Italy Elective Residency vs Portugal D7 (2026)
Two of the cheapest passive-income routes into Western Europe, constantly compared by retirees. Portugal's D7 has a low, published income bar and lets you work; Italy's Elective Residency expects substantial passive means and forbids work entirely. Portugal's path to citizenship is faster. Here's the side-by-side.
Side by side
| Visa | Income bar | Work allowed | Processing | Path to PR | Citizenship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy Elective | ~€31,000/yr passive (~€2,600/mo) | No | 2-3 months | 5 years | 10 years | €300 + lawyer |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal D7 | ~€870/mo (€10,440/yr) passive | Yes (including local employment) | 4-6 months | 5 years | 5 years | €90 visa + lawyer ~€1,500 |
The details
🇮🇹 Elective Residency Visa — Italy
Income: ~€31,000/yr passive (~€2,600/mo) · Processing: 2-3 months · Cost: €300 + lawyer
Path to PR: 5 years · Citizenship: 10 years
Pros
- Lowest passive bar in Western Europe
- Family included
- Path to EU citizenship
Trade-offs
- No work allowed, ever
- Must own/rent property in Italy
- Slow Questura processing
🇵🇹 D7 Passive Income Visa — Portugal
Income: ~€870/mo (€10,440/yr) passive · Processing: 4-6 months · Cost: €90 visa + lawyer ~€1,500
Path to PR: 5 years · Citizenship: 5 years
Pros
- Lowest income bar in Europe
- Citizenship after only 5 years
- Work allowed in Portugal
Trade-offs
- Slow AIMA processing
- 183-day/yr presence required
- NHR tax regime ended Mar 2024
Model both against your own numbers
GoThere runs your real income and family size against every visa's threshold, then tracks the document checklist for the one you choose.
Related
All passive-income visas · All digital nomad visas · Moving to Spain · Moving to Portugal