D7 vs Golden Visa at a Glance
Quick answer: Choose the D7 if you have stable passive income and intend to live mainly in Portugal. Choose the Golden Visa if you can make a qualifying investment and need a low-presence route. Permanent residence may still be available after 5 years, but citizenship timing changed in 2026: most foreign nationals should plan around 10 years, while EU Member State and CPLP nationals may qualify after 7 years. EEA and Swiss nationals should not assume the 7-year bracket. Applications already pending on 18 May 2026 continue under the previous law.
| Feature | D7 Visa | Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Main requirement | €920/month passive income for the main applicant in 2026 | Qualifying investment: commonly €500,000, or €250,000 for cultural/heritage support |
| Best fit | Retirees and passive-income applicants relocating to Portugal | Investors who need Portuguese residency without moving full-time |
| Presence | Best for applicants who will live mainly in Portugal; avoid long absences during permit validity | 7 days in the first year; 14 days in each later 2-year period |
| Tax residency | Likely if you spend 183+ days in Portugal or meet the habitual-residence test | Not triggered by the permit alone; ordinary tax-residency rules still apply |
| Government fees | Lower visa/residence-permit fees, plus document, insurance and service costs | AIMA ARI fees include €618.60 analysis, €6,179.40 issuance and €3,090.40 renewal under the 2026 table |
| Citizenship planning | Permanent residence may be available after 5 years; citizenship usually follows the 10-year or 7-year nationality-law rule | Same nationality-law timing; Golden Visa does not guarantee citizenship by itself |
2026 facts that changed this comparison
Use the current rules below when comparing D7, D8 and Golden Visa routes.
| Old claim to ignore | Current 2026 rule | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Lower D7 income thresholds | D7 uses a €920/month main-applicant income anchor. | DGERT |
| Remote work treated as D7 income | Active remote workers should compare D8; the 2026 D8 threshold is €3,680/month. | Decreto Regulamentar n.º 4/2022 |
| Real estate or passive capital transfer as Golden Visa routes | Those routes are closed to new applicants; current ARI routes are listed by AIMA. | AIMA ARI guidance |
| Old ARI government fee schedules | Current ARI fees include €618.60 analysis, €6,179.40 issuance and €3,090.40 renewal. | AIMA fee update |
| Passport planning based on the old five-year rule | Citizenship timing now generally means 10 years for most foreign nationals and 7 years for EU Member State/CPLP nationals. | Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 |
For active remote-work income, compare the D8 Digital Nomad Visa instead. For the detailed D7 requirements, use the Portugal D7 guide. For investment-route details, use the Portugal Golden Visa guide.
Last updated: June 2026 · Sources: AIMA, DGERT, Diário da República, Justiça.gov.pt
Which Portugal Visa Should You Choose? Decision Framework
Short answer: Choose D7 if your qualifying income is passive and you plan to live mainly in Portugal. Choose Golden Visa if you can make a qualifying investment and need a low-presence residence route. Choose D8 if your main income is active remote work.
| Applicant profile | Best route to check first | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Retiree or passive-income applicant | D7 Visa | Best fit if pensions, dividends, rental income or royalties meet the €920/month main-applicant threshold and you intend to live mainly in Portugal. |
| Active remote worker or freelancer | D8 Digital Nomad Visa | D7 should not rely on active work income. Check D8 if foreign remote-work income meets the €3,680/month threshold. |
| Low-presence investor | Golden Visa | Best fit if you can make a qualifying investment and need residence without spending most of the year in Portugal. |
| CPLP national | D7, D8 or Golden Visa depending on income/capital | The route still depends on the income or investment profile, but citizenship planning may use the 7-year nationality-law bracket. |
| EU/EEA/Swiss national | Usually neither D7 nor Golden Visa | Use the applicable EU/EEA/Swiss registration route instead of a third-country national visa. EEA and Swiss nationals should not assume the EU Member State citizenship bracket. |
| US investor or internationally mobile family | Golden Visa, with tax and investment advice | Useful where low presence matters, but fund/company due diligence, US tax reporting and investment risk should be reviewed before subscribing. |
What Is the Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa?
Short answer: The D7 is a residence visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with stable passive income, such as pensions, dividends, rental income or royalties. In 2026, the main-applicant income anchor is €920/month. The D7 is best for applicants who intend to live mainly in Portugal.
The D7 visa is commonly used by retirees and passive-income applicants who want Portuguese residence without making a qualifying investment. It is a lower-cost route than the Golden Visa, but it is not a low-presence route.
Active remote work should normally be assessed under the D8 Digital Nomad Visa unless the applicant's passive income independently meets the D7 threshold.
Eligibility Criteria for D7 Visa
To qualify for a D7 visa, prepare stable passive-income proof, accepted accommodation proof, private health insurance, a clean criminal record, a Portuguese NIF and a Portuguese bank account. The 2026 income figures are:
- Main applicant: €920/month (€11,040/year over 12 months)
- Spouse or dependent parent: Additional €460/month (+50%)
- Each dependent child: Additional €276/month (+30%)
Some consulates also expect a savings buffer in the Portuguese bank account. Use the dedicated D7 Visa guide for the current bank-balance and document checklist details.
Advantages of Choosing the D7 Visa
The D7 has much lower upfront costs than the Golden Visa and gives residence rights to applicants who genuinely plan to settle in Portugal. Once the residence permit is granted, D7 holders can access the ordinary resident path for healthcare registration, education, work rights and Schengen travel.
The tradeoff is presence. D7 holders should plan their life around Portugal rather than treating the permit as a backup residence card.
What Is the Portugal Golden Visa Program?
Short answer: The Portugal Golden Visa, formally the ARI residence permit, grants residence through a qualifying investment. Current routes no longer include real-estate acquisition or passive capital transfer. The common minimums are €500,000 for qualifying funds, research or company-capitalization routes, and €250,000 for cultural/heritage support.
The Golden Visa is designed for applicants who want Portuguese residence with a much lower physical-presence requirement than D7. It can suit investors who are not ready to relocate full-time, but it comes with higher fees, professional costs, investment lock-up and investment risk.
Investment Options for Golden Visa
Current Golden Visa routes include job creation, research support, cultural/heritage support, qualifying non-real-estate funds, and company capitalization with job requirements. The recurring routes are:
- Job creation: Creation of at least 10 jobs
- Research support: €500,000 for scientific research activities in Portugal's national scientific and technological system
- Cultural or heritage support: €250,000 for eligible artistic production or national cultural-heritage recovery/maintenance
- Qualifying investment funds: €500,000 in non-real-estate collective investment undertakings under Portuguese law, with at least five-year maturity and at least 60% invested in Portuguese commercial companies
- Company capitalization: €500,000 for creating or capitalizing a Portuguese commercial company with the required permanent-job creation or maintenance
Real-estate acquisition no longer qualifies for new Golden Visa applications. The passive capital-transfer route was also revoked.
Golden Visa Benefits
The main Golden Visa benefit is residence with a low physical-presence requirement. Holders can include eligible family members, travel in the Schengen Area under the normal residence-card rules, and maintain Portuguese residence while spending most of their time elsewhere.
Investment performance depends on the route and provider. Fund or company routes should be treated as investments with commercial risk, not as guaranteed-return residency products.
What Are the Residency Requirements for D7 vs Golden Visa?
Short answer: D7 is a relocation route. Golden Visa is a low-presence investment route. D7 holders should avoid long absences during the permit validity; Golden Visa holders generally plan around 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each later 2-year period.
The presence difference is the biggest practical split between the two routes. D7 applicants should be ready to make Portugal their main home. Golden Visa applicants can usually maintain residence with much less time in Portugal, provided renewals and investment conditions are met.
Stay Duration for D7 Visa Holders
D7 holders should avoid absences of more than 6 consecutive months or 8 non-consecutive months during the permit validity, unless an accepted exception applies. This is an immigration-renewal rule under Portugal's residence framework. Separately, spending 183+ days in Portugal can trigger Portuguese tax residency.
In practice, D7 is best for people who intend to live mainly in Portugal, not for applicants who want a low-presence backup plan.
Flexibility for Golden Visa Residents
Golden Visa holders have a much lower stay requirement: 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each later 2-year period. Check current AIMA ARI guidance before relying on a renewal strategy. This flexibility is why the Golden Visa remains attractive to internationally mobile investors.
Low presence can preserve flexibility, but it does not automatically solve tax, renewal, investment or citizenship-planning questions.
What Are the Costs and Tax Implications?
Short answer: D7 is far cheaper upfront, usually involving document, insurance, service and visa/residence-permit costs. Golden Visa requires a qualifying investment plus AIMA ARI fees and professional costs. Tax residency depends on the ordinary tax rules, not just the visa name.
Cost Comparison Between D7 and Golden Visa
D7 costs are usually measured in thousands. Golden Visa costs are measured around the qualifying investment plus government, legal, fund, bank and document costs.
D7 Visa Government Fees:
- National visa fee: €110 under the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee page
- AIMA temporary residence concession/renewal in the 2026 table: €114.30 (€85.80 digital channel)
- Residence-title/card costs can also apply, such as €79.10 (€59.40 digital channel)
- Applicants should also budget for health insurance, translations/apostilles, NIF/bank setup, travel and optional legal support
Golden Visa Government Fees:
- AIMA ARI analysis fee in the 2026 applied column: €618.60
- AIMA ARI issuance fee in the 2026 applied column: €6,179.40
- AIMA ARI renewal fee in the 2026 applied column: €3,090.40
- Other ARI permanent-residence or title fees may apply depending on the procedure. Always check the current AIMA fee table before filing.
Investment amount: the cultural/heritage route starts at €250,000. Qualifying funds, research support and company-capitalization routes are generally €500,000. Do not compare a €250,000 cultural route with a €500,000 fund route as if they were the same product.
Tax Considerations for D7 and Golden Visa Holders
The old NHR regime is closed to most new applicants. IFICI is narrower and does not recreate the former broad retiree/pension treatment. D7 holders commonly become Portuguese tax residents because they live mainly in Portugal. Golden Visa holders are not tax resident merely because they hold the permit.
For both routes, Portuguese tax residency depends on the ordinary tax rules, including the 183+ day test and whether the applicant has a habitual residence in Portugal. Pension, dividend, rental and capital-gains treatment should be checked with a qualified tax adviser before relocating or investing.
How Long Does Each Application Take?
Short answer: D7 usually takes 6-10 months end-to-end; Golden Visa often takes 8-12 months or longer. These are planning ranges, not official service-level guarantees. D7 timing depends on consulate or VFS intake and the AIMA residence-permit step. Golden Visa timing depends on investment execution, AIMA ARI processing and biometrics capacity.
D7 Visa Timeline
| Stage | Best Case | Typical | Worst Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get NIF (tax number) | 1 day | 1-2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Open Portuguese bank account | 1 day | 1-2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Gather & apostille documents | 2 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Consulate processing | 2 weeks | 4-8 weeks | 12 weeks |
| AIMA appointment wait | 1 month | 3-6 months | 12+ months |
| Receive residence card | 1 week | 2-4 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Total D7 Timeline | 3 months | 6-10 months | 18+ months |
Golden Visa Timeline
| Stage | Best Case | Typical | Worst Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIF + bank account | 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Investment execution (fund subscription) | 2 weeks | 4-8 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Document preparation | 2 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Online application submission | 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| AIMA processing + biometrics | 2 months | 4-8 months | 12+ months |
| Receive residence card | 2 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Total Golden Visa Timeline | 4 months | 8-12 months | 18+ months |
Key timeline differences: D7 timing usually depends on consular intake and the AIMA residence-permit step. Golden Visa timing depends on investment execution and AIMA ARI processing. Both can stretch when appointment capacity is tight.
How Do You Apply for D7 vs Golden Visa?
Short answer: D7 starts with a residence-visa application through the Portuguese consulate, VFS or authorized visa center for your country. Golden Visa starts with choosing and executing a qualifying investment, then submitting the ARI application through AIMA.
D7 Visa Application Steps
- Obtain a Portuguese NIF
- Open a Portuguese bank account
- Prepare passive-income proof, accommodation proof, health insurance and criminal-record documents
- Submit the D7 residence-visa application through the relevant consulate, VFS or authorized visa center
- Enter Portugal on the residence visa and complete the AIMA residence-permit step
Golden Visa Application Journey
- Select a current qualifying investment route
- Complete due diligence and execute the investment
- Obtain Portuguese NIF and bank account support where required
- Prepare supporting documents and criminal-record certificates
- Submit the ARI application through AIMA
- Attend biometrics and complete the residence-card process when scheduled
How Do You Get Permanent Residence or Citizenship Through D7 or Golden Visa?
Short answer: Both routes can support long-term residence in Portugal, but permanent residence and citizenship are now different timelines. Permanent residence may be available after 5 years of legal residence. Citizenship by naturalization changed in 2026: most foreign nationals should plan around 10 years, while EU Member State and CPLP nationals may qualify after 7 years. EEA and Swiss nationals should not assume the 7-year bracket.
Both D7 and Golden Visa residence can count as legal residence, but neither route guarantees Portuguese citizenship. Applicants must also meet the applicable language/culture, clean-record and other statutory requirements.
2026 Citizenship Law Update
Under the rules in force from 19 May 2026, Portugal requires 10 years of legal residence for most foreign nationals and 7 years for EU Member State and CPLP nationals. EEA and Swiss nationals should not assume the 7-year bracket. Applications already pending on 18 May 2026 continue under the previous law. For D7 readers, this mostly means CPLP nationals because EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not use the D7 route. Residence counting, filing date and nationality can affect the result, so confirm the case before relying on a citizenship date.
Permanent Residence Through D7
D7 holders may generally apply for permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence, subject to the normal requirements. That permanent-residence milestone should not be confused with a five-year naturalization track for new applicants.
Permanent Residence and Citizenship via Golden Visa
Golden Visa holders must keep meeting ARI renewal and investment conditions while planning long-term residence. The low presence rule helps with flexibility, but it does not remove the language, legal-residence, clean-record or statutory requirements for naturalization.
For citizenship planning, Golden Visa holders should keep clear records of residence history, renewal dates, time spent in Portugal and any meaningful ties to the country.
After five years: permanent residence vs citizenship
Short answer: After 5 years, D7 and Golden Visa holders may be looking at permanent residence, renewals and long-term residence planning. Citizenship is no longer a universal 5-year milestone for new applicants under the 2026 nationality-law rules.
For D7 holders, five years of actually living in Portugal can support permanent-residence planning and stronger practical integration. For Golden Visa holders, the same period may satisfy investment-holding or renewal planning, but low physical presence can make citizenship planning more sensitive.
What to Prepare for Long-Term Residence
- Keep clean renewal records and proof of legal residence
- Track time spent in and outside Portugal
- Prepare for Portuguese language requirements early
- Keep evidence of tax, address, family, school, work or community ties where relevant
- Confirm the applicable nationality-law timing before filing
What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid?
Mistake 1
Choosing Golden Visa When D7 Works If you are actually relocating to Portugal and have enough passive income, D7 is usually the lower-cost and more direct residence route. Golden Visa is mainly useful when you need the low-presence investment route.
Mistake 2
Choosing D7 When You Need Low Presence D7 is not designed as a minimal-stay backup plan. If work, family or business obligations mean you cannot live mainly in Portugal, compare Golden Visa or another route before starting.
Mistake 3
Assuming Golden Visa Guarantees Citizenship Golden Visa provides residence through investment. It does not automatically produce citizenship, and the 2026 nationality-law changes mean new applicants should not plan around a universal 5-year passport timeline.
Mistake 4
Underestimating Total Costs Golden Visa applicants should model the qualifying investment, AIMA ARI fees, legal support, bank costs, fund fees, document costs and renewal costs. D7 applicants should model relocation, housing, insurance and document costs, not only the visa fee.
Mistake 5
Ignoring Investment Lock-Up and Risk Qualifying fund and company routes can involve multi-year lock-ups and commercial risk. Residency eligibility and investment performance are separate questions.
Family, Remote Work and Daily Life
Family members
Both routes can support family reunification for a spouse or partner, dependent children, dependent parents and, in narrower cases, dependent minor siblings or siblings under custody where the law allows. The exact documents depend on the family relationship and application route.
Remote work
D7 and Golden Visa residence can allow work after the permit is issued, but active remote work should not be treated as D7 passive income. For 2026, the, calculated as four times Portugal's €920 minimum monthly wage.
Daily life and housing
D7 applicants normally need accepted accommodation proof for the visa stage and should expect deeper practical integration in Portugal. Golden Visa applicants no longer use property purchase as a qualifying route, but may still rent or buy separately for personal use while maintaining the lower ARI presence requirement.
Sources
- DGERT- 2026 guaranteed monthly minimum wage (RMMG)
- Diário da República- 2026 RMMG decree-law
- Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs- national visa fee schedule
- Decreto Regulamentar n.º 4/2022- remote-work residence visa rules
- Lei n.º 82/2023- NHR closure and IFICI tax-incentive framework
- Código do IRS- Portuguese tax-residency rules
- Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026- 2026 Nationality Law amendment
- Justiça.gov.pt- Nationality Law changes effective 19 May 2026
- AIMA- ARI / Golden Visa route guidance
- AIMA 2026 fee update- fee table effective from 1 March 2026
- AIMA fee table PDF- 2026 ARI and residence-procedure fees
- Lei n.º 56/2023- Golden Visa real-estate and capital-transfer reform
- Lei n.º 23/2007- Portuguese Immigration Law, consolidated