Self-employment / Freelance in Portugal
One documented route of this kind in Portugal, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Passive income / retiree residence visa (D7)
Residence visa for non-EU nationals with stable, regular passive income (pensions, dividends, rental, royalties). Two-stage consular-visa then AIMA-permit route.
- Processing time
- Residence-visa decision within 60 days
- Validity
- Visa 120 days / 2 entries; residence permit 2 years, renewable for 3-year periods
- Language requirement
- No language requirement for the visa/permit
- Permanent residence
- Permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation generally after 5 years of legal residence
Requirements
- Proof of stable, regular passive income (pension, dividends, rental, royalties)
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond intended stay
- Valid travel medical insurance
- Criminal record certificate
Official fees
- Long-stay (national) visa fee 90 EUR
- In-person residence-permit collection fee 28.5 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Demonstrate passive income
Prove stable, regular passive income such as pension, dividends, rental or royalties.
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2
Apply for D7 visa
Submit the application at a Portuguese consulate with universal documents plus proof of income and accommodation.
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3
Enter Portugal
Travel within the 120-day window.
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4
Obtain residence permit at AIMA
Receive a 2-year permit, then renew for 3-year periods.