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Residency in Portugal: D7 and D8 visas, golden visa routes, AIMA refusals and appeals, Foreigners Law changes, permanent residence and citizenship.
9 articles tagged Portugal
An apartment cost €280,380, and with taxes and fees, nearly €289,000 total. A real buyer's experience after renting, a youth tax break, and pitfalls.
Compare residency by investment: Greece from €250,000 in property, Panama from $300,000, Portugal from €500,000 in funds. Tax rules for US citizens abroad.
A Portuguese passport opens access to the EU, 185 countries without a visa, and independence from residence grounds. Naturalization timelines: 10 years for Russians, 7 for EU citizens.
Georgia issues residence permits with great difficulty, Serbia denies citizenship to Russian speakers, Portugal waits 1.5 years. Why these countries aren't suitable for immigration.
How to obtain permanent residency status in Portugal in 5 years: D7, D8, D2, golden visa, requirements and tax obligations of each route.
On September 11, 2026, Portugal changed rules on study permits, processing times, renewals and work. A full breakdown of changes for those relocating.
Most non-EU nationals settle in Portugal through a national visa issued by a Portuguese consulate, followed by a residence permit granted inside the country. The D7 covers people living on passive income such as pensions or rental earnings, the D8 serves remote workers employed or contracted abroad, and the D2 is aimed at entrepreneurs. These routes are set out in the Foreigners Law, Law 23/2007, which has been amended many times.
Residence permits are handled by AIMA, the agency that took over the immigration functions of the former SEF in October 2023. A refused application can be challenged through an administrative appeal or before the administrative courts, or the applicant can file again with corrected documents. The golden visa, formally the residence permit for investment activity, still exists, but property purchases stopped qualifying after the Mais Habitação reform in 2023.
After five years of legal residence a foreigner can apply for permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, both of which require basic Portuguese. Citizenship by naturalization is governed by a separate Nationality Law, and a Portuguese passport gives full free movement rights across the EU.