Moving to Portugal in 2026: Visa, Residency and Citizenship Questions Answered
Atualizado: 31 de out.
By Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto, Founding Partner, SGP – Sandra Gomes Pinto & Associados, Lisbon · Published 9 October 2026 · Last reviewed October 2026
In short: This guide answers the questions people most often ask about moving to Portugal in 2026. It covers the D7 (passive income) and D8 (digital nomad) visas, AIMA appointments, permanent residency, Portuguese citizenship under the new nationality law, tax residency and Portuguese wills. The answers come from a live Q&A webinar hosted by Portugalist, in which Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto answered audience questions. She is a Lisbon lawyer whose firm has helped more than 500 Americans and other international clients relocate to Portugal.
Portugal 2026 at a glance
Topic | Rule or figure (2026) |
Portuguese minimum wage | €920 per month |
D7 passive income (main applicant) | At least the minimum wage, €920 per month |
D7 savings | Around €15,000 recommended |
D8 digital nomad income | 4× minimum wage, €3,680 per month |
Residence visa validity | 120 days, two entries |
Residence card issued | About 3–4 weeks after AIMA biometrics |
AIMA appointments | Currently scheduled for February–March 2027 |
Absence limit (temporary permit) | 6 consecutive months or 8 months in total |
Permanent residency | After 5 years of legal residence, plus A2 Portuguese |
Citizenship (most applicants) | 10 years of legal residence within 12 years |
Citizenship (Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens) | 7 years within 9 years |
Tax residency | More than 183 days in 12 months, or a habitual home in Portugal |
Stamp duty on inherited Portuguese real estate (spouse or children) | 0.8% |
Portugal D7 visa (passive income and retirement visa)
What changed with Portugal’s D7 visa in 2026?
The D7 law has not changed, but AIMA and VFS Global now check documents and formalities much more rigorously. There is also good news. Residence cards are being issued roughly three to four weeks after the biometrics appointment, much faster than the long, unpredictable waits of the past. A new online service also lets applicants check their application status after the AIMA appointment. It is still basic, but it is a step forward.
For accommodation, AIMA now looks closely at tax-authority documents. If you rent, bring the rent receipts, proof that the lease is registered with the tax authority, and the landlord’s declaration.
Do I need the same passive income to renew a D7 or apply for permanent residency?
No. D7 holders do not need to keep the same income sources at renewal; what matters is having enough income to support themselves. You might start with dividends or rental income and later live on interest, a pension or Social Security, and that is fine. You can also switch from a D7 to a D8 (digital nomad) permit or a work permit, for example if you take a job in Portugal. You must meet the requirements of the new permit.
Does alimony count as passive income for the D7 visa?
Sometimes. SGP has had D7 visas approved with alimony, and has also seen consulates refuse it. How you present it is decisive. Apostille and legalise the court decision, and show that you have received the payments for some time and are entitled to keep receiving them. Ideally, combine alimony with other sources of income.
How much in savings do I need for a Portugal D7 visa in 2026?
SGP advises around €15,000 in savings for a D7 application. The reference is one year of the Portuguese minimum wage, which is €920 per month in 2026, or roughly €11,000 to €13,000. The exact amount is not set out in law. Keep the same amount at renewal to avoid risk, although in practice the authorities have focused on continuing passive income rather than on savings.
Can a couple use a joint bank account for a D7 application?
Yes. Legally, a joint account is presumed to belong 50/50 to each spouse, and consulates, VFS and AIMA have generally accepted joint accounts. All SGP clients use them. The authorities sometimes even like to see accompanying family members named on the account.
Can I apply for a D7 before I start receiving my pension?
Possibly, but some consulates tell applicants to wait until the pension is actually being paid. In the meantime, annuities, interest, royalties or other income can often support the application. The key is to understand how your specific consulate assesses your situation. Then present enough income to leave no doubt that you can support yourself in Portugal.
AIMA appointments and timelines
AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) is the Portuguese immigration agency that replaced SEF in 2023.
What is my legal status if my Portuguese visa expires before my AIMA appointment?
You will not be penalised. In SGP’s experience with hundreds of clients, nobody has had problems in Portugal because of an AIMA delay, because the State cannot penalise foreigners for its own delays. The residence visa is valid for four months (120 days), but AIMA appointments are often scheduled later. Keep all your documents:
the visa;
your VFS paperwork;
proof of your AIMA appointment, of your request for one, or of your biometrics collection.
Plan your travel for after you have your residence card. While the visa is valid, it allows two entries, so you can leave and return once. Once it has expired, avoid travelling, even within the Schengen area, because the expired visa no longer covers you. With the residence card, you can travel freely, as long as you meet the minimum stay requirements.
How long does it take to get an AIMA appointment in 2026?
It varies. AIMA appointments are currently being scheduled for February and March 2027. Sometimes the appointment is already booked when you attend VFS; in other cases you have to request it. Appointments are not always in your area. Algarve clients have been sent to Braga, and Lisbon clients to Viseu; many turn it into a short trip. Appointments in Madeira and the Azores are given to people who live there.
What documents should I bring to my AIMA appointment?
Bring everything on AIMA’s official list, plus these extras SGP recommends:
Entry evidence: if your passport has no Portuguese entry stamp because you entered through another Schengen country, bring your boarding passes and plane tickets.
Accommodation: bring the lease, the rent receipts and the lease registration with the tax authority. Check that the address matches exactly, because the address on your card will usually be the one registered with the tax authority.
Check the upload: see which documents the officer actually uploads to the system. In one case, a document SGP had handed in was not uploaded and had to be submitted again.
What if AIMA asks for a document that is not on the official list?
Provide it on the spot if you can. If not, ask for a deadline to submit it later. SGP has often emailed documents directly to the officer during the appointment. Only if the request makes no sense should you politely ask for the legal basis and explain why you do not have the document. Being too assertive rarely helps. This is one of the reasons SGP accompanies clients to their AIMA appointments: the firm sees exactly what is asked and how each office operates.
Can British citizens use an S1 form instead of health insurance for a Portuguese visa?
SGP advises caution. Some consulates mention the S1, but it does not cover repatriation, which the travel insurance required for the visa usually must. Check the consulate’s official list and confirm with the consulate.
At AIMA, many staff are new and unfamiliar with the S1. Views also differ on whether it requires registration with Social Security or prior residence in Portugal. For a smooth appointment, bring SNS (Portuguese National Health Service) registration or private health insurance. The cost of insurance is small compared with the risk of complications.
Portugal digital nomad visa (D8)
What changed with Portugal’s D8 digital nomad visa in 2026?
The same trends apply as for the D7: stricter document checks, residence cards in three to four weeks, and an online status tracker. The tax authority is also paying closer attention to digital nomads. Get a proper tax assessment before you move and sort out any issues in advance, including with your employer.
Do I need to show four times the minimum wage again when renewing a D8?
The law does not say so explicitly, but SGP advises continuing to show the initial requirement: four times the minimum wage, or €3,680 per month in 2026. AIMA has been somewhat more tolerant at renewal. If your income changes, there are often solutions.
Does working abroad count as an exception to Portugal’s rules on time outside the country?
Yes. Under Article 85 of the Foreigners Act (Law 23/2007), a temporary residence permit is not cancelled if you prove that you were carrying out a professional or business activity abroad. Without that exception, the permit can be cancelled if you are away for more than six consecutive months, or eight months in total, during its validity. Keep evidence of the work you did abroad. Ideally, justify the absence with AIMA before you leave.
Portugal student visa (D4)
Can international students work in Portugal?
Yes. D4 student visa holders can work, but the work must be complementary to their studies, which in practice means part-time work. It is not a way around the system. One SGP team member worked 20 hours a week while completing her master’s degree.
Can I stay in Portugal after graduating?
Yes. Graduates of Portuguese higher education or research programmes can apply for a residence permit that gives them up to one year to look for work or set up a business. There are also specific routes to change to a work permit without leaving the country.
Permanent residency in Portugal
Why is permanent residency more important under Portugal’s 2026 nationality law?
Most applicants now need ten years of residence for citizenship, so permanent residency, available after five years, has become the key milestone. It gives you the right to live in Portugal indefinitely, provided you meet the minimum stay requirements. The card must be renewed, but the right is yours.
You may also obtain EU long-term resident status, which makes it easier to move to another EU country, although you still need to apply for residence there. For most expats, daily life with permanent residency is not very different from life as a citizen.
What documents do I need for permanent residency in Portugal?
You need to show means of subsistence, though not necessarily the same type of income as your original visa. The main documents are:
your passport;
proof of accommodation: the land registry certificate if you own a property, or the lease, the landlord’s declaration, rent receipts and the lease registration with the tax authority;
proof of means of subsistence;
certificates showing that you have no debts to the tax authority or to Social Security;
proof of five years of legal residence;
proof of basic Portuguese at A2 level.
Can I take AIMA to court if I cannot get a permanent residency appointment?
Yes. Applicants are bringing actions before the Portuguese administrative courts to compel AIMA to schedule appointments. These cases must be well substantiated, with all the necessary documents and legal grounds. They should be handled by a lawyer who knows the case law in this area.
Family members of EU citizens (Article 15)
Can the non-EU spouse of an EU citizen apply for Portuguese citizenship at the same time?
Not necessarily. The EU citizen can apply after seven years, but a spouse or partner from outside the EU needs ten years of legal residence. The exception is a national of a Portuguese-speaking country, who needs seven years. If the EU partner later becomes a Portuguese citizen, a spouse married for more than three years may then acquire nationality through marriage.
Is it still hard to get an Article 15 appointment at AIMA?
It is much easier than before. Appointments for spouses of EU citizens are now similar to any other AIMA appointment. Court action is sometimes still needed, but far less often than a year and a half ago.
Tax residency and moving your belongings to Portugal
When do I become a tax resident in Portugal?
You become a Portuguese tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Portugal in any 12-month period. You also become resident if you have a home here in conditions suggesting you intend to keep it as your habitual residence (Article 16 of the Personal Income Tax Code, CIRS). Either criterion is enough on its own. In the year you move, you are generally treated as resident from your first day in Portugal.
Updating your address with the tax authority is a formality and does not decide your status. In more complex cases, international tax treaties look at where your centre of vital interests is. Get a tax assessment before you move: with some planning, there are legitimate ways to pay less tax.
Can I bring my belongings to Portugal tax-free?
Yes, with a luggage certificate (certificado de bagagem) from the Portuguese consulate, but it is not automatic. The certificate must itemise everything you are bringing that a normal tourist would not bring, and each consulate has its own procedure. Removal companies often do not handle the legal side, so plan this with your lawyer in advance.
What if my shipment is held at Portuguese customs?
Contact customs yourself straight away, because they are not required to contact you within a set period. Get help from a professional familiar with that customs office so that your belongings are not lost or damaged. Do not wait: goods left in temporary storage are subject to time limits.
What if my pet’s flight to Portugal is delayed beyond the 10-day health certificate?
You will need a new health certificate. From the US, that means a new USDA endorsement. Pets coming from outside the EU must arrive within 10 days of the official vet issuing the certificate. Portugal’s pet requirements are not complicated and there is no quarantine, but they must be met exactly.
Families with children
What happens to a child’s Portuguese residence permit at 18?
Young adults who are single and studying can remain as dependants in their parents’ household. Some can obtain an autonomous residence permit, and they can also move to another permit, for example if they get a job. Most simply keep studying and stay as they are.
Portuguese citizenship under the new nationality law
How many years of residence do I need for Portuguese citizenship in 2026?
Under the new nationality law, in force since 19 May 2026, most applicants need ten years of legal residence within a 12-year period. Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens need seven years within nine. The years do not need to be consecutive. Under the old law, five years of residence within a 15-year period counted. For more detail, read Portugal’s New Nationality Law: Your Questions Answered.
My citizenship application was filed in 2022 and is still pending. What can I do?
Applications submitted before the new law came into force are still decided under the old rules, so the ten-year requirement does not affect you. Stuck applications are one of SGP’s biggest frustrations, so this summer the firm’s team researched ways to move them forward. Formal requests to the competent entities and, in some cases, court proceedings have already worked for several clients. Timing cannot be guaranteed, but there are ways to try.
Can urgent reasons speed up a Portuguese citizenship case?
Yes. Health issues, the need to reunite with children, having grandchildren in Portugal or other serious reasons can have a real impact on how quickly a case is handled.
Can I get Portuguese citizenship through a great-grandparent?
Yes, and this is new: great-grandchildren of Portuguese nationals can now apply directly, after living legally in Portugal for five years. Before, a parent or grandparent had to obtain Portuguese nationality first. The other naturalisation requirements still apply, and you need documented Portuguese ancestry.
Wills and inheritance in Portugal
Can a US–Portuguese dual citizen choose US law to govern an estate that includes Portuguese property?
Yes. Under the EU Succession Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 650/2012), you can choose the law of your nationality to govern your estate, and you should do so in a will. Because each US state has its own law, the will should name a specific state. This choice matters. Without it, US conflict rules usually refer real estate to the law of the place where it is located, so your Portuguese property could end up subject to Portuguese forced heirship rules.
SGP recommends a Portuguese will, prepared with a notary and a lawyer experienced in private international law. Portuguese authorities understand it easily, unlike a foreign will that must be apostilled, translated and interpreted.
What is a Portuguese will, and how does it make inheritance easier?
A Portuguese will lets you choose the law that governs your estate and set out how your assets should be divided. Without that choice, EU rules apply the law of the country where you habitually live. Portugal has forced heirship rules, which reserve part of the estate for children and the spouse. Many foreign clients want their assets to pass first to their spouse and only later to their children.
You can also name a professional you trust as executor, who will hold your will, contact your heirs and guide them through the process. Practical points:
NIFs: get Portuguese tax numbers for children and their spouses in advance, because this is the first formal requirement in any inheritance.
Tax: children and spouses are exempt from inheritance tax, although a 0.8% stamp duty applies to Portuguese real estate.
Trusts: trusts, common in the US, do not exist in Portuguese law, so Portuguese authorities are unfamiliar with them.
SGP’s motto: don’t make complicated what is already complex.
About the author
Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto is the Founding Partner of SGP – Sandra Gomes Pinto & Associados, a Lisbon law firm advising international clients on Portuguese immigration and citizenship, property transactions, tax, and wills and estate planning. SGP was a pioneer in helping Americans move to Portugal and has assisted more than 500 Americans and other international clients with their relocation. The firm accompanies clients to their AIMA appointments.
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📩 Have a question about your own situation? Contact SGP at sgp@sandragomespinto.com or visit sandragomespinto.com. If you attended the webinar, mention the code Portugalist & SGP: the first 20 people to get in touch receive a free consultation.
This article summarises general information shared in a webinar and reflects Portuguese law and practice as of October 2026. It is not legal advice for your specific situation.
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