---
title: "Portugal D7 passive income visa vs Greece Independent means permit"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/greece-financially-independent-residence-vs-portugal-retirement-own-income-visa/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Head to head

# Portugal D7 passive income visa vs Greece Independent means permit

Two retirement and savings routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application.

## Key differences

- **Money** Portugal D7 passive income visa asks for income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030; Greece Independent means permit for income of €3,500+ a month ≈ $3,910.
- **First stay** The first stay is 2 yrs on Portugal D7 passive income visa and 3 yrs on Greece Independent means permit.
- **Renewal** Renewable on both.
- **Permanent residence** After 5 years of residence on both.
- **Citizenship** Portugal D7 passive income visa: after 10 years of residence. Greece Independent means permit: after 12 years of residence.
- **Family** Portugal D7 passive income visa: spouse can work. Greece Independent means permit: spouse can't work.
- **Government fees** The first government fee listed is €114 ≈ $130 for Portugal D7 passive income visa and €1,000 ≈ $1,120 for Greece Independent means permit; the table lists every fee.
- **Tax residence** Portugal: more than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year). Greece: more than 183 days (any 12-month period).

## Side by side

|   | Portugal [D7 passive income visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/retirement-own-income-visa/) | Greece [Independent means permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/financially-independent-residence/) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Country:** | *1* D7 passive income visa [Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/) | *2* Independent means permit [Greece](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/) |
| **Type:** | *1* D7 passive income visa Retire or live on savings | *2* Independent means permit Retire or live on savings |
| **Money needed:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030** | *2* Independent means permit **Needs income of €3,500+ a month ≈ $3,910** |
| **First stay:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **2 yrs** | *2* Independent means permit **3 yrs** |
| **Renewal:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **Renewable** Details Valid two years from issue, then renewable in successive three-year periods while subsistence, housing and tax and social-security conditions are still met. File renewal at least 30 days before expiry. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [Portuguese Government](https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-um-visto-de-residencia-para-fixacao-de-residencia-de-reformados-religiosos-e-pessoas-que-vivem-de-rendimentos-proprios) | *2* Independent means permit **Renewable** Details Valid 3 years and renewable for equal periods while the income conditions are met. [Taxheaven legal text repository](https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5038/2023/arthro/163) |
| **Spouse can work:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **Can work** | *2* Independent means permit **Can't work** |
| **Government fees:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **€114 ≈ $130 · €110 ≈ $120** Details €114 ≈ $130 Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally. €110 ≈ $120 National visa processing fee. | *2* Independent means permit **€1,000 ≈ $1,120** Details €1,000 ≈ $1,120 Residence permit fee for type I.8; EUR 150 (≈ $170) for holders of a pension from a Greek public insurer. |
| **Permanent residence:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **After 5 years of residence** Details Permanent residence needs five years on a temporary residence authorization, no serious recent conviction, means of subsistence, housing and basic Portuguese. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) | *2* Independent means permit **After 5 years of residence** Details Long-term resident status needs 5 years of continuous legal residence and income at least the annual minimum wage (plus 10% for dependants); absences under 6 consecutive months and 10 months in total are allowed. [TaxHeaven](https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5038/2023/arthro/144) |
| **Citizenship:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **After 10 years of residence** Details Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence on any residence title or visa (7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU states), plus Portuguese language and culture, and means of subsistence. [Diário da República / Assembleia da República](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) | *2* Independent means permit **After 12 years of residence** Details Naturalisation needs 12 continuous years of legal residence on a permit like this one, but only 7 years once you hold a long-term resident permit or another listed title, plus Greek language and history tests. [Ministry of Interior, National Registry of Administrative Public Services](https://mitos.gov.gr/index.php/%CE%94%CE%94:%CE%A0%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%AC%CF%86%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7_%CE%91%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%BD%CF%8E%CE%BD_%CE%91%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8E%CE%BD) |
| **Processing:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **Up to 60 days** Details The consulate must decide a residence visa within 60 days; after arrival AIMA must decide the residence permit within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional cases. [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [Portuguese Government](https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-um-visto-de-residencia-para-fixacao-de-residencia-de-reformados-religiosos-e-pessoas-que-vivem-de-rendimentos-proprios) | *2* Independent means permit |
| **Where to apply:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **From abroad** Details Apply for the residence visa at the Portuguese consulate, then book an AIMA appointment after entry for the residence authorization. [Portuguese Government](https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-um-visto-de-residencia-para-fixacao-de-residencia-de-reformados-religiosos-e-pessoas-que-vivem-de-rendimentos-proprios) [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) | *2* Independent means permit |
| **Employer needed:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **No** | *2* Independent means permit **No** |
| **Tax residence test:** | *1* D7 passive income visa **More than 183 days (any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year)** | *2* Independent means permit **More than 183 days (any 12-month period)** |
| **Foreign-source income:** | *1* D7 passive income visa Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income. | *2* Independent means permit Greek tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 9% to 44% (scale applied from tax year 2026); residence follows the main home, habitual abode or centre of vital interests, or presence over 183 days. |
| **Official source:** | *1* D7 passive income visa [Portuguese Government](https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-um-visto-de-residencia-para-fixacao-de-residencia-de-reformados-religiosos-e-pessoas-que-vivem-de-rendimentos-proprios) | *2* Independent means permit [Ethniko Typografeio](https://portal.immigration.gov.gr/electronic-applications/) |
| **Checked against official sources:** | *1* D7 passive income visa 12 Oct 2026 · [Rule changed 18 May 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/2026-05-18-portugal-c53a9d/) | *2* Independent means permit First checked 11 Oct 2026 |

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

**Official sources**

### Portugal D7 passive income visa

1. [Residence visa for retirees and people living on own income](https://www.gov.pt/servicos/pedir-um-visto-de-residencia-para-fixacao-de-residencia-de-reformados-religiosos-e-pessoas-que-vivem-de-rendimentos-proprios) · Portuguese Government (gov.pt / DGACCP) · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Means of subsistence for long-stay visas (2026 RMMG EUR920)](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/documentacao-instrutoria/meios-de-subsistencia) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Residence visa documentation by purpose](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/documentacao-instrutoria/residencia) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · checked 2026-10-12
4. [Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
5. [2026 guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG) EUR920, Decreto-Lei 139/2025](https://www.dgert.gov.pt/retribuicao-minima-mensal-garantida-para-2026) · DGERT · checked 2026-10-10
6. [National visa fees](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/informacao-geral/emolumentos) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
7. [AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026)](https://aima.gov.pt/documents/tabela-de-taxas-e-demais-encargos-a-cobrar-pelos-procedimentos-administrativos.pdf) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11
8. [AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
9. [Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/10/20400/0000900017.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
10. [Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11

### Greece Independent means permit

1. [Law 5038/2023, Migration Code (Government Gazette A 81/01.04.2023)](https://ia37rg02wpsa01.blob.core.windows.net/fek/01/2023/20230100081.pdf) · Ethniko Typografeio (Government Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Joint Ministerial Decision 225679/2024 on sufficient resources (Government Gazette B 5223/17.09.2024)](https://issu.uoa.gr/fileadmin/depts/uoa.gr/issu/uploads/yp-apofasi_225679_2024_GIA_YPSOS_KOSTOYS_DIABIOSIS_FEK_5223.pdf) · Hellenic Republic Government Gazette (copy hosted by University of Athens) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Migration Code, art. 163 (other permits: I.5 Canada youth mobility, I.8 sufficient resources), consolidated text](https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5038/2023/arthro/163) · Taxheaven legal text repository (consolidated Migration Code, Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Migration Code, art. 144 (long-term resident status: conditions), consolidated text](https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5038/2023/arthro/144) · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Migration Code, art. 143 (long-term resident status: scope), consolidated text](https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/5038/2023/arthro/143) · TaxHeaven (consolidated Law 5038/2023) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [Naturalisation of non-ethnic-Greek aliens (Politografisi Allogenon Allodapon)](https://mitos.gov.gr/index.php/%CE%94%CE%94:%CE%A0%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%AC%CF%86%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7_%CE%91%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%BD%CF%8E%CE%BD_%CE%91%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8E%CE%BD) · Ministry of Interior, National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr) · checked 2026-10-11

## More head-to-heads