D7 Visa: complete guide to securing your residency in Portugal

The D7 Visa allows non-EU citizens to live and work in Portugal, as well as move freely within the Schengen area, and you can extend these rights to your family members. This visa is especially aimed at retired people, pensioners or individuals with a regular income from movable or immovable property.

Step 1 - Granting the D7 residence visa

The Portuguese consular post in the country of nationality and/or residence of the foreign national is responsible for granting the residence visa. After checking all the specifics of each Portuguese consular post, the documents generally requested to apply for this type of visa are as follows:

• Application form, available from the relevant Portuguese consular post or embassy;
• Passport or other travel document valid for 3 months beyond the duration of the intended stay;
• Two identical passport-size photographs;
• Valid travel insurance;
• Proof of legal residence;
• Application for consultation of the Portuguese criminal record by AIMA - form in the appropriate format; Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the Applicant has been resident for more than one year;
• Proof of accommodation conditions, (e.g: public deed of purchase and sale);
• Proof of the existence of means of subsistence, as defined by an order of the competent members of the Government;
• Proof of retirement/pension and/or other types of income, namely income from movable or immovable property, or intellectual property, or financial investments, and/or dividends, as well as the respective amount.

Step 2 - Granting the Temporary Residence Permit

Once the residence visa has been issued by the consular post and/or Portuguese Embassy, the Applicant may legally enter Portuguese national territory and apply to AIMA for the respective Temporary Residence Permit. The request for the Residence Permit must be scheduled by the applicant via phone with AIMA. Alternatively, the appointment can be arranged internally by the consulate or Portuguese Embassy during the visa issuance process. The application must be submitted in person, with a form signed by the applicant or their legal representative, and can be presented at any AIMA regional office.

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Two identical passport photos;
• Passport or other valid travel document;
• Valid residence visa;
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or from the country where the Applicant has been residing for more than one year (children under 16 are exempt from presenting criminal record documents);
• Proof of means of subsistence, as provided for in Ministerial Order no. 1563/2007, 11/12/2007;
• Proof of retirement/pension and/or other types of income, namely income from movable or immovable property, or from intellectual property, or from financial investments, and/or dividends, with the respective amount;
• Proof that the Applicant has accommodation (as mentioned above);
• Authorization to consult the Portuguese criminal record by SEF (except children under 16);
• Proof of registration with the Tax Authority (where applicable);
• Proof of registration with Social Security (where applicable);
• Health insurance or proof of registration with the National Health Service.

Note that granting the Residence Permit requires:

• No known facts that would prevent the issuance of the visa if known to the authorities;
• No conviction for a crime punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year in Portugal;
• The applicant must not be subject to an entry ban in Portugal, following a removal order from the country;
• No indication in the Schengen Information System;
• No indication in the SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service) Integrated Information System for non-admission purposes, according to Article 33 of the REPSAE (Amendment to the Foreigners’ Entry, Stay, Exit, and Removal Regime).

Family Reunification

By applying for Family Reunification, the Applicant's family members can also obtain a residence permit in Portugal. In this context, this type of residence permit can be extended to the Applicant's spouse, (minor) children and economically dependent family members. Family members will also be eligible for permanent residence (after 5 years of temporary residence) and Portuguese nationality (also after 5 years).

Renewal

Initial temporary residence is valid for one year, renewable for two years thereafter, with plans for longer terms following successful renewals.

Notwithstanding specific legal provisions (where the Foreigners' Law provides for different deadlines), with the amendment to Article 75 of the Foreigners' Law by Article 192 of Law no. 75-B/2020 of December 31 – State Budget for 2021, in effect since January 1, 2021, the temporary residence permit is valid for a period of two years [instead of just one], starting from the issuance date of the respective permit, and is renewable for successive periods of three years [instead of only two].

Costs

The Applicant and each family member must pay the respective fees to AIMA, both for the first application and for each subsequent renewal procedure. The amount of each fee is €109.30.

Source: Pares Advogados