Table of contents
| Visa | Income requirement | First permit | Path to permanent residency | Work rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D7 visa | €920 a month in 2026 (100% of the minimum wage), plus 50% per extra adult and 30% per child | Four-month, two-entry visa, then a two-year residence permit | Permanent residence after 5 years; citizenship after 10 (7 for EU and CPLP nationals) | Employed and self-employed work allowed once you hold the permit |
| Remote-work residence visa (D8) | Average of €3,680 a month over the last 3 months from remote work (4 times the 2026 minimum wage) | Four-month, two-entry residence visa, then a two-year residence permit | Permanent residence after 5 years; citizenship after 10 (7 for EU and CPLP nationals) | Remote work for employers or clients based outside Portugal |
Portugal has a visa for most reasons to move, and the right one depends less on your nationality than on where your money comes from. Americans and Britons can visit visa-free for three months within any six-month window; to stay longer you apply for a national visa at a Portuguese consulate, then, once in the country, for a residence permit from AIMA, the immigration agency. The golden visa is the exception: it’s requested inside Portugal.
This guide routes you to the right visa first, then compares every main option, the visit rules that apply before you move, family, and the path from a first permit to permanent residence and citizenship.
Which Portugal visa fits your situation
Match the visa to your income or purpose, because each route tests something different.
| Your situation | Visa to look at | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Retired, or living on pensions, rent or dividends | D7 passive-income visa | Regular income of at least €920 a month in 2026 |
| Working remotely for an employer or clients abroad | Digital nomad visa | Earnings averaging €3,680 a month over three months |
| Freelancing for Portuguese clients, or starting a business | D2 visa | A services contract or proof of investment |
| Taking a job with a Portuguese employer | D1 work visa | A job contract or promise |
| Highly qualified job, teaching or research | D3 visa | A qualifying contract or invitation |
| Studying | D4 study visa | Admission, funds and health insurance |
| Investing €250,000 or more | Golden visa (ARI) | A qualifying investment held for five years |
Two routes cover most US and UK movers. Retirees usually start with the D7 visa, which has the lowest published income threshold of the income-tested routes, and remote workers with the digital nomad visa, whose income bar is four times higher but which accepts earned income.
Visiting before you move: the 90/180 rule
Short visits don’t need a visa: UK citizens may spend 90 days in each rolling 180-day window in the Schengen zone (GOV.UK), and the US is on the EU’s list of countries whose citizens are visa-exempt for short stays (Regulation 2018/1806, Annex II). Days spent anywhere in Schengen count toward the same 90.
Two EU systems affect those visits. The Entry/Exit System, which records non-EU travellers’ entries with fingerprints and a photo, has been fully running at external borders since April 10, 2026 (EU). ETIAS, the travel authorization that visa-free visitors will need, isn’t live yet, and the EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance (ETIAS), so dates quoted elsewhere aren’t official.
A visit is a good way to scout cities, but you can’t switch to residence from inside Portugal on most routes. You apply for the national visa from home.
The main residence routes compared
Every residence route runs on the Foreigners Act, and each has its own article and evidence.
| Route | Legal basis | Headline requirement | Where you apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7 passive income | Art. 58 | €920 a month in 2026 | Consulate, then AIMA |
| Digital nomad | Art. 61-B | €3,680 a month, 3-month average | Consulate, then AIMA |
| D2 independent work or business | Art. 60 | Services contract, or investment made or funds available | Consulate, then AIMA |
| D1 employment | Art. 59 | Job contract or promise | Consulate, then AIMA |
| D3 highly qualified | Art. 61 | Qualifying contract or invitation; 30-day decision | Consulate, then AIMA |
| D4 study | Art. 62 | Admission, funds and health insurance | Consulate, then AIMA |
| Job seeker | Art. 57-A | Specialised technical skills | Consulate |
| Golden visa (ARI) | Art. 90-A | €250,000 to €500,000, or 10 jobs | AIMA, inside Portugal |
The income figures are pegged to the national minimum wage, set at €920 for 2026 (Ministry of Labour), so they rise when it does. The national visa fee is €110 per application (fee table).
D2 for freelancers and entrepreneurs
The D2 suits people whose work or business is in Portugal. Independent professionals show a contract or written proposal for services; entrepreneurs show investment already made or funds available in Portugal plus a plan to invest (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). No minimum amount is published.
The job-seeker visa narrowed in 2025
Since October 23, 2025, the job-seeker visa goes only to holders of specialised technical skills, defined by ministerial order (Lei 61/2025). It lasts 120 days, extendable by 60, with one entry. If you don’t find work, you must leave and wait a year before applying for another.
The golden visa without real estate
Property purchases no longer qualify for Portugal’s golden visa. Under article 3 of the Foreigners Act, the routes left are creating at least 10 jobs; €250,000 or more for arts or cultural heritage; and €500,000 or more for scientific research, qualifying investment funds or a new company that creates five permanent jobs, each held for at least five years. AIMA lists lower amounts for some routes in low-density areas.
The law expects you to enter on a Schengen visa and apply to AIMA within 90 days, and AIMA asks for at least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and 14 days in subsequent years; the permit renews every two years.
Moving from the US or the UK
The routes are identical for both nationalities; the differences lie in paperwork and taxes rather than in the visas themselves. Since Brexit, UK citizens who weren’t already living in Portugal before 2021 are treated like other non-EU nationals, so time in Portugal on a long-stay visa or residence card doesn’t count toward the 90-day visit allowance.
Consular checklists differ by post, so download the one for the consulate that covers where you live. Our guides to moving from the USA and moving from the UK cover each country’s tax, pension and healthcare questions.
Bringing your family
On the D7, your spouse or partner, dependent children and dependent parents can file their residence-visa applications together with yours, and other routes generally allow the same; check your consulate’s list. If they follow later, family reunification now comes with a waiting period after you get your permit, of up to two years, introduced on October 23, 2025 (Lei 61/2025). The wait doesn’t apply to minor children, is shorter for some long-term partners, and can be waived in exceptional cases.
From temporary residence to citizenship
Most residence permits start at two years and renew for three, and five years of legal residence plus basic Portuguese open the door to permanent residence. Citizenship by naturalisation has required 10 years of legal residence since May 19, 2026, with a shorter 7-year wait for EU and CPLP nationals (Lei Orgânica 1/2026), and adds a test of language, culture and civic knowledge.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to what people ask before choosing a route.
Do US citizens need a visa for Portugal?
Not for visits: 90 days within a rolling 180-day window is allowed without one. To live in Portugal, Americans need a national visa such as the D7 or the digital nomad visa.
What is the easiest visa to get for Portugal?
For people with steady passive income, the D7 has the lowest published income bar: €920 a month in 2026. The right choice still depends on your income type.
Can I buy property to get a Portugal golden visa?
No. Real estate was removed as a route. The remaining routes are €250,000 for culture and €500,000 for funds, research or a new company, with lower amounts for some routes in low-density areas.
Can I move to Portugal and look for work?
Only on the job-seeker visa, which since October 2025 is limited to people with specialised technical skills. Otherwise you need a job offer or another route.
Is ETIAS required to visit Portugal?
Not yet. ETIAS hasn’t started, and the EU will announce the date months ahead. The Entry/Exit System is already running at borders.
How long until I can get permanent residence in Portugal?
Five years of legal residence, with basic Portuguese. Naturalisation now takes 10 years of residence, or 7 for EU and CPLP citizens.
Choosing a Portugal visa starts with one question: where your money comes from. Pensions point to the D7, remote earnings to the digital nomad visa, Portuguese work or a business to the D1 or D2, and a large investment to the golden visa. Apply from home, plan your first AIMA appointment, and count five years to permanent residence.
Explore Portugal
Sources
- Lei 23/2007 (Foreigners Act), consolidated text
- Residence visa: necessary documentation
- Residence permit for investment activity (art. 90-A)
- Lei 61/2025 (amendment to the Foreigners Act)
- Portugal entry requirements
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (visa list), Annex II
- What is the EES
- ETIAS
- Guaranteed minimum monthly wage for 2026
- National visas: fees
- Lei Orgânica 1/2026 (Nationality Law amendment)
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Immigration and tax rules change often and depend on your circumstances. Check the official sources above and speak to a licensed professional before you apply or move. Read how we research and review in our editorial guidelines.