Portugal Retirement Visa for South African Citizens

The Portugal Retirement Visa, also known as the D7 Visa, is a popular option for South African citizens who are looking to retire in Portugal. The visa offers a number of benefits, including access to Portugal’s excellent healthcare system and a low cost of living.

To qualify for the visa, you must be over the age of 18 and have a regular monthly income of at least €760 or an annual income of at least €8,460 plus health insurance cover that is valid in Portugal.

You can apply online or through the Portuguese embassy or consulate in South Africa and most visas are processed within four months.

Once you have been granted the Portugal Retirement Visa, you will be able to live in Portugal as long as you continue meeting the visa requirements. You can also apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of residency.

Page Contents

• Overview of Portugal Retirement Visa
• Benefits of the Portugal Retirement Visa
• Eligibility Criteria for the Portugal Retirement Visa
• Required Documents for the Portugal Retirement Visa For South Africans
• Portugal Retirement Visa Passive Income Requirement
• Application Costs For the Portugal Retirement Visa
• How To Apply for a Portugal Retirement Visa From South Africa
• Portugal Retirement Visa Validity Period
• Switching from Retirement Visa to Permanent Residency in Portugal
• Bringing Your Family on a Portugal Retirement Visa
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQs

The benefits of the Portugal Retirement Visa for South African citizens include:

• Holders can bring their spouses and children with them to Portugal
• Retirees who become tax residents of Portugal through the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) programme can benefit from a flat tax rate of 10% on their pensions and other foreign-sourced income. This can be a significant tax benefit for retirees coming from countries with higher tax rates.
• Portugal has a public healthcare system that is available to all residents, including retirees.
• Retirees who hold the Portugal Retirement Visa for five years can apply for permanent residency and eventually Portuguese citizenship.
• A Portugal Retirement Visa holder can travel freely within the Schengen Area of 27 European countries.

If you are considering retiring to Portugal, the D7 Visa is an excellent option to consider. Contact us to assist you and boost your chances of success. Call +44 (0)333 305 9375 for immediate assistance.

To be eligible for the Portugal Retirement Visa as a South African citizen, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be over 18
• Have a regular monthly income of at least €705
• Hold a approved health insurance policy
• Have a valid passport
• Clean criminal record

To apply for the visa you must provide a range of documents to support your application. These include:

• Valid passport with two blank pages and a validity that exceeds your intended stay by at least three months.
• Completed D7 Visa application form.
• Two recent passport-sized photos.
• Evidence of a regular source of income such as pension statements, bank statements showing savings, or other evidence of passive income.
• Health insurance policy covering treatment in Portugal and the Schengen area.
• Police clearance or criminal record certificate from South Africa. If you have lived in other countries for extended periods in the last five years, you may need certificates from those places as well.
• Evidence of a residential address in Portugal such as rental contract, property deed, or hotel reservations.
• Statement explaining your reason for relocation to Portugal is required.
• Statement declaring that you are not suffering from any contagious diseases as per international health regulations.

All documents must be in Portuguese or accompanied by an official translation.

The Portugal Retirement Visa income requirement is €760 per month for a single applicant. For dependents, you will need to add an additional 50% of the minimum monthly salary for each adult dependent and 30% for each minor dependent. For example, a couple applying for the Portugal Retirement Visa would need to have a combined passive income of €1,140 per month.

You are not required to demonstrate that your passive income is sufficient to support your lifestyle in Portugal but you will need to show you have enough income to cover your basic living expenses, such as food, housing and transportation.

Passive income in Portugal includes pension earnings, investment returns, rental revenue, intellectual property proceeds, annuity and trust incomes, and gains from specific investments like real estate investment trusts.

Some examples of documentation that you may be able to use to show that you meet the minimum passive income requirements include:

• Bank statements showing regular deposits from passive income sources.
• Tax returns
• Investment statements
• Lease agreements
• Royalty agreements proving royalty income
• A letter from your accountant or other financial advisor stating that you have a reliable source of passive income

If you are unsure whether your income qualifies as passive income for the Portugal Retirement Visa, it is advisable to consult with an immigration lawyer or consultant.

At Total Law, we can help you assess your eligibility and ensure that you meet all of the requirements for the visa. Call +44 (0)333 305 9375 for immediate assistance.

The application costs for the Portugal Retirement Visa total €246 and are made up of:

• Visa fee: €90
• Residence permit fee: €73
• Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) processing fee: €83

Once you have checked you are eligible for the Retirement Visa from South Africa and gathered your documents, you can schedule an appointment with the Portuguese embassy or consulate in Pretoria, South Africa.

You will need to bring your paperwork and completed application form to this appointment and pay the required visa processing fee. Your application will then be assessed and you will be contacted if any extra information is needed.

If your visa is approved, you can travel to Portugal and apply for a Residence Permit. You must do this within four months of your arrival in Portugal.

The Portugal Retirement Visa is initially valid for one year. However, it can be renewed twice, each time for two years, for a total of five years.

After five years of living in Portugal on the D7 Visa, you can apply for Permanent Residency. If you are granted permanent residency, you will be able to live in Portugal and eventually citizenship.

Before considering permanent residency, holders of the Portugal Retirement Visa typically need to maintain their temporary residency status for five consecutive years. To apply for Permanent Residency you will need to apply via your local SEF branch with proof of residency.

If your application is approved, you’ll receive a Permanent Residence card, which is usually valid for ten years but can be renewed indefinitely. As a permanent resident, you won’t need to continue meeting the income requirements that were necessary for the Retirement Visa.

After obtaining permanent residency you can consider applying for Portuguese citizenship. This step is optional but can be pursued after six years of legal residence (including the years under the D7 Visa), subject to meeting certain criteria and passing a basic Portuguese language test.

South Africa also allows dual citizenship so you can apply to retain your South African passport when applying for Portuguese citizenship.

If you are granted the Portugal Retirement Visa, you can bring your spouse and dependent children to live with you in Portugal. Your spouse and children can apply for a Family Reunification Visa, which allows them to live in Portugal for as long as you have a valid Residence Permit.

To apply for a Family Reunification Visa, your dependents will need to meet the following:

• Prove they are spouse or dependent children
• Possess a valid passport
• Have health insurance recognised in Portugal
• Provide evidence of financial support from you

The processing time for the Family Reunification Visa is around 3-4 months. Once your spouse and children have been granted the visa, they will be able to live in Portugal for as long as you have a valid Residence Permit. They will also be able to apply for Permanent Residency after five years of living in Portugal.