Portugal D7 vs Golden Visa: Which Route Fits You? (2026)
Two very different Portuguese routes to the same EU passport. The D7 is for people with steady passive income who will actually live in Portugal; the Golden Visa is for people with capital who want residency with almost no physical-presence requirement. One costs you time in-country, the other costs money. Here's the trade.
Side by side
| Visa | Income / investment | Cost | Work allowed | Processing | Path to PR | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇹 Portugal D7 | ~€870/mo (€10,440/yr) passive | €90 visa + lawyer ~€1,500 | Yes (including local employment) | 4-6 months | 5 years | 5 years |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal Golden | €500k fund / cultural — real estate excluded since 2023 | €500k investment + ~€10k fees | Not required | 6-12 months | 5 years | 5 years |
The details
🇵🇹 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
🇵🇹 Golden Visa — Portugal
Income: €500k fund / cultural — real estate excluded since 2023 · Processing: 6-12 months · Cost: €500k investment + ~€10k fees
Path to PR: 5 years · Citizenship: 5 years
Pros
- Only 7 days/yr presence required
- Family included
- Citizenship in 5yr
Trade-offs
- Real estate option killed Oct 2023
- Long AIMA processing
- Large capital lockup
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