D7: stable own income
The means-of-subsistence benchmark follows the Portuguese minimum wage: €920 a month for the first adult in 2026, with the statutory 50% and 30% family weights. Consular evidence requirements can be stricter.
VISA · D7 VS D8
D7 vs D8 — own income vs remote work
Both can lead to Portuguese residence, but neither visa automatically decides tax residence. The practical split is the income evidence: stable own income for D7, active remote work for D8.
Facts checked against official sources as of 2026-08-31, current for the 2026 tax year.
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Immigration residence and tax residence are different tests
Both routes can lead to a Portuguese residence permit, but the supporting income is different. The D8 remote-work route has an express three-month income test; tax residence is assessed separately under article 16 of the IRS Code.
D8: remote work abroad
The law requires average monthly employment or self-employment income in the previous three months equal to four minimum wages — €3,680 a month using the 2026 national minimum wage.
Do not use 183 days as a visa rule
The 183-day test concerns tax residence. A temporary residence permit instead faces absence limits of six consecutive or eight non-consecutive months over its validity, unless the excess absence is justified to AIMA.
| D7 (pension / own income) | D8 (digital nomad) | |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | The official route for pensioners and people living from their own income. | Remote workers with a stable employer or freelance contract outside Portugal. |
| Eligibility | Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national who can document pension or own-income means under the applicable consular process. | Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national with a foreign remote-work contract + income above threshold. |
| Income benchmark (2026) | €920/month for the first adult under the statutory means-of-subsistence scale (+50% additional adult / +30% child). | €3,680/month average over the previous 3 months (4× the 2026 national minimum wage). |
| Physical presence to keep residency | Temporary permit can be cancelled after an unjustified absence of 6 consecutive or 8 non-consecutive months during its validity. | Same temporary-permit absence rule. The 183-day test is a separate tax-residence test. |
| Portuguese tax residency | Not automatic. CIRS article 16 applies: more than 183 days or a home intended as habitual residence; residents generally report worldwide income. | Same separate tax test. A visa label does not replace the day-count or habitual-home rules. |
| Active work in Portugal | The application is supported by stable own income. Any later professional activity and renewal evidence are assessed separately. | Explicit — remote work for a foreign employer / clients is the point of the visa. |
| Family reunification | Possible under the general family-reunification conditions and evidence requirements. | Possible under the same general family-reunification framework. |
| Best for | Applicants whose documented pension or own-income evidence fits the official D7 route. | Remote employees / freelancers whose previous 3-month average meets the €3,680 threshold in 2026. |
Which visa fits you?
Question 1 of 2
Where does your main income come from?
Frequently asked questions
Does either visa give me NHR or IFICI automatically?
No. NHR was repealed for ordinary new cases, subject to its documented 2024 transition. IFICI is applied for separately once you become tax resident and only if the exact activity and entity qualify. A visa is immigration status; NHR and IFICI are tax regimes.
Can I switch from D7 to D8 later?
It is not an automatic switch. A change of basis must be handled with AIMA and supported by evidence that you meet the other route's current conditions. Confirm the procedure before renewal.
What if my income is variable?
For D8, the regulation expressly asks for the average monthly income from the previous three months. D7 evidence is assessed through the applicable consular process, so check the current document list for the consulate where you apply.
Do savings count toward the minimum?
Savings can support proof of means, but the D8 route has an express average-income requirement that savings do not replace. For D7, follow the current consular evidence list rather than relying on a universal savings formula.
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