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A TRAVELER’S VIEW FROM HIS NEW HOME
One Transplanted American’s View of the Portuguese Public Healthcare System
I live in Portugal now. It’s even better than I expected.
Context
For a wide variety of reasons, all having to do with quality of life, I moved from California to Portugal several months ago.
I live here on a D7 visa, which many refer to as a pensioner’s visa. However the term “pensioner’s visa” is a misnomer. The D7 is more accurately a visa for those with passive income.
Anyone, yes anyone, at any age, with sufficient passive income can apply for and obtain the D7 visa. The amount of passive income one must demonstrate is low by US standards, about 10K annually in US dollars for an individual. Social security, pensions, rental income, other investment income, and the like all are forms of passive income. I qualify for the D7 primarily because I collect social security.
With a D7 visa one can live legally in Portugal for two years initially. Then, one can reapply and, if approved, stay for another three. Thereafter, one can either become a citizen and remain endlessly or continue to live in the country as a permanent resident required to re-up every five years.
