About the Author
Kwok is a practising solicitor based in London, admitted in England & Wales and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. He is registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and admitted in Hong Kong (non-practising). Kwok has worked as legal counsel and in-house solicitor across leading firms and corporations. He personally oversees every apostille and legalisation case at Ginkgo Advisory, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and end-to-end quality control.
Kwok Lam
Legal Consultant of Ginkgo Advisory
Portugal continues to attract UK nationals who want long-term residence in the EU.
In practice, most UK applicants apply under one of two national residence routes:
- Portugal D7 Residence Visa
(retirement, religious purposes, or living from individual/passive income) - Portugal D8 Residence Visa
(accompanying family members of a main applicant)
This guide explains who qualifies, what documents are required, and—most importantly—how UK documents must be legalised correctly to meet Portuguese consular rules.
What Is the Portugal D7 Residence Visa?
The D7 visa allows non-EU nationals to live in Portugal for more than one year without working locally.
As a result, it suits applicants who rely on stable passive income, rather than employment.
Common D7 profiles include:
- Retirees receiving pensions
- Individuals living from dividends, rental income, or investments
- Members of recognised religious institutions
After approval, the process works in two stages:
- A 120-day residence visa (with up to two entries), followed by
- A residence permit appointment with AIMA: Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo after arrival in Portugal
Who Can Apply from the UK?
You may apply for a Portugal D7 or D8 visa from the UK if you are:
- A UK citizen, or
- A non-UK national legally resident in the UK (BRP or digital share code)
However, Portuguese authorities apply strict rules to UK-issued documents.
Therefore, correct legalisation matters as much as eligibility.
General D7 Visa Requirements (UK Applicants)
All applicants must prepare the following:
- Completed and signed National Visa application form
- Two recent passport-style photos
- A personal statement explaining: Why you plan to live in Portugal + Your Portuguese address + Your income sources
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond the visa
- Passport bio-page copy
- Proof of legal UK residence (if applicable)
- Travel insurance covering medical care and repatriation
(UK nationals may submit an S1 form, where applicable)
Criminal Record Certificate (UK – Key Risk Area)
For D7 applications, Portugal accepts only one UK criminal record document:
- ACRO Police Certificate
- Issued within the last 3 months
- Must carry a UK Hague Apostille
Importantly, DBS certificates are not accepted for D7 visas.
The apostille must be issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
If the ACRO is missing an apostille, the consulate will refuse the application.
Proof of Accommodation in Portugal
Applicants must show accommodation for at least 12 months, using one of the following:
- Portuguese property deeds in the applicant’s name; or
- A registered long-term rental agreement; or
- A Term of Responsibility from a host in Portugal
When using a Term of Responsibility, additional rules apply.
For example, the sponsor’s signature must be notarised by a notary serving the sponsor’s legal area.
In addition, property and ID documents must support the declaration.
Financial Requirements for the D7 Visa
Applicants must demonstrate stable and regular passive income.
Typically, the consulate expects:
- Last 3 months of bank statements
- Available funds at or above the Portuguese minimum wage, multiplied by the intended stay (up to 12 months)
- Clear evidence of income origin and continuity
Crucially, active employment income does not qualify.
D7 Visa Categories Explained
Retirement Purposes
You must provide:
- Pension confirmation (monthly, quarterly, or annual)
- Proof the pension becomes available immediately upon arrival
- A Portuguese bank account
Living from Individual (Passive) Revenues
Accepted income sources include:
- Dividends
- Rental income
- Investment portfolios
- Intellectual property income
In addition, applicants must show access to this income for at least 3 months before applying.
Religious Purposes
Required documents include:
- A statement of responsibility
- Proof of recognised religious status
- A Portuguese bank account (personal or institutional)
Portugal D8 Visa – Accompanying Family Members
The D8 visa allows family members to join a main D7 applicant.
Eligible family members usually include:
- Spouse or civil partner
- Long-term partner (over 2 years of cohabitation)
- Dependent children
- Dependent parents or adult children (where applicable)
UK Documents Commonly Required
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate
- Birth certificates for children
- Evidence of cohabitation for unmarried partners
- No Trace of Marriage Certificate (for certain partner cases)
All UK civil registry documents must be apostilled.
Apostille Rules for UK Documents (Portugal Visas)
Portugal strictly follows the Hague Convention.
Therefore, UK applicants must apostille:
- ACRO Police Certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Birth certificates
- Court orders and name-change deeds
The apostille must come from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
If documents are not in English or Portuguese, certified translations are also required.
Processing Time and Practical Notes
- Typical processing time: up to 60 days
- Additional checks may extend the timeline
- Approval is never automatic
- Visa fees are non-refundable
- Residence permits are issued after arrival, via AIMA
In the UK, applications are submitted through VFS Global, although document responsibility remains with the applicant.
How Ginkgo Advisory Helps with Portugal D7 and D8 Visas
Ginkgo Advisory focuses on document legality and procedural accuracy, not immigration promises.
We support UK applicants by:
- Managing ACRO Police Certificate applications
- Arranging FCDO apostilles for UK documents
- Reviewing document sequencing before submission
- Coordinating certified translations where required
- Aligning family documents for D8 applications
- Reducing refusal risk caused by technical errors
Our role is simple:
to ensure your documents are legally valid, correctly prepared, and consulate-ready.
Contact Us
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167-169 Great Portland Street, 5/F, London
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