Portugal D1 Visa from Pakistan

The D1 Visa is an option for individuals who have received an employment contract or a promise of a work contract with a company in Portugal that lasts longer than 12 months.

Criteria for the D1 Visa Professional Worker route requires applicants to have professional qualifications and be able to demonstrate adequate documentation to support their application.

In addition, the company advertising the job position must demonstrate that the role was advertised to European Union (EU) residents and that the company did not find a suitable candidate from this region or within Portugal.

When applying for the D1 Visa, the applicant must demonstrate they were interviewed for the role and have the appropriate skills and experience for the position.

Page Contents

• Portugal D1 Visa from Pakistan Overview
• Benefits of the Portugal D1 Visa for Pakistani Citizens
• Eligibility Requirements of the D1 Visa for Pakistani Citizens
• Can I Get a Portugal D1 Visa as a Tourist?
• Documents Required for the D1 Visa Application to Portugal
• What is the Travel Health Insurance Requirement for Obtaining a D1 Visa?
• How to Apply for a D1 Visa Portugal as a Pakistani Citizen?
• Processing Times and Fees for D1 Visa to Portugal
• The Portugal D1 Professional Worker Visa Interview
• What Happens if My Portugal D1 Visa is refused?
• D1 Visa Application is Approved: What Next?
• Validity and Renewal of a Residence Permit while on the D1 Subordinate Worker Visa in Portugal
• Portuguese Citizenship as a D1 Visa Holder
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQs

The D1 Visa is a long-term residence visa and is a good route for Pakistani citizens looking to move to Europe for work purposes.

Having a Portuguese Residence Permit allows the D1 Visa holders the right to live, work, and study in Portugal and allow free travel within Europe’s Schengen Area, comprising 27 European countries.

D1 Visa holders can also bring family members to Portugal after obtaining a residence permit. The applicant and their eligible family members can then apply for Portuguese citizenship after residing in Portugal for 5 years.

Portugal is particularly attractive for Pakistanis due to its competitive salaries yet generally low cost of living.

To apply for the Portugal D1 Visa from Pakistan, you must fulfil the required criteria and prove your eligibility with supporting evidence.

Your D1 Visa application will only be approved if you fulfil the following:

• Have received an employment contract with a Portuguese company or offer of employment in Portugal.
• The offer of employment or a signed job offer must be for at least 12 months.
• The invitation or employment contract must be agreed with the Portuguese Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP).
• The employment contract you have been offered must have a sufficient salary level and be above or equal to the Portuguese national wage depending on whether applying via the professional or subordinate route.

Tourists can apply for a D1 Visa if they fulfil the requirements and can demonstrate their eligibility with supporting documents.

If applying as a tourist they must have a residence address in Portugal and the job offer must be for at least 12 months, with a salary equal to the national minimum wage.

Tourists will also need to show they have contributed to the country’s social security system and are able to pay tax in Portugal.

If you fulfil the eligibility requirements for the D1 Visa, you must provide documents to support your visa application and demonstrate to the Immigration and Border Services (SEF) that you are an eligible applicant.

Along with your complete D1 Visa application, you must submit the following supporting documents:

• Contract of employment, work promise or demonstration of interest signed by you and your employer in Portugal. As well as a letter from them explaining the reasons for hiring you.
• Copy of CV and documents showing your qualifications and suitability for the job
• Document signed by you, declaring the estimated period of stay, accommodation details and reason for visa application
• Travel health insurance – must be valid for the entire duration of stay in Portugal, and must be submitted as the original and 1 copy
• Criminal record certificate – obtained at your local police station in Pakistan
• Permission for consultation of the Portuguese criminal registry
• Proof of funds – demonstrated by submitting banking statements from the last 3 months. In addition, you must submit evidence of means of subsistence for your time in the country
• Passport which is valid for at least 3 months after your estimated return date to Pakistan.
• Two recent passport photographs following the Portuguese passport guidelines

Please note that if you are married or have children, you must submit a marriage certificate and birth certificates of your children in addition to the above documentation.

One of the requirements for being eligible for the D1 Visa is the travel health insurance requirement. When you travel to Portugal, you must submit proof of travel health insurance, which covers any costs of medical emergencies in case you need them.

The travel insurance must cover any repatriation costs in case of your death and the policy must be valid for the entire duration of planned stay in Portugal.

In terms of cost of medical insurance, this will depend on your personal circumstances, with factors such as your age, professional activity, country of origin and the duration of your trip impacting on the total premium.

If you need help finding the right medical cover for your travel to Portugal or advice on how to meet the D1 Visa requirements, contact Total Law to receive support with your application. Call one of our Total Law advisers at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us online to learn more.

Once you receive your employment contract or the offer of work in Portugal and determine your eligibility for the D1 Visa, you can begin your visa application process.

Before you start, you must gather all the required supporting documents for your visa application.

You can then contact the nearest Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in Pakistan to start your D1 Visa application. You can find the Portuguese Embassy in Islamabad and the Portuguese Consulates in Karachi and Lahore.

In addition to the Portuguese Embassy and Consulates, there are Visa Application Centres (VAC)  run by the VFS and authorised by the Portuguese Embassy. The centres are located in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

The Embassy, Consulate, or VFS will give you access to the E-Visa Portal to apply for the D1 Visa. You will then complete the visa application, submit the required documents and pay the visa fee.

After you submit your visa application and all of the supporting documents, the Portuguese Embassy in Islamabad will require a minimum of 90 days to process your visa application.

If SEF requires additional information or documents or a more detailed investigation of your application is necessary, the processing time might be extended by 60 to 90 days.

The overall cost of the Portugal D1 Visa Application from Pakistan includes:

• SEF visa processing fee – €38
• Long Stay > 1 Year (Residence Visa) for Work – €90

When you apply for a Portugal D1 Visa, you may be required to attend a face-to-face visa interview at the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in Pakistan. The interview aims to ensure that you have submitted the required documents and to confirm and provide the information that determines your visa eligibility.

When you arrive at the interview, the interviewing officer will ask you about your details, background and the trip to Portugal.

Some of the most common interview questions for the D1 Visa to Portugal include:

• Why are you travelling to Portugal?
• Have you ever travelled to Portugal before?
• What is your professional and educational background?
• Do you know anyone in Portugal?
• Where will you stay while in Portugal?
• Are you married?
• How long do you intend to stay in Portugal?

The interviewing officer will ask you questions that are related to your case. You must prepare yourself before an interview to ensure that your answers correspond to the information you have provided in your application.

Please note that you must be honest and answer to the best of your knowledge when asked questions during an interview. This is because inconsistencies between the information you provided in your visa application and your replies in the interview can delay visa processing or even a refusal of your application.

Most D1 Visa applications to Portugal are successful; however, sometimes visa applications are refused, and the reasons for this include:

• Lack of or inadequate supporting documents
• Not meeting the eligibility requirement, such as proof of funds or medical insurance
• Existing criminal record
• Inconsistencies between the answers in the visa application form that you have completed and the visa interview you attended

If your D1 Visa application requires additional documents or information, the Portuguese Embassy will inform you about this and provide a deadline to add any needed documents or information.

In case of visa denial due to ineligibility, you can appeal the decision or re-apply for the visa, ensuring that you address the reasons for denial. However, you must pay the visa fees and attend the visa interview again.

Visa refusal can be discouraging and stressful. If your visa has been refused and you wish to appeal the decision or re-apply, contact Total Law for legal advice and guidance through the process.

Our immigration advisers can answer any questions related to your visa application, provide you with support, and determine the best next step for your case.

Once your D1 visa is approved, you can collect your passport from the VAC or have your passport delivered to you by post for an additional fee.

If you collect your passport in person, you must bring the receipt that the VAC issued you, along with your identification document. In some circumstances, you might be permitted to send a representative to collect your passport if they present a letter of authorisation signed by you. They will need to provide ID and the necessary receipt.

Once you collect your passport and have your D1 Worker Visa, you can make arrangements to travel to Portugal.

When you arrive in Portugal you must register your stay with the nearest SEF, immigration officers will then explain to you how to register for the Residence Permit, how long it will be valid for and how you can renew it.

You can stay in Portugal as long as your visa is valid. If your work contract is for 1 year, your D1 Visa will be valid for the duration of your contract. A Residence Permit will enable you to stay in the country for 2 years.

If you provide evidence that you are continuing your role at a company located in Portugal, you will be able to renew your Residence Permit every 2 years. and up to 5 years.

In order to extend your Residence Permit, you must renew it at least 30 days before the expiration date. If you fail to renew your Residence Permit before the indicated expiration date, your visa will be cancelled, resulting in you being required to leave the country and return to Pakistan.

After residing in Portugal for 5 years, you are eligible for Permanent Residency. Then, after maintaining a Permanent Residency for 1 year, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship. This is known as citizenship through naturalisation.

You must remember that in order to become a Portuguese citizen, you must fulfil additional eligibility requirements, such as having a good knowledge of the Portuguese language, demonstrating it with adequate documents, and having a clear criminal background.

Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation costs €250, and the fee includes the processing of the application as well as the issuance of your citizenship certificate and a residence card.