Residency Visas: “D7” and “Digital Nomad”

Are you planning to move to Portugal and unsure which visa is best for you?

In this article, we explore two residence visas intended for citizens of non-EU countries who wish to stay in Portugal for a period longer than one year:

• Residence visa for retirees, religious individuals, and people living on their own passive income (“D7”);

• Residence visa for the exercise of professional activity carried out remotely outside Portuguese territory (“Digital Nomad”).

First of all, it’s important to understand the difference between a “visa” and a “residence permit”. A visa allows an applicant to enter the country, whereas the residence permit allows one to live in the country. This may seem like an obvious distinction, but not understanding the difference may lead to confusion about certain aspects of the procedure, or even the rights and obligations that a person may have been granted.

For applicants who wish to reside in Portugal, under a D7 or D8 visa, the process begins in the applicant’s country of origin and place of residence, either at a Portuguese consulate or, currently, a VFS office.

Once approved, a visa is issued, which allows legal entry into Portugal and a stay in the country for a period of four months.

Once in Portugal, the visa holder must attend a scheduled appointment with the competent authorities to convert the visa into a residence permit, valid for an initial period of two years.

Although both visas grant the same right of residence in Portugal, they are based on different requirements for approval. Let us analyze the main differences:

D7 VISA

The D7 visa is a residence visa granted to foreign citizens who receive retirement pensions or other forms of stable passive income, such as rental income, dividends, interest, etc.

This visa is many times referred to as a “retirement visa”, but it is best described as a “passive income” visa, as it will allow you to obtain a residence permit regardless of your age and employment status, as long as you fulfill the requirements for the visa.

Main requirements:

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months of validity);

• Apostilled criminal record certificate;

• Proof of accommodation in Portugal;

• Proof of means of subsistence (bank deposit, in a Portuguese bank account, in a minimum amount equivalent to 12 × the Portuguese minimum wage, which in 2026 corresponds to EUR 11,040.00);

• Document proving monthly passive income in a minimum amount equivalent to the Portuguese minimum wage (which in 2026 corresponds to EUR 920.00).

DIGITAL NOMAD VISA

The Digital Nomad Visa is a residence visa intended for the pursuit of professional activity carried out remotely.

DIGITAL NOMAD VISA REQUIREMENTS

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity);

• Apostilled criminal record certificate;

• Tax residency certificate;

• Proof of accommodation in Portugal;

• Proof of means of subsistence (bank deposit in a minimum amount equivalent to 12× the Portuguese minimum wage, which in 2026 corresponds to EUR 11,040.00);

• Proof of average monthly income exceeding four times the Portuguese minimum monthly wage (which in 2026 corresponds to EUR 3,680.00);

• Documentation demonstrating the existence of an employment relationship or the performance of independent professional activity carried out remotely.

D7 VISA VS DIGITAL NOMAD VISA

To summarize between these two types of visa:

Obtaining a visa may be a time-consuming process, involving the preparation and submission of multiple documents. 

In this context, VPA is here to assist you all along the procedure, giving you advice, dealing with all necessary steps and ensuring legal compliance and adherence to all applicable statutory deadlines. The procedure may seem complicated at first, but rest assured that we’re here and will have your back!