D7 vs Golden Visa: Which Portugal Visa Is Right for You?
The D7 and the Golden Visa reach the same place, residency and a path to citizenship, by very different routes. The D7 suits people with steady passive income who will live in Portugal. The Golden Visa (ARI) suits investors who want residency with very little time in the country, now through funds or other investments, not property.
What is the D7?
The D7 is a residence visa for people with stable passive income such as pensions, rental income, dividends or savings. You need income of at least the Portuguese minimum wage, €920 a month in 2026, plus savings, and you must make Portugal your home, spending most of the year there. It is the most common route for retirees and lower budget movers.
What is the Golden Visa (ARI) in 2026?
The Golden Visa, officially the Autorização de Residência para Investimento (ARI), gives residency in return for a qualifying investment. According to AIMA, the property route has been removed. The current options include €500,000 into qualifying Portuguese investment funds, €500,000 into research, €250,000 into artistic or cultural heritage, creating 10 jobs, or €500,000 to set up or reinforce a Portuguese company with jobs. It is not open to EU, EEA, Andorran, Swiss or Portuguese nationals.
The big difference: how much you have to live there
This is what really separates them. The D7 expects you to genuinely live in Portugal, broadly more than half the year. The Golden Visa asks for very little presence: AIMA sets a minimum of 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each following two year period. If you want to keep a life elsewhere, that gap matters.
| D7 | Golden Visa (ARI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Retirees, passive income, those relocating | Investors keeping a base abroad |
| Money | Income from €920/month plus savings | Investment from €250,000 to €500,000+ |
| Time in Portugal | Most of the year | 7 days year one, 14 days per later period |
| Property route | Not applicable | Removed, no longer qualifies |
| Path to citizenship | Yes, after the required residence | Yes, on the same residence basis |
| Open to EU/EEA nationals | Not needed, they live freely | No, excluded |
Which one is right for you?
If you plan to actually move to Portugal and live there, the D7 is almost always the better fit, and far cheaper. The Golden Visa makes sense mainly if you have significant capital and want residency without giving up your life elsewhere. For most people reading this, who are relocating rather than investing from a distance, it comes down to the D7 or the D8.
Not sure which route is you? The free quiz points you to the right one, and the Personalised Fit Plan confirms your route and maps the steps around your situation.
Get the route right before you spend a penny
The Discovery Plan maps your whole move in sequence, and the Fit Plan gives you a one to one call to pressure test your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Golden Visa finished?
No. It still exists in 2026, but the property purchase route was removed. Investment funds and other qualifying routes remain.
Can I still buy property for a Golden Visa?
No. Real estate no longer qualifies for the ARI. You would use a qualifying investment fund or another route instead.
Which is cheaper, the D7 or the Golden Visa?
The D7, by far. It needs income and savings, not a six figure investment.
Do both lead to citizenship?
Yes. Both build residence that can lead to permanent residency and citizenship, subject to the usual requirements and the 2026 ten year rule.
How little can I stay on a Golden Visa?
AIMA sets a minimum of 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each subsequent two year period.
Can EU citizens use the Golden Visa?
No. It is for non EU nationals. EU, EEA, Andorran and Swiss citizens can already live in Portugal freely.
Sources: AIMA (aima.gov.pt, Autorização de Residência para Investimento, Art. 90.º-A), Portuguese Government visa portal (vistos.mne.gov.pt). Current June 2026.
Last updated June 2026. By Claire Lawrence, who moved to Portugal and now helps others do the same.