Portugal · Visas & Residency

Four ways in.
One fits you.

Portugal has a visa for retirees with pension income, one for remote workers, one for investors, and one for entrepreneurs. Here they are with 2026 numbers — no salesmanship.

Figures verified 2 July 2026

The 2026 comparison

VisaWho it's forMoney requirement (2026)Leads to
D7
Full guide →
Retirees and anyone with passive income (pensions, rents, dividends) €920/month passive income (+€460 spouse, +€276 per child); savings of roughly €11,040 per adult expected in practice 2-yr permit → 3-yr renewal → permanent residency at 5 yrs
D8
Digital nomad
Remote employees and freelancers working for clients outside Portugal €3,680/month average remote income (4× minimum wage), typically shown over the last 3 months Same path as D7 (residency track)
Golden Visa
(ARI)
Investors who don't want to live in Portugal full-time (7 days/yr average) €500k in qualifying funds (real estate routes abolished in 2023); €500k research; €500k into a company creating 5 jobs (new company: 10 jobs); €250k culture Permanent residency at 5 yrs; processing commonly 12–24+ months
D2
Entrepreneur
People starting or moving a business to Portugal No fixed investment — a viable business plan plus personal means of €920/month Same path as D7
All routes now start at a consulate. Since Law 61/2025 (October 2025), you can't arrive visa-free and regularise in Portugal — the "manifestation of interest" is gone (new filings had already been suspended since mid-2024). Applications go through the Portuguese consulate or VFS centre covering your US state or Canadian province.

After the visa: the residency timeline

Step 1 · Months 0–7

Visa + first permit

Consular D visa (4 months, 2 entries), then AIMA biometrics in Portugal. First residence permit: 2 years.

Step 2 · Year 2

Renewal

Renew for 3 more years. Since April 2025 AIMA only accepts complete files — missing one document means rejection.

Step 3 · Year 5

Permanent residency

After 5 years' legal residence: a 5-year renewable card, basic (A2) Portuguese required. This did not change in 2026.

★ Step 4 · Year 10

Citizenship

Now 10 years for Americans and Canadians (was 5, changed 19 May 2026), counted from when your first permit was issued. A2 language + civic test.

Reality check on timelines. AIMA, the immigration agency, is working through a large backlog. Biometrics appointments commonly take 1–3 months (sometimes 6); permit decisions 3–6+ months. Build slack into your plans — and into your lease dates.
In this section

Guides

★ New

Portugal's D7 visa: the 2026 guide

Income requirements, savings, documents, fees, and the step-by-step process from the US or Canada.

Read the guide →
Guide

The D8 digital nomad visa

€3,680/month remote income, what consulates want to see, and proving your income.

Read the guide →
Coming soon

Golden Visa in 2026: funds only

What survived the 2023 reform, what the citizenship change means for investors, and real all-in costs.

Guide

Citizenship: the new 10-year rule

Organic Law 1/2026 explained — who's grandfathered, when your clock starts, and the new tests.

Read the guide →
Coming soon

Scouting trips & the 90/180 rule

How Schengen counting works, the EES biometric border system, and ETIAS (expected late 2026, €20).

Coming soon

AIMA survival guide

Appointments, the complete-file rule, and what to do when nothing moves.

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