Portugal Type D Visa: Complete Guide to D2, D7, D8 and All D Visa Types (2026)

The Portugal Type D Visa is a long-term national visa for non-EU citizens who plan to live in Portugal for more than 12 months. The main types are the D2 (entrepreneur), D7 (passive income/retirement), and D8 (digital nomad). All D visa holders can apply for a residency permit through AIMA and eventually qualify for Portuguese citizenship.

Portugal has become one of the most sought-after destinations for long-term relocation outside the EU. Its combination of a relatively low cost of living, a straightforward path to residency, and access to the Schengen Area makes it a practical choice for retirees, remote workers, entrepreneurs, and families from the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, and beyond.

This guide covers every Portugal D visa type available in 2026. You will find current income requirements, application steps, family reunification rules, and the full timeline from initial visa to Portuguese citizenship. Whether you are weighing the D7 against the D8 or trying to understand what documents AIMA actually requires, this guide gives you the specific information you need to move forward with confidence.

Article Updated July 2026

What is the Portugal Type D Visa?

A Portugal Type D Visa is a national long-stay visa allowing non-EU/EEA citizens to live in Portugal for over 3 months. It serves as the entry document for obtaining a Portuguese residency permit. Once in Portugal with a valid D visa, applicants must have contact with  AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) to convert their visa into a full residency permit.

Unlike a Schengen tourist visa, which limits stays to 90 days, the Portugal D visa authorises long-term residence. It covers a broad range of purposes: employment, self-employment, entrepreneurship, passive income, remote work, study, family reunification, and investment. Each purpose corresponds to a specific D visa type, but all share the same underlying legal framework and pathway to residency.

How the D Visa Process Works

The process follows a clear sequence that every applicant goes through, regardless of which Portugal D category visa they hold:

1. Apply for the D visa at a Portuguese consulate in your home country or in the country where you have legal residence.
2. If approved, AIMA issues a 4-month temporary entry visa.
3. Travel to Portugal within the validity window.
4. Schedule an appointment with AIMA to apply for a formal residency permit.
5. Receive your residence card, valid for 2 years on first issuance, renewable for a further 3 years.

Minimum Stay Requirements

Holding a D-type visa in Portugal comes with a minimum presence obligation. During each residency period, you must not be absent from Portugal continuously for more than 6 months. Cumulative absences must not exceed 8 months per residency period. Exceeding either threshold can result in the cancellation of your residency permit. This rule applies to all Portugal D visa types and is one of the most commonly overlooked conditions among first-time applicants.

What the D Visa Is Not

The D category visa for Portugal is a national visa, not a Schengen short-stay visa. It does not grant automatic work authorisation in other EU member states. It does, however, allow free movement within the Schengen Area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, separate from your Portuguese residency.

The Three Main Portugal D Visa Types in 2026

The three most popular D visa types in 2026 are the D2 (entrepreneur), D7 (passive income), and D8 (digital nomad). The D7 requires €920/month in passive income; the D8 requires €3,680/month in remote work income; the D2 requires a viable business plan and at least €920/month in personal funds plus business capital.

Each of these Portugal D visa types targets a distinct applicant profile. Your eligibility depends primarily on where your income comes from, not how much you earn in absolute terms. Understanding the difference up front will save you significant time during the application process.

D2, D7 and D8 Comparison Table

Processing times reflect consulate workloads as of 2026 and may vary by applicant country of origin. The D2 takes longer due to the additional business plan review and company formation steps.

D2 Visa: Portugal Entrepreneur Visa

The D2 Visa is for non-EU entrepreneurs who want to start or expand a business in Portugal, or work as a freelancer serving international clients. Applicants must submit a comprehensive business plan and demonstrate at least €920/month in personal funds, plus sufficient business capital to operate. There is no minimum investment amount.

The D2 entrepreneur visa is one of the more flexible options within the Portugal D visa framework. It does not strictly require a minimum capital threshold, which sets it apart from many other countries’ investor visas. What AIMA evaluates instead is the credibility and viability of your business. A well-structured business plan carries more weight than the size of your bank balance.

Who Qualifies for the D2 Visa

The D2 visa for Portugal is designed for three distinct applicant profiles:

• Business owners who plan to incorporate a new company in Portugal.
• Entrepreneurs expanding an existing foreign business into the Portuguese market.
• Freelancers whose client base is primarily located outside Portugal.

This last point is important. Unlike the D8, the D2 visa allows you to work with Portuguese clients and operate within the domestic market. If you plan to build local commercial relationships or provide services to Portuguese businesses, the D2 is the correct Portugal D category visa for your situation.

Business Plan Requirements

The business plan is the core of your D2 visa application. AIMA reviewers assess it for commercial logic and financial sustainability. A complete business plan must include:

• A clear description of your product or service and the target market.
• Financial projections covering at least the first two years of operation.
• A defined funding source, whether personal savings, external investment, or a combination.
• Company incorporation documents if the business already exists, or a formal letter of intent if it is being established.

Financial Requirements

The D2 Portugal visa has two separate financial components. First, you must demonstrate personal funds of at least €920 per month, or €11,040 per year. This covers your personal living costs independently of business income. Second, you must show adequate business capital for your specific activity. There is no fixed minimum for this second component. A consulting business requires less capital than a product-based company, and AIMA evaluates each case on its own merits.

Processing Time

The D2 visa typically takes 9 to 12 months from initial application to residency permit. This is longer than the D7 or D8 primarily because of the business plan review stage. Portuguese consulates forward business plans to AIMA for assessment before issuing a decision. Applicants in countries with fewer Portuguese consular offices may experience additional delays. Building a 12-month timeline into your relocation planning is advisable.

D2 vs D8: Key Distinction

Both the D2 and D8 serve self-employed and business-oriented applicants, but the distinction matters. The D8 digital nomad visa requires your employer or clients to be based outside Portugal. The D2 visa carries no such restriction. If you intend to generate revenue from the Portuguese market, from Portuguese companies, or from local customers, you need the D2. Choosing the wrong visa type can lead to legal complications once you are a resident.

For personalised guidance on whether the D2 entrepreneur visa suits your situation, Lexidy’s Portugal immigration team can review your business profile and advise on the strongest application approach.

D7 Visa: Portugal Passive Income and Retirement Visa

The D7 Visa (also called the Retirement Visa or Passive Income Visa) is for non-EU citizens with a stable passive income from outside Portugal — pensions, rental income, dividends, or interest. The minimum income requirement in 2026 is €920/month (€11,040/year) for a single applicant. Applicants do not need to work or run a business in Portugal.

The D7 Portugal visa is consistently one of the most applied-for D visa types among retirees and financially independent individuals. Its appeal is straightforward: if your income arrives reliably each month and originates from passive income sources, you likely meet the core financial threshold. What matters is documentation quality, not the source of wealth.

Who Qualifies for the D7 Visa

The D7 visa in Portugal is open to any non-EU/EEA national whose income meets the minimum threshold and originates from passive sources. The four main applicant profiles are:

• Retirees receiving a government or private pension from their home country.
• Property investors with verifiable rental income from owned real estate.
• Dividend or royalty earners with documented income from shares, intellectual property, or licensing agreements.
• Financially independent individuals living off interest income, savings distributions, or similar passive streams.

You do not need to stop working entirely to qualify. However, the income you declare must be passive in nature. Active employment income from a non-Portuguese employer is assessed under the D8 digital nomad visa, not the D7.

D7 Income Requirements in 2026

The income formula for the D7 visa scales with household size. The 2026 figures are based on Portugal’s national minimum wage of €920/month:

A couple with one child, for example, must demonstrate a combined passive income of at least €1,656/month (€920 + €460 + €276). These figures represent the minimum. Consulates in some countries, particularly the US and UK, often look more favourably on applications that exceed the threshold by a clear margin.

Accepted Income Sources

AIMA accepts a range of passive income types for the D7 passive income visa. Each must be sourced from outside Portugal at the time of application:

• Foreign state or private pensions
• Rental income
• Dividends from shares or investment funds
• Interest from savings accounts or bonds
• Royalties from intellectual property or licensing agreements

Documentation Requirements

Income must be stable and demonstrable. AIMA requires evidence covering the past 3 to 6 months. Accepted documents include:

• Bank statements showing consistent incoming transfers
• Pension award letters or annual pension statements
• Dividend certificates or investment account statements
• Rental agreements accompanied by proof of payment

All foreign documents must be officially translated into Portuguese and, in most cases, apostilled. Missing or inconsistent documentation is the most common reason for D7 applications being delayed or returned.

Processing Time

The D7 visa typically takes 6 to 9 months from the submission of a complete application to the issuance of a residency permit. The consulate assessment phase accounts for most of this time. Once you arrive in Portugal on your 4-month entry visa, the AIMA appointment and residence card issuance generally takes an additional 4 to 8 weeks.

For a full breakdown of what to prepare and how to structure your income evidence, Lexidy’s D7 visa service page covers the process in detail.

D8 Visa: Portugal Digital Nomad Visa

The D8 Visa allows non-EU remote workers and freelancers to live in Portugal while working for employers or clients based outside Portugal. The minimum income requirement in 2026 is €3,680/month, equivalent to 4 times Portugal’s national minimum wage of €920/month. Applicants must prove their employer or clients are not Portuguese-based.

Portugal introduced the D8 digital nomad visa in October 2022 in direct response to the global rise of location-independent work. Since then, it has attracted tens of thousands of applications from remote professionals in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The income threshold is deliberately high relative to the D7. Portugal uses it to ensure D8 visa holders contribute meaningfully to the local economy without competing with the domestic labour market.

Who Qualifies for the D8 Visa

Two applicant profiles are eligible for the Portugal D8 visa:

• Remote employees holding a valid employment contract with a company registered outside Portugal.
• Freelancers earning consistent income from multiple clients, all based outside Portugal.

The foreign-employer rule is the defining condition of this D visa type. If even a portion of your income comes from Portuguese clients or a Portuguese-registered company, the D8 is not the correct category. In that scenario, you would need to assess the D2 entrepreneur visa instead.

Income Requirement in 2026

The D8 visa for Portugal requires a minimum monthly income of €3,680. This figure is calculated as 4 times Portugal’s 2026 national minimum wage of €920/month. The annual equivalent is €44,160.

Income must be verifiable. Accepted evidence includes:

• A current employment contract stating your monthly salary
• Three to six months of payslips from your employer
• Bank statements confirming consistent salary deposits
• For freelancers: signed client contracts plus invoices or payment records covering the past 3 to 6 months

AIMA assesses both the value and the stability of your income. A single high-value contract from one client carries more risk in AIMA’s view than multiple contracts spread across several clients.

Temporary Stay vs. Residency Permit

The E8 is a temporary stay visa for digital nomads that allows for a 1-year temporary stay visa, and a new, completely fresh application must be submitted in case a new period of stay is needed.

The D8 is a Residence Visa. Once in Portugal, you apply to AIMA to convert it into a formal residency permit. The first residency permit is valid for 2 years. After that, you renew for a further 3 years, following the standard Portugal D visa renewal structure.

This 2+3-year framework applies to all Portugal D category visas, including the D8. After 5 years of legal residency, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. After meeting the language and residency requirements, citizenship becomes an option.

Tax Considerations for D8 Holders

D8 visa holders who become tax residents in Portugal may qualify for the NHR 2.0 regime, formally known as IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal Colectivo ao Investimento). This regime offers a flat 20% income tax rate on Portuguese-sourced income and potential exemptions on certain categories of foreign income for 10 years.

Tax residency in Portugal is established after spending more than 183 days in the country within a calendar year. The NHR 2.0 application must be submitted by 15 March of the year following your first year of tax residency. Missing this deadline means losing access to the regime entirely for that year.

Tax planning for D8 digital nomad visa holders involves multiple variables, including your country of origin, existing tax treaties with Portugal, and the structure of your employment or freelance contracts. Lexidy’s Portugal immigration and tax team can assess your specific situation and advise on the most efficient approach before you relocate.

Processing Time

The D8 visa takes approximately 6 to 9 months from complete application submission to residency permit. Consulate processing accounts for most of this period. Applicants in countries with limited Portuguese consular presence, such as parts of Southeast Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa, should build additional time into their planning.

For a step-by-step breakdown of the D8 digital nomad visa application process, Lexidy’s digital nomad service page covers current requirements, documentation checklists, and timelines.

Other Portugal D Visa Types

Beyond the D2, D7, and D8, Portugal offers six additional Type D visas covering work (D1), highly qualified activities (D3), study (D4, D5), family reunification (D6), and investment (D9). Each targets a specific situation and has distinct eligibility criteria.

Most applicants reading this guide will fall into the D2, D7, or D8 category. However, if you are relocating for confirmed employment, joining a family member already resident in Portugal, or pursuing a degree program, one of the visas below is likely your correct route.

D1 Visa: Portugal Work Visa

The D1 is for non-EU nationals who have accepted a confirmed job offer from a Portuguese employer. Before the visa can be issued, the employer must demonstrate that the position could not reasonably be filled by a Portuguese or EU citizen. This labour market test adds time to the process and places most of the administrative burden on the employer rather than the applicant.

The D1 residence card is valid for 2 years on first issuance, following the standard Portugal D visa renewal structure.

D3 Visa: Highly Qualified Activity

The D3 targets professionals in specialised technical, scientific, or managerial fields. To qualify, your employment offer must meet two conditions: it must be for a contract of at least 12 months, and your salary must be at leas1.5 times the national median gross wage. For 2026, this translates to at least €2,300 per month (approximately €27,600 annually), though it can vary based on specific shortage occupations and role tiers.

Roles in technology, engineering, medicine, academia, and senior management commonly qualify. The D3 is separate from the EU Blue Card, though the two share similar eligibility logic.

D4 Visa: Student Visa

The D4 covers non-EEA nationals enrolling in Portuguese educational institutions for programs lasting more than 3 months. It applies to degree courses, certified exchange programs, supervised internships, and recognised volunteering placements.

Applicants must hold a confirmed place at an accredited institution before applying. The D4 does not automatically convert into a work visa on graduation, though holders can transition to other Portugal residence permit categories if they meet the relevant criteria.

D5 Visa: Higher Education Visa

The D5 is specifically for students accepted into postgraduate programs: master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and doctoral research programs. It is renewable based on academic progress. If a student fails to advance or withdraws from their program, the basis for renewal falls away.

The distinction between D4 and D5 matters at the application stage. Applying under the wrong category can result in delays at the consulate.

D6 Visa: Family Reunification

The D6 allows legal residents in Portugal to bring eligible family members to join them. AIMA recognises the following as qualifying relatives:

• Spouse or legally recognised partner
• Minor children (under 18) of either partner
• Financially dependent adult children still in full-time education, in exceptional cases
• Parents over 65 who are financially dependent on the main applicant
• Dependent grandparents, subject to documented proof of financial dependency

The main applicant must hold a valid Portuguese residency permit and demonstrate sufficient income to support the joining family members. Income thresholds follow the same formula used for the D7 passive income visa: the base requirement scales upward with each additional family member.

D9 Visa: Golden Visa (Investment)

The D9 visa for Portugal is the investment route to Portuguese residency. It has undergone significant changes since October 2023. Residential real estate investment in Lisbon, Porto, and coastal areas is no longer eligible. Investors who structured their plans around property in these locations need to reassess entirely.

The current minimum investment threshold for qualifying venture capital or private equity funds is €500,000. Other eligible categories include scientific research contributions, cultural heritage projects, and job creation in low-density regions. Each category carries its own conditions.

Given how substantially the Portugal D9 Golden Visa rules changed in 2023, and the likelihood of further regulatory updates, this guide does not attempt a comprehensive breakdown. The eligibility criteria are detailed enough that a general summary risks being misleading. For accurate, current information on qualifying investment categories and the full application process, Lexidy’s Portugal immigration team can provide a full assessment based on your investment profile.

How to Apply for a Portugal D Visa: 5 Steps

Applying for a Portugal D visa involves 5 stages: gathering documents specific to your visa type, translating and certifying them, scheduling a consulate appointment for in-person submission, waiting for approval and your 4-month residence visa, then scheduling your AIMA appointment in Portugal to convert to a full residency permit within 4 months of arrival.

The process is sequential. Each step depends on the one before it. Starting with incomplete documents is the single most common reason applications stall. The guidance below applies to all Portugal D visa types, with notes on where requirements differ by category.

Step 1: Gather Your Documents

Every application for a D-type visa in Portugal requires a core set of documents, plus additional materials specific to your visa category.

Core documents required for all D visa types:

Visa-specific additions:

• D2: business plan, company incorporation documents, or letter of intent, proof of business capital
• D7: pension letters, dividend certificates, rental agreements, 3 to 6 months of bank statements showing passive income
• D8: employment contract from a non-Portuguese employer, or freelance contracts and invoices from non-Portuguese clients, 3 to 6 months of bank statements showing active income
• D6: proof of relationship to the main resident, plus their valid Portuguese residence permit

Step 2: Translate and Certify Your Documents

All documents not originally in Portuguese must be officially translated by a certified translator. Most consulates require this for criminal records, financial statements, employment contracts, and civil documents such as birth or marriage certificates.

Beyond translation, most documents issued outside Portugal require Apostille certification. This is a standardised form of document authentication recognised by all Hague Convention member countries, which includes the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. You obtain the Apostille from the relevant authority in the country where the document was issued. Processing times vary by country, from a few days to several weeks.

Start this step early. Delays in obtaining Apostilles are the most frequent cause of missed consulate appointment slots.

Step 3: Schedule and Attend Your Consulate Appointment

Portugal D visa applications cannot be submitted by post in most countries. You must attend an in-person appointment at the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country of legal residence. During this appointment, consulate staff collect your biometric data, including fingerprints and a photograph.

Consulate appointment availability varies significantly by location. In high-demand cities such as London, New York, Toronto, and Sydney, waiting times for appointments can run 4 to 12 weeks. Factor this into your overall timeline. Bring original documents and certified copies. Confirm the exact document checklist with your specific consulate before attending, as minor variations exist between consular posts.

Step 4: Wait for Consulate Review and Visa Issuance

After your appointment, the consulate forwards your application to AIMA in Lisbon for review. This is the longest stage of the process. Approved applicants receive a 4-month temporary entry visa, valid for 2 entries into Portugal and granting eligibility for the next step, the residence permit application before AIMA.

Typical processing times by D visa type in 2026:

The D2 takes longer because AIMA conducts a substantive review of the business plan, not just a document check. If your application is incomplete or raises questions, AIMA may issue a request for additional information, which pauses the clock and extends the timeline further.

Step 5: Travel to Portugal and Convert to a Residency Permit

Once you receive your 4-month residence visa, travel to Portugal. You must schedule your AIMA appointment upon receiving your residence visa and entering Portugal during its 120 days validity period. Typically the AIMA appointment takes place after the visa expiration date, which you can comfortably wait for and best prepare while in Portugal.

At your AIMA appointment, you submit your documents again for residency permit processing. Your first residence card is valid for 2 years. After that, you renew for a further 3 years. This 2+3 structure applies to all Portugal D category visas.

For support at any stage of this process, Lexidy’s Portugal immigration team assists clients from initial document preparation through to residency permit issuance.

Family Members Under a D Visa

D visa holders can include immediate family members through family reunification. Eligible relatives include a spouse or legal partner, dependent children (minors and, very exceptionally, financially dependent adult children). Family members can apply jointly with the primary applicant or at any later time.

Family reunification is one of the most practical advantages of the Portugal D visa framework. Once you hold a valid residency permit, you are not limited to relocating alone. Portugal’s rules are more inclusive than many applicants expect, particularly regarding dependent parents.

Who Is Eligible for Family Reunification

AIMA recognises the following as qualifying family members under all Portugal D visa types:

• Spouse or legally recognised partner
• Minor children under 18, whether biological or legally adopted
• Adult children who are financially dependent and enrolled in full-time education, in exceptional cases.
• Parents of either the main applicant or their spouse, provided they are over 65 and financially dependent
• Dependent grandparents, subject to documented proof of financial dependency

The inclusion of parents and grandparents is a detail many applicants overlook. If you are supporting elderly relatives and plan to bring them with you, Portugal’s reunification rules accommodate this, provided you can demonstrate financial dependency clearly and extensively.

How to Apply for Family Reunification

Family members can apply for their D category visa in Portugal in two ways. The first is a joint application, submitted simultaneously with the primary applicant at the consulate. The second is a separate application, submitted after the primary holder has received their Portuguese residency permit.

There is no deadline by which family members must apply. However, each family member must attend their own in-person consulate appointment. Biometric data is collected individually. Each applicant also pays a separate government processing fee.

Documentation for Family Members

The core document list for family reunification applicants mirrors the standard D-type visa Portugal requirements, with the following additions:

All documents must be officially translated into Portuguese and apostilled where applicable.

Residency Permit Validity for Family Members

Family members receive their own individual residence cards. However, the validity of those cards is tied to the primary holder’s permit. If the main applicant holds a 2-year residence card, family members receive a card valid for the same period.

Renewals follow the same 2+3-year structure. Each family member renews individually, but the renewal timeline tracks the primary holder’s permit status. If the primary holder’s permit lapses or is cancelled, the basis for the subsequent family members’ permits is affected.

Income Thresholds with Dependants

Adding family members increases the minimum income requirement for the primary holder. This is most relevant for D7 visa Portugal applicants, where income thresholds scale directly with household size. As a reminder, the 2026 formula is:

For D-type visa applicants whose income sits close to the minimum, adding dependents can push the requirement above what the current passive income covers. Reviewing your income position before submitting a joint application avoids complications later.

Residency, Permanent Residency, and Portuguese Citizenship

After 5 years of legal residency, D visa holders can apply for permanent residency, provided they meet minimum stay requirements. Portuguese citizenship is available after 7 years of legal residency for CPLP nationals and after 10 years for all other nationalities.

For many applicants, the long-term pathway is as important as the initial visa. A Portugal D visa is not just a way to live in a European country. It is the first step toward EU citizenship and everything that comes with it.

Minimum Stay Requirements

Residency permits do not maintain themselves. To remain eligible for renewal and eventual permanent residency, D-type visa holders in Portugal must meet two absence conditions during each permit period. First, you must not be absent from Portugal continuously for more than 6 months. Second, your cumulative absences must not exceed 8 months within any single permit period.

These limits apply from the moment your first residence card is issued. Breaching either threshold gives AIMA grounds to cancel your permit. If you travel frequently, tracking your absences carefully is not optional.

Permanent Residency After 5 Years

After 5 continuous years of legal residency, Portugal D visa holders become eligible to apply for permanent residency. Permanent residency grants the right to live and work in Portugal indefinitely. It is not tied to a specific income source, employer, or visa category. Once granted, you are no longer required to renew your permit on the standard 2+3-year cycle.

To qualify, you must demonstrate that you have maintained legal residency throughout the 5 years without breaching the absence rules. A clean criminal record is also required. AIMA reviews the full residency history before issuing a permanent permit.

Citizenship Pathway

Portuguese citizenship becomes available after the following periods of legal residency:

Beyond the residency period, citizenship applicants must meet two additional requirements. First, you must pass a Portuguese language test at a minimum A2 level. This is a basic proficiency standard. Most applicants who have lived in Portugal for several years reach it naturally. Second, you must have no criminal record in Portugal or your country of origin.

The application goes through the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN). Processing times vary, but most straightforward applications are resolved within 24 months of submission.

What Portuguese Citizenship Unlocks

Portuguese citizenship is EU citizenship. This is the detail that makes the long-term pathway so significant for applicants from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other non-EU countries.

With a Portuguese passport, you gain the right to live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU member states without a visa or work permit. You also gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries. For British nationals who lost EU freedom of movement after Brexit, the Portuguese citizenship route is one of the most direct ways to restore it.

The pathway is straightforward in structure: D visa – residency permit – permanent residency – citizenship. Each stage has clear eligibility criteria. Meeting the minimum stay requirements from day one keeps every subsequent stage on track.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Type D Visa Portugal

What is the difference between a C-type and a D-type visa?

A C-type Schengen visa allows stays of up to 90 days across the Schengen Area. A D-type visa for Portugal is a national long-stay visa that permits residence in Portugal for more than 90 days and leads to a formal residency permit.

Can I switch between D visa types after arriving in Portugal?

No, only when renewing the residence permit. You can apply to AIMA to change your residency category after getting your initial card. Approval is not guaranteed, and you must fully meet the eligibility criteria of the new category before applying.

Do I need to live in Portugal full-time?

Not full-time, but you must respect the absence limits. D visa holders that obtain the residence card cannot then be absent from Portugal continuously for more than 6 months, or cumulatively for more than 8 months per permit period.

Can Hong Kong or Taiwan citizens apply for a Portugal D visa?

Yes. All non-EU/EEA nationals are eligible for Portugal D category visas. Hong Kong residents submit applications through the Portuguese Consulate General in Macau. Taiwan residents apply through the Portuguese consular post with jurisdiction over their region.

Is proof of accommodation required before applying?

Yes. A signed, fully registered rental agreement of at least 12 months or proof of property ownership is required. Short-term bookings and temporary arrangements are generally not accepted by Portuguese consulates.

Do D7 or D8 holders qualify for NHR 2.0 tax benefits?

Potentially. The NHR 2.0 regime (IFICI) applies to qualified professionals and researchers meeting specific criteria. Not all D7 visa Portugal or D8 visa holders qualify automatically. Speak with Lexidy’s Portugal tax team to assess your individual eligibility before relocating.

How Can Lexidy Help You Obtain Your Portugal D Visa

Choosing the right Portugal D visa type is the first decision that shapes everything that follows. The wrong category can mean delays, rejections, or having to restart from outside Portugal. Lexidy’s immigration team in Portugal works with clients from the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and beyond to navigate this process from the first consultation through to residency permit issuance.

The most common reason for D7 visa Portugal application delays is insufficient documentation of passive income, particularly for applicants whose income comes from multiple sources or foreign accounts. Bank statements that show irregular deposits, even when the total exceeds the monthly minimum, raise questions that slow the process down considerably.

This principle applies across all Portugal D category visas. Whether your income is a pension, freelance revenue, or dividends, the presentation of that income matters as much as the amount. AIMA processes thousands of applications each year. Clear, well-organised documentation moves through the system faster.

What Lexidy Covers

Lexidy supports clients at every stage of the Portugal D visa process. Services include:

Each case is handled individually. Lexidy does not apply a one-size-fits-all checklist. The Portugal D visa framework has enough variation between categories and between individual applicant profiles that personalised legal guidance consistently produces better outcomes than self-managed applications.

For a no-obligation assessment of which Portugal D category visa suits your situation, Lexidy’s Portugal immigration team is available to review your profile and outline a clear path forward. Fill out the form below, and our team will be in touch!