Portugal Passive Income Residence: Live in Portugal on Steady Income From Property, Assets or a Pension
You want to live in Portugal on income you already earn from property, financial assets or a pension. Portugal's national visa portal lists "Retired" and "People living from passive income" as residency visas. The income test uses the 2026 minimum wage of EUR 920 a month. It is an income-based route, not an investment.
An income test that is not written where you expect
Portugal tests passive income against the minimum wage, and the portal does not use the label D7 that most guides use. Applicants who rely on a guide's figure find that the base moves each year with the minimum wage.
What it looks like from the outside:
- An income test tied to a yearly minimum wage.
- Different percentages for adults and children.
- A visa first, then a permit from AIMA.
How it feels:
- You worry your income will not clear the bar.
- You fear using last year's figure.
- You feel unsure what the consulate will accept as proof.
You do not have to work out the income test alone
We know how hard it is to prove steady income to a consulate that sets its own checklist. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe your income proof should rest on the figure the portal publishes today.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A residency visa for passive income or retirement | You qualify on income, not on an investment | Your capital stays liquid |
| An income base set by the minimum wage | You know the bar for the year | You plan a real budget |
| Percentages for each adult and child | Your family counts in the test | The people you worry about are covered |
| A visa first, then an AIMA permit | You know the two steps | You see the whole path before you start |
| Two entries in the 4-month visa | You can travel and come back to collect your permit | You are not locked in |
Where it takes you: a residence permit in Portugal. This is a permit, not a passport.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You earn regular income from property, intellectual or financial assets, or a pension | You want to work for a Portuguese employer: this route rests on passive income |
| You can document that income | Your income is irregular or cannot be documented |
| You can take out the insurance the portal asks for | You want a route with a long fixed investment: see the Golden Visa |
| You want residence without an investment | You want citizenship soon: residence is the first step only |
Not sure Portugal is the best fit? Compare all European routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need proof of passive income or a pension, travel insurance, a clean record and proof of financial resources. The Portuguese visa portal lists the documents below.
- A signed national visa application form and 2 passport-style photographs.
- A passport valid for 3 months after the estimated return date, and a photocopy of its biographical page.
- Proof of regular status, if your nationality differs from the country where you apply.
- Valid travel insurance covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent assistance and repatriation (this can be waived under certain bilateral agreements).
- A criminal record certificate from your nationality country, or from a country where you lived for over a year, with an Apostille or legalisation (not required under 16).
- Proof of financial resources, as defined by the government.
- For passive income: a document certifying revenue from movable and immovable property, intellectual assets or financial assets.
- For retirement: a document certifying your retirement amount.
The routes and rules
Portugal sets the income test on the 2026 minimum monthly salary of EUR 920, net of social security deductions. The percentages count each family member.
| Family member | Share of EUR 920 a month | Monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| First adult | 100% | EUR 920 |
| Second and each further adult | 50% | EUR 460 |
| Each child and dependent young person under 18, and non-minor dependent children | 30% | EUR 276 |
Example by our calculation: two adults and two children give EUR 920 + EUR 460 + EUR 276 + EUR 276 = EUR 1,932 a month.
Who can be included. The portal's family unit rule above counts each person. Family reunification and the permit steps follow AIMA's rules, which your partner sets out for your case.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
You pay no investment, and the government fees for the visa and the permit are set by Portugal. The fee pages for this route were checked case by case for this page, and your partner checks them before you file.
| Item | What we have verified |
|---|---|
| Income test | EUR 920 a month base for 2026, with the percentages above |
| Visa | Valid 4 months, two entries |
| Professional fees | Agreed with the local partner |
Source: Portugal national visa portal (means of subsistence and necessary documentation pages).
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your permit.
- Step 1: Find your route. Use Find my program. You get a shortlist and a cost view for your family in a few minutes.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We qualify your case and check your income proof and documents. When your case is qualified, we bring in the right local partner, who prepares the visa file and the AIMA permit file.
- Step 3: Your permit in hand. The consulate issues the residency visa, you enter Portugal, and you apply to AIMA for the residence permit within the visa's 4 months.
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: Portugal national visa portal (type of visa, means of subsistence, necessary documentation).
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage base | EUR 920 a month for 2026 (Decree 139/2025) |
| Visa names on the portal | "Retired" and "People living from passive income" under fixed residency |
| Visa validity | 4 months, two entries; then the residence permit from AIMA |
| Percentages | First adult 100%, other adults 50%, children and dependent young people 30% |
What could change: the minimum wage base each year and the consulate checklist. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the permit
You keep the permit by keeping the income and renewing on time. Renewal also depends on accommodation, regular tax and social security, and no relevant criminal conviction.
- Income: the income you showed supports renewal.
- Residence: the permit follows AIMA's rules for residence permits.
- Citizenship: naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities (7 for Portuguese-speaking and EU nationals) since 19 May 2026.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing guides while the rules shift. You hold a brochure, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your family has a permit in Portugal, your route is one that exists, and your file went in clean. You feel relieved, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Relieved: your family has a base in Europe
- Confident: you chose a route that exists today
- Protected: the people you worry about are covered
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
What does Portugal passive income residence really cost?
There is no investment. You show passive income against the EUR 920 minimum wage base for 2026 (EUR 920 for the first adult, EUR 460 for each further adult, EUR 276 for each child). Government fees for the visa and permit were checked case by case for this page, and professional fees are agreed with the local partner.
How long does it take?
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is. We tell you what we know about the current queue before you commit.
Will my application be approved?
No route promises approval, and we make no approval claims. What we control is the file: income that meets the test and documents the consulate accepts. We tell you before you pay if your case does not fit.
Is this the D7 visa?
Most guides call it the D7. Portugal’s national visa portal lists it as “Retired” and “People living from passive income”, and we use the portal’s names.
What counts as passive income?
The portal lists revenue from movable and immovable property, intellectual assets and financial assets. A retirement amount counts under the Retired visa.
How much income do I need?
The base is the 2026 minimum monthly salary of EUR 920, net of social security deductions. The first adult counts 100%, each further adult 50% and each child or dependent young person 30%.
Can I work in Portugal on this visa?
This route rests on passive income. Your partner sets out the work rights for your case before you commit.
Do I need to live in Portugal?
Your partner sets out the stay conditions for your case before you commit.
Does it lead to citizenship?
Residence comes first. Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities, or 7 for Portuguese-speaking and EU nationals, under the rule in force since 19 May 2026.
What if the rules change after I apply?
The minimum wage base changes each year. The status box shows the date we last read the portal.
Do you recommend where to live in Portugal?
No. We explain what the portal requires and bring in a local partner when your case is qualified.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
