The three main paths to Portugal residency for non-EU citizens differ on income source, minimum thresholds, presence requirements and cost. This comparison helps you pick. If you want to discuss your own case afterwards, send us your question.
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Choose by where your money comes from. Living on a pension, rent or dividends: the D7. Working remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal: the D8. Running your own business or freelancing in Portugal: the D2. Highly qualified job with a Portuguese employer: the highly qualified (D3) route or the EU Blue Card. Investing without moving full-time: the Golden Visa (ARI), which needs only 7 days in Portugal in year 1 and 14 days in each later two-year period.
Sources: MNE visa types, MNE visa portal, Lei 23/2007 (consolidated), AIMA ARI page. The table below compares the routes. Document lists for each one are on our requirements pages.
Most non-EU citizens moving to Portugal choose between five residence routes. Picking a route that does not match your income is a common reason for a refusal, so check the fit before you collect documents.
This page compares the routes. It does not list every document: for the full file, use the D7 visa requirements checklist, the D8 digital nomad visa guide and the Golden Visa requirements. To budget for life after the move, see the cost of living in Portugal.
| Route | Best for | Main condition and money test | Time in Portugal | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D7 (passive income) | Retirees and people living on pensions, rent, dividends or royalties | At least the minimum wage (RMMG), €920 a month in 2026 for the first adult; +50% per further adult, +30% per child (DL 139/2025; Portaria 1563/2007) | You live in Portugal | D7 requirements |
| D8 (digital nomad) | Remote employees and freelancers whose employers or clients are outside Portugal | Average income over the last 3 months of at least 4 × RMMG, €3,680 a month in 2026 (MNE visa portal) | You live in Portugal (residence visa) or stay up to a year (temporary-stay visa) (MNE visa types) | D8 guide |
| D2 (self-employed or entrepreneur) | Freelancers and business owners who will work or set up a company in Portugal | A company formed, activity registered with the tax office and Social Security, or a service contract; professional qualification where required; means of subsistence (AIMA, Art. 89(1)). Innovative start-ups in a certified incubator use the StartUP Visa (AIMA StartUP Visa, Art. 89(4)) | You live in Portugal | Send us your question |
| D3 (highly qualified) and EU Blue Card | Specialists with a Portuguese work or service contract for a highly qualified activity | A contract compatible with the activity; for employees, a minimum salary set by reference to the national average wage, as listed by AIMA (AIMA, Art. 90). The EU Blue Card has its own regime (Art. 121-A, Lei 23/2007 (consolidated)) | You live in Portugal | Send us your question |
| Golden Visa (ARI) | Investors who want residence without moving full-time | A qualifying investment under Art. 3(1)(d) of Lei 23/2007, such as €500,000 in an investment fund; real estate no longer qualifies (AIMA ARI page) | At least 7 days in year 1 and 14 days in each later two-year period (AIMA ARI page; DR 15-A/2015) | Golden Visa requirements |
| Qualified job-seeker visa | People with specialised technical skills looking for a highly qualified job | Valid for 120 days, extendable by 60; you must start work and apply for residence within that time, or leave and wait a year to reapply (Art. 57-A as amended by Lei 61/2025) | Single entry; you search from Portugal | Send us your question |
Figures checked on 23 October 2026 against the sources linked in each row. Family reunification after 2 years of residence applies to the D7, D8, D2 and D3 routes, with exceptions such as minor children; Golden Visa families are exempt from the wait (Lei 61/2025). Citizenship needs 7 years of legal residence for EU and CPLP nationals and 10 years for others, whichever route you use (LO 1/2026).
Many remote workers default to the D7 because older content recommends it. If your income comes from active work, the D8 is the route designed for it. Key differences:
Next steps: check the D7 visa requirements for passive income, the Golden Visa requirements for investment, and the citizenship requirements if a Portuguese passport is the goal.
Expert Review: tell us your income type, your family members and your timeline, and we check which route fits. With your consent, a Portuguese partner lawyer contacts you and gives you their own written fee proposal before any work starts. We are not a law firm.
We checked each rule on this page against these sources on 23 October 2026.
FAQ
Short, plain answers. For specifics on your case, request a consultation.
The D7 is for passive income such as pensions, dividends and rent. The D8 is for remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal and needs average monthly income of at least four times the minimum wage (€3,680 in 2026, per the MNE visa portal). The D2 is for self-employed people and entrepreneurs working in Portugal. The Golden Visa (ARI) is for a qualifying investment under Article 3(1)(d) of Law 23/2007 and needs only 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in each two-year period after that (AIMA).
It depends on your case. The D7, D8 and D2 need no qualifying investment. The Golden Visa adds the investment amount of the ARI route you choose, plus AIMA fees and professional fees. We do not quote an all-in total because no official source gives one. Ask for a written fee proposal.
No visa has an official fixed processing time, and waits depend on the consulate and on AIMA, so we do not quote durations. The Golden Visa is filed with AIMA under the ARI rules. The D7, D8 and D2 start with a visa application at a Portuguese consulate.
The D2 is the residence route for independent professional activity or entrepreneurs in Portugal, under Article 89 of Law 23/2007. You need a company, a registered activity or a service contract, plus means of subsistence. The D8 covers only remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal. If your clients are in Portugal, look at the D2.
Yes, but since Law 61/2025 it is limited to people with specialised technical skills looking for highly qualified work. It lasts 120 days, extendable by 60. If you do not start work and apply for residence in that time, you must leave and wait a year before applying again.
Possibly, but changing the legal basis of a residence permit inside Portugal has its own conditions and is not a simple edit. It is better to choose the right route at the start. Check your eligibility with AIMA or a lawyer.
Citizenship is not a feature of the visa. It follows the Nationality Law as amended by Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026: 7 years of legal residence for EU and CPLP nationals and 10 years for others, plus the other legal conditions. Read our citizenship requirements guide.
The D7 is for passive income such as pensions, dividends and rent. The D8 is for employment or freelance income earned remotely from outside Portugal. If your income is salary or freelance fees, the D8 is the route designed for it.
That depends on your goals and finances, and we cannot decide it for you. Compare the investment amount, the fees, the risks of the investment itself and the stay requirement, and ask a lawyer and a financial adviser before you commit. The conditions are in Article 3(1)(d) of Law 23/2007 and on the AIMA ARI page.
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