Portugal D7 Visa

To be eligible for the D7 Visa you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Receive a regular and stable passive income at least equivalent to Portugal’s minimum wage
• Possess a clean criminal record
• Have a residential address in Portugal
• Commit to spend a minimum of 16 months during the first two years in Portugal
• Be over 18 years of age
• Open a Portuguese bank account

The source of your passive income can be a pension, dividends, real estate, transferable equity, royalties or any other non-lucrative source of income.

Portugal D7 Visa income requirements for the main applicant are equivalent to 100% of Portugal’s minimum wage. There is the requirement of an extra €5,320 per person for a spouse or parent, equivalent to 50% of the minimum wage and €3,192 or 30% of the minimum wage for each dependent child.

While not one of the specific requirements for the D7 Visa, it is recommended that you hold an amount equivalent to two years’ income in your Portuguese bank account.

You will also need to apply for a Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF) or legal taxation number, which is necessary for all fiscal activities in Portugal. It will be required to open your Portuguese bank account.

The D7 Visa rejection rate is thought to be relatively low as Portugal generally has a high approval rating for visas. However, if you are concerned about your application, get in touch with the immigration experts at Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or online via our contact form.

When you apply for a D7 Visa you will need to provide certain documents that prove your identity and your financial situation.

These should be taken with you when you attend the Portuguese embassy in New Dehli or one of their consulates in Kolkata, Chennai or Goa.

The documents you will require are:

• Completed D7 Visa application form
• Passport or other travel document, valid for three months following your intended stay
• Two recent passport photos
• Financial documents proving regular passive income e.g. bank statements
• Valid travel insurance
• Police Clearance Certificate, less than three months old
• Form authorising access to Portuguese criminal records by Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF)
• Portuguese bank account statement showing the balance
• Proof of Portuguese address

The fees for the Portugal D7 Visa will be between €80 and €100 per applicant. This fee applies to each member of your family included in the application.

When in Portugal, you need to apply for a Residence Permit within 120 days. The fee for this permit is €90 per applicant.

There are several steps that you need to follow when applying for the Portugal D7 Visa.

1. Gather your supporting documents. These will be used to establish your eligibility for the Portugal D7 Visa and should include evidence that you meet the minimum passive income requirements. They should also prove your identity and that of any family members included in your application.
2. Obtain a NIF which is required for you to open a Portuguese bank account. You can get a NIF by granting power of attorney to a tax representative in Portugal as you will need it before you arrive in the country.
3. Open a Portuguese bank account.
4. Complete the D7 Visa application form and make an appointment at the Portuguese consulate or embassy closest to you. At this appointment, you will submit your Portugal D7 Visa application and pay the fees.
5. When your application has been processed you will be notified of the decision. If you have been approved for a D7 Visa it will stamped in your passport. You can then travel to Portugal as the visa is valid for four months from the date it is issued.
6. Make an appointment with SEF to apply for a Residence Permit in Portugal. Do this by logging onto their portal and booking the appointment at the closest SEF office to where you are living in Portugal. Your biometric data will be taken and your documents checked at this meeting.
7. Take all your supporting documentation with you to this appointment. This should include your D7 Visa, evidence of sufficient funds, your NIF number, proof of accommodation and your medical insurance. As well as the Residence Permit application form you will have to fill in a form allowing the Portuguese authorities to check if you have a criminal record.

You will need to prove that you have long-term residential accommodation in Portugal. This could be evidence of a property purchase or a rental contract.

Any documents that form part of your application will need to be translated into Portuguese. You will require the originals and certified or apostilled copies of these documents.

As there are a lot of things to remember for the process of moving to Portugal through the D7 Visa, you should write down everything you need to do, including a list of all the required documents. Then tick them off as you complete each part of the application process.

The Portugal D7 Visa minimum stay means you must remain in Portugal for 16 months out of the first two years with no continuous absences longer than six months or a non-continuous absence of eight months.

Within four months of arriving in Portugal, you will have to apply for a Residence Permit, valid for a period of two years with the option to renew it for a further three years.

At the end of these five years of legal residency in Portugal, you can apply for permanent residence or citizenship provided you have remained in the country for the required number of days.

However, you would have to surrender your Indian citizenship as the government of India does not allow dual citizenship.

Adhering to the residency requirements is vital as otherwise, you may lose the right to your Residence Permit obtained via the Portugal D7 Visa.

Portugal has a lot to offer Indian citizens who are financially independent or who want to retire to to EU country. It is an affordable place to live, with a very good healthcare system, low crime rates and excellent weather.

There is no upper age limit for anyone who wants to move to Portugal making it attractive for retirees.

If you are eligible for the Portugal D7 Visa you may also enjoy tax benefits on international income for 10 years under the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime. This means you may not have to pay tax on non-Portuguese income.

Although obtaining the D7 Visa is based on your passive income, you are allowed to have a professional activity in Portugal. However, any income from this activity will not be counted toward the passive income requirements for the D7 Visa.

The Portuguese D7 Visa is also a pathway to eventual permanent residency in Portugal through the Residence Permit. After five years of legal residency, if you wish, you can apply for citizenship, but you will need to pass the Portuguese language test in order to be naturalised as a Portuguese citizen.

With a D7 Visa, you will have access to the Portuguese health service, as well as their education and legal system. You can also benefit from vocational training in the country.

As a holder of the Portugal Passive Income Visa, your family will be entitled to live in Portugal if they are financially dependent on you. A request for family reunification is done through SEF and you will need to legally prove your relationship with any family member included under this program.