Practice Area · 04

The right visa, for the life you're planning.

D7, digital nomad, entrepreneur, work and family routes: we match your situation to the right Portuguese visa, prepare a complete application and stay with you through every renewal.

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6+Visa routes covered

100%Start from abroad

48hResponse to your request

Law update · May 2026

Under the new Nationality Law, your years of residence count from the issuance of your first permit. The visa you choose today shapes your path to citizenship. See the citizenship routes →

Visa routes

Six ways in, one right answer.

Most relocations fail at the start: the wrong visa for the actual plan. We begin with your life, income and goals, then choose the route, not the other way around.

Most chosenRoute 01

D7 · Passive income

For retirees and holders of stable passive income such as pensions, rents, dividends or royalties. The classic route for those relocating without local employment.

Stable passive income indexed to the Portuguese minimum wage

Route 02

D8 · Digital nomad

For remote employees and freelancers working for companies or clients outside Portugal, available as a temporary stay or a residence visa leading to a permit.

Remote income of roughly four times the minimum wage

Route 03

D2 · Entrepreneurs

For founders opening or acquiring a business in Portugal, and independent professionals with a viable activity plan. Often combined with our Corporate team's incorporation work.

Business plan & means to establish the activity in Portugal

Route 04

Work & highly qualified

Work visas for employees with a Portuguese contract, and the D3 and EU Blue Card routes for highly qualified professionals in technical, scientific and management roles.

Employment contract or qualified job offer in Portugal

Route 05

Family reunification

For spouses, children and dependent relatives of Portuguese residents. We plan the family's applications together, so the family can immigrate together.

Proven family link to a legal resident in Portugal

Route 06

EU citizens

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland don't need a visa, but do need to register their residence. A simpler process with deadlines that are easy to miss.

CRUE registration after 90 days living in Portugal

What a strong application needs

Approved applications are built, not filed.

Visa refusals almost always trace back to weak or inconsistent files. These are the pillars we secure before anything is submitted.

Proof of income

Consistent, documented income matching the route's threshold, structured the way consulates expect to see it.

Accommodation

A lease, deed or formal invitation proving where you will live, valid for the period the visa requires.

Clean criminal record

Certificates from every country where you lived for over a year, apostilled and translated where required.

NIF & bank account

Portuguese tax number and bank account opened remotely before your application, both usually required.

Health insurance

Coverage valid in Portugal for the visa period, replaced by public system access once you are resident.

Realistic timeline

Consulate and AIMA schedules planned in advance, so your move date doesn't depend on luck.

How we work

From decision to residence card.

Route assessment

We review your income, plans and family situation and confirm the right visa within 48 hours.

File preparation

Document checklist, NIF, bank account, accommodation and translations, built to consulate standards.

Consulate application

Submission at the Portuguese consulate in your country, with our team responding to any request.

Arrival & permit

AIMA appointment in Portugal, biometrics and issuance of your residence permit.

Renewals & beyond

Permit renewals, family reunification and the path to permanent residence or citizenship.

Common questions

Answers, before you ask.

How much income do I need for the D7 visa?

The reference is the Portuguese national minimum wage: the main applicant must show at least that amount in stable passive income, plus 50% for a spouse and 30% per child. Because the minimum wage is updated every year, we confirm the exact current threshold when we assess your case.

What is the income requirement for the digital nomad visa?

The D8 requires average monthly remote income of roughly four times the Portuguese minimum wage over recent months, from employment or clients outside Portugal. We review your contracts and payment history to confirm eligibility before you apply.

Can I apply without coming to Portugal first?

Yes. Residence visas are applied for at the Portuguese consulate in your country of residence, and we prepare everything remotely, including your NIF and bank account through power of attorney. You travel once the visa is granted.

Does my time on these visas count towards citizenship?

Yes. Legal residence under any of these permits counts towards naturalisation, and under the 2026 Nationality Law the clock runs from the issuance of your first residence permit. Choosing and timing your route well directly shortens your path to a Portuguese passport.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Spouses, minor children and dependent relatives qualify through family reunification, either together with your application or after you are resident. We plan the family as a single case so nobody's status is left behind.

How long does the process take?

It varies by consulate and by AIMA's schedule in Portugal, typically several months from application to residence card. The biggest delays come from incomplete files and missed appointment windows, which is precisely what legal preparation avoids.

Related services

Your move deserves an answer today.

Tell us about your plans and receive an initial visa assessment within 48 hours, with no obligation.

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