Portugal D7 Visa vs Golden Visa Eligibility 2026 Guide

Key Takeaways

• Portugal offers two main residency options for non-EU nationals in 2026: the D7 Visa for relocation based on passive income and the Golden Visa through qualifying investment funds.
• The D7 Visa suits individuals who plan to live primarily in Portugal, while the Golden Visa suits those who want Portuguese residency, Schengen travel, and a path to citizenship with minimal time in the country.
• Both routes can lead to permanent residency after five years and citizenship eligibility after ten years of legal residency, subject to language and other legal requirements.
• Portugal remains one of the few European countries offering a path to citizenship through investment funds without relocation, while Spain has ended its Golden Visa and Greece requires seven years of residence and tax residency.
• High-net-worth individuals who want an asset-backed Golden Visa strategy can request guidance from VIDA Capital, an advisory firm for investors in the VIDA Fund, through this form: contact VIDA Capital.

Portugal’s Appeal: Why HNWIs Seek EU Residency

Portugal provides political stability, personal safety, and a predictable legal environment, factors that many high-net-worth individuals value for long-term planning. The country ranked among the safest countries in the Global Peace Index 2025, and its climate and time zone work well for global business and travel.

Economic resilience also supports residency decisions. Tourism generated about €27 billion from 31 million visitors in 2024, showing consistent international demand. For non-EU nationals, the main residency routes are the D7 Visa for passive-income residents and the Golden Visa, now centered on investment funds for those seeking Portuguese residency with limited physical presence.

Portugal D7 Visa: The Passive Income Route for Residents

Purpose and Ideal Candidate

The D7 Visa targets non-EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals who intend to make Portugal their primary home and can show stable passive income. Typical candidates include retirees, individuals with pension or portfolio income, and location-independent professionals ready to relocate and integrate into Portuguese daily life.

Eligibility Criteria (2026)

D7 applicants in 2026 must prove passive income linked to Portugal’s minimum wage. The baseline is at least €10,440 per year for a single applicant, with 50 percent more for a spouse and 30 percent extra for each dependent child.

Acceptable income sources include pensions, dividends, interest, rental income, royalties, and trust distributions. Applicants typically provide bank statements, pension or portfolio reports, and evidence that income is stable. Many advisors suggest keeping savings equal to at least 12 months of required income.

Additional requirements include proof of accommodation in Portugal through a long-term rental contract or property ownership, a clean criminal record from relevant jurisdictions, and credible evidence of intent to live mainly in Portugal. Applicants are expected to spend at least 16 months in Portugal during the first two years, so this route does not function as a light-touch “Plan B.”

Family members can join the main applicant. This generally covers a spouse or partner (supported by a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship), minor children, and dependent parents. Adult children usually need to be full-time students, financially dependent, not employed, and not married during the residency program until the Golden Visa or D7-based citizenship application is submitted.

Portugal Golden Visa: Investment Funds for Global Mobility

Purpose and Ideal Candidate

The Golden Visa offers Portuguese residency through qualifying investments and has very low physical presence requirements. It fits high-net-worth individuals who want a structured “Plan B” for their families, visa-free travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and an eventual path to citizenship, while keeping their main base elsewhere.

Eligibility Criteria (2026)

Golden Visa eligibility in 2026 focuses on a minimum €500,000 commitment into eligible investment funds. Personal properties no longer qualify after the 2023 program changes. Many applicants favor asset-backed funds linked to hospitality or similar operating assets, as these can provide exposure to tangible assets alongside a residency strategy.

VIDA Fund, for example, invests in hospitality assets in Portugal. The fund buys and transforms existing properties, giving them a “second life” through repositioning, rather than building from the ground up. Any reference returns or yields relate to the VIDA Fund itself, and historical performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Physical presence requirements are light. Golden Visa holders must spend only 14 days in Portugal during each two-year residency period, which supports active business schedules and multi-jurisdictional lifestyles. The Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal, not across the European Union, although it allows visa-free travel across the Schengen area for short stays.

Family inclusion generally covers a spouse or partner, economically dependent children, and dependent parents or in-laws. Relationship evidence can be a marriage certificate or other legally accepted proof. Children usually must remain full-time students, financially dependent, not working, and not married for the duration of the residency program until the citizenship application is filed.

Legal support is essential. A Portuguese immigration lawyer typically handles fund subscription documentation, submission of the online application, and scheduling of in-person biometrics, helping align the investment structure with Golden Visa regulations and family goals.

Investors who want structured guidance on a fund-based Golden Visa strategy can contact VIDA Capital, an advisory firm supporting investors in the VIDA Fund.

Head-to-Head: D7 Visa vs. Golden Visa for HNWIs

Long-Term Aspirations: From Residency to Citizenship

Residency and Permanent Residency

Both the D7 and Golden Visa provide temporary residency permits that can lead to permanent residency. For Golden Visa investors, the initial card is valid for two years, followed by two-year renewals, as long as the qualifying investment and minimum stay are maintained. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period.

After five years of legal residency and continued compliance, applicants can request permanent residency in Portugal. Greece and Spain now require ongoing residence to keep long-term permits, and Spain has ended its Golden Visa program, so Portugal remains competitive for those seeking a flexible Plan B.

Important 2026 Update on Citizenship

A legal change approved in October 2025 extended the standard citizenship timeline. Most applicants must now complete ten years of legal residency before applying for Portuguese citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens can qualify after seven years.

This new framework applies to Golden Visa and D7 holders, except for individuals who already submitted a citizenship application before the new law was published. Applicants also need to meet language and clean-record requirements at the citizenship stage.

The EU Advantage After Citizenship

Portuguese citizenship provides the right to live, work, and study across EU and Schengen states, along with access to public healthcare and education systems. Before citizenship, Golden Visa and D7 residents hold these rights only in Portugal, although they benefit from visa-free Schengen travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Making the Right Choice: Matching Each Visa to Your Goals

When the D7 Visa Fits Best

The D7 route fits applicants who intend to live in Portugal most of the year, can demonstrate stable passive income, and want closer day-to-day integration with Portuguese society. Retirees and individuals with portable lifestyles who favor lower initial financial thresholds often find this path suitable.

When the Golden Visa Fits Best

The Golden Visa suits investors who want to preserve capital in regulated, asset-backed funds, keep their main base outside Portugal, and still secure Portuguese residency, Schengen travel access, and a future route to citizenship. This structure often works well as a long-term contingency plan for families with global business or educational commitments.

How VIDA Capital Supports Investors

Many high-net-worth individuals choose the Golden Visa via investment funds such as the VIDA Fund, given its focus on hospitality assets that can be repositioned and given a “second life.” VIDA Capital acts as an advisory firm to help investors understand fund characteristics, risk profiles, and documentation, always emphasizing that historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Investors who want a tailored discussion of their Golden Visa options through the VIDA Fund can reach out to VIDA Capital.

Frequently Asked Questions about D7 and Golden Visa Eligibility

Can I apply for both the D7 and Golden Visa at the same time?

No. Each visa has its own purpose and assumptions about your life in Portugal. The D7 expects you to relocate and become a tax resident, based on passive income. The Golden Visa offers residency based on investment funds with minimal presence requirements and usually suits non-resident planning. You need to choose the path that matches your genuine intentions.

How do tax considerations differ between D7 and Golden Visa holders?

Tax residency in Portugal depends mainly on physical presence, typically more than 183 days per year or maintaining a primary home there. D7 holders usually meet this threshold and become tax residents on worldwide income. Golden Visa holders who spend limited time in Portugal do not automatically become tax residents. Personalized advice from qualified tax professionals is important, especially since the previous Non-Habitual Resident regime has been discontinued for new applicants.

How long does the Golden Visa process usually take?

Golden Visa timelines vary with application volume and documentation quality, but the overall process, from investment to initial residency card, usually spans 12 to 18 months. As the approval card issuance usually takes a year, you will most likely only need to do a single renewal instead of two in the 5-year period. Working with an experienced Portuguese lawyer helps keep fund documentation, application steps, and biometrics scheduling aligned and minimizes avoidable delays.

Conclusion: Choosing a Strategic Path to Portuguese Residency

The Portugal D7 Visa and Golden Visa both provide paths to Portuguese residency, permanent residency, and, in time, citizenship, yet they fit different profiles. The D7 favors those ready to relocate and rely on passive income. The Golden Visa favors those who want a structured Plan B, with an investment fund position and limited time commitments in Portugal.

Investors who want Portuguese residency, Schengen travel access, and a longer-term path to citizenship, but prefer to keep their main home elsewhere, often lean toward a fund-based Golden Visa strategy. To explore whether an asset-backed hospitality fund like the VIDA Fund aligns with your objectives, you can contact VIDA Capital for personalized guidance.