What the D7 actually is
The D7 is a Portuguese residency visa for people with passive or remote income — freelancers, remote employees, retirees, investors, or anyone who earns their money outside Portugal. Minimum income requirement: roughly €870/month for a single person (tied to Portuguese minimum wage and updated periodically). You don't need a job offer. You just need to prove you can support yourself.
The documents you'll need
Bank statements (3-6 months), proof of income (contracts, invoices, or pension statements), criminal record check from your home country, proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental contract or hotel booking for initial entry), health insurance valid in Portugal, and a completed application form. The criminal record check needs apostille certification — start that early, it takes time.
The process in order
1. Get your criminal record with apostille. 2. Open a Portuguese bank account (NIF number first — you can get this at a consulate or via a fiscal representative). 3. Book your consulate appointment in your home country. 4. Enter Portugal on the D7 visa. 5. Within 4 months, book your AIMA appointment to convert it to a residency permit. That appointment backlog is the real bottleneck — book it the day you arrive.