Portugal offers two residence routes that get confused with each other constantly, because both let non-EU citizens live in Portugal without a local job. They’re built for different income situations, though, and picking the wrong one is a common reason files stall.
D7: passive and remote income
The D7 was originally designed for retirees living off pensions, but it now covers a broader set of passive or remote income: rental income, dividends, savings-based income, and some forms of remote work income that don’t fit the D8’s specific category. It generally has a lower income threshold than the D8, which is why it’s often the better fit for people with modest but stable passive income.
D8: the digital nomad visa
The D8 is specifically for people who are either employed by a company outside Portugal, or self-employed with clients mostly outside Portugal, and who earn active income from that work — not passive income. It has its own income requirement, generally higher than the D7’s, reflecting that it’s aimed at working professionals rather than retirees or passive-income holders.
How to actually tell which one fits
The honest answer is: it depends on the source of your income, not just the amount. A remote employee with a stable salary usually fits the D8. Someone living off rental income or a pension usually fits the D7. Someone with a mix of both needs a closer look, because the wrong classification can get a file rejected even if the total income is more than enough.
We ask for a breakdown of your income sources before recommending either — not because the process is complicated, but because filing under the wrong category wastes months.
Family and next steps
Both visas allow spouses and dependent children to join through family reunification, with slightly different document requirements. Both lead toward permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship eligibility, on Portugal’s standard timeline.
Portugal or Spain?
We get this question often. Portugal tends to suit lower or purely passive income profiles better; Spain has more routes for company owners, employees on assignment and post-study cases. If you’re weighing both countries, it’s worth comparing the actual numbers rather than a general impression — we do this comparison as part of the free pre-call.
Not sure where you stand? Our free pre-assessment asks about your income and goals and tells you which route — Portuguese or Spanish — actually fits.
This page gives general orientation. The right route and the exact requirements are confirmed only after reviewing your file.