Portugal's two flagship residence visas — the D7 and the D8 — are separated by a single question: is your income passive or active? Answer it wrong on the form and the rejection is close to automatic. Here is the 2026 decision matrix, the family math, and the three traps that sink otherwise strong files.
Executive answer
Portugal's two flagship residence visas split on one axis: the nature of your income. The D7 requires at least €920/month of passive income (pensions, dividends, rents, royalties) — active remote-work income does not count and is a standard rejection reason. The D8 covers active remote income — employment or freelancing for non-Portuguese clients — at 4× the minimum wage: €3,680/month in 2026. Both add +50% for a spouse and +30% per child, both expect a savings buffer around €11,040 for a single applicant, and both now lead to citizenship on the post-May-2026 clock (7–10 years). AIMA applies the minimum wage in force at your appointment date, not your application date.
The matrix
| Your income | Visa | 2026 threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Pension, dividends, rent, royalties | D7 | €920/mo (couple €1,380; +€276/child) |
| Remote salary (foreign employer) | D8 | €3,680/mo |
| Freelance income, foreign clients | D8 | €3,680/mo |
| Mixed passive + active | Usually D8 | Passive alone must clear €920 to argue D7 |
The three traps
- Remote salary on a D7. The most common self-inflicted rejection. If your money comes from work you currently perform, it's D8 — at four times the threshold.
- The appointment-date rule. Portugal indexes the thresholds to the minimum wage in force when AIMA assesses you. Apply in late 2026, get your appointment after the next SMN rise, and the bar has moved. Plan with next year's number, not this year's.
- The proof-window lottery. Some consulates accept 4 months of income history; practitioners recommend 12. Showing the bare minimum with nothing behind it is how borderline files die. D8 processing currently runs 6–9 months — buffer accordingly.
Family math, worked
Single D8: €3,680. Couple: €5,520. Couple + one child: €6,624. On the D7: €920 / €1,380 / €1,656 — plus the €11,040 buffer (single) in a Portuguese account.
Decision framework
- Retiree or investor with clean passive streams → D7.
- Employed remotely → D8, and paper the employment relationship properly.
- Freelancer → D8; expect closer scrutiny of contracts and client geography.
- Just under €3,680 → fix the income before the application, not the application around the income.
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Get Your Free Verdict →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my remote salary for a D7?
No — the D7 requires passive income; active work income routes you to the D8 at €3,680/month.
How much savings do I need?
Around €11,040 for a single applicant (12 months of the base threshold), more with dependents.
Which is faster?
Consular issuance is broadly similar; the D8's AIMA stage is currently reported at 6–9 months.
Does the new citizenship law affect both?
Yes — both lead to the 7-year (CPLP/EU) or 10-year track, counted from your card's issuance.
Official sources
- D7 — Autorização de Residência para Rendimentos Próprios ou Reformados (Art. 89.º REPSAE) — means of subsistence: 100% of the guaranteed minimum monthly wage for the first adult, +50% for a second adult, +30% per child — vistos.mne.gov.pt · aima.gov.pt — re-checked 2026-08-01
- D8 — Atividade profissional prestada de forma remota / Nómada Digital (Art. 88.º) — "rendimentos médios mensais … de valor mínimo equivalente a quatro remunerações mínimas mensais garantidas" (4× minimum wage) — vistos.mne.gov.pt · aima.gov.pt — re-checked 2026-08-01
- 2026 minimum wage — €920/month (retribuição mínima mensal garantida), in force 1 January 2026 — Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025, Diário da República
- Portugal D7 residence-visa route (retirees / own income) — official service page — gov.pt
- Nationality reform (7–10 year clock) — Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 — confirm the current qualifying period before building a timeline
Visa data live. Requirements may change — always verify with official government sources before making decisions.
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About the author
António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.
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