How to Obtain Residency in Portugal (Non-EU Citizens)
If you hold a non-EU passport and wish to live in Portugal long-term, you will need to apply for a residency visa. Portugal offers several visa routes, depending on your personal circumstances, income source and intended lifestyle. While the process can feel complex, it becomes manageable when broken down into clear stages.
Again, we have put together this resource to help you, but this is not a service that we offer our clients, and so some parts of this guide could now be out of date. We recommend you fact check via Google or speak to an expert (we can recommend some to you if you wish to have professional help).
Below is a practical overview to help you understand the pathway.
Step 1: Choose the Right Visa Route
Your visa type will depend on:
How you earn your income
Whether you plan to work remotely
Whether you will be employed in Portugal
Whether you are joining family
Whether you already hold long-term EU residency
The most common routes are:
D7 Visa (Passive Income Visa)
Suitable if you receive stable income from:
Pensions
Rental income
Dividends
Investments
Trust funds
This visa is designed for those who are not dependent on Portuguese employment.
Digital Nomad Residency Visa
For remote workers earning income from outside Portugal.
This visa has a higher minimum income requirement than the D7 and is specifically for those actively working remotely.
It is important not to confuse:
Digital Nomad Residency Visa (leads to residency) with
Digital Nomad Temporary Stay Visa (does not lead to residency)
Work or Highly Qualified Visas
If you have:
A job offer in Portugal
Specialist or highly qualified skills
Entrepreneurial or start-up plans
Different subcategories apply depending on employment type.
Golden Visa
This is an investment-based route. It involves substantial capital investment and is not necessary for most applicants. It is generally suited to those seeking flexibility in time spent in Portugal rather than full relocation. Rules changed to the Golden Visa in 2023 and so real-estate investment is no longer a permissible route to Golden Visa (it's therefore no longer a popular route to residency).
Step 2: Apply from Your Home Country
Initial visa applications must be made:
From your country of citizenship or legal residence
Via the Portuguese Consulate or authorised visa centre
You cannot normally apply for your first residency visa from inside Portugal.
Step 3: Meet the Core Requirements
While each visa has specific criteria, most residency routes require:
1. Proof of Income
You must demonstrate:
Stable, ongoing income
Income that meets or exceeds minimum thresholds
A clear and credible source
How your income is structured matters. Consistency and transparency are key.
2. Adequate Accommodation in Portugal
You must show that you have somewhere suitable to live. This typically means:
A property you own in Portugal
A 12-month registered rental contract
A formal hosting arrangement (where accepted)
Short-term arrangements, informal agreements or non-habitable accommodation will not meet requirements.
3. Portuguese Tax Number (NIF)
You will need a Portuguese tax number before applying.
4. Portuguese Bank Account
Most visa routes require:
A Portuguese bank account
Funds deposited locally
5. Criminal Record Certificate
You must provide:
A clean criminal record certificate
Apostilled (where required)
6. Health Insurance
You must hold:
Private health insurance covering Portugal until residency is granted and you register with the National Health Service.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 Explained
Most residency visas follow a two-stage process:
Stage 1 – Entry Visa
You receive a 4-month visa allowing you to enter Portugal and attend your residency appointment.
This is not yet residency.
Stage 2 – Residency Appointment (AIMA)
In Portugal, you attend an appointment with AIMA (immigration authority).
If approved:
You receive a 2-year residence permit
Renewable for 3 further years
After 5 years of legal residency, you may apply for:
Permanent residency
Portuguese citizenship (subject to requirements including language)
Family Reunification
Spouses, dependent children and sometimes dependent parents can apply under family reunification rules.
Financial thresholds increase depending on the number of dependants.
In some cases, couples choose to apply separately under qualifying visa routes to simplify documentation.
After Residency Is Granted
Once you hold your residence permit, you may:
Work
Open a business
Register with the Portuguese National Health Service
Travel within Schengen limits
Residency must be renewed at the appropriate intervals.
How We Support Our Clients
As buyer’s agents, we do not submit visa applications directly. However:
We help clients understand which visa route aligns with their relocation plans
We ensure property decisions support visa compliance (e.g., suitable accommodation)
We introduce trusted legal and tax professionals where required
We coordinate timelines so property purchase and residency planning align
Many of our clients begin their property journey alongside their residency process. Ensuring both are structured correctly from the outset avoids costly delays.