What type of visa do I need to move to Portugal?

Portugal is a hugely popular destination for expats, thanks to its warm climate, relatively inexpensive cost of living, beautiful scenery and friendly and welcoming culture.

The number of US expats moving to Portugal is notably on the rise, increasing by almost 240% from 2017 to 2022. Many expats find it easy to adjust to life in Portugal, reflected in the country’s second place ranking in the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX). Portugal also came second in the World Ranking on Health Infrastructures 2020 and its capital, Lisbon, was named one of the top 10 most attractive cities to invest in 2021 (CBRE 2021 EMEA Report).

If you are relocating to Portugal, there are several different visa options available. The type of visa that’s right for you will depend on your individual circumstances and reasons for moving.

In this article, we outline the three most popular types of Portuguese visas for non-EU citizens and the requirements you will need to meet for each one.

D2 visa: Residence visa for self-employed professionals or entrepreneurial immigrants

This D2 visa is sometimes called ‘the entrepreneurship visa’ and is perfect for individuals who want to start their own business in Portugal. Expats who may be eligible for the D2 visa include:

• Business owners or branch owners
• Entrepreneurs
• Independent professionals
• Investors, shareholders, business partners or directors

The exact criteria you will need to meet for the D2 visa will depend on your personal circumstances, but there are three main subsets of requirements.

Independent Professional Activity

You can apply for a D2 visa if you are an independent professional engaging in business activity through a service contract. In this case, your requirements are:

• You must present a written service contract with a minimum duration of one year
• You must have a minimum annual salary of €9,870
• You may need to present a declaration from the relevant authority confirming you have the necessary qualifications to practice your profession in Portugal

Starting a Business

If you are establishing a new business or setting up a branch of an existing business in Portugal, your requirements for a D2 visa are:

• Proof that you have already set up a business in Portugal OR that you have the financial resources to do so
• You make a transfer of funds or share capital to Portugal (€5,000 is the minimum amount)
• You present a structured business plan which includes demonstrable business objectives and outlines your business’s potential social, cultural and economic impact to Portugal

Entrepreneurial Projects

You can also apply for a D2 visa if you are embarking on an entrepreneurial project, such as the establishment of an innovative company within a certified incubator.

In this case, in addition to proof that you have the means to set up a business, a transfer of funds/share capital and a business plan, you will also need to demonstrate that:

• You are creating an innovative technology project
• You are linked with an incubator company, certified by IAPMEI, to support foreign citizens

Additional Requirements & Information

Everyone applying for a D2 visa must have comprehensive EU-wide health insurance in place for themselves and any dependents.

If you have dependents, your spouse requires an additional 50% of the minimum salary (€4,935) and you must also add a further 30% for each dependent child (an additional €2,692). Therefore, a married couple with two dependent children would need a household income of at least €20,189.

After five years of Portuguese residency under the D2 visa, you may be able to apply for permanent residency or citizenship.

D7 visa: Residence visa for retirement purposes and people living off individual revenues

The D7 visa is also known as a the ‘retirement visa’ or ‘passive income visa’ and is most popular with non-EU citizens who want to retire to Portugal. You may be eligible for a D7 visa if you are:

• Retired with pension income
• Living off income from movable or immovable property or intellectual property
• Living off income from financial investments

In all the above cases, you must meet the following requirements:

• You have a passive income from either pensions, annuities, dividends, interest, royalites or intellectual property of at least €8,460 per year
• You have overall savings of at least €50,000
• You have savings in Portugal of at least €20,000
• You have a clean criminal record
• You have a residential address in Portugal and proof of rental or purchase

Additional Information

Once you have your D7 visa, you can then obtain a residence permit valid for two years. After this, you can renew for an additional three years. To renew the residency permit you will need to respect the period of the minimum stay in the country. After five years of living in Portugal under a residence permit, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

The D7 visa also allows you to bring your family members including spouses, children under 18 and dependent parents, siblings or children over 18 to Portugal. However, your spouse and any dependent over 18 will require an additional 50% of the minimum annual income and each child under 18 will require an additional 30%.

D8 visa: Residence visa for the exercise of professional activity done remotely

The D8 visa is also known as the ‘digital nomad visa’ and it is designed to allow non-EU citizens who work remotely to live and work in Portugal for up to a year. If you are considering applying for the D8 visa, there are four main requirements:

• You can demonstrate a monthly income of €3280 (if you have dependents, this increases to €4,096 per month) and maintained savings of at least €36,480
• You have a remote job and explicit permission to work remotely from Portugal OR you are self-employed and work remotely
• You have an employer or clients outside Portugal
• You have a tax residency outside Portugal

Additionally, you will need to show that:

• You have accommodation arranged in Portugal for at least for 4 months
• You are over 18
• You have comprehensive EU-wide health insurance in place for yourself and any dependents
• You have no criminal record

Additional Information

There are two types of digital nomad visas, the Temporary Stay Visa and the Long-Term Residency Visa.

• Temporary Stay Visa: Allows you to stay in Portugal for up to 6 months and can be renewed for another 6 months. This type of visa is most suitable for non-EU citizens who want to live in Portugal temporarily without committing to long term residency.
• Long-Term Residency Visa: Valid for an initial period of four months, after which you can apply for a two-year residency permit when you enter Portugal. This type of visa is best suited for non-EU citizens who are considering eventual Portuguese citizenship.