The short answer
Portugal D7 vs D8 comes down to the source of your income. The D7 is for pension and passive income at €920 a month, about US$1,069. The D8 is for remote work at €3,680 a month, about US$4,274. Both recognize same-sex spouses and lead to public healthcare once you register.
Portugal D7 vs D8 is the first decision most Americans face when they look at Portugal. Both are residence visas, both lead to the same public healthcare once you register, and both treat a same-sex marriage like any other. The difference is the source of your money. The D7 is built for pension and passive income; the D8 is built for remote work. The income bar is also very different: roughly four times higher for the D8.
Portugal D7 vs D8, side by side
Main applicant. Euro figures converted at the Portugal guide's rate, €1 = US$1.1615 (ECB, 3 September 2026). Both thresholds move with the Portuguese minimum wage.
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| D7 (passive income) | D8 (remote work) | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Pension and passive income | Remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal |
| Income required | €920 a month (about US$1,069) | €3,680 a month (about US$4,274), averaged over three months |
| How the figure is set | Pegged to the minimum wage, shifts with it | Four times the minimum wage |
| Age limit | None | None stated |
| Partner route | Family reunification, for family of any legal resident | Family reunification, for family of any legal resident |
| Same-sex spouse or civil partner | Qualifies on equal terms | Qualifies on equal terms |
| Unmarried partner | Qualifies with documentary proof | Qualifies with documentary proof |
| Public healthcare (SNS) | Once residence and registration are complete | Once residence and registration are complete |
Portugal D7 visa income requirement
The D7 asks €920 a month in passive income, about US$1,069. That makes it one of the most accessible retirement routes on our list; see our retirement visa comparison. The figure is pegged to the minimum wage, so it rises when the minimum wage does, and there is no age restriction. It is designed for pension and other passive income. Read the Portugal Retiree guide for the documents and savings the consulate will ask to see.
Portugal D8 digital nomad visa requirements
The D8 asks €3,680 a month, about US$4,274, averaged over the three months before you apply. Your work must be for people or companies based outside Portugal; work for a Portuguese employer needs a different visa. The D8 opens a two-year residence permit, renewable for successive three-year periods. The consular standard is 60 days to decide, and the visa fee is €110.80 plus a US$43.91 service fee. Freelancers and founders have a separate independent-activity visa. The Portugal Digital Nomad guide covers both in full.
Can I work remotely on a D7 visa?
This is the question behind most D7 vs D8 searches. The Portugal Digital Nomad guide is direct: the D7 is Portugal's passive-income visa, and it is not the remote-work route. If your income comes from active remote work for clients or an employer outside Portugal, the D8 is the visa written for you, and applying under the right category avoids questions at renewal. If you have both a pension and some freelance income, get advice from a Portuguese immigration lawyer before you choose.
D7 vs D8 for same-sex couples
Portugal has had marriage equality since 2010 and recognized de facto partnerships since 2001. Your partner's route on either visa is family reunification, which serves a family member of anyone legally resident in Portugal. Same-sex spouses and civil partners qualify on equal terms, and unmarried partners can qualify with documentary proof of the relationship, such as a recognized união de facto. One detail matters for married American couples planning citizenship: under the Retiree guide's research, two US nationals married to each other stay on a ten-year naturalization clock. Our marriage recognition guide covers documents and translations.
Healthcare and HIV care on either visa
Neither visa enrolls you in the national health service, the SNS, on its own. You register once you hold legal residence, and until then you need private insurance. Once registered, every legal resident is covered. HIV treatment is free through the SNS, and Portugal has no HIV entry or residency restrictions. Remember that Medicare does not cover care in Portugal; our Medicare abroad guide explains the gap.
Portugal D7 vs D8 taxes
Spend more than 183 days in Portugal in any 12 months and you become tax-resident, taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates that reach 53%. The old Non-Habitual Resident programme is closed to new applicants. Its replacement, IFICI, can apply a 20% rate to qualifying work income for up to 10 years, but it is not a visa benefit, and remote work alone does not establish eligibility. Retirees on a D7 should not count on it. See our guide to taxes when living abroad.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the D7 if you are retired or living mainly on pension, Social Security, rental or investment income.
- Choose the D8 if you earn at least €3,680 a month working remotely for clients or an employer outside Portugal.
- Get advice first if your income is mixed, or if you plan to start a business in Portugal.
Compare Portugal with other countries in the Country Finder.
Common questions
What is the difference between the Portugal D7 and D8 visa?
The D7 is for pension and passive income, at €920 a month. The D8 is for remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal, at €3,680 a month averaged over three months.
What is the Portugal D7 visa income requirement?
€920 a month in passive income, about US$1,069 at €1 = US$1.1615. It is pegged to the minimum wage and has no age restriction.
What is the Portugal D8 visa income requirement?
€3,680 a month, about US$4,274, averaged over three months. That is four times the Portuguese minimum wage.
Can I work remotely on a Portugal D7 visa?
The Portugal guide is clear that the D7 is the passive-income visa, not the remote-work route. If your income comes from remote work for clients outside Portugal, apply for the D8. Take legal advice if your income is mixed.
Can my same-sex spouse join me on a Portugal visa?
Yes, on either visa. Family reunification covers same-sex spouses and civil partners on equal terms, and unmarried partners can qualify with documentary proof of the relationship.
Do D7 and D8 holders get public healthcare in Portugal?
Yes, once residence and SNS registration are complete. Until then you need private insurance. HIV treatment is free through the SNS.
Sources and method
Facts come from the Out & Found guides: Retiree Edition (verified as of 1 August 2026) and Digital Nomad Edition (verified as of 17 October 2026), which cite each country's own authorities and named research organizations. Euro figures are converted at €1 = US$1.1615 (ECB, 3 September 2026). Requirements and laws change, so confirm the current rule with the official source before you act. This is research, not legal, immigration, medical or tax advice. How we research · Corrections