D7 Visa – Own Income and Retirees
Learn how retirees and people living on their own income can apply for the D7 visa to live in Portugal and which documents to gather. Contact us.
If you are retired or have your own income and intend to live in Portugal and enjoy its quality of life and safety, this visa is for you. Note: the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime was repealed as of January 1, 2024 (Law 82/2023 (Lei), Article 236), and applies only to those already registered or who qualified under the transitional regime. The regime that replaced it (IFICI – Article 58-A of the Tax Benefits Statute (Estatuto dos Benefícios Fiscais)) is aimed at qualified activities and, as a rule, does not cover retirees. We therefore recommend tax planning before the move. But remember, the visa application must be filed while you are still in your country of origin.
For the application, bear in mind that the following documents, among others, will be required:
- Visa application form;
- Passport valid for more than 3 months;
- Means of subsistence for a period of no less than 12 months (financial statements / income tax return / etc.), using as reference the national minimum wage (€920 per month in 2026), plus 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each minor in the household;
- Document proving retirement or document proving income;
- Proof of accommodation (letter of invitation / statement of responsibility / lease agreement / loan-for-use agreement / property purchase);
- Health insurance or, for those entitled to it, the Certificate of Entitlement to Medical Care (CDAM), issued in Brazil under the Brazil–Portugal social security agreement;
- Travel insurance meeting the standards of the European Union;
- Criminal Record Certificate;
- Two recent 3×4 color photos with a plain background;
- Certified copy of a valid personal identity document with a Hague apostille;
- International Certificate of Vaccination (which can be requested at the airport);
- Statement acknowledging that the applicant must not travel to Portugal without the proper visa;
- Authorization for AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum to consult the applicant's Portuguese criminal record; and
- Payment of the Consulate fee slip (boleto).
With the visa in hand, you will have up to 120 days to enter Portuguese territory and attend the scheduled appointment at AIMA to obtain your residence permit.
Important: the temporary residence permit may be canceled if the holder, without justified reasons, is absent from Portugal for six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months within the total validity period of the permit (Article 85(2) of the Foreigners Act, Law 23/2007 (Lei de Estrangeiros)).
Contact us to learn how Sene & Araújo Advogados can guide you at each stage of the process.
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Learn more →Common questions
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Who can apply for the D7 visa?
The D7 visa is intended for retirees and people who have their own income and intend to live in Portugal. The application must be filed while still in the country of origin. With the visa in hand, the applicant has up to 120 days to enter Portuguese territory and attend the scheduled appointment at AIMA to obtain the residence permit.
How much income do I need to prove for the D7 visa?
You must prove means of subsistence for a period of no less than 12 months, using as reference the national minimum wage (€920 per month in 2026), plus 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each minor in the household. Proof can be provided with financial statements, income tax returns and other documents, in addition to the retirement or income document.
Can retirees still benefit from the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime?
The NHR regime was repealed as of January 1, 2024 (Law 82/2023 (Lei), Article 236), and applies only to those already registered or who qualified under the transitional regime. The regime that replaced it, IFICI, is aimed at qualified activities and, as a rule, does not cover retirees. Tax planning before the move is therefore recommended.
What documents are required for the D7 visa?
For the D7 visa, the documents required include a valid passport, proof of income, accommodation, health insurance and a criminal record certificate.
Among others:
- visa application form and passport valid for more than 3 months;
- means of subsistence and proof of retirement or income;
- proof of accommodation;
- health and travel insurance, criminal record certificate and authorization for AIMA to consult the criminal record;
- certified personal identity document with a Hague apostille, two photos and the Consulate fee slip.
Can I spend long periods outside Portugal with D7 residence?
There are limits. The temporary residence permit may be canceled if the holder, without justified reasons, is absent from Portugal for six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months within the total validity period of the permit (Article 85(2) of Law 23/2007 (Lei)).
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