How to use this checklist
The D7 process has two phases: the consulate phase (applying for your D-type entry visa in your home country) and the AIMA phase (converting that entry visa to a residence permit once you're in Portugal). Both phases require documents, and many documents take longer to get than you'd expect. Work backwards from your planned move date. This checklist assumes a standard timeline; your consulate may be faster or slower.
90 days before: start the document chain
Criminal record check (apostille required): In most countries, getting a clean criminal record check with an apostille takes 4–8 weeks. This is the longest-lead item and the one people most consistently underestimate. Start immediately. If your country issues these through a government portal, check whether the apostille is included or needs to be obtained separately from a notary or state authority. Passport validity: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay. If it expires in less than 18 months, renew it now — passport delays will block your visa. Proof of income documents: Gather 3 months of bank statements and 3 months of income evidence (employment contracts, pension statements, investment income letters, freelance invoices). The D7 requires you to demonstrate €760/month per applicant, €380 per additional adult, €228 per dependent child — but consulates typically want to see more than the minimum.
90 days before: find your NHR-aware accountant
Before you arrive, engage a Portuguese accountant who understands the NHR 2.0 (IFICI) regime. This is not optional if you care about your tax situation. The NHR registration window is 20 working days from first tax residency — missing it costs you the regime for the year. Good accountants are booked out 1–3 months in advance. Find one now. Recommended way to find one: ask in the Portugal expats Facebook groups or the r/expats subreddit for recent recommendations. Rates: €500–1,500/year for a good English-speaking accountant.
60 days before: consulate appointment and application
Book your consulate appointment as soon as the 90-day window opens — many consulates (especially London, Toronto, New York) have 6–10 week backlogs. Required documents vary slightly by consulate but typically include: completed application form (download from the consulate website), valid passport + copy, two recent passport photos, criminal record with apostille, proof of income (bank statements + source documents), proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental contract or property deed), travel health insurance for the first entry, and payment of the consulate fee (approximately €90). Proof of accommodation: You need this before the appointment. Landlords will sign a letter for a future rental — search now for accommodation in your chosen area. Short-term Airbnb or serviced apartments are acceptable for the first months if you can't sign a long-term lease from outside Portugal.
30 days before: Portugal preparation
NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal): You need a Portuguese tax number before you can open a bank account, sign a lease, or do almost anything official. Non-residents can get a NIF through the tax authority (Autoridade Tributária) or online through a registered fiscal representative. Hiring a fiscal representative costs €100–200 and lets you apply without being physically in Portugal. Some expats get the NIF on their first trip and do everything else on a second trip. Bank account: Several Portuguese banks will open accounts for non-residents with proof of your upcoming D7 visa. Millennium BCP and Novo Banco have done this for some applicants. More reliably: open an N26, Wise, or Revolut account as your day-to-day account and sort a Portuguese account after arrival. Health insurance: You'll need private health insurance that covers Portugal for your first months — before you're eligible for the SNS (public health system). Check that your insurance counts as valid for the consulate application.
7 days before: logistics
Arrange shipping or confirm what you're taking. IKEA Portugal exists and is usually easier than shipping furniture. Electronics: Portugal uses European plugs (Type F); US appliances need converters or replacement. Mobile SIM: NOS, MEO, and Vodafone Portugal offer solid coverage. Buy a local SIM on arrival — you'll need it for AIMA app notifications and local contacts. Roaming from your home country works but gets expensive. Acquaint yourself with the AIMA appointment system: you'll need to book your residence permit appointment within your D-type entry visa validity period (typically 4 months). AIMA appointments fill up fast — check availability as soon as you land.
First week in Portugal: AIMA phase begins
AIMA appointment booking: Log into the AIMA portal (aima.gov.pt) and book your residence permit appointment. Do this on day 1 or 2. Wait times are currently 6–18 months in many cases; you'll receive a 'agendamento' acknowledgment that serves as proof of pending application while you wait. Fiscal representative / accountant: If you haven't engaged a Portuguese accountant already, do it this week. You need to be registered as a tax resident and apply for NHR within 20 working days of establishing tax residency. Euphoria check: Everything will seem simultaneously fine and confusing. The bureaucracy is slower than you expected but the country will feel immediately liveable. Give yourself 90 days before drawing any conclusions.