In short: one typical path, step by step, from your first residency to a passport.
Year 1: getting your first residency. Read the story first, details below. The steps above the dashed line cover the first residency; the rest happens later on. This is one typical scenario on the main route, in plain language. Figures come from our research notes; anything marked ⚠️ or ❓ is uncertain, so check the linked details before you act.
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Before you go
Show your passive income
The D7 needs at least €920 a month (~US$1,030) for one adult, +50% per extra adult and +30% per child, which is €11,040 a year. Aim at least ~20% higher. Most consulates expect 12 months of it in a Portuguese bank account ❓.
Need: NIF tax number, Portuguese bank accountDetails ↓
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Months 1–3
Get the D7 visa
You apply at the consulate. Processing is around 1–3 months ❓.
In short: the complete reference: every step, office, fee, rule and source, labeled verified or uncertain.
Labels from our research notes: ✅ verified at the linked source · ⚠️ conflicting or needs checking · ❓ unverified, do not rely on it. Researched October 9, 2026.
Portugal at a glance
Main route
D7 passive-income visa → residence permit
Money test
€920/mo (~US$1,030) for one adult
Residence before citizenship
10 yrs (Lei Orgânica 1/2026, from May 19, 2026)
Realistic total (estimate)
≈ 10.5–12 yrs
Keep US citizenship?
Yes
Show the full Portugal reference guide
Researched Oct 9, 2026. Exchange rate used throughout: €1 ≈ US$1.12 (ECB reference rate Oct 9, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.1206 USD; ECB; divisasboe). USD figures are rounded. RMMG (minimum wage) 2026 = €920/month (Decreto-Lei 139/2025, Dec 29, 2025) ✅ (Diário da República; DGERT). Means-of-subsistence tests are pegged to the RMMG (Portaria 1563/2007) ✅ (AIMA). ⚠️ AIMA's page still shows the 2025 value (€870). Labels: ✅ = verified at the linked source · ⚠️ = conflicting sources or needs checking · ❓ = UNVERIFIED (could not confirm; do not publish as fact). This is general information, not legal or tax advice. See our disclaimer.
0. TL;DR
Item
Answer
Featured route
D7 (passive income) visa → residence permit (AIMA). Means of subsistence = 100% of RMMG = €920/mo (~US$1,030) for the first adult, +50% per extra adult, +30% per child ✅ (AIMA scale + DL 139/2025). Most consulates expect 12 months' worth in a Portuguese account ❓
Path to permanent
Autorização de residência permanente after 5 years of legal residence ❓ (Lei 23/2007 art. 80 not fetched)
Citizenship
10 years of legal residence for US (non-CPLP, non-EU) nationals under Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force May 19, 2026; only for applications filed after that date ✅ (justica.gov.pt). Residence periods may be added up within a 12-year window ✅ (LO 1/2026, DR PDF; per search summary ⚠️). Plus tests on language, culture, history, symbols, rights/duties and political organization ✅
Cheapest passive route
D7 at €920/mo ✅
Digital nomad
D8: average income over 3 months ≥ 4× RMMG = €3,680/mo (~US$4,120) ⚠️ (secondary: GrowIN)
Dual citizenship
No renunciation: "não é preciso abdicar de outra nacionalidade para adquirir a nacionalidade portuguesa" ✅ (justica.gov.pt guide). Under Portuguese law only the Portuguese nationality counts for a dual national ✅ (Lei 37/81). See our renunciation screening
Risk rating
Medium: residency is cheap and EU-grade, but citizenship doubled to 10 years in 2026 and AIMA backlogs are notorious ❓
1. Route overview
Route
Portugal status name
Minimum money (2026)
Can work?
Leads to permanent residency?
Verdict
Passive income / retiree
Visto D7 → AR temporária
€920/mo (+50%/adult, +30%/child) ✅
❓ (temporary residence holders may generally work ❓)
Yes, 5 yrs ❓
Featured
Remote worker
Visto D8 → AR
€3,680/mo (4× RMMG) ⚠️
Remote for foreign employer/clients
Yes ❓
Higher bar
Entrepreneur
D2
Business plan + means ❓
Yes
Yes
Own business
Work
D1 / D3
Job contract
Yes
Yes
Needs employer
Golden visa
ARI
Funds ≥ €500k ❓
—
—
Over budget, excluded
2. Featured route: D7 → residence permit
2.1 Steps and where to go
#
Step
Where
Online or in person
Fee
Time
1
Portuguese NIF (tax number), usually via a fiscal representative while non-resident ❓
AT / representative
Online
❓
Days
2
Portuguese bank account; deposit savings ❓
Bank
Remote/in person
—
❓
3
Proof of passive income (pension, financial-investment income) via a certificate from the paying entity, with authenticated declaration ✅ (AIMA list)
Pension certificate from the paying official entity, authenticated ✅
SSA / plan
Yes ❓
❓
❓
Investment-income document from the paying entity, authenticated ✅
Broker
Yes ❓
❓
❓
Proof of funds available in Portugal ✅
Portuguese bank
—
—
❓
Criminal record
FBI
Yes (US DoS)
❓
❓
Accommodation, insurance, NIF
—
—
—
❓
2.3 Foreign-worker limits
Not applicable to D7 ❓.
2.4 Payroll obligations
Not applicable ❓.
2.5 Monthly taxes and accountant
Tax residence ✅: > 183 days (consecutive or not) in any 12-month period starting or ending in the year, or fewer days with a home in Portugal you intend to keep as habitual residence (CIRS art. 16) (Portal das Finanças, checked Oct 9, 2026). Worldwide taxation; NHR replaced by IFICI in 2024 ❓ (not re-checked).
US–Portugal income tax treaty exists ✅ (IRS treaty list, checked Oct 9, 2026).
2.6 US tax side
FBAR if foreign accounts aggregate > US$10,000 at any time in the year; Form 8938 for filers living abroad if specified assets > US$200k at year-end or > US$300k at any time (single; US$400k/600k joint) ✅ (IRS 8938 vs FBAR, checked Oct 9, 2026). Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) ❓ applicability depends on facts. US–Portugal totalization agreement in force (since Aug 1, 1989) ✅ (SSA agreements list, checked Oct 9, 2026). Treaty-position specifics (Form 8833) ❓.
3. D7 details (passive income)
AIMA scale ✅: first adult 100% of RMMG (€920), second+ adults 50% (€460), children/dependent adult children 30% (€276).
Example (2 adults): €1,380/mo ✅ (computed).
Accepted proof includes pensions and financial-investment income ✅.
4. Family and marriage
Family reunification uses the same AIMA scale ✅.
Nationality by marriage/union of 3+ years with a Portuguese citizen exists in Lei 37/81 art. 3 ❓ (changes by LO 1/2026 not checked).
Children born in Portugal: now need a parent with 5 years of legal residence ✅ (justica.gov.pt).
Descent: LO 1/2026 removed several descent routes and the Sephardic route, and extended eligibility to great-grandchildren of Portuguese originários ✅.
5. Digital nomad (D8)
Remote work for employers/clients outside Portugal; 3-month average income ≥ 4× RMMG (€3,680/mo) ⚠️ (secondary).
Proof per AIMA: employment contract or employer declaration; for freelancers, company/services contracts ✅.
6. Naturalization
6.1 Which rule applies
Lei Orgânica 1/2026 (May 18, 2026; in force May 19, 2026; rectified by Decl. Ret. 17/2026) ✅.
10 years of legal residence for US nationals (7 for CPLP/EU) ✅.
New conditions (art. 6.1): sufficient knowledge of Portuguese culture, history and national symbols; of fundamental rights/duties and the political organization; a solemn declaration of adherence to the democratic rule of law; no prison sentence > 3 years for listed serious crimes; no UN/EU restrictive measures; capacity to support yourself ✅.
Transition: only applications filed after May 19, 2026 use the new rules; pending files keep the old law (5 years) ✅.
Government had 90 days to update the Regulamento da Nacionalidade ✅; whether done by Oct 2026 ❓.
How years are counted (from residence-permit issuance vs from application, as under the old law) ⚠️ — search summary says legal residence includes valid titles, visas and authorizations, within a 12-year window; confirm in the DR text.
6.2 Documents
Not fetched for the new regime ❓ (Regulamento update pending). Expect: birth certificate (apostilled, translated), criminal records, proof of legal residence, language/civics certificate, proof of subsistence ❓.
6.3 Exam and language
Portuguese language (A2 under the old law ❓) plus culture/history/symbols and civic knowledge ✅ (test or certificate; format ❓).
6.4 Portuguese-descent applicants
See §4: descent routes narrowed; great-grandchildren added ✅.
Nationality law tightened in 2026 (5 → 10 years) ✅; further changes possible.
AIMA appointment backlogs ❓ (not sourced).
Rating: MEDIUM.
10. Common mistakes and tips
Relying on pre-2026 "5-year citizenship" articles. It is now 10 for US citizens.
Using the 2025 minimum wage (€870). 2026 is €920.
Not documenting passive income through the paying entity.
Assuming D8 is easier. It needs 4× minimum wage.
Long absences that break residence ❓.
12. Open questions we are still researching
AIMA/visa fees and timings
Permanent-residence rule (Lei 23/2007) and absence limits
How the 10 years are counted under LO 1/2026; updated Regulamento
Language level and new civics test format
Marriage route changes
D8 figure from official text
Tax regime (IFICI) (treaty ✅ exists; totalization ✅ in force since Aug 1, 1989 — Oct 9, 2026)
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In short: a lawyer can check your case, and the free checklist keeps the steps in one place.
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A step-by-step printable checklist covering documents, apostilles, banking and taxes, plus email alerts when the countries in this guide change their residency or citizenship rules.