Portugal D3 Visa from Pakistan

The Portugal D3 Visa enables overseas citizens to come to Portugal for at least one year if they can prove they have already received a job offer or work contract from a Portuguese company.

The key eligibility criteria for this type of Portuguese Work Visa is that the applicants hold an adequate level of qualifications to meet the requirements and will be involved in a highly qualified activity during their time in Portugal.

If you are unclear if your circumstances are suitable for the D3 Visa pathway then you should reach out to an immigration specialist for advice and support.

Page Contents

• What is the Portugal D3 Visa?
• What are the Benefits of the Portugal D3 Visa?
• Who is a Highly Qualified Professional?: Eligibility Criteria for the D3 Visa Portugal
• Who Can Apply for the D3 Visa?: Application Eligibility Requirements
• What Documents do I Need to Provide for the D3 Visa from Pakistan?
• How to Apply for the Portugal D3 Visa from Pakistan?
• Interview at SEF and the Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Professionals
• EU Blue Card
• The D3 Visa Processing Times and Fees
• Validity and Renewal of the D3 Visa
• Portugal D3 Visa and Family Reunification
• What Happens if My Visa Gets Refused?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQs

The D3 Visa can be significant to many highly qualified immigrants from Pakistan who want to live and work in Portugal as it also allows the holders to bring their families to join them. In addition to this,  D3 Visas benefit from favourable processing times so relocating to Portugal can be done efficiently.

Once you obtain your D3 Visa, you can access countries within the Schengen Area without requiring additional visas.

D3 Visa holders can also apply for the EU Blue Card or a Residence Permit, allowing them to reside in Portugal for up to 1 year temporarily.

Another benefit of the D3 Visa is Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Tax Regime which allows you to benefit from tax breaks for 10 years while living in the country.

To fulfil the eligibility criteria for the D3 Visa, you must demonstrate that you hold adequate qualifications which are exercised by professionals in management (directors, managers, executives, senior administration officers, etc.) or intellectual and scientific activities (scientists, engineers, teachers, business and management professionals etc.).

This includes:

• Professorial positions in any Portuguese education institution
• Work contract or self-employment contract in a highly qualified activity position
• Management or leadership position with a work contract or a promise of an employment contract by a Portuguese company
• Activity in relation to culture with a work contract or a self-employment contract – this must be in relevance to Portugal and is required to be recognised by Portugal’s authorities responsible for national culture
• IT professionals with a Tech Visa issued by a Portuguese company certified by the Portuguese Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI)

To apply for the Portugal D3 Visa, applicants must fulfil the following requirements:

• Have at least a 12-month employment contract with a Portuguese company
• Suitable higher education qualifications.
• An estimated annual pay for your role is 1.5 times the gross average salary in Portugal or 3 times the Index of Social Support (IAS)- this value is updated yearly, and for 2023 it is €48,043.

If you are looking to apply for the D3 Visa for Portugal, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility by providing the following supporting documents:

• A valid employment contract or the promise of an employment contract – must be valid for at least 1 year.
• Evidence of your qualifications and proof that the qualifications you hold are appropriate to the activity or sector specified in the employment contract (for the non-regulated profession)
• Proof that you are qualified to exercise your profession in Portugal (for a regulated profession)
• Invitation letter from your employer in Portugal
• Two identical and recent passport photographs following the Portuguese passport guidelines
• Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay in Portugal
• Travel tickets
• Travel insurance – must be valid and cover medical expenses, emergency assistance and your travel back to Pakistan
• Health insurance covering your stay in Portugal
• Proof of accommodation – for example, an invitation letter from a friend, family member, or a person with whom you will reside in Portugal, a hotel reservation, or a rental contract
• Form authorising SEF (Portuguese Immigration and Border Service) to access your criminal record
• Police Clearance Certificate obtained from Pakistan valid for up to 3 months after the date of issuance.

Determining what supporting documents you must submit for your visa application can complicate your visa process and make it time-consuming. Total Law can help you decide what documents you should submit to prove your eligibility and guide you on how to obtain them.

To find out more, call +44 (0)333 305 9375 and speak to one of our expert advisers.

To apply for the D3 Visa from Pakistan, you must contact the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in Pakistan nearest to you. The Portuguese Embassy is in Islamabad, and the Portuguese Consulates are in Karachi and Lahore. You can apply to the consulate or VFS.

VFS are Visa Application Centres authorised by the Portuguese Embassy. If a VFS is located closer to your address than the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate, you can apply through VFS. The VFS is located in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

Once you have signed your employment contract or received a promise of employment in Portugal and have adequate evidence to demonstrate this, you can complete the D3 Visa application through the E-Visa Portal.

If your application is approved, an interview at the SEF will be automatically scheduled for you to attend. SEF is the Immigration and Border Service. If the date is not suitable for you, you can reschedule the appointment for a different date, but you must attend it while your visa is valid (120 days after your visa is issued).

During the SEF interview, you can apply for a Portuguese residence permit. This will allow you to stay in Portugal longer than the 120 days for which the D3 Visa is issued.

After the SEF interview, you will receive your residence permit card, which will be valid for two years.

If you wish to apply for the EU Blue Card instead of the Residence Permit, you can do so after arriving in Portugal. The EU Blue Card enables applicants to move to another member state of the European Union to exercise a highly qualified activity after 18 months of the EU Blue Card being granted.

To obtain the EU Blue Card, you must hold a promise or contract of employment from a company in another country of the European Union and fulfil all the eligibility requirements.

As with the Residence Permit, if you apply for the EU Blue Card, you can bring dependents to join you in Portugal.

Once you submit your visa application, it will be processed within 60 days. The fees of the D3 Visa are as follows:

• D3 Visa application processing – €90
• SEF fee – €170.50

The D3 Visa is valid for 120 days. If you wish to stay in Portugal longer, you can apply for a Residence Permit while your D3 Visa is still valid. The Residence Permit will be valid for 2 years.

If you are able to demonstrate that you are continuing your professional activities in Portugal and that you hold a job offer from your employer, you will be allowed to renew your Residence Permit every 2 years.

Please note that you must renew your Residence Permit 30 days before the expiration date. If you fail to renew your Residence Permit before the indicated expiration date, your visa will be cancelled, and you will be required to leave Portugal.

The vast majority of visa applications are successful. However, in some cases, applications are refused due to ineligibility, missing documents or information.

When you’re completing your visa application, you must provide all of the required information and documents. If you give insufficient reasons for your stay, you have no evidence of funds or accommodation, your visa application may be refused.

If your visa application is refused, you have the right to appeal. The cost of appeal is €75. In the case of appealing, it is best to seek the advice of an immigration adviser to determine the best way forward for your case.