minimum 460 Euros and you must have enough money to cover any children – this is a minimum of 276 Euros per child.

Acceptable D7 income sources are passive ones: pensions, rental/real estate income, dividends, interest, transferable equity or financial investments, and intellectual property royalties. Salaried employment income is increasingly getting rejected by consulates, since that’s meant to fall under the D8 instead.

D8 visa deep dive 

D8 visa is for remote employees, freelancers and those having foreign clients. The minimum income here is 3,680 Euros per month, which is 4 times the minimum wage in Portugal. The condition here is that your client or employer must be based outside of Portugal. 

Side by side comparison table

	D7 Visa	D8 Visa
Minimum income	€920/month (+50% spouse, +30%/dependent)	€3,680/month (4x minimum wage)
Source of funds	Passive: pensions, rental income, dividends, interest, investments, IP royalties	Active: remote salary or freelance/contract income from clients outside Portugal
Application complexity	Moderate — mainly proving stable passive income and its source	Higher — must show employment/client contracts, employer letter confirming remote work is permitted, and that employer/clients are based outside Portugal
Path to residency	Leads to renewable residency permit, eligible for permanent residency/citizenship after 10 years*	Same — renewable residency permit, eligible for permanent residency/citizenship after 5 years
Who typically qualifies	Retirees, investors, rental property owners, anyone living off passive income	Remote employees, freelancers, and business owners whose work/income is tied to companies or clients outside Portugal

*Under the updated 2026 nationality law, citizens of European Union (EU) member states and CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) nations qualify for a shorter 7-year residency require.

Application process overview

For both of the visas you’ll need: 

• Portuguese NIF – check here how to apply for it 
• A Portuguese bank account 
• Proof of address 
• Background check 
• Income proof 

Application Process: Consulate → In-Country (AIMA)

Both the D7 and D8 follow the same two-stage process – you can’t get Portuguese residency without going through a Portuguese consulate first.

Stage 1: Consulate visa application (abroad)
Apply at the Portuguese consulate covering your home jurisdiction (or via VFS Global, where available). You’ll submit proof of income, a Portuguese NIF (tax number), a Portuguese bank account, proof of accommodation, a clean criminal background check, and travel/health insurance. This stage takes roughly 30–90 days and results in a temporary long-stay visa (valid about 4 months), not the final residency card.

Stage 2: AIMA appointment (in Portugal)
Once you enter Portugal on that visa, you must complete an in-person appointment with AIMA (the agency that replaced SEF) within your visa’s validity window, typically within 120 days of arrival. This is where biometrics are taken and your documents are reviewed to convert the visa into an actual residence permit.

Typical timeline
End to end – from submitting a complete application to holding your residence permit – both the D7 and D8 currently run about 6–9 months, largely due to AIMA backlogs rather than the consulate stage. Applicants should plan their move date with several months of buffer, not book one-way flights around an assumed approval date.

Common mistakes 

Before applying, please remember about: 

• Checking which visa you qualify for and applying for the right type 
• Fulfilling all the financial requirements 
• Having all the required documents 
• Having your NIF and bank account in Portugal. 

Why work with a relocation specialist? 

Moving to a new country can be an overwhelming process and not knowing the culture and the language makes it much more confusing and stressful. Having a dedicated relocation specialist makes the whole process much more pleasant and assures that your first days in Portugal are hustle-free. 

StartAbroad is an international relocation company, specialising in visa applications for Portugal as well as other countries. There are a few packages you can choose from. Depending on the package StartAbroad provides: 

• Help with visas 
• Dedicated specialist the whole way, no handoffs 
• CRUE residency process with NIF, bank account and NISS add ons (750-4,350 Euros) 
• Rental search (1,250 Euros) and utilities set up (195 Euros), covering the accommodation proof visas require
• Client panel, where you can see all your documents and progress on submissions. 

Visa D7 and D8 for Portugal – FAQ

Can I switch from a D7 to a D8 (or vice versa) after applying?

Not directly – you’d need to withdraw and reapply under the correct category. Consulates are strict about matching visa type to income source, so it’s worth confirming which one fits before you apply.

Can my spouse and kids come with me?

Yes, both visas allow family reunification. The main applicant’s income requirement increases by 50% for a spouse and 30% per dependent child.

How long does the whole process take?

Both currently run about 6–9 months from a complete application to holding your residence permit, mostly due to AIMA appointment backlogs rather than the consulate stage.

Can I work while on a D7 visa?

The D7 is designed around passive income, not active work. If your income is actually from active employment or freelancing, you should be applying under the D8 instead – consulates are increasingly rejecting D7 applications with salaried income.

Do I need a Portuguese bank account and NIF before I apply?

Yes, both are required as part of the consulate application, along with proof of income and accommodation in Portugal.

What happens if AIMA delays push past my visa’s validity window?

This is a known bottleneck in 2026. Applicants are generally protected as long as they’ve booked their AIMA appointment within the required window, even if the appointment itself falls later -but it’s a good reason to build in buffer time and not book irreversible travel around an assumed date.

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