Portugal D3 Visa From Canada

The Portuguese D3 Visa is a professional visa for those who have a job offer or employment contract in Portugal in place.

That job offer must require a person ‘highly qualified professional’ status for completion. This employment contract must be valid for at least a one-year period.

The D3 Visa allows the holder to travel to Portugal and begin working in the country. Canadians who receive this visa class can then choose to apply for an EU Blue Card or Portuguese residence permit.

This permit, provided the visa is still valid, can be renewed to extend the stay of the visa holder for up to five years. After this time, they may apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Furthermore, the D3 Visa allows for the holder to apply to bring their family members with them into Portugal under ‘family reunification’ status.

Page Contents

• The Portugal D3 Visa: What Canadians Need To Know
• Why Should Canadian Professionals Apply For A Portugal D3 Visa?
• Professional Eligibility Criteria For Canadians
• Personal Eligibility Requirements for The D3 Portugal Visa From Canada
• Supporting Documentation To Be Presented By Canadians
• The Canadian Application Process
• Visa Application Fees For Canadians
• Application Processing Times
• Portugal D3 Visa Validity / Renewal & Extending
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Portugal D3 Visa program is a specific visa for those considered ‘highly qualified professionals’. Other categories of applicants looking to work in Portugal can apply for other visa classes.

The definition of ‘highly qualified professionals’, as set by the European Commission is either:

• An individual holding a position as a professor in any Portuguese education institution
• An individual carrying out ‘highly qualified’ activity within a specific employment contract or self-employment contract
• An individual in a management or leadership position within a Portuguese company
• An individual carrying out cultural activities of relevance to Portugal and recognized be the Portuguese government member responsible for national culture
• An IT professional with a tech visa issued by a Portuguese company certified by IAPMEI (the Portuguese government agency for Competitiveness and Innovation.

Highly qualified professionals applying for the D3 Visa must be a citizen of a non-EU or EEA country and have in place a work contract or job offer of at least 12 months in duration for work to be completed within Portugal, the Azores, or Madeira.

Despite the Portugal D3 Visa being a specialist professional one, there are relatively few eligibility criteria for the applicant compared to other visa classes. The following requirements must be met for an application to be accepted:

• The applicant must be aged 18 or over
• The applicant must hold an employment contract or valid job offer from a Portuguese business that is valid for a period of at least a year. This contract must be for a role within the accepted definition criteria for ‘highly qualified professionals’
• The applicant must be able to provide proof of any role-relevant higher education qualifications
• The applicant must be able to provide proof that the offered annual pay for the role being offered is 1.5x the gross national average salary in Portugal or 3x the Index of Social Support (IAS) amount. As of October 2023, this sits at a minimum of €480.43 but this figure is updated annually. If the applicant chooses to later apply for an EU Blue Card, they must meet whatever the minimum figure is then.

Total Law are often approached by those who believe their eligibility may sit in an ambiguous area of wording and so need some legal guidance. The team are available for a free, no-obligation call on +1 844 290 6312 to chat if this is you!

Applications to the Portugal D3 Visa scheme are to be supported by relevant documentation. While further documents may be requested during the visa processing period, as standard, this includes:

• A Canadian passport, valid for no less than a period ending three months after the intended stay in Portugal
• Bank statements and/or tax returns (as relevant) showing the individual’s income
• A term of responsibility signed by the intended Portuguese employer
• A signed declaration form stating the purpose of the intended travel
• Clear photocopies of any role-relevant educational certificates
• Health insurance documents valid for the entire intended stay in Portugal
• A signed form granting the SEF (Portuguese Immigration and Border Service) permission to carry out a full criminal record check across the EU
• A certified Canadian criminal record check demonstrating a clean criminal record
• 2x passport style and sized photographs
• Documents detailing the applicant’s intended residence. This can be a rental contract, hotel reservation, or letter from property owner.

Where a D3 Visa applicant is applying for family reunification, they may need to include a valid marriage certificate and birth certificate/s of their child/ren.

French Canadians and those residing in French-speaking areas should note that any documents not supplied in English or the Portuguese language must be translated and certified.

While the Portugal D3 Visa can be applied for online, it is often recommended that applicants instead take advantage of the in-person application process. This may best ensure their chances of success.

Firstly, the applicant must secure the relevant job offer or contract and compile all relevant supporting documentation. Then, they can choose to either apply online through the online portal or in person.

In Canada, the D3 Visa application can be made in-person at either the central Embassy of Portugal or one of the three Consulate Generals in the country.

The appointment for the application should be pre-booked and will involve form-filling, the supply of biometric data and the payment of the application fee.

It should be noted that where applicants do complete the process online, they are still likely to have to attend either an Embassy or Consulate in order to supply biometric data.

The application processing fee for a D3 Visa is €90. This amount is non-refundable and is to be paid at the visa application stage.

A Portugal residence permit costs a further €85 from a local SEF office once in the country.

There may be indirect fees associated with a visa application, for which the applicant is solely responsible. This includes costs for translation, copying and printing, postage, and admin fees.

The D3 Visa is subject to priority processing and so the application process should take no more than 30 days in usual circumstances.

A residency permit can be obtained once a D3 Visa has been granted and can be done at any time up to 4 months after the initial date of arrival in Portugal. Applying for an EU Blue Card is considered a separate process.

D3 Visas are initially valid for the period of one year but can be renewed twice – for up to two years each time. After this five-year period, the visa holder can apply for full Portuguese citizenship and become a European Union citizen. This also applies for any family members who are present on the visa under family reunification terms.