For many Nigerians seeking a better quality of life, affordable living costs, and access to Europe, the Portugal D7 Visa offers an attractive solution. Also known as the Passive Income Visa, this program allows individuals with stable passive income—such as pensions, rental income, or investments—to relocate to Portugal and enjoy its vibrant culture, world-class healthcare, and proximity to other European countries

This visa is specifically designed for non-EU nationals who can support themselves financially through consistent passive income, allowing them to reside in Portugal without needing to find local employment. It’s become a popular choice for retirees and individuals living off investments who want access to Portugal’s benefits and the wider Schengen Area.

Understanding the D7 Visa: For Passive Income Earners

It’s important to be clear from the start: the D7 visa is intended for individuals who have reliable income streams that do not require active work. This typically includes:

• Pensions (state or private)
• Rental income from properties
• Dividends from shares or investments
• Interest from savings or financial investments
• Royalties from intellectual property

While D7 residents can undertake some professional activity in Portugal later, the initial visa grant depends on proving sufficient passive income. If your primary income comes from active remote work for a foreign company or freelance activities, Portugal’s D8 Digital Nomad Visa is likely the more appropriate pathway to investigate.

Key features of the D7 visa leading to residency include:

• Residency Permit: The D7 visa allows you to enter Portugal and apply for a temporary residence permit, typically granted for an initial two years and renewable for a further three.
• Path to Permanence: After holding a temporary residence permit for five continuous years, you can usually apply for permanent residency in Portugal or even Portuguese citizenship.
• Schengen Area Travel: As a Portuguese resident, you gain visa-free travel throughout the 27 countries of the Schengen Zone for short stays.
• Family Inclusion: You can usually include your spouse/partner and dependent children (and sometimes dependent parents) in your application.
• Access to Services: Residents gain access to Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS) and potentially public education for children.

Can You Qualify? D7 Eligibility for Nigerians (2025/26 Focus)

Meeting the eligibility criteria is essential. Here’s what Nigerian applicants need to demonstrate:

1. The Crucial Passive Income Requirement (2025 Figures) You must prove you have a stable, regular passive income sufficient to support yourself (and any dependents) without needing Portuguese welfare. The minimum required amount is linked to the Portuguese national minimum wage (Salário Mínimo Nacional – SMN), which is €870 per month for mainland Portugal in 2025.

The calculation works as follows:

• Main Applicant: 100% of the SMN = €870 per month (equivalent to €10,440 per year).
• Spouse/Partner (Second Adult): An additional 50% of the SMN = +€435 per month (making a total of €1,305 per month for a couple).
• Each Dependent Child (under 18): An additional 30% of the SMN = +€261 per child per month.

Example: A couple with one child would need to show a combined stable passive income of at least €870 + €435 + €261 = €1,566 per month.

You need to provide solid proof of this income (e.g., official pension statements, bank statements showing regular rental income deposits, investment portfolio statements showing dividends, royalty agreements/statements). The income must be reliable and expected to continue.

2. Proving Sufficient Savings Beyond the monthly income, Portuguese authorities want to see you have enough readily accessible funds to sustain yourself, particularly during the initial settlement period. While sometimes stated as a recommendation, it’s generally required to show savings equivalent to at least 12 months of the minimum income threshold deposited in a Portuguese bank account.
   • Single Applicant: Minimum savings ≈ €10,440.
   • Couple: Minimum savings ≈ €15,660 (€10,440 + €5,220).
   • Couple + 1 Child: Minimum savings ≈ €18,792 (€15,660 + €3,132).
   • It’s always advisable to have more than the absolute minimum.
3. Securing Accommodation in Portugal You must provide proof that you have a place to live in Portugal before you apply for the visa. This usually means:
   • A rental agreement (contrato de arrendamento) for a property in Portugal with a minimum duration of 12 months.
   • OR Proof of property ownership (a deed – escritura) in Portugal. Rent varies significantly. While the data you had suggested €700-€1000 for a 1-bedroom in Lisbon/Porto, costs have risen. In 2025, expect central Lisbon/Porto 1-beds to be closer to €1,000 – €1,400+ per month. Smaller cities or suburban areas will be more affordable (€750-€900+).
4. Health Insurance Needs For the initial visa application and entry into Portugal, you must have private health insurance that provides coverage across the Schengen Area, typically with a minimum coverage of €30,000. This policy needs to cover you until you can register with the public health system.
   • Cost: Basic travel/health insurance meeting visa requirements might cost €50-€150+ per month per person, depending heavily on age, health, and coverage level.
   • Public Healthcare (SNS): Once you receive your residence permit and register with your local health center (centro de saúde), you gain access to Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS). Healthcare under SNS is largely tax-funded, though some co-payments (taxas moderadoras) may apply for certain services (often waived for vulnerable groups).
5. Clean Criminal Record You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate from:
   • Any other country where you have lived for more than one year after the age of 16. These certificates must usually be recent (issued within the last 3 months before application), and may need to be legalized (e.g., with an Apostille stamp, depending on the country) and potentially translated into Portuguese by a certified translator.
6. Getting Your NIF and Portuguese Bank Account These are practical necessities you’ll need very early, often before submitting your visa application:
   • NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal): Your Portuguese tax identification number. It’s required for almost everything – renting property, opening a bank account, setting up utilities. Non-residents usually need a Portuguese-based fiscal representative to obtain one, which can often be arranged online through specialized services.
   • Portuguese Bank Account: Required to deposit your proof of savings and manage finances locally. This can sometimes be opened remotely with the help of your fiscal representative or lawyers, or during an initial visit.

Applying for the D7: A Two-Stage Process

The journey involves applying for the initial visa in Nigeria, then finalizing your residence permit in Portugal.

Stage 1: Applying for the D7 Visa in Nigeria

1. Gather Documents: Collect all necessary paperwork meticulously. This typically includes:
   • Completed National Visa application form. o Valid Nigerian passport (plus copies). o       Recent passport-sized photos.
   • Detailed proof of stable passive income (6-12 months of statements/records).
   • Proof of sufficient savings (Portuguese bank statement showing the required amount). o Proof of accommodation in Portugal (12-month rental contract or property deed).
   • Valid private health/travel insurance policy covering Schengen. o Recent criminal record certificate(s), potentially legalized/apostilled and translated. o            Your Portuguese NIF number. o A cover letter explaining your motivation for moving to Portugal.
   • Marriage/birth certificates if applying with family (legalized/translated).
2. Submit Application: Lodge your application through the designated Portugal Visa Application Centre in Nigeria, usually operated by VFS Global in Abuja. Check the VFS Global website or the Portuguese Consulate’s requirements for booking appointments and specific submission procedures.
3. Pay Fees: Pay the national visa application fee (around €90, check current fee).
4. Interview (Possible): The Portuguese Consulate may request an interview to discuss your application and intentions.
5. Wait for Decision: The standard processing time target for national visas like the D7 is around 60 calendar days, but this can vary.
6. Receive Visa: If approved, you’ll receive a D7 visa sticker in your passport. This visa is typically valid for 4 months and allows two entries into Portugal.

Stage 2: Getting Your Residence Permit from AIMA in Portugal

1. Travel to Portugal: Enter Portugal using your D7 visa within its 4-months validity period.
2. AIMA Appointment: You (or your legal representative in Portugal) need to secure an appointment with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) – the authority that replaced SEF. This appointment is crucial for finalizing your residence permit. Waiting times for AIMA appointments can sometimes be lengthy, so scheduling this promptly upon arrival (or even beforehand if possible) is advised.
3. Attend AIMA Appointment: At the appointment, you’ll submit your documents again (passport, visa, NIF, proof of address, income proof etc.), provide biometric data (fingerprints, photo), and pay the residence permit fee (around €160-€170, check current fee).
4. Receive Residence Card: If everything is in order, AIMA approves your permit. The physical residence card (Título de Residência) is usually mailed to your Portuguese address. This initial card is typically valid for two years. It can then be renewed for a subsequent three-year period, provided you continue to meet the D7 conditions (including minimum stay requirements).

Important: Portugal’s Tax Situation in 2025/26 (The End of NHR)

A significant change impacting new residents is the end of the popular Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime.

• NHR is Gone for Newcomers: The NHR scheme, which offered substantial tax benefits (like a flat 20% tax on certain Portuguese income and exemptions on most foreign income) for 10 years, was closed to new applicants from January 1, 2024. The final deadline for those qualifying under transitional rules also passed (March 31, 2025).
• What This Means for 2025/26 D7 Applicants: If you become a tax resident in Portugal in 2025 or later via the D7 route, you will generally not be eligible for the old NHR benefits. You will likely be subject to Portugal’s standard progressive income tax rates on your worldwide income (unless a tax treaty applies), with rates going up to 48% for higher income brackets. Passive income like foreign pensions, dividends, or rental income may have specific tax treatments under standard rules or tax treaties.
• New (Limited) Incentive – IFICI: Portugal introduced a replacement scheme called the ‘Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation’ (IFICI), offering a 20% flat rate for 10 years.

However, this is targeted at individuals earning income from very specific high-qualification jobs (teachers/researchers in higher education, R&D roles, specific tech startup jobs within certified entities). It is unlikely to apply to individuals qualifying for the D7 based on typical passive income sources like pensions or rentals.

• Seek Tax Advice: Understanding the standard Portuguese tax system and how it applies to your specific passive income sources is now essential before Consulting with a tax advisor familiar with Portuguese and international tax law is highly recommended.

Life in Portugal with the D7: What to Expect

Despite the NHR changes, Portugal remains appealing:

• Affordability: While costs are rising, Portugal is generally more affordable than many Northern or Western European countries, especially outside Lisbon and Porto. Your passive income might stretch further.
• Quality of Life: Known for its safety, relaxed pace of life, good food, rich history, and welcoming culture.
• Climate: Offers mild winters and warm, sunny summers, particularly in the Algarve region.
• English: Widely spoken in major cities and tourist areas, easing initial settlement.
• Schengen Access: Freedom to explore Europe easily.
• Minimum Stay: Remember, to maintain and renew your residence permit, you must spend significant time in Portugal – generally, you cannot be absent for more than 6 consecutive or 8 nonconsecutive months during your permit’s validity period.

Tips for Nigerian Applicants

• Start Early: Gathering documents (especially legalized criminal records, income proof, NIF, bank account) takes time.
• Clear Passive Income Proof: Ensure your documentation clearly shows the source, stability, and regularity of your passive income, meeting the minimum threshold.
• NIF & Bank Account First: Prioritize getting your Portuguese NIF and opening a bank account, often possible remotely via legal/fiscal representatives.
• Secure Accommodation Proof: Have your 12-month rental contract or property deed ready for the visa application.
• Consider Professional Help: Immigration lawyers or relocation specialists familiar with the D7 process can be valuable, especially given recent changes and AIMA appointment complexities.
• Basic Portuguese Helps: While English is common in cities, learning basic Portuguese phrases will greatly enhance your daily life and integration.

Is the D7 Visa Your Route to Portugal?

For Nigerians with sufficient, stable passive income, the Portugal D7 visa remains a solid pathway to European residency in 2025/26. Its appeal lies in the relatively straightforward requirements (compared to investment visas), the prospect of permanent residency and citizenship after five years, and Portugal’s lifestyle advantages. However, it’s vital to understand that this visa is for passive income earners, not primarily remote workers, and the attractive NHR tax regime is no longer an option for new arrivals.