Portugal D7 Visa vs Golden Visa: Complete 2026 Guide

Key Takeaways

• Portugal offers two main residency paths for non-EU nationals in 2026: the D7 Visa based on passive income and the Golden Visa based on qualifying fund investments.
• The D7 Visa suits applicants who plan to live in Portugal most of the year and are comfortable becoming Portuguese tax residents, while the Golden Visa suits those who want flexibility with limited time in Portugal.
• The Golden Visa now focuses on fund investments only, with a minimum of €500,000, and allows visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while granting residency rights only in Portugal.
• Portugal now generally requires 10 years of legal residency before a citizenship application, with reduced timelines of seven years for nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens.
• Investors who want asset-backed exposure to Portugal’s hospitality sector while pursuing residency can work with VIDA Capital, an advisory firm that supports Golden Visa applicants. To explore this option, contact the team at VIDA Capital.

Understanding Portugal’s Residency Programs: A Strategic Overview

Portugal provides structured residency routes for non-EU nationals who want a stable base in Europe, personal mobility within Schengen, and a long-term path to permanent residency or citizenship. A clear understanding of how the D7 Visa and Golden Visa differ helps align your choice with your lifestyle and financial priorities.

Key Concept: Residency vs. Citizenship Rights

Portuguese residency allows you to live, work, and study in Portugal, and to travel visa-free throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The Golden Visa and D7 Visa both grant residency rights only in Portugal. Citizenship, which can be requested after the new 10-year residency requirement is met, provides access to live, work, study, and use public services in any EU or Schengen Zone country.

Portugal currently ranks as the 7th safest country in the world on the Global Peace Index, and forecasts show that travel and tourism may reach 22.6% of national GDP by 2035. These trends support long-term interest in Portugal as a residency and investment destination.

Portugal D7 Visa: The Passive Income Relocation Route

What the D7 Visa Offers

The D7 Visa, often called the Passive Income Visa or Retirement Visa, suits applicants who plan to relocate and treat Portugal as their main home. The minimum reference for passive income is €870 per month for a single applicant, with higher thresholds when adding family members.

D7 Visa Eligibility and Residency Commitments

Applicants must demonstrate stable passive income that meets or exceeds the €870 monthly benchmark, show proof of accommodation in Portugal, and commit to significant physical presence. Residence expectations typically mean most of the year in Portugal during the first permit period, which usually results in Portuguese tax residency.

D7 Visa Process in Brief

The D7 process starts at a Portuguese consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. After receiving the visa and entering Portugal, the applicant applies for a residency permit with AIMA, ideally with support from a Portuguese lawyer who can manage documentation and appointments. Having a lawyer accompany you through the process is essential to avoid delays and ensure your file complies with current rules. The D7 route is best for those ready for a full relocation and daily life in Portugal.

D7 Visa Benefits and Trade-Offs

Key advantages include no large upfront investment requirement, a clear relocation path, and eligibility over time for permanent residency and later citizenship. Trade-offs include substantial annual stay requirements, likely tax residency in Portugal, and less flexibility for people who want to keep their primary base elsewhere.

Portugal Golden Visa: Investment-Based Residency With Flexibility

How the Golden Visa Works in 2026

The Portugal Golden Visa grants residency to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment, now exclusively through eligible investment funds, while requiring only a limited time in Portugal. The stay requirement is 14 days in Portugal every two years, which suits investors who want a Plan B and Schengen mobility without relocating full time.

Golden Visa Investment Requirements

Recent program changes removed eligibility for direct personal ownership of homes or commercial buildings. The current route is a minimum €500,000 subscription into a qualifying investment fund. Specialist funds focusing on Portugal’s hospitality sector have gained traction, as they can pair residency eligibility with exposure to a tourism market that continues to grow.

The VIDA Fund, advised by VIDA Capital, invests in hospitality operating companies and businesses in Portugal. The fund acquires existing hospitality businesses and gives them a second life through repositioning and operational improvements, rather than building new assets from scratch. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

To discuss qualifying fund options and Golden Visa alignment, contact the advisory team at VIDA Capital.

Golden Visa Application Process and Residency Structure

The Golden Visa application is submitted directly to AIMA after the qualifying investment is completed. The overall process usually spans 12 to 18 months, and having a Portuguese lawyer guide the structure, documentation, and submissions is essential.

Once approved, you receive a temporary residency permit that is valid for two years. You must then renew for two additional two-year periods, while maintaining the qualifying investment and minimum stay requirements. 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. At that point, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal.

Strategic Advantages of the Golden Visa

Compared with the D7 Visa, the Golden Visa offers minimal physical presence obligations, the ability to keep your current primary residence and tax base, and family inclusion under one investment. It provides residency rights in Portugal and visa-free travel throughout Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without requiring full relocation.

Portugal is currently one of the only countries in Europe that offers a path from an investment-based residency permit to citizenship without requiring you to relocate. By contrast, Spain no longer offers a Golden Visa program, and Greece requires you to live there and pay taxes for seven years to become eligible for citizenship, making Portugal comparatively attractive for long-term planning and a European Plan B.

The VIDA Fund focuses on asset-backed investments in Portugal’s hospitality sector, which can provide capital preservation through tangible assets linked to tourism demand. This approach aligns with projections that travel and tourism will represent a significant share of Portugal’s GDP in the coming decade. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

D7 vs. Golden Visa: A Strategic Comparison

Side-by-Side Overview

When Each Option Fits Best

The D7 Visa fits applicants who want to move their day-to-day lives to Portugal, already have consistent passive income, and are comfortable with becoming Portuguese tax residents.

The Golden Visa fits investors who prioritize flexibility, want to protect or diversify capital through eligible funds, and prefer a low minimum stay while still progressing toward permanent residency and a longer-term citizenship option.

For detailed guidance on how the Golden Visa could fit your broader planning, you can speak with an advisor at VIDA Capital.

The Golden Visa Process: Your Pathway With Expert Guidance

Pre-Application: Investment and Legal Setup

Before submitting a Golden Visa application, investors should appoint a Portuguese lawyer, obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF), and open a local bank account. These steps can usually be completed remotely with legal support. Having a lawyer accompany you through this setup phase is essential to make sure your investment and documentation meet Golden Visa requirements.

After that, the investor subscribes at least €500,000 into an eligible fund such as the VIDA Fund, which focuses on acquiring and transforming hospitality businesses and operating companies to give them a second life.

Application Submission, Biometrics, and Legal Support

Your lawyer submits the online application for you and eligible family members, then manages communication with AIMA. Once the file is approved, you attend an in-person biometrics appointment in Portugal. Legal guidance throughout is essential to align documentation, family inclusion, and investment structure with Golden Visa rules.

Residency Card, Renewals, and Permanent Residency

Golden Visa holders receive a residency card valid for two years. You must maintain the qualifying fund investment and meet the 14-day-per-two-year stay requirement to renew for subsequent two-year periods. 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 maintaining your residency status and investment conditions for five years, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal.

Citizenship Timeline Changes

Portugal’s Parliament approved a new citizenship framework in October 2025. Most applicants now must reside legally in Portugal for 10 years before applying for citizenship. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens benefit from a reduced seven-year requirement. The new law should apply to Golden Visa holders unless they have already submitted their citizenship application before the law is published.

Investors who want timely positioning under the current framework can coordinate their application strategy with a qualified lawyer and an advisory firm such as VIDA Capital.

Key Practical Considerations

Program Costs Beyond Basic Requirements

The D7 path involves consulate fees, legal fees, and ongoing living expenses in Portugal, along with tax filing obligations for residents. The Golden Visa involves government fees per applicant, legal fees for application and renewals, and fund-related fees such as a subscription fee, which is 1% for the VIDA Fund, plus ongoing fund costs.

Family Inclusion Under Each Route

Both programs allow family reunification. The Golden Visa can include a spouse, economically dependent children who are unmarried full-time students, and dependent parents or in-laws, typically those over 65 or financially dependent. Document-wise, you can present either a marriage certificate or other proof of relationship (for example, in the case of a common-law partner). To include children in your application, the child needs to be a full-time student and not working; they also cannot be married at any time during the residency program, until the application for the Golden Visa.

The D7 Visa also allows family members, but all must respect the higher physical stay expectations.

Residency Requirements in Practice

The D7 Visa expects genuine residence in Portugal for most of each year, which generally leads to tax residency. The Golden Visa requires only 14 days in Portugal every two years, so many investors keep their current country of tax residence while holding Portuguese residency rights. The Golden Visa grants residency rights only in Portugal, but it also provides visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

How VIDA Capital Supports Investment Security

VIDA Capital advises investors who subscribe to the VIDA Fund, which focuses on acquiring and revitalizing underperforming hospitality businesses and operating companies in Portugal rather than speculative ventures in intangible assets. The goal is to preserve and grow capital through tangible, income-producing assets that benefit from Portugal’s tourism sector. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Golden Visa still active and valid in 2026?

Yes. As of 2026, Portugal’s Golden Visa remains active for qualifying fund investments. The program has shifted away from direct ownership of homes or commercial buildings and focuses on minimum €500,000 subscriptions into eligible investment funds.

Which is easier to qualify for: the D7 Visa or the Golden Visa?

The D7 Visa is typically easier for applicants with predictable passive income who plan to live in Portugal most of the year. The Golden Visa generally suits high-net-worth investors who can allocate at least €500,000 to an eligible fund and prefer limited physical stay requirements. A Portuguese lawyer can assess which route better fits your profile.

Does the Golden Visa automatically make me a tax resident in Portugal?

No. The Golden Visa requires you to spend only 14 days in Portugal every two years, so it does not automatically make you a Portuguese tax resident. However, if you spend enough time in Portugal to trigger tax residency rules, you may become tax resident. Always review your situation with a qualified tax advisor.

Can my family live, work, and study in Portugal under either program?

Yes. Both the D7 Visa and Golden Visa grant residency rights in Portugal, which allow you and included family members to live, work, and study in the country, provided your permits remain valid. Family members under both programs must meet the specific eligibility and dependency criteria for inclusion.

How long does the Golden Visa process take from investment to residency card?

The full Golden Visa process usually spans 12 to 18 months from the time you complete your qualifying fund investment to the issuance of your first residency card. Working with a specialized Portuguese lawyer is essential to keep your application on track.

How long before I can apply for Portuguese citizenship with a Golden Visa or D7 Visa?

Under the framework approved in October 2025, most applicants will need 10 years of legal residence before applying for citizenship, whether they hold a D7 or Golden Visa. Nationals of Portuguese-language countries (CPLP) and EU citizens have a reduced seven-year requirement, and the new timelines do not affect applicants who submit citizenship requests before the law is published.

Why choose Portugal instead of other European residency-by-investment programs?

Portugal is one of the only countries in Europe that offers a route from an investment-based residency permit to citizenship without requiring you to relocate. Spain has closed its Golden Visa program, and Greece requires at least seven years of living there and paying taxes to qualify for citizenship. Portugal’s 14-day-per-two-year stay requirement makes it particularly competitive for investors looking for a European Plan B.

How does VIDA Capital fit into the Golden Visa process?

VIDA Capital is an advisory firm that helps investors align their Golden Visa plans with an asset-backed strategy in Portugal’s hospitality sector through the VIDA Fund. The team coordinates closely with your chosen legal counsel (or introduces you to specialized law firms), supports you through the investment and documentation process, and offers ongoing investor relations throughout your residency journey.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Path to Portugal

Both the D7 Visa and Golden Visa offer credible, structured routes into Portuguese residency, Schengen mobility for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and, over the longer term, a potential pathway to citizenship under the updated 10-year framework. The D7 Visa favors those ready to build their daily lives in Portugal, accept local tax residency, and rely on stable passive income. The Golden Visa favors those who can allocate capital to a qualifying fund, want minimal physical presence obligations, and value a robust Plan B for themselves and their families.

If you are a high-net-worth individual seeking an asset-backed approach that combines Portuguese residency with exposure to the country’s growing hospitality sector, the Golden Visa via a qualifying fund may be the more strategic option. For personalized guidance on structuring your investment and residency plan around the Golden Visa, you can connect with the advisory team at VIDA Capital, who work alongside experienced Portuguese lawyers to provide a smooth, end-to-end process.