How much money do you need in your Portuguese bank account for a D7 or D8 visa, and until when?
Search “how much money for a D7 visa” and you’ll meet €820, €870, €9,840, €10,440 and €11,040, often on the same page of results.
Some of those numbers come from official pages that haven’t caught up. A UK visa centre checklist dated March 2025 still asks for €9,840, which is the 2024 figure.[1] AIMA’s own page on means of subsistence still quotes €870, the 2025 minimum wage.[2]
The real figure right now is €920 a month, Portugal’s minimum wage since 1 January 2026.[3] For one adult that means €11,040 in savings. And on 8 October 2026 the government announced €970 for 2027, which would make it €11,640.[4]
Below you’ll find the figures for both years, for singles, couples and families. You’ll also find what counts as income, and the answer to one of the questions we hear most: how long the money has to stay in the account.
The short version
- 2026: one adult needs €11,040 in savings, plus €920 a month of D7 income or €3,680 a month for the D8.
- 2027 (announced): €11,640 in savings, €970 a month for the D7 and €3,880 for the D8, expected from 1 January 2027.
- For each extra adult, add half the one-adult figure. For each child, add 30%.
- Savings are not income. The D7 needs both.
- Keep the money in your Portuguese account until your AIMA appointment is done. Joint accounts are fine.
If you still need to open the account itself, our guide to opening a Portuguese bank account for the D7 walks you through it step by step. This post is about what goes in it.
In this guide12 sections
- How much money do you need for a D7 or D8 visa in 2026?
- How much will you need in 2027?
- Where do these numbers come from?
- Which year's figure applies if you apply around January?
- Do your savings count as income for the D7?
- How much income do you need for the D8?
- Does the money have to be in a Portuguese bank account?
- Can you use a joint account as a couple?
- How long does the money have to stay in the account?
- What if your money is in dollars or pounds?
- How many months of bank statements do you need?
- How can we help you get the money side right?
How much money do you need for a D7 or D8 visa in 2026?
For one adult in 2026 you need €11,040 in savings in your Portuguese account, plus a monthly income of €920 for the D7 or €3,680 for the D8.
The savings figure is the same for both visas. The monthly income is where they differ.
2026D7 and D8: savings for the year, and D7 income per month (minimum wage €920)
| Your household | Savings for the year (D7 and D8) | D7 income per month |
|---|---|---|
| One adult | €11,040 | €920 |
| Couple | €16,560 | €1,380 |
| Couple + 1 child | €19,872 | €1,656 |
| Couple + 2 children | €23,184 | €1,932 |
Each extra adult adds €5,520 in savings and €460 a month. Each child adds €3,312 and €276 a month.
For a different household, start from the one-adult figure. Add half of it for each extra adult and 30% of it for each child. Or let our visa savings calculator add it up for your household, for 2026 or 2027.
Our advice: aim above the floor. For a couple at 2026 figures we usually suggest about €17,000 to €20,000 in savings against the €16,560 minimum. That’s our recommendation. The rule itself asks for the minimum.
The D8 income figures have their own table further down, because the family part works differently.
“Why does my consulate’s checklist say a different number?”
Because checklists aren’t always updated when the minimum wage changes.
- €820 and €9,840 are the 2024 minimum wage and 12 months of it. The UK checklist dated March 2025 still uses them.[1]
- €870 and €10,440 are the 2025 minimum wage and 12 months of it. AIMA’s page still shows €870.[2]
- €920 and €11,040 are the 2026 figures. Portugal’s visa portal, which consulates work from, states €920 for 2026 and names the decree that set it.[5]
Plan with the figure that applies when you apply. If the officer works from the current minimum wage, an out-of-date checklist won’t help you.
How much will you need in 2027?
If the announced figure goes through, one adult will need €11,640 in savings and €970 a month of D7 income from 1 January 2027.
That figure is announced for 2027. It’s in the government’s 2027 budget proposal of 8 October 2026, and it’s expected from 1 January 2027 once the decree is published.[4] We’ll update this page when it is.
The €970 follows the 2024 agreement between the government, employers and unions, which set €920 for 2026 and €970 for 2027.[6] On 6 November 2026 the labour minister said any change to €970 would need a new agreement.[7]
2027, announcedD7 and D8: savings for the year, and D7 income per month (minimum wage €970, expected from 1 January 2027)
| Your household | Savings for the year (D7 and D8) | D7 income per month |
|---|---|---|
| One adult | €11,640 | €970 |
| Couple | €17,460 | €1,455 |
| Couple + 1 child | €20,952 | €1,746 |
| Couple + 2 children | €24,444 | €2,037 |
Each extra adult adds €5,820 in savings and €485 a month. Each child adds €3,492 and €291 a month.
For one adult, the jump from 2026 is €600 more in savings, €50 a month more for the D7 and €200 a month more for the D8.
Where do these numbers come from?
Every figure on this page starts from Portugal’s minimum wage, €920 a month in 2026, weighted by who’s in your household.
Portugal’s rules on means of subsistence (proof that you can support yourself) measure what you need against the national minimum wage.[8] They weight each person in your household like this.
For a residence visa you have to show you can cover that for at least 12 months.[8] Consulates usually ask to see that 12-month amount as a balance in a Portuguese bank account. That’s where €11,040 comes from: 12 × €920.
The same rules say the amounts update every year in line with the minimum wage.[8] So the figures move each January, and so will this page.
The visa portal uses the national figure of €920.[5] The Azores and Madeira set their own regional minimum wages, but the visa figures follow the national one.
“My son is 20 and still lives with us. Does he count as an adult?”
He counts at 30%, the same as a child under 18, as long as he depends on you.[8]
So a couple with a dependent 20-year-old needs €19,872 in savings in 2026, the same as a couple with one young child.
Which year’s figure applies if you apply around January?
If your visa appointment or your AIMA appointment falls around 1 January 2027, our advice is to plan for the 2027 figure: €11,640 in savings and €970 a month for one adult.
No official rule says whether a consulate or AIMA uses €920 or €970 when your application runs across the new year. The figures follow the minimum wage in force, and the visa portal states the figure for the current year.[5] So from 1 January 2027, expect the higher figure, and check what your consulate’s own checklist says.
For one adult that’s €600 more in savings. A small price for not having to top up in a hurry.
Do your savings count as income for the D7?
No. The D7 asks for two separate things, and you need both: savings of €11,040 for one adult, and a regular income of at least €920 a month in 2026.
The rules ask for income that’s “stable and regular”.[8] A big balance sitting in the bank doesn’t show that.
Usually counts as D7 income
Money that keeps arriving
✓ Pensions paid monthly✓ Rent from a property you own✓ Dividends and interest paid monthly or every two to three months✓ A documented, regular allowance from family
Usually doesn’t
Money that’s sitting or one-off
✕ The savings balance itself (only its interest)✕ A yearly dividend paid in one lump sum✕ A one-off gift✕ A promise of future income
A documented allowance from family needs a statement from the person paying it, on a regular schedule. In our experience this can count.
Aim for every month to reach the minimum on its own, so there’s no low month to explain.
If you’re close to the line, don’t apply at exactly the threshold. In our experience a bigger savings balance helps if you’re borderline, but it can’t make up for D7 income that falls short.
Our D7 visa guide covers the full list of documents for the income side.
“Do my investments count as savings or income?”
Both, in different ways. The money invested can count as savings, and the dividends or interest it pays you regularly count as income.
Our advice: don’t sell the investments that produce your D7 income before your AIMA appointment. That income is part of what qualified you for the visa.
How much income do you need for the D8?
For the D8 you need at least €3,680 a month in 2026: four times the minimum wage.[9] If the 2027 figure goes through, that becomes €3,880 a month.
The rule looks at your average monthly income over the last three months, from a job or from freelance work.[9]
In our experience a single low month still draws questions, so aim for every month to reach it. Freelancers usually show their contracts plus bank statements. If you run your own company, you show the pay you take from it.
“Does my income have to go up if my family comes with me?”
The rule sets the four-times figure for you alone. It also asks that you can support the family members who come with you.[10] There’s no fixed formula for their share on top of your €3,680.
On the household scale used for the D7, a couple with two children needs €1,932 a month, and your €3,680 already covers that.
So the family rows below are what we plan for: a safe target we use, which the rule itself doesn’t set.
D8Income per month: the minimum for you, and what we plan for with family
| Your household | 2026, per month | 2027 (announced), per month |
|---|---|---|
| You alone (the rule) | €3,680 | €3,880 |
| Couple (what we plan for) | €5,520 | €5,820 |
| Couple + 1 child (what we plan for) | €6,624 | €6,984 |
| Couple + 2 children (what we plan for) | €7,728 | €8,148 |
The rule sets four times the minimum wage for you. The family rows are a safe target we use.
For savings, consulates usually ask for the same 12-month amount as the D7: €11,040 for you in 2026, plus €5,520 per extra adult and €3,312 per child. That follows the official rule for family members travelling with you, which asks for 12 months of means on the household scale.[10]
Not sure which visa fits your income? Our D7 vs D8 vs D2 comparison lays them side by side. If you work remotely, our D8 digital nomad visa guide covers the rest of the file.
Does the money have to be in a Portuguese bank account?
For the savings, yes in practice: consulates usually ask to see your €11,040 (one adult, 2026) in a Portuguese bank account.
For D7 applicants, Portugal’s rules ask that your means are available in Portugal.[8] In practice, consulate checklists ask you to show that with a Portuguese account. The UK, US and Indian checklists all ask for one.[1][11][12]
Your income can keep arriving at home. Your pension, rent or salary can land in your home bank, and you show it with your home statements in your name.
In our experience, consulates and AIMA don’t treat app-based accounts such as Wise or Revolut as your Portuguese account. Open one at a Portuguese bank.
If you’re choosing where to bank, our post on the banks expats use in Portugal compares the options.
“The bank wants my visa appointment, but the visa wants my bank account”
That loop catches a lot of people. The usual order is: get your NIF (Portuguese tax number), book the visa appointment, then open the account and fund it before the appointment date.
Opening an account from abroad on your own can take 6 to 8 weeks, so book your appointment far enough ahead to leave that time. If the account isn’t ready in time, some consulates will accept the funded statement shortly after, but don’t plan around it.
Can you use a joint account as a couple?
Yes, in our experience a joint account is fine and common, as long as the total covers everyone: €16,560 for a couple in 2026.
You have three options:
- A joint account in both your names.
- One account in the main applicant’s name, holding the full amount.
- Separate accounts, which can be the clearest to read, as long as the totals add up.
The income has to reach the main applicant. A joint account is fine for that, as long as the payments show clearly.
If your income is split in a way that isn’t obvious from the statements, explain it in your cover letter. One clear paragraph saves the officer guessing.
How long does the money have to stay in the account?
Keep your savings, €11,040 for one adult in 2026, in the account until your AIMA appointment is done. The full amount has to be there on the day you sit in front of AIMA.
When you apply for your residence permit, Portugal’s rules ask you to show you still have the means you showed for the visa.[8] AIMA’s own list of documents for that appointment includes proof of means.[13]
Here’s the timeline:
Before your visa appointment
Fund the account with the full amount for your household.
€11,040 for one adult in 2026At the visa appointment
Your statement shows the balance.
Statement in your fileBetween the visa and AIMA
The safest plan is to leave it there. If you move it, it must be back in full before your AIMA appointment.
Safest: leave itOn your AIMA day
The full amount is in the account, and the statement you bring shows it.
Full amount, recent statementAfter AIMA
The money is yours to use.
Done
“Can I take it out after the visa?”
You can, but the safest plan is to leave it. If you move it, it must be back, in full, before the appointment, and the statement you bring must show it. In our experience AIMA looks at the balance.
“Do I have to send it all in one go?”
No. Getting the money in is flexible:
- Several transfers are fine. You can build the balance up over a few payments.
- A recent large deposit is fine in our experience. What’s checked is the balance you hold.
“Does it double because the first residence card lasts two years?”
No. The savings figure covers 12 months, even though your first card lasts two years.[8] You don’t need €22,080 for one adult.
What if your money is in dollars or pounds?
The thresholds are in euros, so if your income or savings are in another currency, leave a margin above the €920 a month and the €11,040.
Exchange rates move. If the euro strengthens by 5% against your currency, €11,040 costs you 5% more to put in the account, and a pension paid in dollars buys fewer euros each month.
Our advice: leave room on both. For your income, that means enough extra that a weaker rate can’t drop you below the euro figure in any month.
How many months of bank statements do you need?
Three months is the usual ask, and some consulates ask for six.
The UK and US checklists ask for three months of statements.[1][11] The Indian checklist asks for six.[12]
- Bring six months if your income is irregular. That’s our advice for freelancers, landlords and anyone paid quarterly.
- Digital statements are fine. In our experience consulates accept printed online statements without a bank stamp.
- For AIMA, bring recent Portuguese statements, dated within three months of your appointment.
Before you move the money, check
- ✓Your household figure for the year of your appointment (2026 or 2027)
- ✓A buffer above the floor, and a margin if your money is in another currency
- ✓The account is at a Portuguese bank, in your name or both your names
- ✓3 months of statements showing your income (6 if it’s irregular)
- ✓What your consulate’s own checklist asks for
Each consulate can ask for documents beyond the base list, which is why checklists differ.[10] Your consulate’s own checklist decides.
How can we help you get the money side right?
Three ways, depending on how much help you want. We prepare and guide you. You book your own appointments.
Not sure your numbers work?
Free 15-minute call
Talk it through with our team and we’ll look at your household together.
Book a free call€530 or €1,199
Visa Check-Up or Premium
The Check-Up reviews your documents, including your income and savings proof. Premium is full support through the visa, or €320 a month over 4 months.
See the packages€300 · usually 3 to 4 weeks
Your Portuguese bank account
Opened remotely with our partner bank, before your visa. The deposit is your own money, in your own name.
Open your accountWe can’t make AIMA faster or change the figures. What we can do is check your numbers with you and help you get the money in place before each appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Is €11,040 per person or per family?
It’s for one adult. A couple needs €16,560 in 2026, and each child adds €3,312. Use the tables above for your household.
Does the savings figure double for the two-year residence card?
No. The figure covers 12 months, even though your first card lasts two years. One adult needs €11,040 in 2026, and that’s it.
Can our D7 income arrive in a joint account?
Yes, as long as the payments show clearly. The income has to reach the main applicant, and a joint account is fine for that. If the split isn’t obvious, explain it in your cover letter.
Do adult children count at 30%?
Yes, if they depend on you. Portugal’s rules weight dependent adult children at 30%, the same as children under 18. That’s €3,312 in savings for each in 2026.
Can I keep the savings in my home bank?
Usually no. Consulates usually ask to see the savings in a Portuguese bank account. Your monthly income can keep arriving at home.
Can I use Wise or Revolut as my Portuguese account?
No, in our experience. Consulates and AIMA don’t treat app-based accounts as your Portuguese account. Open one at a Portuguese bank.
Can I take the money out after I get the visa?
You can, but it must be back in full before your AIMA appointment. The statement you bring to AIMA must show the full amount. The safest plan is to leave it there.
What if I’m €50 short?
Don’t apply at the line. Top up before your appointment, and keep a buffer above the minimum. For a couple in 2026 we usually suggest about €17,000 to €20,000 in savings.
Does a pension paid every three months count as D7 income?
Yes, in our experience. Pensions, rent, dividends and interest paid regularly, monthly or every two to three months, count. A yearly lump-sum dividend usually doesn’t count.
Is the €970 figure for 2027 confirmed?
Not yet. It’s announced in the government’s 2027 budget proposal and expected from 1 January 2027 once the decree is published. We’ll update this page when it is.
Do I need more than the minimum?
Our advice is yes. If you’re exactly on the threshold, one weak exchange rate or one low month puts you under. Aim above it for both savings and income.
Does my D7 or D8 income have to land in the Portuguese account?
No. Your pension, rent or salary can keep arriving in your home account. The Portuguese account holds your savings.
Sources and how we checked
We read the official texts on Diário da República, the Portuguese visa portal and AIMA’s website, and the consulate checklists published by VFS Global. Practice points (“in our experience”, “our advice”) reflect our partner immigration lawyer’s experience with recent files.
- VFS Global UK, D7 residence visa checklist, March 2025: “at least €9840 (single applicant)”, based on the 2024 €820; last 3 months of statements; Portuguese bank account.
- AIMA, “Meios de Subsistência”, read November 2026: still states the 2025 minimum wage of €870 (Decreto-Lei n.º 112/2024) when we checked.
- Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025, Diário da República, published 29 December 2025: sets the national minimum wage (RMMG) at €920 a month from 1 January 2026, mainland Portugal (art. 3.º, art. 7.º, art. 2.º).
- Portuguese Government, “OE 2027: um Portugal mais preparado, com mais rendimento e investimento”, 8 October 2026: the 2027 budget proposal; national minimum wage to rise to €970 next year. No 2027 decree had been published in Diário da República when we checked.
- MNE visa portal, “Meios de subsistência”, read November 2026: “em 2026, é de 920€”, with the 100% / 50% / 30% household weighting.
- Observador, “Aumento do salário mínimo para 970 euros garantido no OE para 2027”, 8 October 2026: the budget report sets €970 for 2027 under the 2024 social-concertation agreement.
- Postal do Algarve, labour minister on the 2027 minimum wage, 6 November 2026: any change to €970 would need a new agreement with the social partners.
- Portaria n.º 1563/2007, Diário da República, 11 December 2007: means of subsistence. Household weighting 100% / 50% / 30% including dependent adult children, net of social security contributions (art. 2.º); means for at least 12 months for residence visas and availability in Portugal (art. 5.º n.º 6); keeping the means at the residence permit stage (art. 7.º n.º 1); yearly update with the minimum wage (art. 13.º). In force, read November 2026.
- Decreto Regulamentar n.º 4/2022, Diário da República, 30 September 2022: amends Decreto Regulamentar n.º 84/2007; remote-work residence visa needs average monthly income over the last three months of at least four minimum wages (art. 31.º-A n.º 1 c)); family members travelling with a residence-visa holder (art. 24.º-B).
- MNE visa portal, “Residência” document lists, read November 2026: D7, D8 (remote work) and accompanying-family document lists; 12 months of means on the household scale for family members; consulates may ask for additional documents.
- VFS Global USA, Portugal residency D visa checklist, April 2022: 3 months of bank statements; Portuguese bank account summary.
- VFS Global India, D7 residence visa checklist, read November 2026: bank statement for the last six months; proof of available funds in Portugal, such as a Portuguese bank account statement.
- AIMA, “Autorização de Residência (Regime e Requisitos Gerais)”, read November 2026: documents for the residence permit, including proof of means of subsistence (art. 77.º n.º 1 of the immigration law).
