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What is the Portugal retirement visa?
Portugal has no visa officially called a "retirement visa". Retirees from outside the EU normally apply for the D7 residence visa, which Portuguese law grants to retired people, people living on income from property or intellectual property, and people living on financial investments. Lei 23/2007, art. 58.º · DR 84/2007, art. 24.º, n.º 1, b) to d)
In everyday use, "Portugal retirement visa", "D7 visa" and "passive income visa" all refer to the same legal route. The official name, used by consulates and on the Portuguese government portal, is the residence visa for the establishment of residence of retired people, religious people and people living on income.
Who can apply for the Portugal retirement visa
The D7 is for nationals of countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland. There is no minimum age in the law: you qualify through your income, not your age. A pension is the classic case, but rental income, dividends, interest and royalties can also count.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a retirement visa. They register their residence under the free-movement law instead. Lei 37/2006 See our page on residence for EU citizens.
What the retirement visa gives you
- A residence visa to enter Portugal, valid for two entries, followed by a residence permit issued in Portugal. Lei 23/2007, art. 58.º and 75.º
- The right to live in Portugal and to travel within the Schengen area with your residence permit.
- A path to permanent residence after five years and to Portuguese citizenship once the nationality law's conditions are met. Lei 23/2007, art. 80.º · Lei 37/81, art. 6.º
Portugal retirement visa options compared
Most retirees choose the D7. Retirees with significant capital sometimes consider the Golden Visa, and those still working remotely usually belong on the D8. The table shows how they differ.
| Route | Best for | How you qualify | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7 retirement visa | Pensioners and people living on passive income | Stable income of at least €920/month (2026) for the main applicant | Lei 23/2007, art. 58.º |
| Golden Visa | Retirees who want to invest and spend less time in Portugal | A qualifying investment; real-estate routes were removed in 2023 | Lei 23/2007, art. 90.º-A · Lei 56/2023 |
| D8 digital nomad visa | People still working remotely for clients abroad | Income from remote work | Lei 23/2007 |
| EU registration | EU, EEA and Swiss citizens | Registration of residence, no visa | Lei 37/2006 |
More detail: D7 visa lawyer · Golden Visa · D8 visa.
Portugal retirement visa requirements 2026
The requirements come from three layers of law: the Foreigners Act, its regulation, and a ministerial order that sets the means of subsistence.
Minimum income for the retirement visa
The means of subsistence are measured against the Portuguese national minimum wage (retribuição mínima mensal garantida). From 1 January 2026 it is €920 a month. Decreto-Lei 139/2025, de 29 de dezembro
The ministerial order counts each household member as a share of that amount: Portaria 1563/2007, de 11 de dezembro, art. 2.º
| Household member | Share of minimum wage | Monthly (2026) | Annual (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | 100% | €920 | €11,040 |
| Spouse, partner or other adult | 50% | €460 | €5,520 |
| Each minor child | 30% | €276 | €3,312 |
| Retired couple | 150% | €1,380 | €16,560 |
Proof covering 12 months
Consular checklists ask for proof of means of subsistence covering at least 12 months, referring to the same ministerial order. Portaria 1563/2007, art. 2.º, n.º 2 Retirees show the amount of the pension and that it is guaranteed. People living on other income show its source and amount, and that it is available in Portugal.
In practice: consulates assess both income and savings, and their expectations differ. We confirm what your consulate asks for before you file.
Accommodation in Portugal
Adequate accommodation is a general requirement for a residence permit. Lei 23/2007, art. 77.º A rental contract, a purchase deed or a term of responsibility from someone hosting you can serve as proof, depending on the consulate.
Health insurance
Consular checklists require travel or health insurance covering urgent medical care and repatriation, valid at least until the end of the visa. After you hold a residence permit, you can register with the national health service. See living in Portugal.
Clean criminal record
You need a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and from any country where you lived in the past year, apostilled or legalised. Our team can obtain a Portuguese criminal record and arrange apostilles.
Portugal retirement visa income calculator
Enter your household and your monthly passive income. The calculator applies the shares set by Portaria 1563/2007 to the 2026 minimum wage. It is an indication only: we confirm your eligibility in the first consultation.
Pension, rent, dividends, interest or royalties. Example values shown.
€920 from 1 January 2026 (DL 139/2025). Change it when the rate is updated.
Documents for the Portugal retirement visa
Each consulate or visa centre publishes its own checklist. The core documents below appear on the official checklists for the D7.
Identity and application
National visa application form, two recent photos, a passport valid at least three months beyond the stay, and proof of legal status if you apply outside your country of nationality.
Income and means
Proof of the pension amount and that it is guaranteed, or proof of property, intellectual-property or investment income, and that the income is available in Portugal.
Health and record
Travel or health insurance covering urgent care and repatriation, and apostilled criminal record certificates.
Accommodation
Proof of accommodation in Portugal. A Portuguese tax number (NIF) and bank account are usually needed in practice to rent and to show income available in Portugal.
Foreign certificates generally need an apostille or legalisation and, where required, a certified translation.
How to apply for the Portugal retirement visa: step by step
The process has two stages: the residence visa from the Portuguese consulate in your country, then the residence permit from AIMA in Portugal. Open each step for what happens and who does it.
- 01
Eligibility checkYou + lawyer
We confirm that your income meets the threshold for your household and is stable, documented and transferable, and that the D7 is the right route rather than the Golden Visa or the D8.
- 02
NIF and Portuguese bank accountLawyer as representative
A tax number and a Portuguese bank account let you sign a lease and show income available in Portugal. We can act as your tax representative while you are abroad.
- 03
AccommodationYou + lawyer review
You rent or buy a home, or obtain a hosting term of responsibility. We review the contract so it meets the consulate's expectations. Lei 23/2007, art. 77.º
- 04
Documents, apostilles and translationsYou + lawyer
Criminal records, pension or income statements, insurance and civil-status documents are collected, apostilled and translated where needed.
- 05
Residence visa application at the consulateConsulate or visa centre
You file in person at the Portuguese consulate or its visa centre for your area of residence and give biometrics. The residence visa is valid for two entries and allows a four-month stay, during which you apply for the residence permit. Lei 23/2007, art. 58.º
- 06
Arrival and AIMA appointmentAIMA
Once in Portugal, you attend the AIMA appointment with your documents to apply for the temporary residence permit. AIMA checks the general requirements again. Lei 23/2007, art. 77.º See current AIMA timelines.
- 07
Residence permit: 2 years, then 3AIMA
The first temporary residence permit is valid for two years and is renewable for periods of three years. Lei 23/2007, art. 75.º, as amended by Lei 18/2022 To renew, you show you still meet the requirements and have respected the absence limits.
- 08
Permanent residence or citizenshipAIMA · Registos Centrais
After five years you can apply for permanent residence. Citizenship by naturalisation requires 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities, or 7 for CPLP and EU nationals. Lei 23/2007, art. 80.º · Lei 37/81, art. 6.º
Official fees for AIMA procedures are set in the AIMA fee table. Consular visa fees are published by each consulate.
Bringing your spouse and family on a retirement visa
A spouse or partner and dependent family members can apply together with you, with the higher income threshold shown above. Family members who come later go through family reunification, which changed in October 2025. Lei 61/2025, de 22 de outubro
The two-year rule for family reunification
The residence permit holder must generally have held a valid residence permit for at least two years before asking for reunification. If the spouse cohabited with the holder for at least 18 months before arrival in Portugal, the period is 15 months. Lei 23/2007, art. 98.º
The waiting period does not apply to minor or incapacitated dependent children, or to a spouse who is the parent or adopter of a minor in the holder's care, among other exceptions. Lei 23/2007, art. 98.º
Requirements and decision time
The holder must show adequate accommodation and sufficient means without social benefits. Lei 23/2007, art. 101.º AIMA has nine months to decide, extendable only in exceptional cases. Lei 23/2007, art. 105.º
Because reunification now takes longer, retired couples should usually apply together from the start.
Living in Portugal on a retirement visa
How long you can be away
The retirement visa is for people who actually live in Portugal. A temporary residence permit can be cancelled after absences of more than six consecutive months, or eight non-consecutive months, during its validity, unless the absence is justified. Lei 23/2007, art. 85.º For permanent residence, the limits are 24 consecutive months or 30 non-consecutive months in three years.
Healthcare for retirees
Foreign citizens residing legally in Portugal can register at their local health centre and use the national health service (SNS), according to the health regulator's guidance. ERS, Alerta de Supervisão 6/2020 Many retirees also keep private insurance for faster access to specialists.
Where retirees live
The legal rules are the same in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Madeira and the Azores. What changes is the cost of housing, which affects how you prove accommodation.
Tax on pensions for retirees in Portugal
Your visa and your tax residence are separate questions. You generally become tax resident if you stay in Portugal for more than 183 days in a 12-month period, or keep a home there that suggests you intend to live in it habitually. CIRS, art. 16.º
Pensions are taxed in category H of personal income tax, under the progressive rates, subject to any double taxation treaty with your country. CIRS, art. 11.º
The former non-habitual resident regime (NHR) closed to new applicants with the 2024 State Budget and was replaced by IFICI, which targets specific qualified activities. Retirees on a D7 generally do not qualify. Lei 82/2023 · EBF, art. 58.º-A See IFICI and NHR 2.0, and speak to a tax adviser before you move.
From retirement visa to permanent residence and citizenship
Permanent residence after five years
After five years of temporary residence you can apply for permanent residence if you have means of subsistence and accommodation, basic knowledge of Portuguese, and no conviction for a sentence of more than one year in that period. Lei 23/2007, art. 80.º
Portuguese citizenship under the 2026 nationality law
Since 19 May 2026, naturalisation by residence requires at least 10 years of legal residence, or 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states, assessed at the time of the application. Lei 37/81, art. 6.º, n.º 1, b), as amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026, de 18 de maio
- Legal residence means being in Portugal under any visa, permit or title of the immigration or asylum regimes. Lei 37/81, art. 15.º
- Applicants must prove knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols, and of fundamental rights and duties. Lei 37/81, art. 6.º, n.º 1, c) and d)
- Applications pending on 19 May 2026 continue under the previous rules. Lei Orgânica 1/2026, art. 7.º, n.º 2
See our Portugal citizenship lawyer page and the citizenship timeline 2026.
Why Portugal retirement visa applications fail
Refusals usually come from the file, not from the applicant. The most frequent problems we see in practice:
Income below the threshold
The household was not counted correctly, for example a spouse or child was left out of the calculation.
Income not proven as stable
No evidence that the pension is guaranteed, or other income without a clear 12-month record.
Missing apostille or translation
Criminal records or civil documents without the required legalisation.
Accommodation proof rejected
A short-term booking or a contract that does not match the consulate's requirements.
Working with a lawyer on your Portugal retirement visa
You can apply alone. A lawyer checks eligibility before you spend on rent and documents, prepares a consistent file, acts as your tax representative, and represents you before the consulate, AIMA and, if needed, the administrative courts.
Our D7 visa lawyer in Portugal service covers the whole route, from the first check to the residence permit, in English and Portuguese.
Portugal retirement visa: frequently asked questions
Does Portugal have a retirement visa?
Not under that name. Retirees from outside the EU use the D7 residence visa, which Portuguese law grants to retired people and people living on passive income (Lei 23/2007, art. 58.º; DR 84/2007, art. 24.º).
What is the minimum pension to retire in Portugal in 2026?
At least the national minimum wage, €920 a month, for the main applicant. A spouse adds 50% and each minor child 30%, so a couple needs €1,380 a month (DL 139/2025; Portaria 1563/2007).
Is there an age limit for the Portugal retirement visa?
No. The law sets no minimum age. You qualify through stable passive income, whether or not you are formally retired.
Can US, UK and Canadian retirees use the retirement visa?
Yes. The rules are the same for all non-EU nationals. You apply at the Portuguese consulate or visa centre for where you live, with documents from your own country.
Do I need to buy property in Portugal?
No. You need proof of adequate accommodation, which can be a rental contract. Buying property does not by itself give a residence permit since the 2023 changes to the Golden Visa (Lei 56/2023).
How much savings do I need?
The means of subsistence must be proven for at least 12 months (Portaria 1563/2007, art. 2.º). Consulates differ on how they weigh savings against income, so we confirm what yours expects.
Do retirees need health insurance?
Yes, for the visa: insurance covering urgent medical care and repatriation. Once you hold a residence permit you can register with the SNS.
Can my spouse come with me?
Yes. Applying together is the simplest route. Reunification later generally requires two years of residence by the permit holder, with exceptions (Lei 23/2007, art. 98.º, as amended by Lei 61/2025).
How long can I stay outside Portugal?
No more than six consecutive or eight non-consecutive months during the validity of a temporary permit, unless justified (Lei 23/2007, art. 85.º).
Can I work on a retirement visa?
The D7 is granted on passive income. If you plan to work, check your plans with us first. Remote work income usually belongs on the D8.
Are pensions taxed in Portugal?
If you become tax resident, foreign pensions are taxed as category H income at progressive rates, subject to tax treaties (CIRS, art. 11.º and 16.º). NHR is closed to new applicants.
When can I apply for Portuguese citizenship?
After 10 years of legal residence, or 7 for CPLP and EU nationals, with Portuguese language and civic knowledge (Lei 37/81, art. 6.º, as amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026).
Retirement visa or Golden Visa?
The D7 suits people who will live in Portugal on a pension. The Golden Visa (Lei 23/2007, art. 90.º-A) requires a qualifying investment and different stay rules. We compare both for your situation.
About the author
Clara Silva da Costa
Portuguese lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados (no. 45229L), member of the European Association of Lawyers and former legal adviser at UNICRI. She has more than 14 years of practice and leads CSC Lawyers in Lisbon, advising international clients on residence visas, permits and citizenship.
Plan your Portugal retirement visa with a lawyer
Tell us your income, your household and your timing. We check your eligibility and explain the route, documents and timeline before you commit to anything.
+351 215 896 071 · info@cscadvogada.com · Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 183, 1.º Esq., 1050-014 Lisboa
Legal sources
- Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Foreigners Act), arts. 58.º, 75.º, 77.º, 80.º, 85.º, 90.º-A, 98.º, 101.º and 105.º.
- Lei n.º 61/2025, de 22 de outubro, amending the Foreigners Act (family reunification). Diário da República
- Decreto Regulamentar n.º 84/2007, de 5 de novembro, art. 24.º.
- Portaria n.º 1563/2007, de 11 de dezembro (means of subsistence), art. 2.º.
- Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025, de 29 de dezembro (minimum wage of €920 from 1 January 2026).
- Lei n.º 37/81, de 3 de outubro (Nationality Law), arts. 6.º and 15.º, as amended by Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio. Official text
- Lei n.º 18/2022 (validity of residence permits) and Lei n.º 56/2023 (Golden Visa changes).
- Código do IRS, arts. 11.º and 16.º; Estatuto dos Benefícios Fiscais, art. 58.º-A; Lei n.º 82/2023 (State Budget 2024).
- Lei n.º 37/2006, de 9 de agosto (residence of EU citizens).
- Entidade Reguladora da Saúde, Alerta de Supervisão n.º 6/2020 (access of foreign citizens to the SNS). ERS
- AIMA fee table. PDF
General information, not legal advice. Laws, thresholds, fees and processing times change; we confirm the rules that apply to your case. Written by Clara Silva da Costa, advogada, CSC Lawyers. Last reviewed 7 November 2026.