Every year, thousands of Americans pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for citizenship-by-investment programmes without knowing that Portugal offers EU residency — full Schengen access, a path to citizenship in five years — for anyone who can demonstrate €870/month in passive income. No investment. No employer sponsorship. No minimum asset threshold.
Why It Matters for Algarve Buyers
Most American buyers evaluate the Algarve as a real estate transaction. The better framing is that they are evaluating three things simultaneously: a property acquisition in a world-class coastal market, EU residency with Schengen freedom of movement, and a ten-year tax advantage on foreign-sourced income that in many cases pays for the move entirely.
The Complete Explainer
For full eligibility criteria, application steps, timeline, and US tax interaction, see the D7 Visa full guide →