Portugal offers beautiful weather, with around 300 days of sunlight each year. You can completely enjoy the outdoors in the cities, such as wandering through its gardens, enjoying the outstanding Portuguese food and wines on magnificent restaurant terraces, and seeing breathtaking vistas. Portugal has a lot to offer, from its various landscapes to its delicious seafood-packed cuisine, and you will be able to live in the country thanks to the non-profit visa.
The historical and cultural legacy of Portugal is magnificent. From north to south, Portugal is home to a plethora of monuments and museums that represent the country’s rich history and culture. As the sunny, coastal nation attracts record numbers of international visitors, it is also drawing the attention of astute investors. Portugal, dubbed Europe’s best-kept secret, has grown in popularity with investors, retirees, and expats from all over the world.
What is the non-profit visa?
In 2007, the Portuguese government established a new form of visa: the D7 Visa or non-profit visa. Often referred to as a Retirement Visa or a Passive Income Visa, the D7 visa is a low-cost and appealing Portugal immigration visa which allows non-EU nationals to get Portuguese residence as long as they have adequate finances to support themselves throughout their stay in Portugal.
This income might come from a variety of sources, including pensions, transferable equity, real estate, intellectual property, or financial investment. This visa is suitable for retirees or business owners who want to reside in Portugal without making a significant financial commitment. The non-profit visa was also designed to encourage retirees and people with passive income to live in Portugal in order to stimulate the economy. Holders of this visa are not prohibited from engaging in professional activities in Portugal.
Applying for the D7 Visa
The application for a D7 temporary visa should be sent to the nearest Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country. Remember that if you are already in Portugal, you cannot apply. You will need to submit the D7 application form which is available on the SEF website, a personal letter including information to back up your application, proof of income, your passport, and two passport photos with a blank background.
You have 120 days from the day your visa is issued to move to Portugal. You will need to rent or buy a home in order to have a Portuguese residential address at this stage. You will be interviewed by Servicio De Extraneiros e Fronteiras, or SEF (Portugal Immigration Service), who will grant your D7 residency visa, which is good for one year. You will need to prepare your proof of accommodation, health insurance policy, police records from your home country, and SEF authorization to check your police record in Portugal. Documents that are not in Portuguese will require verified translations.
Successful candidates:
- Have the legal right to live, work, and/or study in Portugal.
- Can include dependent children and parents as applicants. You will need to show proof of financial capacity for each additional applicant.
- Can travel within the Schengen Area visa-free.
- Have the opportunity to work or start a business in Portugal
- Have the opportunity to apply for Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax status in Portugal. You are exempt from or pay very little tax on any foreign-source income under the NHR tax program. Dividends, real estate income, capital gains from the disposal of real estate, occupational pensions, royaltie, business and self-employment profits derived from eligible occupations may all qualify for the NHR program.
- Have resident rights in Portugal, covering education and healthcare
You can also seek for naturalization to become a Portuguese citizen. However, in order to be naturalized in Portugal, you must first pass a Portuguese language exam.
Keep in mind that there is an annual restriction to the number of times you can leave Portugal. Except in legally justified professional or force majeure situations, each temporary visa holder may spend 6 consecutive or 8 non-consecutive months outside the nation throughout the length of the permit. There is a minimum amount of time you must spend in Portugal: you must spend at least four months in the nation each year, and must not spend more than six months outside of Portugal in a row.
Requirements for your application
Establishing a consistent ‘passive’ income is a critical prerequisite for a successful application. It is recommended to keep a minimum of 12 months’ salary in a Portuguese bank account. To be eligible, you must show that you have an income totaling 15.960 € a year for the applicant, 7.980 € for each extra adult, and 4.788 € for each child over the course of a year.
Orience International offers international families tailored residence and Citizenship by Investment options. We assist customers worldwide in acquiring Portugal visas or homes while diversifying their portfolio with reliable investments through our offices all over the world and an experienced, hands-on team. If you have any questions regarding the Portugal D7 visa, you may reach out to our specialists so we can understand your objectives and help you go forward.