Portugal D7 Passive-Income Route: Relocation Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for Canadians moving to Portugal on the D7 passive-income visa: the documents, the order of operations, and what to confirm officially.
This route fits you if you live on stable income you do not have to actively work for, such as a pension, rental income, or dividends, and you want to live in Portugal. It is often called the retirement visa, but there is no age requirement.
Before You Start
Confirm your income is genuinely passive, because that is the core of the route. A salary, freelance fees, and active remote-work income do not qualify on their own. If your income comes from working, even remotely, use the Portugal D8 checklist instead.
Documents to Gather
- Valid passport.
- Proof of your passive income and its sources, showing at least the Portuguese minimum wage (€920 per month in 2026 for the main applicant, plus 50 percent for a spouse or partner and 30 percent for each dependent child).
- Proof of your savings cushion in a Portuguese bank account, commonly about twelve months of the minimum wage (roughly €11,040 for a single applicant).
- Proof of long-term accommodation in Portugal, often a 12-month lease or property deed.
- Residency-grade health insurance.
- A criminal record check.
- A Portuguese tax number (NIF) and a Portuguese bank account.
Steps in Order
- Get a NIF and open a Portuguese bank account.
- Line up your long-term accommodation, since the lease or deed is part of the file.
- Gather your income proof and savings evidence. Have the savings in the account by the time you apply.
- Book an appointment with the Portuguese consulate that serves your province, or its VFS Global visa centre, and apply. If family members are moving with you, include them in the same application: family who join after you arrive generally wait until you have two years of residence.
- Once your entry visa is granted, travel to Portugal within its window, around four months, and complete your residency at AIMA.
What to Verify With Official Sources
- The current income and savings thresholds. They are pegged to the minimum wage, so they drift up most Januaries.
- Which authority handles your residence step. This is AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency.
- The exact document list for the consulate covering your province, since it sets the checklist.
Common Traps
- Counting work income. A salary or freelance income points to the D8, not the D7, and choosing wrong means a rejected file.
- Thin income documentation. Consulates want to see that the income is durable rather than a lucky quarter.
- Insurance that will not qualify. Some residency insurers set age limits on new customers, so check before you buy.
- Planning to arrive as a tourist and apply later. Portugal no longer allows this, so get the residence visa before you travel.
For the full income, savings, and cost rules, see the Portugal D7 visa guide. For the D8, youth mobility, and the new 10-year path to citizenship, see moving to Portugal from Canada.
Want the background first? The Portugal D7 Visa (Passive Income): A Guide for Canadians covers how this route works and what Canadians tend to underestimate.
Still Comparing Routes?
- Portugal D8 Remote-Work Route: Relocation Checklist: if your income comes from working, even remotely, the D8 is Portugal's route.
- Spain Long-Stay Routes: Relocation Checklist: Spain's non-lucrative visa is for people who support themselves without working.