Find your visa
Can you move to Portugal?
Portugal has multiple residency routes — for retirees, remote workers, investors, students and families. Answer a few questions and we’ll show you which ones fit your situation.
I Want to Move to Portugal
First things first
Do you even need a visa?
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EU / EEA / Swiss
No visa needed. Move freely; register at your câmara municipal after 90 days. Non-EU family can qualify via Article 15.
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90 days or less
US, UK, Canadian, Australian and most other Western citizens can visit Portugal — and the whole Schengen Area — for up to 90 days in any 180-day window with no visa.
Many other countries require a 90-day Schengen Visa.
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Longer than 90 days
If you want to move here, you will need one of the residency visas below. Almost all are applied for from your home country, before you arrive, at a Portuguese consulate.
Side by side
Every Portugal visa, at a glance
All routes lead to permanent residency eligibility after 5 years and Portuguese citizenship eligibility after 10. The differences are who they’re for, how much you need to earn or invest, and how much of the year you must spend in Portugal.
| Visa | Best for | Minimum monthly income | Physical stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7 | Retirees, landlords, passive income | €920 (~around $1,070) in passive income | ~8 months/year |
| D8 — Digital Nomad | Remote workers and freelancers | €3,680 (~around $4,277) in remote income | ~8 months/year |
| Golden Visa | Investors (€500k+) or arts donors (€200k+) | Investment, not income | ~7 days/year |
| D2 | Entrepreneurs and self-employed | €920 (~around $1,070) in business income | ~8 months/year |
| D1 | Anyone with a Portuguese job offer | €920 (~around $1,070) salary | ~8 months/year |
| D3 | Highly qualified professionals | €1,380 (~around $1,604) salary | ~8 months/year |
| D4 | Students at Portuguese universities | Proof of funds | While enrolled |
| D5 | Already studying elsewhere in the EU | Proof of funds | While enrolled |
| D6 | Family of someone with Portuguese residency | Sponsor’s income | ~8 months/year |
Quick guide
Which visa fits your situation?
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€500k+ to invest, no rush to move
EU residency without relocating — about 7 days in Portugal a year.
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Joining family already in Portugal
Spouse, long-term partner, dependent child or parent of a Portuguese resident.
Every visa in detail
The 8 routes, one by one
What you need, what it costs, what makes it the right (or wrong) fit. Every figure shown in EUR, USD, GBP and CAD.
Visa 1 of 8 — the most attainable
D7 — Passive income & retirement
Best for: Retirees and people living off pensions, rental income, dividends or other passive income.
The D7 is the most accessible Portuguese residency visa for non-EU citizens. The bar is genuinely low — one full-time minimum wage’s worth of passive income per month for a solo applicant — and it opens up Portuguese residency, healthcare, schools, and a clear five-year path to permanent residency.
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Why people choose the D7
It has one of the lowest income requirements of any EU residency visa. Most retirees on US Social Security, a UK or Canadian state pension, or rental income clear it without trouble. Easier to qualify for than Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa, and unlike the NLV it allows you to work for non-Portuguese employers.
Monthly passive income required
| Currency | Solo | Couple | + each child | + each dependent parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €920 | €1,380 | €276 | €460 |
| USD | around $1,070 | around $1,604 | around $321 | around $535 |
| GBP | around £796 | around £1,194 | around £239 | around £398 |
| CAD | around CAD$1,487 | around CAD$2,230 | around CAD$446 | around CAD$744 |
Plus savings. You’ll also need to show savings of at least 12 × your monthly requirement. A solo applicant on €920/month needs roughly twelve months of that in the bank.
Key requirements
- Passive income at or above the threshold — pensions, dividends, rental income, royalties, social security
- Address in Portugal arranged before you apply — a 12-month lease, deed, or notarised invitation letter
- Clean criminal record from your country (and anywhere you’ve lived 12+ months)
- Portuguese NIF number and bank account
- Health insurance valid in Portugal
Path forward
Hold residency for 5 years to be eligible for permanent residency. Hold for 10 years (with A2 Portuguese) for citizenship. Spouses, dependent children and dependent parents can all be added to your application.
Visa 2 of 8 — for remote workers
D8 — Digital Nomad Visa
Best for: Remote employees, freelancers and contractors earning from outside Portugal.
Portugal’s D8 was one of the first dedicated digital-nomad visas in the EU. Income comes from active work (not pensions or rentals) — your existing remote employer or freelance client base counts.
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Why people choose the D8
Few EU countries have a dedicated digital nomad visa — Spain’s exists but is more expensive, Italy’s is complicated. Portugal’s D8 is straightforward, comes with full residency rights, and counts toward permanent residency and citizenship like any other visa.
Monthly active remote income required
| Currency | Solo | Couple | + each child | + each dependent parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €3,680 | €5,520 | €1,104 | €1,840 |
| USD | around $4,277 | around $6,415 | around $1,283 | around $2,139 |
| GBP | around £3,184 | around £4,776 | around £956 | around £1,592 |
| CAD | around CAD$5,945 | around CAD$8,917 | around CAD$1,784 | around CAD$2,973 |
Plus savings. Show savings of at least 12 × your monthly requirement. A solo applicant on €3,680/month needs roughly twelve months of that in the bank.
Key requirements
- Active remote income at or above the threshold — employment contract, freelance contracts, or business invoices
- Address in Portugal before you apply — lease, deed, or invitation letter
- Clean criminal record
- Portuguese NIF and bank account
- Health insurance valid in Portugal
Path forward
Same as the D7 — 5 years to permanent residency, 10 years (with A2 Portuguese) to citizenship.
Visa 3 of 8 — the only one without relocation
Golden Visa — residency by investment
Best for: Investors who want EU residency without moving — a Plan B passport, optionality, or eventual citizenship while keeping their current life intact.
Unlike every other visa on this page, the Golden Visa is not about moving to Portugal. You acquire residency through a qualifying investment, then maintain it with an average of just seven days per year in the country (or move full-time if you prefer — your choice).
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Why people choose the Golden Visa
It’s the only EU residency programme that lets you hold residency while spending almost no time in the country. Average seven days a year. No mandatory tax residency. You keep your life elsewhere and the 10-year clock to citizenship runs anyway.
Investment options (one-off, not monthly)
| Currency | Fund investment | Cultural donation | Rural-area reduced donation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €500,000 | €250,000 | €200,000 |
| USD | around $581,050 | around $290,525 | around $232,420 |
| GBP | around £432,550 | around £216,275 | around £173,020 |
| CAD | around CAD$807,650 | around CAD$403,825 | around CAD$323,060 |
No monthly income or savings requirement — but the investment must be maintained for the full 5 years until permanent residency.
Key requirements
- Qualifying investment in a Portuguese investment fund OR cultural donation
- Investment maintained for the full 5 years until permanent residency
- Average 7 days per year physical presence in Portugal
- Clean criminal record
- No mandatory tax residency in Portugal
Path forward
5 years to permanent residency, 10 years to citizenship — same clock as the residency visas, even though you’ve spent very little time in Portugal. The citizenship stage increasingly looks for documented ties to Portugal, so spending more than the minimum and building real connections is worth doing from day one.
Visa 4 of 8 — for entrepreneurs & freelancers
D2 — Entrepreneur & freelancer visa
Best for: People starting a Portuguese business, going freelance in Portugal, or relocating an existing business.
The D2 is one of the most attainable entrepreneur visas in the EU — no capital requirement, no minimum investment, and any sector qualifies. There’s also a dedicated startup variant if your business is innovation-focused.
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Why people choose the D2
No capital requirement, and a monthly income bar set at just Portuguese minimum wage. Compare with Spain (€100k+ investment expected), Italy (€500k for startups), Germany (substantial capital and business plan scrutiny) — the D2 is by far the cheapest route to EU residency for a small business owner. Any sector qualifies.
Monthly business income required
| Currency | Solo | Couple | + each child | + each dependent parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €920 | €1,380 | €276 | €460 |
| USD | around $1,070 | around $1,604 | around $321 | around $535 |
| GBP | around £796 | around £1,194 | around £239 | around £398 |
| CAD | around CAD$1,487 | around CAD$2,230 | around CAD$446 | around CAD$744 |
Plus savings. Show savings of at least 12 × your monthly requirement, on top of projected business income.
Key requirements
- Business plan showing viability and economic / cultural / scientific value
- Portuguese business setup — incorporated company or registered freelance activity
- Financial means (savings) on top of projected business income
- Address in Portugal arranged before you apply
- Clean criminal record
Path forward
5 years to permanent residency, 10 years to citizenship (with A2 Portuguese).
Visa 5 of 8 — employment-based
D1 — General work visa
Best for: Anyone with a Portuguese employer offering a signed contract.
The D1 is the general-purpose employment visa. Once a Portuguese employer offers you a role, the D1 is what gets you here legally. Income requirement is low — Portuguese minimum wage.
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Why people choose the D1
One of the lowest income thresholds of any work visa in Western Europe — just Portuguese minimum wage. If you have a job offer in hand, this is the simplest route.
Monthly employment income required
| Currency | Solo | Couple | + each child | + each dependent parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €920 | €1,380 | €276 | €460 |
| USD | around $1,070 | around $1,604 | around $321 | around $535 |
| GBP | around £796 | around £1,194 | around £239 | around £398 |
| CAD | around CAD$1,487 | around CAD$2,230 | around CAD$446 | around CAD$744 |
Plus savings. Most consulates will want to see at least 12 × your monthly requirement in savings on top of your employment contract.
Key requirements
- Signed employment contract with a Portuguese employer
- Employer must be registered in Portugal and able to sponsor the visa
- Address in Portugal before you apply
- Clean criminal record
Path forward
5 years to permanent residency, 10 years to citizenship.
Visa 6 of 8 — skilled-work fast track
D3 — Highly qualified workers
Best for: Highly qualified employees — tech, finance, engineering, medicine, academia — with a Portuguese job offer.
The D3 is the fast-track work visa for high-skill roles. It’s a more efficient path than the D1 for qualifying professionals, and it’s also the path to the EU Blue Card.
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Why people choose the D3
You can apply from within Portugal — skipping the consular stage that adds months to other visas. It’s the gateway to the EU Blue Card, which gives you mobility across the EU and is widely recognised by international employers.
Monthly salary required (3 × the Social Support Index)
| Currency | Minimum monthly salary |
|---|---|
| EUR | €1,568 |
| USD | around $1,822 |
| GBP | around £1,357 |
| CAD | around CAD$2,532 |
The salary requirement is set as a multiple of the Indexante dos Apoios Sociais (IAS). Family members added through this visa follow the same percentages as the D7 (50% additional for a partner, 30% per child, 50% per dependent parent).
Key requirements
- Signed employment contract for a highly qualified role with a Portuguese employer
- Salary at or above 3 × the Social Support Index
- Qualifications recognised by Portuguese authorities
- Address in Portugal
- Clean criminal record
Path forward
5 years to permanent residency, 10 years to citizenship. Eligible for the EU Blue Card, which improves mobility across the EU.
Visa 7 of 8 — the back door for younger movers
D4 — Student visa
Best for: Students enrolling at a Portuguese university — and as a strategic move-to-Portugal route for people in their twenties.
The D4 is the visa for full-time study at a Portuguese educational institution. What many people miss: time spent on a D4 counts toward the 5-year permanent-residency clock and the 10-year citizenship clock. So a 4-year degree in Portugal isn’t just an education — it’s most of the way to PR.
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Why people choose the D4
Portuguese international student fees are affordable by international standards (a fraction of US/UK rates), and your time as a student counts toward residency. It’s a legitimate education plus a head start on permanent residency rolled together.
Monthly means required during term time
| Currency | Minimum monthly means |
|---|---|
| EUR | €920 |
| USD | around $1,070 |
| GBP | around £796 |
| CAD | around CAD$1,487 |
Portuguese minimum wage (€920/month) is treated as the floor for proving you can support yourself. You’re also allowed to work up to ~20 hours/week during term time and unlimited hours during school holidays, so part-time earnings count toward your means.
Key requirements
- Enrolment confirmation from an accredited Portuguese institution (undergraduate, postgraduate, or accredited language course of 12+ months)
- Financial means covering tuition and living costs
- Accommodation in Portugal
- Health insurance valid in Portugal
- Clean criminal record
Path forward
Time on a D4 counts toward residency. A 4-year degree gets you to year 4 of the 5-year permanent residency clock. Then 5 more years to citizenship (assuming you switch to a work or D2 visa after graduation).
Visa 8 of 8 — joining family already here
D6 — Family reunification
Best for: Spouses, partners, dependent children and dependent parents of someone with legal residency in Portugal.
If your sponsor has Portuguese residency or citizenship, the D6 lets you join them. The income requirements on the sponsor are genuinely low — significantly lower than equivalent visas in most EU countries.
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Why people choose the D6
The sponsor income thresholds are remarkably attainable: roughly €1,380 additional income for a spouse or partner and €276 for each dependent child, on top of the sponsor’s own minimum-wage income. Much lower than the equivalent in Germany, France, or the UK.
Sponsor’s monthly income required
| Currency | Sponsor’s own income | + spouse / partner | + each child | + each dependent parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR | €920 | €1,380 | €276 | €1,380 |
| USD | around $1,070 | around $1,604 | around $321 | around $1,604 |
| GBP | around £796 | around £1,194 | around £239 | around £1,194 |
| CAD | around CAD$1,487 | around CAD$2,230 | around CAD$446 | around CAD$2,230 |
Figures show the additional income on top of the sponsor’s own minimum-wage threshold. Savings — typically 12 × monthly — are also expected.
Key requirements
- Sponsor has legal Portuguese residency (any visa) or citizenship
- Proof of the family relationship — marriage certificate, birth certificate, proof of partnership
- Sponsor’s income meets the threshold for each family member added
- Adequate accommodation in Portugal
- Health insurance valid in Portugal
- Clean criminal record
Path forward
5 years to permanent residency, 10 years to citizenship. Family members generally follow the same clock as their sponsor’s residency.
Still weighing which one?
Talk it through in 20 minutes
A free consultation with someone who’s worked through these decisions with thousands of people. Tell us your situation — we’ll tell you which visa fits, and which paperwork to start gathering.
The end goal
From visa to passport
Whichever visa you arrive on, the path forward is the same.
After 5 years — Permanent Residency
- Granted for 5+ years at a time for non-EU/10 for EU
- Easier physical stay requirements
- Basic Portuguese, clean record, continued ties
After 10 years — Citizenship
- EU passport — live, work and travel across all EU member states
- Requires A2 level of Portuguese (upper-beginner)
- Clean record and demonstrated ties to the community also required
Common questions
Frequently asked Questions
In almost all cases, no. Long-term visas must be applied for from your country of residence at a Portuguese consulate. The D3 is the main exception.
Yes. Most visas allow a spouse or partner and dependent children to be included, with extra income and savings normally required for each. It’s important to note that to be considered dependent, a child normally needs to be under 18 or meet specific requirements (such as being in full-time education, and unmarried) to qualify as a dependent.
Most residency visas (D7, D8, D1, D2, D3) make you a Portuguese tax resident as they require you to make your home in Portugal and spend the majority of the year here. The Golden Visa does not have the same physical stay requirement, so it is possible to avoid tax residency.
This is common, and not a dead end. Many applicants spend a year or two building passive income, securing remote work, or developing a business plan before applying. Get in touch with us and we can help you develop a plan of action.
Still narrowing it down?
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