Guide
Portugal D7 visa health insurance requirements, explained
By Covered Abroad Research Desk · Last verified July 2026
The rule in writing
“At the consulate stage, Portugal’s national visas require insurance with minimum cover of €30,000, valid across the Schengen states for the full stay, covering urgent medical care, urgent hospitalisation, and medical repatriation. Some US visa centres now ask for a full year of validity.”
Official source: Portuguese MFA visa portal (vistos.mne.gov.pt) — Last verified:
The rule in writing
“At the AIMA residence-permit appointment after arrival, travel-grade insurance is no longer enough: applicants show full health insurance valid in Portugal, or registration with the public SNS. Applicants consistently report this second stage catching them out.”
Official source: AIMA appointment guidance as documented by applicants and advisors (not a single government checklist — confirmed case-by-case) — Last verified:
A two-stage process
Portugal's D7 (passive income) and D8 (digital nomad) visas ask for health insurance at two different points, with different requirements at each.
Knowing which stage you are at matters, because the insurance that fits the consulate is not the same as the cover the residence step expects.
Stage one: the consulate
At the consulate stage, applicants typically show Schengen travel insurance with a minimum of €30,000, valid for the initial entry period.
This is the short-stay type of cover — the same category used for a Schengen visa. It gets you to Portugal for the residence appointment.
Stage two: AIMA residence
At the residence stage, handled by AIMA (Portugal's immigration authority), applicants show private health cover valid in Portugal, commonly for around 12 months.
This is where requirements tighten from a travel policy to residence-style health cover. Rules and practice can vary, so check the official AIMA guidance for your case.
Where we fit in
We arrange international private health cover structured for residence in Portugal: the certificate states the amount, Schengen territory including Portugal, the dates, and repatriation for stage one — and it is full medical and hospitalisation cover valid in Portugal for stage two.
AIMA practice can vary by office, so a person reviews your case against the current guidance and confirms the certificate wording for both stages before you buy. Cover excludes treatment in the United States, and pre-existing conditions are excluded — we say both up front.
See the full requirements on our Portugal D7 insurance page, or get a quote.