€920 a month and a health insurance policy with no copayments. That's the D7 visa.
Portugal's D7 Passive Income Visa is the standard path for US retirees. Your Social Security and pension income qualifies toward the €920/month threshold, and the application is handled entirely at a Portuguese consulate in the US before you move.
The part that catches people off guard is the insurance requirement. Portugal requires a private health insurance policy with no copayments — no deductibles, no coinsurance. A plan with a $250 annual deductible can get your application rejected. Most US health plans won't qualify. International expat insurance does.
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The 60-second version
Income threshold
€920/month
Social Security, pension, IRA distributions, dividends, rental income — any passive source counts. Updated each January tied to the Portuguese minimum wage.
Insurance requirement
Zero copays
The policy must have no deductibles and no coinsurance. Most US health plans don't qualify. International expat insurance does.
Days in Portugal
183+ / year
Portugal must be your primary residence. You can travel, but you need to spend the majority of the calendar year there.
Initial permit
2 years
Then renewable for 3-year periods. After 5 years you can apply for permanent residency. After 10 years, citizenship.
Citizenship eligibility
10 years
Both the US and Portugal allow dual citizenship — you keep your American passport and gain an EU one. The 10-year timeline was updated in 2025 under current Portuguese nationality law.
Where you apply
US consulate
Apply at the Portuguese consulate for your US state. Slots fill months in advance — book before your documents are ready.
The income requirement — what counts and how to document it
The €920/month bar is the minimum. It's meant to show you can support yourself without working in Portugal. The consulate doesn't care much about income type — documentation matters more than source.
What qualifies
- Social Security — the most common qualifying source for US retirees. Your monthly SS payment counts directly.
- Pension income — employer pensions, civil service pensions, military retirement pay.
- IRA and 401(k) distributions — regular distributions count. Bank statements showing the recurring transfers are the key document.
- Investment income — dividends, interest, and rental income from US property all count as passive income.
- Combinations — $800/month SS + $200/month dividends = roughly €920 at current rates. The consulate sees the total.
How to document it
- SSA benefits letter — the official letter showing your monthly amount. Download from My Social Security.
- 3–6 months of bank statements — showing recurring income deposits. Some consulates require these certified by your bank.
- Pension award letter — from your employer or administrator, showing the monthly payment amount.
- Investment statements — brokerage statements showing dividend or distribution activity if you're using investment income to qualify.
Verify the exact threshold with your consulate
The €920/month figure is the 2026 floor, tied to the Portuguese minimum wage and updated each January. By the time you apply, it may have changed. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the current requirement. Your specific consulate may also have additional documentation standards — confirm before you submit.
The insurance requirement — the part that trips people up
Portugal requires proof of private health insurance to qualify for the D7. That's common for retirement visas. What's less obvious: the policy must have no copayments. No deductibles. No coinsurance. A plan with a $500 deductible or 20% cost-sharing after hospitalization can get your application rejected.
Health insurance for your D7 application
The right category is International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) — not travel insurance. IPMI plans are built for long-term expats and include zero-deductible tiers that meet Portugal's standard. Providers like IMG Global, Cigna Global, and Allianz Care all offer qualifying plans. At age 65, budget roughly €120–200/month for Portugal-only coverage, or €180–300/month if you include US coverage for trips back home. The international insurance cost guide covers price ranges by age and explains what to look for in the policy letter.
Policies that don't qualify
- US employer retiree health plans (almost all have copays or deductibles)
- COBRA continuation coverage
- ACA marketplace plans (all have cost-sharing built in)
- Travel insurance (short-term, not a health insurance policy)
- Local Portuguese insurance — can't purchase until you have a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and residency
What typically qualifies
- International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) plans — the category built for long-term expats
- Providers like IMG Global, Cigna Global, Allianz Care, AXA Global Healthcare, and BCBS Global Solutions offer zero-deductible tiers
- Coverage must include Portugal and typically the broader EU/EEA
- Cost at age 65: roughly €120–200/month without US coverage, €180–300/month with it
Travel insurance vs. private health insurance for the D7 visa
Travel insurance won't satisfy the D7 requirement — even a "premium" or "long-stay" travel policy. It's a short-term product built for trips: emergency medical evacuation, trip cancellation, lost luggage. Not a health insurance policy.
What you need is International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) — a long-term plan that serves as your primary health coverage while you live in Portugal. A travel policy with a medical emergency rider isn't the same thing — the rider is capped and time-limited, and consulates know it.
Confirm no-copayment status with your insurer in writing
Before purchasing, ask your insurer to confirm in writing that the specific plan tier has no deductibles and no coinsurance. Many IPMI plans offer both cost-sharing and no-cost-sharing versions at different price points — make sure you're on the right tier. Then verify with your consulate what documentation they need to see that the policy qualifies.
One thing to decide early: whether to include US coverage on your policy. Including it adds 30–50% to the premium but covers you on trips back home. If you're fully relocating, a Portugal/EU-only plan is meaningfully cheaper.
Required documents
The document list varies slightly by consulate, but the core package is consistent. Start gathering these 3–4 months before your appointment — the FBI check alone takes 8–18 weeks.
Valid US passport
Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay. If yours is expiring soon, renew first — passport renewal currently runs 6–8 weeks.
Completed D7 visa application form
Available from your Portuguese consulate. Fill it out per your consulate's instructions — some accept English, others require Portuguese.
Two passport-sized photos
Standard visa photo specs (white background, recent). Same requirements as a US passport photo.
Proof of passive income
SSA benefits letter, pension award letter, and/or 3–6 months of bank statements showing recurring deposits totaling €920+/month. Some consulates request bank statements certified by your bank.
Private health insurance policy (no copayments)
A policy covering you in Portugal with zero deductibles and zero coinsurance. Your insurer should provide a coverage letter confirming this. International IPMI plans from providers like IMG, Cigna Global, or Allianz Care meet this requirement.
FBI criminal background check with federal apostille
Must be the FBI Identity History Summary — not a state-level check. Requires a federal apostille from the US Department of State (your state secretary's office can't do this one). The check has a 90-day freshness window. Allow 8–18 weeks depending on whether you use the FBI directly or an expedited channeler.
FBI background check guide →Proof of accommodation in Portugal
A signed long-term lease or property deed showing where you'll live. Short-term rentals (Airbnb, weekly rentals) are generally not sufficient — you'll need a lease of at least several months.
NIF (Portuguese tax number) — some consulates require this
Not all consulates require the NIF upfront, but some do. You can obtain one through a fiscal representative in Portugal before you arrive — costs around €100 but avoids a gap. Confirm with your specific consulate whether you need it before the appointment.
This reflects standard D7 requirements as of 2026. Verify the complete list with your nearest Portuguese consulate before applying — requirements can vary by location.
Applying from the US — the consulate process
The D7 application is done entirely in the US before you move. You submit documents in person at a Portuguese consulate, wait for approval (typically 60–90 days), and then enter Portugal on your visa within the allowed window.
Four steps, in order
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Find your consulate and book the appointment
Which consulate you use depends on your US state of residence. Major ones are in New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington DC. Slots fill 2–4 months out. Book the appointment before your documents are ready — then work backward to gather everything in time.
Find Portuguese consulates in the US → (opens in new tab) -
Start the FBI background check immediately
The check takes the longest and has a 90-day freshness window — meaning you can't start it too early either. Once you have your consulate appointment booked, start the FBI check process. Using an expedited channeler and apostille service compresses 14–18 weeks to 4–6.
FBI background check guide → -
Gather your remaining documents
Pull your SSA benefits letter, collect 3–6 months of bank statements, confirm your health insurance letter, and secure a signed lease for Portuguese accommodation. These can be gathered closer to your appointment than the FBI check.
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Attend the appointment and wait for approval
Submit documents in person. Bring originals and copies of everything. Processing runs 60–90 days at most consulates. Once approved, you'll receive a visa sticker in your passport with an entry window — usually 90–180 days from approval date — and must enter Portugal within that window.
After the D7 — permit, renewal, and the path to citizenship
The visa gets you into Portugal. AIMA — the immigration authority that replaced SEF in 2023 — issues the actual residence permit after you arrive. From there the path is clear and predictable.
Book your AIMA appointment the day you arrive
AIMA converts your D7 visa to a Portuguese residence permit. The appointment backlog has been significant since the SEF-to-AIMA transition — don't wait a week to book it. Your visa keeps you legal while you wait for the appointment, but you need this step to get your residence card.
AIMA — book your appointment → (opens in new tab)Initial residence permit: 2 years
Your first residence card is valid for two years. You'll need to maintain the same income and health insurance coverage through this period, and keep meeting the 183-day residency requirement.
Renewal: 3-year periods
After the initial 2-year permit, you renew for 3-year periods. Apply before the current permit expires — the renewal process is similar to the original, just show continued income and insurance coverage.
Permanent residency at 5 years
After 5 years of legal residency you can apply for permanent resident status. This removes the €920/month income requirement — you no longer need to prove passive income to maintain your status. The 183-day residency requirement stays, but the financial bar is cleared permanently.
Citizenship at 10 years
After 10 years of legal residency (eligibility timeline updated in 2025), you can apply for Portuguese citizenship. Both the US and Portugal allow dual citizenship — you keep your American passport and add an EU one, which gives you freedom of movement across all 27 EU member states.
Portuguese citizenship application — gov.pt → (opens in new tab)Start here — in this order
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Get international insurance quotes
You need a policy with no copayments for the visa application. Research this now — insurance takes time to compare and purchase, and you'll need the policy letter before your consulate appointment.
Compare international insurance plans → -
Book your consulate appointment
Book the appointment slot first, then gather documents. Slots at major consulates fill 2–4 months out — if you wait until your documents are ready, you'll add months to your timeline.
Find your Portuguese consulate → (opens in new tab) -
Start the FBI background check
Allow 8–18 weeks for the FBI check plus the federal apostille. The 90-day freshness window means you can't start it months before your appointment, but you should start it as soon as the appointment is booked.
FBI background check guide → -
Gather your income documentation
Pull your SSA benefits letter from My Social Security and collect 3–6 months of bank statements. If you're using pension or investment income, get the award letters and account statements ready.
Download your SSA benefits letter → (opens in new tab)
Sources
- D7 Passive Income Visa — Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Official D7 visa income requirements and documentation list (2026 threshold: €920/month).
- What Insurance Do I Need for the D7 Visa? — Portugalist: D7 no-copayment insurance requirement and which policy types qualify or don't.
- Portuguese Consulates in the US — Consulate General in New York: Directory of Portuguese consulates in the United States and their state jurisdictions.
- AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo: Portuguese immigration authority responsible for residence permits (replaced SEF in 2023). Appointment booking for residency conversion.
- US-Portugal Totalization Agreement — Social Security Administration: Agreement preventing double Social Security taxation; in force since 1989.
- Portuguese citizenship application — gov.pt: Official citizenship requirements including the 10-year residency eligibility (updated 2025).
You need insurance before you apply — compare plans built for retirees
The D7 visa requires a health insurance policy with no copayments. These are the international plans US retirees use in Portugal and across Europe.
Compare International Insurance Plans