D7 vs. Digital Nomad Visa: Portugal's Residency Visas Compared
Both are Portuguese residence-visa routes, but their evidence is different: pension or own-income means for D7, and remote employment or self-employment for D8.
- The official D7 route is for pensioners and people living from their own income; the issuing consulate assesses the supporting means and documents.
- For 2026 planning, the general means reference is €920/month for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult, and 30% for each dependent child; the consulate assesses the evidence.
- The D8 legal threshold is average monthly income over the previous 3 months of at least four minimum wages: €3,680/month using mainland Portugal's 2026 RMMG.
- Both start as a visa issued by a Portuguese consulate abroad and convert, after you arrive, into an AIMA residence permit — initially valid 2 years, then renewable in 3-year periods.
- Either path can lead to long-term resident status after 5 years of continuous legal residence. Citizenship is separate: the law in force since 19 May 2026 generally requires 7 years for CPLP/EU nationals or 10 years for other nationals, subject to its transition rules.
D7 and D8 are built for different evidence. The official D7 service covers pensioners and people living from their own income. D8 covers employees and self-employed people carrying out remote professional activity for an employer or clients outside Portugal. Both begin with a consular residence visa and then lead to an AIMA residence-permit process.
What the D7 visa is actually for
The official D7 service is a residence visa for pensioners and people who live from their own income. Evidence can include an official pension statement or documentation for investment income and other available means, but the competent consulate controls the current checklist and assessment. D7 is a consular label rather than a separate AIMA permit category: after arrival, the residence-permit request follows the general regime under Article 77(1) of the Foreigners' Act.
What the digital nomad visa (D8) is actually for
The D8 is built for people whose income comes from remote professional activity carried out for an employer or clients based outside Portugal — whether you're employed or self-employed. Legally, it sits under Art. 88º, n.º1 of the REPSAE, the same article covering subordinate work generally, with its own dedicated remote-work track. At AIMA, the file needs a declaration of honor from the foreign employer or contracting entity confirming the employment relationship or the service arrangement, on top of the usual passport, visa, and proof-of-address documents. The visa does not decide your tax: what changes after you move is in ourD8 visa taxes guide.
The real fork: where the income comes from
| D7 (rentista) | Digital nomad (D8) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical applicant | Pensioner or person living from documented own income | Remote employee or freelancer with foreign clients |
| Income source required | Pension or documented own-income means accepted in the consular process | Active remote work or services for an entity based outside Portugal |
| Minimum income threshold | General 2026 means reference: €920/month first adult; +€460 each additional adult; +€276 each dependent child | At least €3,680/month average over the previous 3 months (4 × 2026 RMMG) |
| Key supporting document | Proof of means, such as an official pension statement or authenticated investment-income evidence | Declaration of honor from the foreign employer/client confirming the work relationship |
| Legal basis | General regime, Art. 77º, n.º1 REPSAE (after consular visa) | Art. 88º, n.º1 REPSAE |
The 2026 figures come from legal formulas, not a fixed visa price list. Portaria n.º 1563/2007 values general means of subsistence at 100% of the minimum wage for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult, and 30% for each dependent child. Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025 sets mainland Portugal's 2026 RMMG at €920, producing planning references of €920, €460, and €276 per month. The remote-work rule requires average monthly income over the previous 3 months of at least four RMMG: €3,680. AIMA's means page still displays its 2025 €870 example, so use the current legal reference and confirm the evidence period and consulate checklist before applying.
The D7 versus D8 comparison asks a few questions about where your income comes from and shows how each visa is taxed.
Compare D7 and D8 taxesApplying: a consular visa first, an AIMA permit second
- Step 1 happens abroad: you apply for the residence visa (D7 or the remote-work D8 visa) at the Portuguese consulate with jurisdiction over where you live, submitting the income and identity documents that visa requires.
- Step 2 happens after you land: with the visa in hand, you book an appointment at a Loja AIMA to convert it into an actual residence permit — passport, the visa itself, proof of a Portuguese address, and (for D7) proof of means of subsistence or (for D8) the employer/client declaration of honor.
- Use the current gov.pt, consular and AIMA checklists at the time of filing. The visa evidence and the later residence-permit evidence are related but are not the same document list.
The renewal path: toward long-term residency
Both permits follow the same rhythm: an initial 2-year residence permit, renewable afterward in 3-year periods, while the applicable conditions remain satisfied. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, either route can support an application for Estatuto de Residente de Longa Duração, which has its own resource, address, health-cover, compliance and Portuguese-language requirements. Citizenship is a separate IRN process and no longer shares a universal 5-year clock: under Article 6 of the Nationality Law in force since 19 May 2026, adult naturalisation based on residence generally requires 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States, or 10 years for other nationals, plus the other statutory conditions. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 use the previous law under the transition provision.
Frequently asked questions
I have a small pension and some remote freelance income — which visa fits?
It depends on the evidence supporting the application. D7 is the official pension/own-income route; D8 expressly tests remote employment or self-employment income over the previous three months. For a mixed profile, follow the current consular checklist and obtain case-specific advice before choosing a route.
Do I need a Portuguese employer to qualify for the D8?
No — the opposite, in fact. D8 is specifically for people whose employer or clients are based outside Portugal; the declaration of honor AIMA asks for confirms that foreign work relationship, not a Portuguese one.
What's the minimum income for D7 or D8?
For 2026, the general means benchmark works from the €920 mainland minimum wage: 100% for the first adult, 50% per additional adult, and 30% per dependent child. D8 requires at least four minimum wages in average monthly income over the previous 3 months, or €3,680. Confirm the exact documentary checklist with the issuing consulate.
Can I switch from a D7 to a D8 residence permit, or vice versa?
It is not an automatic conversion. The legal basis and evidence for the residence process must match your current circumstances, so confirm the available procedure directly with AIMA before a renewal or change request.
Does either visa lead to permanent residency or citizenship?
Five years of continuous legal residence can open the separate AIMA long-term-resident process. For citizenship applications under the law in force since 19 May 2026, residence-based adult naturalisation generally requires 7 years for CPLP/EU nationals or 10 years for other nationals, plus the other statutory conditions. A transition preserves the previous law for applications already pending on that date.
Get the free Portugal tax playbook
A first-year PDF: NIF and NISS, NHR vs IFICI vs IRS Jovem, the Modelo 3 annex map and the deadline calendar. Sent to your inbox.