PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP AND RESIDENCYPORTUGUESE D7 VISA

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa), is located on the Iberian Peninsula and the most western country of the European continent. Portugal is only bordered by Spain to the north and east. In the south and west of the country, there is a 948-kilometer Atlantic Ocean coastline.

The capital city of Portugal is Lisbon.

Portuguese is both the official and national language of the country, however, English is also widely spoken in Portugal.

The current population of Portugal is 10.149.812 as of February, 2022.

The Euro (€) is the currency of Portugal.

Since Portugal is both an EU and a Schengen country, Portuguese citizenship ensures free movement of persons in Schengen area and gives the right to settle, work and study in EU countries.

Primarily, Portuguese citizenship is acquired by:

descendants of Portuguese parents/grandparents,
marriage/civil union,
birth on Portuguese territory
and adoption.

Besides, it is also possible to acquire Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residence in Portugal.

D7 VISA PROGRAM:

Since 2007, foreigner citizens who wish to reside in Portugal, may apply to a special type of residence visa called “the D7 visa” (also known as “Retirement Visa” or “Passive Income Visa) if they can prove that they have sufficient income (pensions, rentals, investments etc.) to live their life.

The D7 visa provides the holder a residence permit for a period of one year, which can be renewed for successive periods of 2 years and then change into a permanent residence permit after 5 years.

The holder of a residence permit becomes entitled to:

access to the National Health Service,
access to the National Education Service and Portuguese schools,
access to vocational schooling, initial and further professional training and retraining,
conducting any professional work activity independently,
access and protection from the Portuguese law and legal system.

You are expected to stay at least 16 months in the country during the first 2-year period and you are also expected to stay in the country for 28 months in each 3-year subsequent period but if you are absent for 6 consecutive months, your residence permit might be invalidated.

The permanent residence requires you to stay a minimum of 30 months during each 5-year period but if you are absent for 25 consecutive months, your residence permit might be invalidated.

Who May Apply?

You may apply for the D7 visa if you:

are a non-EU national,
have the funds to live on your own during your stay in Portugal,
have a clean criminal record,
can show a residence address in Portugal,

How to Apply?

Obtaining a NIF number
Opening a bank account in Portugal.
Having an adequate accommodation in Portugal.
After first 3 steps, you will need an appointment at the Portuguese consulate in your current region and submit the required documents:

Application form,
Passport,
Two passport-sized photos,
A declaration outlining the reasons why do you want to residence permit,
Valid travel insurance,
Application for criminal record consultation by SEF (Portuguese Foreigners and Borders Service),
Certificate of criminal records issued by home country,
Proof that the applicant has an adequate accommodation,
Proof of sufficient income that allows you to live in Portugal,

To be eligible for D7 Visa, you must prove that you have passive income amounting for 12 months: €9.500 for the applicant.

After you receive your residence permit, you will need five years. You have to reside in Portugal legally at least five years then you will have the right to apply for citizenship. Also, you need to take the Portuguese language test (called the CIPLE Portuguese proficiency test) any time before your application.

If the applicant:

is at least 18 years old,
is a resident in Portugal for at least five years,
knows A2 level of the Portuguese according to the CIPLE,
and have not been convicted of a crime which has penalty of three years or more in Portuguese law

may apply for the Portuguese citizenship.