The D7 and the D8 are the two visas most people weigh when moving to Portugal, and choosing the wrong one is a common reason for refusal. The difference is not how much you earn but what kind of income it is. Work through these scenarios to check you would pick the right one.
The visas are split by income type: the D7 covers passive income such as pensions, rent and dividends, while the D8 covers active work done remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal.
The D7 requires the minimum wage (€920/month in 2026) and the D8 four times the minimum wage (€3,680/month).
A pension is passive income above the €920 D7 threshold, so the D7 fits. Pension income does not qualify for the D8.
Freelance income from clients outside Portugal is active remote-work income above €3,680, so the D8 fits.
Salary, freelance invoices and remote employment are not passive income, so they do not satisfy the D7. Below €3,680, this applicant does not meet the D8 threshold either.
Each visa counts its own type of income. The €1,200 of rent meets the D7 threshold, while the €3,000 salary is below the €3,680 D8 threshold. A lawyer can advise how to present mixed income.
Both are residence visas leading to the same path: a 2-year first permit, 3-year renewals, permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 10 (7 for EU/CPLP nationals).
Source: Permanent residency at the 5-year mark (Portugalist)
The exceptions to the 2-year rule under Lei 61/2025 cover Golden Visa holders and highly qualified professionals, not D7 or D8 holders. Families who apply and move together avoid it.
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.