Portugal
Portugal D7 visa requirements: income, savings and the personal statement
The D7 is Portugal's residence visa for people who live on stable, regular income that does not come from work: pensions, rental income, dividends, interest, royalties, and for ministers of religion. Here is what consulates actually check.
By The Visa Blueprint · 3 min read
The income benchmark
The reference is the Portuguese minimum wage, currently €920 per month. The scale is 100% for the main applicant, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child.
| Household | Monthly passive income | Savings alternative (12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €920 | €11,040 |
| Couple | €1,380 | €16,560 |
| Couple + 1 child | €1,656 | €19,872 |
The UK consulate's checklist asks for income received for at least three months, shown by three months of bank statements, or a recent statement from a Portuguese bank account holding at least twelve months of minimum wage, together with your NIF (Portuguese tax number). Showing both is the strongest position.
What does not count
Salary and client fees are active income, even when they come from abroad. If you will keep working remotely, the right visa is the D8, not the D7. Presenting work income as passive income is a common cause of refusal.
Accommodation
The UK consulate accepts three forms of proof: property deeds in your name; a lease of at least 12 months from arrival, registered with the tax authority; or a host's termo de responsabilidade (undertaking of responsibility) with a certified signature, the host's ID and their title or lease.
The personal statement
Both the US and UK checklists require a signed personal statement. It should state why you are settling in Portugal, the area where you intend to live and the type of accommodation; the UK consulate expects the full Portuguese address with postcode. A signature is enough. Keep every figure identical to your bank and pension evidence.
The rest of the file
- Criminal record issued within the last 90 days and apostilled (FBI certificate if you have lived in the US for over a year; ACRO certificate legalised by the UK Legalisation Office for UK residents).
- Insurance covering the four-month visa period, including repatriation (qualifying British nationals may use an S1).
- Passport valid at least 90 days beyond the 120-day visa (UK checklist).
- National visa fee: €110.
After the visa
The visa allows two entries over four months. You then obtain your residence permit from AIMA; the UK consulate states it does not schedule this appointment, so contact AIMA directly. The first permit lasts two years, renewals three years. Permanent residence is possible after five years, subject to conditions. Citizenship now requires ten years of legal residence for most nationalities (seven for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries) under Organic Law 1/2026.
Family tip: apply together. Since Law 61/2025, family members joining later generally wait until the sponsor has held the permit for two years (with exceptions for minor children).
