Portugal has more than ten residence routes, and the right one depends mostly on where your income comes from and how much time you plan to spend in the country. Answer six questions and we will match you to the visa that fits best under the 2026 rules, then explain what it requires.
Portugal sorts residence visas mainly by the type of income: passive income suits the D7, foreign remote work suits the D8, a Portuguese job suits the D1/D3, and an investment suits the Golden Visa.
Most Portuguese residence permits expect you to actually live in Portugal. The Golden Visa is the exception: it requires only 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each later two-year period.
In 2026 the D7 starts at €920 per month (the Portuguese minimum wage) and the D8 at €3,680 per month (four times the minimum wage). Both thresholds rise every January with the minimum wage.
Family ties can open faster routes than any work or income visa: citizenship by descent for children and grandchildren of Portuguese nationals, or family-based residence for relatives of citizens and residents.
The D3 highly qualified route generally requires pay of at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary (or three times the IAS index). Since Lei 61/2025, the job-seeker visa is also limited to highly qualified profiles.
Since the 2023 reforms, buying property no longer qualifies for the Golden Visa. The mainstream route is €500,000 in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund; a smaller investment in your own company points instead to the D2 entrepreneur visa.
Your best match
Your profile fits the D7. It requires regular passive income of at least €920 per month in 2026 (plus 50% for a spouse and 30% per child), savings, health insurance and accommodation in Portugal. You must live in Portugal, not just visit.
See requirements and how we helpYour profile fits the D8. You need active income from outside Portugal of at least €3,680 per month in 2026 (four times the minimum wage), usually averaged over the last three months, from a foreign employer or foreign clients.
See requirements and how we helpYour profile fits the Golden Visa. The main route is a €500,000 subscription in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund. You only need about 7 days per year in Portugal, and your family can be included without the 2-year reunification wait.
See requirements and how we helpYour profile fits the D3. It is for highly qualified professionals with a Portuguese job offer or contract, generally paying at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary. Highly qualified professionals are also exempt from the 2-year family reunification wait.
See requirements and how we helpYour profile fits the D2. It is for people who want to start or run a business or work as a self-employed professional in Portugal, supported by a credible business plan and proof of means.
See requirements and how we helpYour strongest route is through a family member. Spouses and relatives of Portuguese or EU citizens follow the EU family member route; relatives of non-EU residents follow family reunification, which since Lei 61/2025 usually requires the sponsor to hold 2 years of legal residence.
See requirements and how we helpYou may be able to skip residence visas entirely. Children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens can apply for citizenship by descent; grandchildren must show an effective connection to the Portuguese community.
See requirements and how we helpYour answers don't point clearly to one visa. That's common — many people combine income types or have family options they haven't considered. A short consultation with a Portuguese immigration lawyer will identify your best route.
This quiz is general information based on Portuguese rules in force on the review date above, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds change every January with the minimum wage, and laws change often. Confirm your case with a lawyer before applying.