Portugal D7 visa: lawyer or agency, and what each costs (2026)
If you’ve asked around for help with a Portugal D7 visa, your quotes won’t line up. Published prices in 2026 include €80, €299, €1,199, €2,900 and €3,490, and VAT can come on top of some of them.
Those prices buy different things. €80 is a 45-minute call with a lawyer, €299 is a review of a file you built yourself, and the rest are full packages. One of those packages, Step Inside Portugal’s, carries on after you land in Portugal.
The word “lawyer” changes meaning from one provider to the next. Lexidy, a law firm, says its lawyers “handle the entire process”.[1] With MigRun’s Standard package, you get “Access to a licensed attorney through your case manager”.[2]
And you don’t need a lawyer for a D7 at all. So this post sorts six providers’ published prices into three groups you can compare, and shows who does the legal work at each.
A versão curta
- Nothing on the official document list asks for a lawyer. You can file the D7 application yourself.
- Paid help comes in three kinds: a single call (€80 to €250), a review of a file you built (€299 to €530), or a full package (€1,199 to €3,490 for the main applicant). VAT can come on top of some prices.
- Pay a lawyer when your case raises a legal question, and an agency when you want the paperwork managed. Some agencies, ours included, bring a lawyer in.
- Ask whether a registered lawyer works on your file, and check any name you’re given on the Portuguese Bar’s register.
- You book your own appointment, none of the packages we compared lists the visa fee, translations or apostilles as included, and the packages stop at different stages.
A disclosure before the numbers: Novomove is one of the six. We’re an agency with a partner immigration lawyer, and our prices sit in the same tables as the others.
This comparison covers the visa stage, up to the consulate’s decision.
Neste guia10 sections
- Do you need a lawyer for a Portugal D7 visa?
- What does a lawyer do on a Portugal D7 visa, and what does an agency do?
- What does a full D7 visa package cost in 2026?
- How much is a D7 document review or a single lawyer call?
- Who does the legal work at each D7 provider?
- What isn't included in a D7 visa package?
- Which kind of D7 help fits your situation?
- What should you ask a D7 lawyer or agency before you pay?
- When might another D7 provider suit you better than Novomove?
- Where does Novomove fit, and where does our help stop?
Do you need a lawyer for a Portugal D7 visa?
No. You don’t need a lawyer for a Portugal D7 visa. You can file the application yourself.
Portugal’s foreign ministry publishes the documents you have to submit. A lawyer, a representative or a power of attorney isn’t on the list.[3] The VFS checklists for the USA and the UK both ask for an application form “duly signed by the applicant”.[4]
When is a D7 lawyer worth paying for?
When your file raises a question a checklist can’t answer. A lawyer gives you a legal answer about your own case. For example:
- You’ve been refused before, and you need to know what the law allows next.
- Your income is hard to document, so whether it counts towards the D7 requirement is a legal question.
- You’re bringing family, and you’re not sure who can join your application. Your income also has to cover everyone: the requirement starts at €920 a month after tax and rises by 50% for each adult dependant and 30% for each child.
- Your move raises tax questions, such as when you become tax resident in Portugal.
If none of those sounds like you, you can build the file yourself and decide later whether to have it checked. Our lessons from clients’ D7 and D8 applications in 2026 show what comes up in real files.
Whoever helps you, the consulate decides every application.
What does a lawyer do on a Portugal D7 visa, and what does an agency do?
A lawyer deals with the legal side of your D7 file, and an agency manages the paperwork and the timeline.
The legal side of your file
Legal answers about your own case.
- Reads your file against your consulate’s list
- Checks income, savings, accommodation, criminal record and apostille
- Answers tax residence and other legal questions
- Can represent you if something goes wrong
The paperwork and the timeline
Runs the project with you.
- Checklists and help with the forms
- Chasing documents and organising translations
- Reminders and a case manager
- Legal answers have to come from a qualified person
The steps only you can take
Whoever helps you.
- You sign the application form
- You book your appointment
- You submit the file
Your consulate can ask for more than the ministry’s list. The ministry says your consulate “may request additional documents, at their discretion”.[3]
Some agencies bring a lawyer in for the legal steps. Novomove works that way: our team manages your case, and our partner immigration lawyer does the legal work.
What does Portuguese law say about who can give legal advice?
Portuguese law sets out who can give you legal advice and who can represent you. The current rules date from January 2024, when they replaced a law from 2004.[5]
- In court, only a lawyer or a solicitador (a member of a separate regulated legal profession) can represent you.
- In front of an authority, only a registered lawyer can be at your side as your lawyer.
- Legal advice has to come from someone legally qualified: a lawyer, a solicitador or one of a few others the law names, such as a law graduate. Giving legal advice without that qualification is an offence.[6]
Legal advice here means working out how the law applies to your case, at your request. An agency can explain the process and manage your documents. The legal answers have to come from one of those qualified people.
“How do I check the lawyer is real?”
Ask whether a lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados, the Portuguese Bar, works on your file. If you’re given a name or professional number, search the Bar’s register.[7] You can search by name or by number, and limit the results to active registrations.
What does a full D7 visa package cost in 2026?
A full D7 package costs €1,199 to €3,490 for the main applicant, at the four providers that publish a price. With a package, someone stays with you from the checklist to the decision.
Each figure comes from the provider’s own page, and we list providers alphabetically. Prices checked on 10 November 2026, for every table in this post.
| Provider | Main applicant | Família | IVA | Who does the legal work (their words) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexidy[1] | From €1,400 | Not stated on the page | Not stated | “Our Portugal D7 Visa lawyers handle the entire process” |
| MigRun, Standard Assistance[2] | €1,290 | “Yes, the whole family is included.” | Not stated | “Access to a licensed attorney through your case manager” |
| MigRun, Premium Assistance[2] | €3,490 | Whole family included (same FAQ) | Not stated | Same as Standard |
| Novomove Premium[8] | €1,199, or 4 monthly payments of €320 (€1,280 in total) | €350 for each adult dependant, €250 for each child | Ex VAT | Our partner immigration lawyer gives two consultations and reviews the full dossier |
| Step Inside Portugal, “Residence Visa & Permit”[9] | €2,900 | Spouse +€1,950, child +€1,200 | “+VAT if applicable” on each price | Not stated on the page |
AnchorLess and Global Citizen Solutions don’t publish a D7 package price on the pages we checked, so you’ll find them in the tables further down.[10][11]
What does each D7 package include?
Three of the four providers list what’s inside, quoted here where the page has a list.
| Provider | What the page lists | Where the help stops |
|---|---|---|
| Lexidy[1] | Not itemised on the page | Not stated on the page |
| MigRun, Standard Assistance[2] | For several visa types, including the “Passive income Visa (residency)”. Everything in its Check-up, plus “Extra 30 minutes (1 hour call in total)”; “Platform access to a personal case manager chat, guides, and checklists”; “Access to a licensed attorney through your case manager”; “Pre-application package proofreading”; “NIF not included” | “through to visa approval” |
| MigRun, Premium Assistance[2] | “We handle everything that doesn’t require your personal involvement.” Everything in Standard, plus “Concierge services for all questions”; “Motivation letter editing”; “Assistance with collecting the required documents”; “NHR submission (if applicable)”; “NIF for the main applicant”; “Self-employment registration” (if applicable) | Not stated on the page |
| Novomove Premium[8] | A complete checklist for your situation; two consultations with our partner immigration lawyer; a full dossier review by the lawyer, with re-reviews; step-by-step guidance on the forms; guidance on booking your appointment; your motivation letter reviewed and edited; a dedicated case manager until the visa decision; one consultation with a Portuguese tax expert; a lawyer’s review of one Portuguese lease; one NIF address update after you move | The consulate’s decision |
| Step Inside Portugal, “Residence Visa & Permit”[9] | For D7 and D8 applicants. Listed items include “Initial meeting”; “Ongoing communication via email and WhatsApp”; “Liaison with Portuguese consulates in your home country”; “Coordination with AIMA”; “Thorough guidance on document preparation and application submission”; “Timely updates”; “Expert advice”; “Assistance with any additional paperwork” | Carries on past the visa: the list includes “Coordination with AIMA” |
Why do the D7 package prices differ so much?
Because they cover different things. Check three points before you compare totals:
- “From” means the price starts there. Lexidy’s page reads “D7 VISA PACKAGES STARTING FROM 1400€”, and you get “a fixed-price proposal” after a free consultation.[1]
- VAT can come on top. Our prices are ex VAT: you pay VAT if your billing address is in the EU and none if it’s outside. Step Inside Portugal adds “+VAT if applicable” to each price, and the other pages don’t say whether VAT applies.[9]
- The packages stop at different points. After the visa, you attend an appointment at AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency, to get your residence permit.[4] Step Inside Portugal’s package includes “Coordination with AIMA”, so part of its price covers a stage ours leaves out.[9]
A nossa AIMA appointment checklist shows what that second stage involves.
What does a couple pay for a D7 package?
For a main applicant and a spouse, the published prices run from €1,290 to €4,850, and VAT can be added to two of them.
| Provider | Main applicant and spouse | IVA |
|---|---|---|
| Lexidy[1] | Family pricing not stated on the page | Not stated |
| MigRun, Standard Assistance[2] | €1,290 (family included) | Not stated |
| MigRun, Premium Assistance[2] | €3,490 (family included) | Not stated |
| Novomove Premium[8] | €1,199 + €350 = €1,549 | Ex VAT |
| Step Inside Portugal[9] | €2,900 + €1,950 = €4,850, with AIMA coordination in the package | “+VAT if applicable” |
These are service fees, before what you pay the consulate, translators and others.
How much is a D7 document review or a single lawyer call?
A D7 document review costs €299 to €530 at the three providers that publish one, and a single call costs €80 to €250. Check the VAT column in each table, because VAT can come on top of some prices.
What does a D7 document review cost?
€299 at AnchorLess, and €530 at MigRun and at Novomove. With a review, you prepare the file and someone checks it before you submit.
| Provider | Price | IVA | What you get (their words) | Who reviews (their words) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnchorLess, document review[10] | €299 | Not stated | “For D7, D8 and every other Portugal national visa”; “Lawyer feedback within 3 business days”; “100% online”; “One application and one price for the whole family.” | “Our team does the first pass, then a lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar checks and confirms the report.” |
| MigRun, Check-up[2] | €530 | Not stated | “30-minutes call with case-manager for your questions”; “Document package review”; “Feedback from expert with comments in-written”. Its FAQ says “the whole family is included” | “expert” (the page’s word) |
| Novomove Check-Up[8] | €530; each extra review round €60 | Ex VAT | “A lawyer goes through your whole dossier”; “One call with a Portuguese lawyer”; “Structured written feedback, usually within a few business days” | Our partner immigration lawyer |
The two €530 reviews differ in who you talk to. Ours includes a call with a Portuguese lawyer, and MigRun’s includes a 30-minute call with a case manager.[2]
Ask how many rounds you get. With our Check-Up, each extra review round is €60, and re-reviews are included only in Premium.
What does a single D7 consultation cost?
€80 to €250 at the four providers that publish a price, and at three of them you speak to a lawyer.
| Provider | Price | Length | IVA | Deducted if you buy a package? | Who you speak to (their words) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnchorLess, immigration consultation[10] | €249 (price shown when we checked; €299 shown struck through) | 60 minutes | Not stated | Not stated on the page | “an immigration lawyer” |
| Global Citizen Solutions, D7 consultation[11] | €250 | 1 hour | Not stated | “this amount will be deducted from your legal fees should you decide to proceed with the D7 Visa application” | “our experienced Portugal D7 Visa lawyers” |
| Novomove, immigration lawyer call[8] | €80 | 45 minutos | Ex VAT | Yes, if you order a package within two weeks | Our partner immigration lawyer |
| Step Inside Portugal, immigration consultation[9] | €120 | Not stated on the page | Plus VAT (“EUR 120 + VAT”) | “the fee is not deducted from any subsequent package purchases” | Not stated on the page |
Who does the legal work at each D7 provider?
Two of the six D7 providers we compared say their own lawyers do it, three involve a lawyer for part of the service, and one page doesn’t say.
- Their own lawyers. Lexidy is a law firm, and its page says “Your dedicated lawyer will guide you through every step, handling all legalities”.[1] Global Citizen Solutions says “You’ll have direct access to a Portuguese immigration lawyer who specializes in the D7 Visa.”[11]
- A lawyer for part of the service. At AnchorLess, the team “does the first pass, then a lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar checks and confirms the report”.[10] MigRun’s Standard and Premium packages give you access to an attorney through your case manager.[2] With us, our partner immigration lawyer, who is registered in Portugal, gives the consultations and reviews your dossier.
- No lawyer stated. Step Inside Portugal’s page doesn’t say who does the legal work.[9]
AnchorLess and MigRun also say in writing what kind of service they offer. AnchorLess’s footer says “AnchorLess is not a bank, accountant, tax advisor, investment advisor, or law firm” and “We act as an intermediary, helping connect you with accredited professionals”.[10] MigRun’s terms say “Our services are informational services and do not constitute legal or other advice.”[2]
These arrangements differ, so compare who does the legal work as well as the price.
What isn’t included in a D7 visa package?
None of the packages in this comparison lists the visa fee, translations or apostilles as included, and you book your own appointment. Plan for these three:
- Booking the appointment. You book it yourself with VFS or the consulate, depending on where you live.[12] With us, “You book it, and we guide you on when and how.”
- Government and document costs. That’s the visa fee, the VFS service fee where you apply through VFS, translations, apostilles and your criminal record certificate.[4] We exclude government fees, translations and apostilles in writing, and the other package pages don’t list them as included.
- Your NIF (Portuguese tax number) and your Portuguese bank account. The D7 asks for €11,040 of savings in a Portuguese bank account, which our D7 bank account guide explains. With us, getting your NIF and opening the account are separate services. MigRun’s Standard package says “NIF not included”, and its Premium package lists “NIF for the main applicant”.[2]
Which kind of D7 help fits your situation?
It depends on how much of the file you want to build yourself, and on whether your case raises a legal question.
If you’ve built your file yourself
A document review fits, and it costs €299 to €530. Ours is the document Check-Up. Our partner immigration lawyer goes through the whole dossier, and you get one call and written feedback.
If you want someone with you from checklist to decision
That’s a full package, priced from €1,199 to €3,490 for the main applicant. Decide first which model you want: a law firm with its lawyers on the whole file, or an agency with a case manager and a lawyer on the legal steps.
If you’re bringing a spouse or children
Family pricing can change which package costs less. In the couple table above, MigRun Standard stays at €1,290 for two, and our Premium goes from €1,199 to €1,549 ex VAT.
For a couple’s file, read Richard and Lucy’s story: an unmarried couple, VFS London, 17 days.
If you have one question
Book a single call. It costs €80 to €250. Ours is a call with an immigration lawyer at €80 for 45 minutes, and we credit the fee if you order a package within two weeks.
If you’ve been refused before
Start with a lawyer. Ask them to read the refusal before you spend money on a new file. If you challenge it in court, only a lawyer or a solicitador can represent you there, and that’s outside our packages.
What should you ask a D7 lawyer or agency before you pay?
Ask seven things, and get the answers in writing.
Ask before you pay, and get it in writing
- ✓Who is the lawyer, are they registered with the Portuguese Bar, and what will they do on my file?
- ✓What’s included? If the page doesn’t itemise it, the proposal should.
- ✓Is VAT added to the price?
- ✓What does each family member cost?
- ✓Where does the help stop: at the consulate’s decision, or after my AIMA appointment?
- ✓How many review rounds do I get, and what does an extra one cost?
- ✓What help do I get with booking the appointment?
When might another D7 provider suit you better than Novomove?
Another provider may suit you better in five situations.
- If you’ve built your file and want the lowest review price in this comparison, look at AnchorLess. Its review is €299, and one price covers the whole family.[10]
- If you want to meet a lawyer in person, look at Global Citizen Solutions. Its one-hour consultation “can take place either online or at our offices in Portugal”.[11]
- If you want a law firm, look at Lexidy. Its page lists offices in Lisbon and Porto, and you get a fixed-price proposal after a free consultation.[1]
- If you want one price for your whole family, look at MigRun. Standard is €1,290 with the family included.[2]
- If you want the same firm after you arrive, look at Step Inside Portugal. Its package includes “Coordination with AIMA”, and it lists vehicle legalisation among its services.[9]
Where does Novomove fit, and where does our help stop?
Novomove is an agency with a partner immigration lawyer on the legal steps, and our help stops at the consulate’s decision. You can start with an €80 lawyer call, a €530 Check-Up or Premium at €1,199, all ex VAT.
Our limits, in one place:
- We stop at the consulate’s decision. AIMA support is a separate package.
- You book your own appointment. We guide you on when and how.
- The NIF and the bank account are separate services.
- Government fees, translations and apostilles are yours to pay.
Our published D7 stories include Jason and Amy (VFS San Francisco, 28 days); Daniel, a US citizen who applied from Cairo (106 days); and Angelo, who applied through VFS New York. These are individual files, and the VFS checklist for the UK gives 60 days as the standard processing time.[4]
If that’s the help you’re after, the full package and the D7 requirements are on our Portugal D7 visa page. A 15-minute call with our team is free.
Perguntas frequentes
Do I need a lawyer to apply for a Portugal D7 visa?
Não. Nothing on the official document list asks for a lawyer or a representative, and you sign the application form yourself. A lawyer is worth paying for when your file raises a legal question, such as a past refusal.
How much does a Portugal D7 visa lawyer cost in 2026?
It depends on what you buy. A single call costs €80 to €250, a document review €299 to €530, and a full package €1,199 to €3,490 for the main applicant, going by the six providers we compared. VAT and family members can change the total.
What is the difference between a D7 lawyer and a D7 agency?
A lawyer advises you on how the law applies to your case and can represent you. An agency manages the project: checklists, forms, documents and deadlines. Some agencies, Novomove included, bring a lawyer in for the legal steps.
A Novomove é uma sociedade de advogados?
Não. Novomove is an agency. Our team manages your case, and our partner immigration lawyer, who is registered in Portugal, gives the consultations and reviews your dossier.
Can an agency give legal advice on a Portugal D7 visa?
No, not on its own. Under Portuguese law, legal advice must come from a lawyer, a solicitador or one of a few others the law names, such as a law graduate.[6] So ask the agency who that person is.
How do I check that a Portuguese immigration lawyer is registered?
Search the Ordem dos Advogados register by the lawyer’s name or professional number.[7] You can limit the results to active registrations. If your provider gives you a name, check it before you pay.
Who books the VFS or consulate appointment for a D7 visa?
You do. You book your own appointment with VFS or the consulate, depending on where you live. With Novomove, we guide you on when and how.
Are government fees included in D7 package prices?
No, going by the packages we compared. None of them lists the visa fee, translations or apostilles as included, and Novomove excludes them in writing.
Is VAT added to D7 lawyer and agency prices?
Sometimes. Novomove’s prices are ex VAT: you pay VAT if your billing address is in the EU, and none if it’s outside. Step Inside Portugal’s package prices say “+VAT if applicable” and its consultation says “EUR 120 + VAT”.[9] The other providers’ pages don’t say whether VAT applies.
Do D7 package prices include my spouse and children?
It depends on the provider. MigRun says the whole family is included, Novomove charges €350 for each adult dependant and €250 for each child (ex VAT), and Step Inside Portugal adds €1,950 for a spouse and €1,200 for a child (plus VAT if applicable).[2][9] Lexidy’s page doesn’t state family pricing.[1]
Does a D7 package cover the AIMA stage in Portugal?
It depends on the package. Step Inside Portugal’s includes “Coordination with AIMA”, and Novomove’s stops at the consulate’s decision.[9] Ask any provider where its help ends.
Does paying for help mean my D7 visa will be approved?
Não. The consulate decides every application, whoever prepared the file. What you’re paying for is help preparing and checking it.
Sources and how we checked
We read each price and quote on the provider’s own page. Where a page doesn’t state something, the tables say so.
- Lexidy, Portugal D7 Visa, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- MigRun, assistance packages (prices, inclusions and the family FAQ) and MigRun, terms (the “informational services” sentence), checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national visas: necessary documentation (residency visa for retirement or passive income), checked 10 Nov 2026.
- VFS Global, D7 checklist for applicants in the USA, dated 10 July 2025, and VFS Global, D7 checklist for applicants in the UK, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Ordem dos Advogados, “Atos de Advogados e Solicitadores” (records the repeal of Lei n.º 49/2004 and the entry into force on 1 January 2024), checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Lei n.º 10/2024, de 19 de janeiro, Diário da República, 19 January 2024, articles 4, 6, 7, 11 and 16 (official PDF), checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Ordem dos Advogados, lawyer search, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Novomove, pricing page and the package section of our Portugal D7 visa page, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Step Inside Portugal, immigration services, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- AnchorLess, document review, AnchorLess, immigration consultation e AnchorLess, Portugal, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Global Citizen Solutions, D7 consultation booking, checked 10 Nov 2026.
- Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, external service providers, checked 10 Nov 2026.
