Buying a Home in Portugal: Can You Live in It Permanently?

Absolutely. Buyers from anywhere can purchase property in Portugal with no restrictions. However, owning property alone doesn’t grant residency. Non‑EU citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180‑day period visa‑free. Anyone wishing to stay longer—whether full-time or semi-permanent—must apply for a visa or residence permit.

Who Needs a Visa to Stay in Portugal?

Anyone staying beyond the standard visa-free period needs a valid residency permit. This includes retirees, remote workers, entrepreneurs, and property buyers planning to settle in their Portuguese home.

Which Residency Visa Should I Apply For?

D7 Visa: Passive Income / Retirement Route

Designed for retirees or individuals with stable passive income—such as pensions, rental revenues, dividends, or interest. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a minimum passive income roughly equivalent to the Portuguese minimum wage—approximately €870 monthly, with additional savings to cover a year’s living. Accommodation proof and valid health insurance are also required. The D7 visa leads to renewable residency permits and, after five years, eligibility for permanent residency or citizenship — provided you meet minimum stay obligations.

D8 Visa: Digital Nomad / Remote Work Route

Launched in late 2022, this visa allows non‑EU citizens with foreign, remote work to reside in Portugal. To qualify, applicants must earn at least €3,480 per month from a non-Portuguese employer or abroad, plus sufficient savings (typically around €9,840 upfront), valid health insurance, clean criminal record, and proof of Portuguese accommodation. It offers both a one-year entry visa and a renewable residency permit and can lead to permanent residency and citizenship, with a requirement to spend about 183 days per year in the country (which thereby causes you to fall within Portugal's tax residency status).

D2 Visa: Entrepreneur / Business Route

This visa suits those planning to establish or invest in a business in Portugal. There is no fixed minimum investment, but you must submit a credible business plan tied to economic or cultural relevance and prove you have sufficient support funds (equivalent to a year’s Portuguese minimum wage). You will also need evidence of accommodation, insurance, and a clean criminal record. After two-year residency, the permit is renewable, and after five years permanent residency and citizenship may be attainable.

What’s Involved in Applying?

All three visas follow a similar application process: You’ll collect documents—passport, income evidence or business plan, proof of accommodation, health insurance, criminal record certificates, and sometimes Portuguese bank statements or NIF. You apply via your nearest Portuguese consulate or immigration authority, then attend a biometrics appointment in Portugal to convert your visa into a residence permit.

Every document must be complete and legalized (often including translation and apostille), as incomplete applications can be rejected outright, as per the rule changes of April 2025. Many applicants choose legal or agency support to navigate the paperwork and ensure full compliance.

Benefits and Limitations of Each Visa

The D7 visa is more accessible for those with reliable passive income and offers a lower cost route to residency. It does require that you spend a significant part of the year in Portugal and restricts employment to remote or passive-type income sources.

The D8 visa is perfect for remote professionals who want flexibility. It enables you to live and work from Portugal with minimal in-country stay requirements, offers access to the healthcare system, and qualifies for citizenship down the line. However, not everyone qualifies—your income must come from abroad and meet the threshold.

The D2 entrepreneur visa gives you flexibility to build or buy a business, with no minimum capital stated, but it involves more complexity in terms of business planning and monitoring. You must spend sufficient time living in Portugal and typically demonstrate your entrepreneurial activity.

Typical Costs You Should Expect

Visa application fees range from €80 to €100. Once your visa is approved, you’ll pay a residence permit fee (around €150–170). Additional costs include health insurance (often €300–400 for initial coverage) and certified translations. Legal or agency assistance typically costs €1,500–€4,000, depending on the visa type and complexity of your case.

Recent Updates & What to Expect

Portugal’s Golden Visa via property investment has been closed since late 2023, shifting focus toward entrepreneur and remote work routes. Recent immigration updates stressed that applications must be fully completed—missing documents now lead to automatic denial.

Tax residency rules continue to apply: if you spend over 183 days in Portugal, you become a tax resident. If you stay less than this, especially under the D8 visa, you may avoid Portuguese tax residency—though this should be confirmed with a tax professional.

Final Thoughts

Yes — you can buy property in Portugal and make it your home. It’s just a question of choosing the right visa path based on your income type and lifestyle goals. If you have a pension or rental income, the D7 route is accessible and cost-effective. If you’re remote-working professionally, the D8 digital nomad visa provides great flexibility. And if you plan to start or expand a business in Portugal, the D2 entrepreneur visa gives the most hands-on opportunity.

Each option leads—over time—to the possibility of permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship under the right conditions.

Need help deciding which visa suits you best? We are happy to have a chat with you and give you a more tailored overview based on your circumstances. That said, we are not experts but we do know them(!) and can recommend some both visa and tax experts. We would be happy to put you in touch with the right, reliable people.