Giambrone & Associados
International Law Firm in Portugal

What is the procedure for moving to Portugal as a passive income holder?

Depending on each specific case, the first step towards applying for a D7 visa begins with making an application in your country of residence, followed by an application in Portugal.

It is important that all the required documentation should be assembled for the application at the Portuguese consulate or at another institution that has powers to issue visas.  Any omissions will halt your application.

Once you have received authorisation from the issuing entity, a request for the residence permit from the Borders and Foreigners Service will begin.

All  third-country citizens, (those who are not from the European Union or from a Schengen Area country), can apply for a visa, but they will have to prove that they have a passive income derived from any of the following:  retirement pension, rental of real estate, financial instruments, dividends, royalties, among others and they will have to comply with all the requirements that are stipulated to apply for a visa.

What kind of income is considered to be passive income?

Portugal establishes rules on the nature and origin of passive income, resulting from real estate, intellectual property and financial investments.

It should be noted that any documentation related to the passive income you are relying on to support your application must be sufficiently substantial to allow Portugal to grant the visa.

What documents are needed?

The list of documents required to apply for the D7 visa may vary according to an applicant’s particular situation.

It is strongly advised to consult an experienced immigration lawyer to ensure that all your documents and any other information required are accurate, valid and appropriate to your application.

The following documents are required:

• Passport
• Proof of passive income
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal
• International travel medical insurance
• Criminal records issued in the country of residence
• “Servico de Estrangeiros e Frontiers (SEF)” authorization to consult the applicant’s Portuguese criminal record
• D7 visa form

How long does it take for the D7 visa process to conclude?

From the visa application to its approval, providing the process goes well, the applicant can wait up to 45 days to obtain their passport with the visa stamped.

According to the law, the Consulate will have up to 60 days to respond.

After approval of the visa, the applicant must travel to Portugal for a meeting at the SEF, this is a mandatory procedure for issuing the residence permit.

It is not possible to provide a precise time of the process, but it will be around three to four months if there are no obstacles.

How much will it cost to obtain the residence permit?

There are three types of expenses that the applicant will have to bear during this process:

1. Assistance fees
2. Public fees charged by public institution
3. Process costs.

For the first cost, it is recommended that the request for documents proving the professional regularity for the provision of services.

The second cost, the fees may vary from €80 to €100, in the first phase, and in the next phase it will be around €85.

Finally, for the third type of costs, those related to the procedure, we can include issuance of certificates, fees for apostilles, sending documents through a courier service, etc.

When will I have to travel to Portugal?

After the issuance of the D7 visa by the competent entity, a meeting will be scheduled at the SEF with the applicant and the applicant will be contacted by the latter.

The applicant must attend in person to carry out this phase of the process and due to the fact that it is a type of residence visa. The applicant will have a period of four months to attend this meeting, failure to do so will compromise your application. 

How much money do I have to prove I receive as unearned income?

One of the requirements is that you have sufficient funds to live in the country for at least one year.

The applicant must also prove that he has an amount of approximately €8,460 deposited in a Portuguese bank account.

If the applicant intends to bring his family, it is necessary to have additional funds:

• €4,230 more if you bring a partner
• €2,538 more for each child

This amount must be deposited in a Portuguese bank account before applying for a visa.

Does the amount of my passive income (such as pensions) matter for the issuance of the D7 visa?

This requirement is linked to proof of subsistence.

In addition to depositing the sums listed above in a Portuguese bank account, proof that the applicant earns the following income is recommended:

• Main applicant: €705/month
• Partner: more €352.5/month
• Each child: plus €211.5/month

Other advantages of the visa are:

1) possibility to travel

You can travel outside Portugal but take into consideration that you cannot leave Portugal for a period of more than six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months.  It is possible to leave the country for a longer period, if approved by the SEF.

2) possibility to work

You will be able to work in Portugal.

There are no legal restrictions to working or even developing a business in Portugal.

In addition, it will be possible to work independently or on behalf of others.

3) Access to the National Health Service

It is important to note that even if the healthcare system is public, you will have to pay a small amount for each medical appointment.