A few days ago, a friend of a business friend sent a dynamic: "500,000 euros is too expensive, there is no cheaper EuropeanimmigrantsProgram?"

A bunch of people at the bottom replied recommending D7 visas, saying they could be done for tens of thousands of dollars. I read it and shook my head, this kind of half-assed advice kills people.

Today, Portugal, these two ways of immigration to break open the rubbing to speak clearly, so that we are no longer fooled.

Let's start with what these two visas actually are

Portugal D7 VisaPassive Income Visa, in short, is a "pension visa". It is suitable for retirees and foreign nationals living on passive income, and does not require investment, but requires proof of a stable income.

Portugal Golden Visa::investment immigrationVisa for those who wish to obtain permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship, but do not want to spend most of their time in Portugal.

Sounds about right? Actually, it's a hundred thousand miles off.

Cost comparison: worlds apart

This is the most intuitive difference.

D7 Visa costs::

• Annual Income Requirement: 9,840 Euros (approximately 75,000 RMB)
• Application fee: several thousand RMB
• Lawyer's fee: RMB 10-20,000
• Total investment: 100,000-150,000 RMB

Golden Visa Costs::

• Fund investment: 500,000 euros (about 3.8 million yuan)
• Application fee: €5000 for the main applicant + €2500 for family members per person
• Attorney's fees: 15-20,000 euros
• Total investment: from RMB 4 million

See the difference? One is a hundred thousand dollars and the other is a few million, not at all in the same league.

Requirements for application: each has its own threshold

D7 Visa Application Requirements::

• At least 18 years of age
• clean bill of health
• Have a stable passive income (pension, rent, dividends, copyright income, etc.)
• Purchase of medical insurance
• Proof of residence in Portugal

Golden Visa Application Requirements::

• At least 18 years of age
• clean bill of health
• Euro500,000 fund investment (currently the only option)
• Investments maintained for 5 years

On the surface it looks like a much simpler D7, but there's a key issue: proof of passive income.

Residency requirements: there are big pits here

This is where a lot of people fall down.

D7 Visa Residency Requirements::

• Must reside in Portugal for at least six months
• Automatic tax residency in Portugal
• Need to declare global income

Residency Requirements for Golden Visa::

• 7 days in the first year
• 14 days every two years thereafter
• No compulsion to become a tax resident

The D7 visa requires you to actually live in Portugal, whereas the Golden Visa is just a "punch card".

I've seen real cases.

D7 Visa Success StoriesLast year, I helped a retired teacher to apply for D7, she has a pension of 8000 RMB per month, plus the rent of a rented apartment, the monthly income is just enough to meet the standard. Now she has rented a small apartment in Porto, and she is learning Portuguese in the sun every day.

D7 Visa Failure Cases: A friend in foreign trade applied for D7 because he thought it was cheap. In the end, he found out that he had to stay for half a year every year, so he couldn't do his business anymore. In the end, he had to give up and apply for a golden visa instead.

Golden Visa Success StoriesA friend who is an investor has invested 500,000 Euros in a clean energy fund, flies there for a week every year, and his children study in Europe with a Portuguese identity. For him, it's worth the money.

The Hidden Costs of Tax Status

This one is overlooked by many, but the actual impact is huge.

D7 Visa Tax Consequences::

• Automatic tax residency in Portugal
• Need to declare global income
• May face double taxation

Golden Visa Tax Consequences::

• Option to become a tax resident
• Higher flexibility
• More room for tax planning

I have a client who has a few houses for rent in China and earns over 1 million dollars a year. With a D7 visa, all this rental income would have to be declared in Portugal and the tax burden would increase quite a bit.

Suitable for population analysis

Who is the D7 visa for::

• Retirees with stable pensions
• Freelancers with passive income
• People who really want to live in Portugal
• Applicants with limited budgets

Who is a Golden Visa for?::

• Entrepreneurs with investment capacity
• People who need status but don't want to live permanently
• Families planning for their children's education
• High net worth individuals who value tax flexibility

Policy changes in 2025

There has been an important change recently: the Prime Minister of Portugal stated that "the historical function of the Golden Residence Visa has been fulfilled and there is no reason to maintain it at this time".

This means that the Golden Visa could be at risk of being shut down, while the D7 visa is relatively more stable as a normal immigration pathway.

Process Comparison

D7 Visa Process::

1. Preparation of proof of income documents
2. Finding accommodation in Portugal
3. Submission of Visa Application
4. Landed within 4 months of approval
5. Exchange of residence cards

Golden Visa Process::

1. Selection of investment funds
2. Investments completed
3. submit an application
4. Logging in to collect biological information after approval
5. Obtaining a residence card

The D7 visa process is relatively simple, but has stricter requirements for documents.

Risk Warning

D7 Visa Risks::

• Proof of income may not be recognized
• Strict residency requirements, violation of which may result in loss of status
• Possible increase in tax burden

Golden Visa Risks::

• Investments are subject to risk of loss
• Policy change risk
• Investment thresholds may continue to rise

My suggestion.

If you are retired, have a stable pension or passive income and really want to retire in Europe, the D7 visa is a good choice. Low cost and high quality of life.

If you are still on the upswing of your career and need to run both at home and abroad, or mainly for children's education and asset allocation, a golden visa is more suitable. It's expensive, but more flexible.

Don't be fooled by the headlines of "low-cost immigration to Europe", although the D7 visa is cheap, but the hidden costs are not low. Which one to choose depends on your actual situation.

final thoughts

Immigration to PortugalIt is never a simple investment decision, but a life choice.

Whichever way you choose, think about what you want. Is it for a better living environment? Children's education? Or global allocation of assets?

Different goals, different choices. Other people's experience can only be referred to, the final decision has to be made by yourself.