Expat Academy

Portugal's D7 visa: the income requirement and the steps

The 2026 income and savings requirement for Portugal's D7 visa, in euros and dollars, the NIF and bank account, the AIMA appointment and the permits, for American retirees.

Updated · Expat Academy · Education, not advice

1 EUR = 1.1193 USD · 1 USD = €0.8934 ECB euro foreign exchange reference rate, 23 Oct 2026

Euro amounts are converted at this rate and are estimates. Currency moves change what your life in Europe costs in dollars: a weaker dollar makes it more expensive.

The D7 is Portugal's visa for people with regular passive income, and the usual route for American retirees.

The money test

Household Income a month Savings usually expected
One person €920 (about $1,030 today) €11,040 (about $12,357 today)
A couple €1,380 (about $1,545 today) €16,560 (about $18,536 today)
Each child plus €276 (about $309 today) plus €3,312 (about $3,707 today)

Social Security, pensions and regular withdrawals from retirement accounts count as passive income. Most retirees pass easily; the euro amount means your margin moves with the dollar. Check it with the free Portugal D7 Visa Income Checker.

What counts as passive income

Social Security (the award letter and statements), pensions, regular IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, dividends, interest and rent all count. Consulates want income that keeps arriving: a large balance alone, without regular income, is harder to present. Bring the last six to twelve months of statements and, where asked, certified translations.

Before you apply

  1. A NIF (Portuguese tax number), usually through a lawyer acting as tax representative.
  2. A Portuguese bank account with the savings in it.
  3. Accommodation: a lease, usually for a year or more.
  4. Insurance, an FBI record check (apostilled) and a passport.

The steps

  1. Apply at the visa centre that serves your state.
  2. Travel on the 120-day visa and attend your AIMA appointment for the residence permit. Book early.
  3. Two years, then three: renew the permit; after five years apply for permanent residence (basic Portuguese is required).

Where applications stall

  • The NIF and the bank account: Portuguese banks ask Americans many questions (FATCA), and some won't open accounts remotely. Start early.
  • Accommodation: a short holiday booking usually isn't enough; a registered lease is better.
  • The AIMA appointment: availability is the usual bottleneck after arrival; book as soon as you have dates.
  • Families: each family member needs their own documents; a spouse adds 50% to the income requirement and a child 30%.

After you arrive

The D7 makes Portugal your home, and you'll be a Portuguese tax resident from your arrival date. See Portugal's tax residency rules and how to retire in Portugal as an American.

The tax side

Once you live in Portugal you're taxed there on your worldwide income: pensions and IRA money on a scale from 12.5% to 48%, investment income at 28%, and the old NHR regime is closed to new residents. Some decisions are best made before your arrival date. See Does Portugal tax US Social Security and 401(k)s? and tax planning before moving to Europe.

Questions

How much income do I need for a D7 visa in 2026?

At least the Portuguese minimum wage of €920 a month for the main applicant, plus 50% (€460) for a spouse and 30% (€276) for each child, from regular passive income such as Social Security, pensions and investments.

How much savings do I need for the D7?

Consulates usually expect about a year of the income requirement in a Portuguese bank account, about €11,040 for one person and €16,560 for a couple.

How long does a D7 residence permit last?

The visa lets you enter for 120 days to attend your AIMA appointment. The first residence permit lasts two years and is renewed for three; permanent residence is possible after five years.

How long until Portuguese citizenship on a D7?

Under the nationality law in force since 19 May 2026, ten years of legal residence for most applicants, counted from the first residence card.

Go deeper

  • P2 The D7 visa, step by step: Portugal's passive-income visa: the minimum wage for you, 50% more for a spouse and 30% for each child, about a year of it in a Portuguese bank, a NIF and a home. A 120-day visa, then a two-year permit, renewed for three.
  • P10 The NIF, the NISS and banking: Portugal runs on the NIF, your tax number, which you need before almost anything else. What the NIF, the NISS and the user number for healthcare are, when you need a tax representative, and how banks treat Americans.

Sources

Education, not advice. This guide explains general rules as of the date above. Rules change every year; confirm your own situation with a qualified adviser in the US and in France.