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Portugal · residence route overview
Portugal Visas and Residencies 2026
Whatever your income looks like, there is a Portuguese route to residency. Compare them side by side and find the one your real situation can support.
- 7,000+cases handled
- 99.2%completed-case rate
- One planbefore you build the file
Portugal at a glance
Why move to Portugal
The routes differ in evidence. What you get at the end is the same: residency in Portugal with a clear European path.
A clear EU citizenship path
After 10 years of legal residency (7 for CPLP and EU nationals), counted from your residence-card date, reform effective 19 May 2026.
Lower cost of living
Roughly 40% below Western Europe, with a mild year-round climate and full Schengen access.
Residency for the whole family
A 2-year renewable permit with access to Portuguese healthcare and education from day one.
Minimum paperwork on your sideYour dedicated consultant handles the documents and appointments.
Evidence, not decoration
Our numbers.
Residence, work, founder, family and private-client cases across more than 30 nationalities.
Historical share of completed cases approved. Open, withdrawn and incomplete cases are not included.
Applicants from more than thirty countries routed into Portuguese residency.
The D8, D3, D7 and D2 routes on this page reach permanent residency after five years of legal residence.
Start with how you earn
Choose your routeby how you earn.
Answer one question about how you earn, and the shortlist usually writes itself. We confirm it on a call before you build a file.
Remote income
Remote job or freelance income above €3,680/month?
D8, unless reclassification worries you, then D3 + payroll.
Compare D8 Skilled employment
Does your foreign employer need a Portuguese hire?
D3 + Portuguese payroll.
See Portugal D3 Already in Portugal
Already in Portugal with a frozen case?
AIMA rescue. If your case is stuck, we push it into legal deadlines.
See AIMA rescue
One call, one clear recommendation, and the exact evidence the chosen route needs.
Portugal route atlas
Five routes to Portuguese residency
Each route asks for a different kind of proof. Every card below shows enough to know whether it deserves a deeper look.
Remote workers and freelancers with stable foreign income.
Digital Nomad Visa (D8)
Active remote income from outside Portugal, proven over recent months. No employer or company setup needed.
- Income floor
- €3,680/mo
- Employer
- Not required
- Family
- Yes, same file
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- from €2,490
01 PT · D8 Skilled-employment route. Pair with Portuguese payroll and EOR.
Highly Skilled Visa (D3)
Qualifying role, degree or senior experience, and a genuine employer relationship. Where a real foreign employer orders the Portuguese hire, a payroll company handles the local employment.
- Salary
- from ≈€2,100/mo
- Employer
- Yes, via a payroll company
- Family
- Yes, same file
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- from €2,490
02 PT · D3 For retirees, investors and passive-income holders.
Passive Income Visa (D7)
Pension, rent, dividends or interest at a modest monthly floor. The quietest route when your income does not come from work.
- Income floor
- from €920/mo
- Employer
- Not required
- Family
- Yes, parents too
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- from €2,490
03 PT · D7 For founders and operators. Company formation included.
Entrepreneur Visa (D2)
A real business plan and modest savings. We form the Portuguese company and build the case around the venture.
- Savings
- €11,040
- Employer
- Your own company
- Family
- Yes, same file
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- from €5,990
04 PT · D2 For investors seeking a flexible path to Portuguese residency through capital investment.
Investor Visa (Golden Visa)
Capital investment with a minimal physical-stay requirement. Current fund options and eligibility are confirmed on a call.
- Investment
- from €500,000
- Employer
- Not required
- Family
- Yes, same file
- Stay required
- 7 days/year
- Service fee
- On request
05 PT · GV Side-by-side
Compare Portugal's residency routes
The mechanics in one view. If two columns both look plausible, that is exactly what the strategy call resolves.
Best forIncome / capitalEmployer neededFamilyPath to PR
D8 Digital NomadBest forRemote worker / freelancerIncome / capital€3,680/moEmployer neededNoFamilyYesPath to PR5 yrs
D3 Highly SkilledBest forSkilled employeeIncome / capitalfrom €2,100/moEmployer neededYes, via a payroll companyFamilyYesPath to PR5 yrs
D7 Passive IncomeBest forRetiree / rentierIncome / capitalfrom €920/moEmployer neededNoFamilyYes (parents too)Path to PR5 yrs
D2 EntrepreneurBest forFounder / operatorIncome / capitalSavings €11,040Employer neededNo (own company)FamilyYesPath to PR5 yrs
Payroll + D3Best forForeign employer needs a Portuguese hireIncome / capitalSalary from €2,100/moEmployer neededA payroll companyFamilyYesPath to PR5 yrs
Supporting services
Our services beyond the visa
Two operational services that keep a Portuguese case moving. Neither is a visa; both exist because real cases need them.
Portuguese Payroll (Employer of Record)
A payroll company employs you in Portugal when your foreign employer orders it. Employment contract, Segurança Social, IRS payroll and the IFICI application, coordinated with the team that files your case.
See Portugal PayrollIf your case is frozen, we push it into legal deadlines.
Legal escalation for delayed residence cases already inside Portugal: we move the file back into process and hold the authority to its own timelines.
See AIMA rescueHow we work
Let your personal case manager and lawyerhandle all the paperwork.
The same four moves on every Portuguese route, owned by one accountable case lead.
Understand your immigration options
During a consultation, our expert evaluates your profile and outlines pathways, helping you make an informed decision.
Tailored strategy for approval
A lawyer analyzes your case, identifies challenges, and creates a step-by-step roadmap to maximize success.
Complete document preparation
With minimal input from you, we handle certificates, translations, and applications.
Smooth application process
Your manager schedules appointments, ensures compliance, communicates with authorities, and tracks progress.
We file from dozens of origin countries and know how each consulate actually works.
People behind your case
The people who move your case forward.
Every case is led and coordinated by Relovisa. We bring in the immigration consultants, lawyers, payroll and tax specialists the route needs, while Relovisa remains your single point of contact.
One coordinated case team, built around the route you actually need.
Vlad Shipilov
FounderLeads strategy for founder, business and non-standard cases, connecting the route with the client's business, family and long-term plan.
Olia Nemirovski
COO & Chief Case ManagerLeads client and partner operations so case teams, local specialists and next steps stay coordinated from assessment to completion.
Evgenia
UK Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports UK immigration and Talent Visa case management where licensed legal input is required.
Vladimir
Germany Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports German work immigration cases across process planning, local requirements and case coordination.
Daniela
Portugal Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports Portuguese residence matters that require legal review, representation or procedural escalation.
Petra
Portugal Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports Portugal D2, D3, D7 and D8 cases, including clients with different income structures.
Marilia
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports global mobility for self-employed, founder and highly skilled cases through Portugal D8, D2 and D3 routes.
Thiago
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports highly qualified professionals and procedural cases involving residence delays and AIMA proceedings.
Vladislav
International Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerAdvises on international tax structures and non-standard cross-border situations across Europe, Asia and the United States.
Thomas
Crypto & Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerSupports clients whose move intersects with crypto assets, international business and tax planning.
Our wider specialist network60+
immigration consultants and lawyers
Local coverage for routes and services that require authorised in-country specialists.
Portugal questions
Portugal visa questions
The details people check before choosing a route. Every answer reflects the current published rules and our filing practice.
Which Portuguese visa should I choose?
D7 for passive income, D8 for active remote income, D3 for skilled employment, and D2 for founders. If you are already in Portugal with a stuck case, see the AIMA rescue service.
What is the difference between D7 and D8?
D7 is passive income such as pension, rent or dividends. D8 is active remote-work income. They use different income proofs with similar permit mechanics.
Do you offer the Golden Visa?
Yes. The Golden Visa is a capital-investment route to Portuguese residency, from €500,000, with a minimal stay requirement of 7 days per year. Book a consultation for current fund options and eligibility.
Can I apply for D8 or D7 while already in Portugal?
No. D8 and D7 entry visas must be applied for at a Portuguese consulate outside Portugal.
Is a NIF required before applying?
Yes, a Portuguese tax number is needed for bank accounts and administrative steps. It can be obtained remotely, and Relovisa handles it.
How long does processing take?
Consulate visa 30 to 60 days. AIMA permit issuance realistically 9 to 18 months in Lisbon and Porto and roughly 5 to 9 months via regional offices; the legal target is 90 days.
How is your fee structured?
We separate our service fee from government fees and from any investment or salary. Service fees start at €2,490 and rise for company and payroll routes. Government fees are quoted per route.
Can I bring my family?
All routes provide a family path, but exact family-reunification timing and eligibility require case-specific review under current rules.
When does the citizenship clock start?
From the date your residence permit is issued, not the consulate visa date, and it runs 10 years, or 7 for CPLP and EU nationals, under the post-19 May 2026 rules.
Start with a clear route
Not sure which Portuguese visa is yours? We will tell you.
One call, your income and goals, one clear recommendation. We route you to the right route and quote the end-to-end cost.
Book your strategy call30 minutes · €40, applied to your package if you proceed