Portugal Golden Visa vs D7 Visa: Which Route Fits You?

Amir Ismail & Associates · Updated Nov 11, 2026 · 6 min read

When comparing the Portugal Golden Visa vs D7 visa, you are looking at two very different residence routes. The Golden Visa is an investment route. The D7 visa is a passive income route. The Golden Visa starts at EUR 250,000 for a cultural heritage contribution, and most routes start at EUR 500,000. The D7 starts from EUR 920 a month in passive income for a single adult, using the 2026 minimum wage scale. This guide compares the two routes side by side, so you can see which one fits your money, your family, and how much time you plan to spend in Portugal.

Key Takeaways: Portugal Golden Visa vs D7 Visa

The Golden Visa is for investors. Real estate no longer qualifies, directly or indirectly. The investment must be held for at least 5 years.
The D-7 is for people who live from passive income, such as a pension, rent, dividends, or royalties. It is a residence visa first, and you then apply for a residence permit in Portugal.
The Golden Visa stay rule is light. AIMA states at least 7 days in the first year and at least 14 days in the subsequent years.
The D-7 income scale starts at EUR 920 a month for one adult. A couple needs EUR 1,380 a month. A couple with two children needs EUR 1,932 a month.
Both routes allow family reunification, but the rules differ. Golden Visa families can apply at the same time as the investor. A D-7 holder must usually wait 2 years of legal residence before bringing a spouse, though minor children can come sooner. A spouse who lived with the D-7 holder for at least 18 months before the holder moved to Portugal waits 15 months instead of 2 years. Read the family section before you choose.

The Golden Visa routes

The Golden Visa is a temporary residence permit for investment activity, under article 90-A. AIMA states the holder may enter without a residence visa, reside and work in Portugal, travel in Schengen without a visa, benefit from family reunification, and apply for permanent residence and for nationality under the laws AIMA cites. It does not apply to Portuguese nationals or to EU, EEA, Andorra, or Swiss nationals.

Route	Minimum	Note
Jobs created	10 permanent jobs	8 jobs in a low density territory.
Scientific research	EUR 500,000	EUR 400,000 in a low density territory.
Cultural heritage	EUR 250,000	Artistic production or national cultural heritage recovery or maintenance.
Investment fund units	EUR 500,000	Non real estate units, maturity at least 5 years, at least 60 percent in companies headquartered in Portugal.
Company route	EUR 500,000	Create a Portuguese company plus 5 permanent jobs, or reinforce an existing company with at least 5 new permanent jobs or at least 10 jobs maintained for at least 3 years.

The temporary Golden Visa permit is valid for 2 years from the issue of the title. AIMA states no processing time on the page checked in November 2026, so this guide states none. Do not plan travel around a promised date.

Golden Visa fees

AIMA fees from the fee table under Portaria 307/2023, per person, in person or digital: analysis EUR 842.80 or EUR 632.10 digital; grant EUR 8,418.90 or EUR 6,314.20 digital; renewal EUR 4,210.30 or EUR 3,157.80 digital. The same grant and renewal figures apply to reunified family members. A permanent Golden Visa grant costs EUR 11,786.70 or EUR 8,840.00 digital, and renewal costs EUR 5,894.10 or EUR 4,420.70 digital.

Golden Visa family

AIMA lists the following family members: a spouse; children up to 17 or dependent or incapacitated children; adopted children up to 17; dependent single children aged 18 to 25 who are studying; dependent direct ascendants of the holder or the spouse; and siblings up to 17 under the holder’s guardianship. Family reunification may be filed at the same time as the investor’s application, but it is conditional on the investor’s approval.

The D-7 route

The D-7 is a residence visa for fixed residency for retirement, religious purposes, or people living from passive income. It is a visa, not the residence permit itself. Residency visas allow 2 entries and are valid for 4 months. During those 4 months, the holder must apply for a residence permit with AIMA.

The MNE means page sets no D-7 specific euro amount. The general scale is the 2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage of EUR 920, net of social security contributions: 100 percent for the first adult, 50 percent for each further adult, and 30 percent for each child under 18 or dependent adult child. That gives EUR 920 a month for one adult, EUR 1,380 a month for a couple, and EUR 1,932 a month for a couple with two children. The Toronto consulate checklist requires proof of financial resources for at least 12 months. Retirees prove the pension amount. Own income applicants prove revenue from property rentals or intellectual or financial assets. Travel insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation, minimum EUR 30,000, is also listed.

The national visa processing fee is EUR 110. Ordinary temporary residence permit fees in the AIMA table, not labelled D-7 specific, are: analysis EUR 133.00 or EUR 99.80 digital; title grant or renewal EUR 114.30 or EUR 85.80 digital.

Which route fits you

Question	Choose Golden Visa	Choose D-7
What do you have?	Capital to invest and hold for at least 5 years.	Steady passive income you can prove for at least 12 months.
How much time in Portugal?	As little as 7 days in year one and 14 days in later years.	Full-time physical residence. Under Article 85(2)(a) of Law No. 23/2007, a temporary residence permit holder must not be absent from Portugal for more than 6 consecutive months, or 8 non-consecutive months, over the total validity of the permit (2 years at first, then 3 years on each renewal). A longer absence must be justified in a request to AIMA before you leave.
Do you want to work in Portugal?	Yes. AIMA states the holder may reside and work in Portugal.	The D-7 is built on passive income, not on a job in Portugal.
Family?	Wide list, including ascendants and young siblings under guardianship.	Under Articles 98 to 100 of Law No. 23/2007, eligible family members include your spouse or de facto partner, minor or incapacitated children, unmarried dependent adult children studying in Portugal, dependent parents of either spouse, and minor siblings under your guardianship.

Citizenship rules changed on May 19, 2026, under Organic Law 1/2026. Naturalization now needs 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities, or 7 years for citizens of EU and Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries.

Ready to evaluate your exact eligibility? Book Your Strategy Assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy real estate for the Portugal Golden Visa?

No, you can no longer buy real estate for the Portugal Golden Visa. Real estate investment no longer qualifies, directly or indirectly. The routes that remain are jobs, research, cultural heritage, investment funds, and the company route.

How much passive income do I need for the D-7?

The scale starts at EUR 920 a month for one adult, EUR 1,380 a month for a couple, and EUR 1,932 a month for a couple with two children, using the 2026 minimum wage of EUR 920. You must prove resources for at least 12 months.

How many days must a Golden Visa holder spend in Portugal?

AIMA states at least 7 days in the first year and at least 14 days in the subsequent years.

Is the D-7 a residence permit?

No. The D-7 is a residence visa valid for 4 months with 2 entries. During those 4 months you must apply for a residence permit with AIMA.

Which route is cheaper to start?

The D-7 has far lower government fees: a EUR 110 visa fee plus ordinary permit fees. The Golden Visa grant alone costs EUR 8,418.90 in person or EUR 6,314.20 digital, per person, on top of the investment itself.