Portugal Visa: Complete Guide

Portugal attracts thousands of foreign citizens annually because of its welcoming environment and affordable cost of living, compared to other European countries. Plus, it has several visa routes to cater to different categories of people.

Whether you’ll need a visa for Portugal depends on your nationality, and the type of visa you’ll need depends on the purpose of your travel to Portugal and the intended duration of stay. It’s essential to determine if you need a visa and get the necessary permits before planning your trip to Portugal.

Although Portuguese is the primary language spoken in Portugal, most Portuguese cities have a sizable population of English speakers, particularly among young adults.

Page Contents

• Overview of Portugal Visas
• Do You Need a Visa for Portugal?
• Types of Portugal Visa – Tipo de visto
• Short Stay Visas (Schengen ‘C’ Visa)
• Temporary Stay Visas in Portugal
• Long-Stay National Visas Portugal
• General Requirements for Portugal Visas
• How to Apply for a Portugal Visa?
• Obtaining a Residence Permit in Portugal
• Portuguese Visa Costs
• Processing Times for Portuguese Visas
• How Our Portugal Visa Lawyers Can Help
• Frequently Asked Questions

EU/EEA nationals do not need a visa to visit Portugal because of the EU free movement. Citizens of EU countries can travel to Portugal without additional permits other than their passports. However, they must register their presence with the local Council if they want to stay for longer than 3 months. They’ll be issued a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo).

Non-EU/EEA citizens from visa-exempt countries, such as the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Japan, Israel, and New Zealand, can visit Portugal for short stays of less than 3 months without a visa. However, they must obtain a visa for long-stays of more than 3 months. They can apply for the visa at the Portuguese consulate in their home country or upon arrival in Portugal.

Foreign nationals from non-visa exempt countries need a visa to travel to Portugal, even for short visits. For short-stays of 3 months or less, you’ll need to obtain a Portugal Schengen visa. You can also  make a short visit to Portugal if you have a Schengen visa for another Schengen State, provided you indicated that you’ll be visiting Portugal on your Schengen visa application.

If you intend to stay in Portugal for longer than 3 months for work, studies, or to join a family, you must apply for a Portuguese National (long-stay) visa.

Portugal has several visa routes that allow foreign (non-EU/EEA) nationals to visit/stay in Portugal for various purposes. The type of visa you’ll need depends on your purpose of visit and the intended duration of stay.

There are three main categories of Portugal visas:

• Short-Stay visas (Schengen visa)
• Temporary stay visas
• Long-stay National visas

Each of these visa categories has several routes that cater to diverse groups of foreign immigrants to Portugal.

This visa type allows foreign nationals to visit Portugal for up to 90 days in 180 days for various purposes, including vacation, visiting family, and short business trips. It is popularly known as a Schengen visa, as it allows holders to visit multiple countries in the Schengen Area within the allowed 90 days of stay.

There are different types of short-stay Schengen visas depending on your purpose for visiting Portugal. They include:

• Visit (Tourist) visa
• Short-term Study Visa
• Conference visa
• Transit visa
• Medical Treatment visa
• Business visa.

If you’re from a visa-required country, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your home country before travelling to Portugal. If you’ll be visiting other Schengen countries during your stay, you must state it in your application.

However, if you’ll be entering the Schengen Area through a different country and will only briefly visit Portugal, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the country through which you’ll be entering the Schengen Area.

A temporary stay visa is issued to non-EU nationals to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days but less than a year for various purposes, including study, independent work, seasonal work, and medical reasons. It is typically issued for 12 months and allows for multiple entries to Portugal within the validity period. However, it does not lead to a residence permit.

If you intend to stay in Portugal longer than 3 months, you must apply for a temporary stay visa at the Portuguese embassy or consulate nearest to you before planning your travel.

You’d be required to provide evidence of sufficient means to support yourself in Portugal and documents outlining the legality of your intended stay in Portugal. This can be a service provider contract, a seasonal work contract or a letter of admission, depending on your travel purpose.

Overview

Portugal’s long-stay visas are popularly called Type D residence visas. They’re typically issued to foreign citizens for longer stays of more than 1 year to work, pursue a course of study or live with a family member in Portugal.

Type D visas allow their holders to enter Portugal and apply for a residence permit from the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA). The visa is typically valid for 4 months, within which holders must apply for and obtain their residence permits to validate their long-term stay in Portugal.

There are different types of long-stay visas, and your ideal visa type depends on your purpose for coming to Portugal. Portugal Type D visas include:

• Student visa
• Job Seeker visa
• D1 Work visa
• D2 Entrepreneurship visa
• D3 Highly Skilled Activities visa
• Family Reunification (D6) visa
• D7 Passive Income Visa
• D8 Digital Nomad visa
• Portugal Golden (D9) visa.

Each of these visa categories has specific eligibility criteria and documentation requirements.

Student Visas in Portugal

Portugal grants study visas to qualified non-EU/EEA students who have secured admission into a Portuguese higher institution to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree program. You can also obtain a study visa if you’re coming to Portugal to participate in an academic or scientific research project, an exchange program, or a professional internship.

A study visa allows you to stay in Portugal for the duration of your academic program or internship. It also allows you to work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) during school sessions and full-time during breaks, and bring your immediate family with you.

There are two categories of Portuguese study visa:

• D4 visa: For general studies, including vocational training, student exchange programs, professional internships, and research activities.
• D5 visa: For studies at recognised Portuguese higher education institutions and universities. It is specifically designed for international students admitted into full-time university degree programs.

You must apply for a student visa at the Portuguese consulate in your home country. You must provide documentary evidence that you’ve been accepted into a Portuguese institution and that you have sufficient finances to pay your tuition and support yourself in Portugal.

If your application is approved, you’ll be issued a visa valid for 120 days. The visa grants you entry into Portugal. You must then apply for a residence permit in Portugal before the expiry date.

Job Seeker Visa in Portugal

Job Seeker visa grants skilled non-EU citizens entry into Portugal to seek employment opportunities. If you intend to work in Portugal but have no employment offer yet, you can apply for a Job Seeker visa to enable you to travel to Portugal to search for jobs in person.

The visa targets skilled non-Europeans in sectors experiencing labour shortages in Portugal, such as IT, healthcare, engineering, construction, hospitality, and HR.

To qualify for the visa, you must register with the IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) employment agency, prove that you’re highly skilled in one of the shortage occupation roles, and provide evidence of enough resources to support yourself during your job search in Portugal.

A Job Seeker visa is issued for 120 days and can be extended for up to 60 days. You must find a job within that timeframe and apply for a residence permit. If you’re unable to find a job before your visa expires, you will have to leave Portugal.

D1 Work Visa in Portugal

The D1 Visa is also known as the Portuguese Work visa. It allows non-EU nationals to live and work in Portugal long-term. The D1 visa is issued to foreign nationals who have received an employment offer from a Portuguese employer. The employment contract must be for at least 12 months.

Obtaining a Portuguese work visa involves many steps. Your employer must first conduct a Labour Market Test (LMA) to prove that they were unable to find a Portuguese national or resident to fill the role offered to you. They’ll then apply for a work permit on your behalf from the Portuguese labour authorities.

You’ll use the work permit, labour market test result, employment contract, and other proof of eligibility documents to apply for a work visa at the Portuguese embassy, consulate, or visa application centre closest to you. You can also include your immediate family (spouse/partner and minor children) on your application.

If your application is successful, you’ll be issued a visa valid for four months. You’ll then apply for a residence permit upon arrival in Portugal. You’ll be issued a temporary residence permit valid for up to 2 years, depending on the length of your employment contract.

Entrepreneurship (D2) visa in Portugal

The D2 visa is issued to non-EU nationals who wish to establish a new business or expand an existing business into Portugal. The entrepreneurship visa targets businesspersons and investors who can contribute to the Portuguese economy by establishing a business or investing in an existing one. It is issued to three categories of foreign citizens.

• Entrepreneurs: Those coming to start a new business in Portugal.
• Business owners: Those with existing overseas businesses who wish to open a branch or subsidiary of their overseas business in Portugal.
• Independent Professionals/Freelancers: Those with a contract to offer specialised or intellectual services or who want to establish a professional service business in Portugal.

To qualify for a D2 entrepreneur visa, you must submit a detailed plan that outlines your business viability and its contribution to Portugal’s economy. You must also show that you have sufficient funds to meet your needs and run the business, and intend to be actively part of the business operations.

After arriving in Portugal, you’ll be issued a residence permit valid for an initial 1 year, with provision for subsequent 2-year renewals. You must stay in Portugal for at least 4 months in the first year and 6 months in subsequent years to maintain your residency and qualify for residence permit renewal.

D3 – Highly Skilled Activities Visa

Portugal’s D3 visa is designed for highly skilled foreign individuals who have a job offer in Portugal. The D3 visa is typically issued to professionals in senior or highly qualified positions in tech, healthcare, engineering, scientific research, and other specialised fields.

To qualify for this visa, you must have an employment offer in a specialised role from a Portuguese company. The employment contract must be valid for at least 1 year, with a salary of at least 1.5 times the national average salary. You must also provide evidence of an advanced degree/education or relevant experience in your field.

If your application is successful, you’ll be issued an entry visa that will enable you to travel to Portugal and apply for your residence permit. The D3 visa is a fast path to Portuguese and EU residency, as it gives you the option to apply for an EU Blue Card. You can also bring your dependent family members with you on a D3 visa.

Family Reunification (D6) Visa Portugal

Portugal’s D6 visa allows non-EU family members of Portuguese nationals or residents to reunite with them in Portugal. You may be eligible for a D6 visa if your close family member is a Portuguese citizen or legal resident  and you’re related to them in any of the following ways:

• Spouse or legally recognised partner
• Minor child
• Dependent parent

A D6 visa grants you the right to live, work, and study in Portugal. Its validity is usually the same length as that of your Portuguese family member (if they’re residents).

Your sponsoring family member must first apply for a Family Reunification Authorisation from the AIMA in Portugal. With the authorisation, you’ll then apply for a D6 visa at the Portugal embassy, consulate, or visa application centre in your home country.

Your application must include evidence of a relationship with the sponsoring family member, such as a marriage certificate, civil partnership registration, or birth certificate, and proof that they can financially support you in Portugal.

Passive Income (D7) Visa Portugal

The D7 visa is designed for non-EU citizens who wish to live in Portugal without engaging in active work in the country. It is for individuals who earn a stable income from passive sources, such as property rentals, pensions, royalties, or investments. The D7 visa is a popular choice for retirees who wish to spend their golden years in Portugal.

To qualify for the D7 visa, you must show that you earn a passive income of at least €870 per month, have substantial amounts in savings, and intend to spend significant time in Portugal each year. If you’re coming with a spouse, you must earn an additional 50% of the minimum monthly income and an additional 30% for each minor child.

For example:

• Passive income requirement for yourself = €870 per month
• Applicant + Spouse/partner = €1,305 per month (€870 + 50%)
• Applicant + Spouse + 1 minor child = €1,566 (€870 + 50% + 30%)
• Applicant + Spouse + 2 minor children = €1,827 (€870 + 50% + 30% + 30%)

Once you obtain a D7 visa and travel to Portugal, you’ll apply and receive a residence permit that’s valid for 2 years. You must remain in Portugal for at least 16 months during these two years. You can apply to renew your residency permit for another three years after it expires. After five years of residence, you may be eligible for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.

Digital Nomad (D8) Visa Portugal

The D8 Digital Nomad visa is for non-EU/EEA freelancers and remote workers who want to live in Portugal while working for clients or companies outside the country. To qualify for this visa, you must show that you have a job or business that can be operated remotely and that your clients are outside of Portugal.

You must also meet a minimum income requirement. Freelancers/remote workers must earn at least four times the minimum wage in Portugal, meaning you must currently earn at least €3,480. This minimum income requirement increases with each dependent you’re bringing with you. You must also have substantial amounts in savings.

A D8 residency visa allows you to stay in Portugal for up to 5 years and is a path to permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship.

Portugal Golden (D9) Visa

The Golden Visa is Portugal’s residency by investment visa. It grants Portuguese residency to foreign nationals in exchange for significant investments in the Portuguese economy.

You can qualify for a Portuguese Golden Visa by making any of the following investments:

• €500,000 in an approved Portuguese investment fund
• Donate €250,000 to a cultural preservation project or scientific research
• Invest €500,000 in a Portuguese business and create 5 jobs or create 10 jobs.

Although very expensive, the golden visa offers the most flexible residency options. Golden visa holders only need to be physically present in Portugal for 7 days per year to maintain their residency. They can apply for Portuguese citizenship after 5 years of residence.

The Portuguese golden visa also allows you to include your immediate family, including children below 26.

The general requirements for obtaining a visa for Portugal include:

• A valid passport with at least two blank pages, issued less than ten years before your travel date, and valid for up to 3 months after your intended departure date.
• A completed Schengen or national visa application form
• Recent passport-sized photographs in the specified dimensions.
• Proof of sufficient means and minimum financial requirements. This includes bank statements, pay slips, or other financial evidence.
• Proof of adequate accommodation in Portugal.
• Documents proving your purpose of entry
  • For work visa applications – employment contract and academic qualifications
  • For study visa applications – Letter of acceptance into an educational institution
  • For entrepreneurship or start up visas: Business plans
  • For D7 & D8 visas – Proof of passive income and earnings from outside of Portugal
  • For family reunification – Proof of relationship with the Portuguese sponsor and Family Reunification Authorisation
• Travel medical insurance
• Criminal record certificate
• Proof of payment of application fees

If you’re considering travelling to Portugal, the first step is to determine the Portuguese visa that best suits your travel purpose. Once you’ve determined your ideal visa, you can start the application process.

1. Download and complete the appropriate visa application form from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or that of the Portuguese embassy or authorised visa application centre in your country.
2. Gather all the required supporting documents.
3. Book an appointment with the Portuguese embassy, consulate, or approved VAC nearest to you.
4. Attend the appointment in person with your completed application form and all required documents. Your biometric data will also be captured during this appointment, and you may be interviewed by a visa officer.
5. Pay the visa fees and any applicable service charges
6. Wait for a decision. You can usually track the progress of your application online.

The consulate of VAC will contact you once your visa is ready for pickup.

Portugal’s national visas are usually issued with 4 months of validity, and you must convert the visa to a residence permit before the end of the 4 months or risk losing your ability to stay in Portugal.

Once you arrive in Portugal, you must file a residence permit application with the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA). Your application will be processed, and you’ll be issued a residence permit valid for 1 to 2 years, depending on your visa type.

If you’ll be extending your stay beyond the current validity of your residency permit, you must apply for renewal before the expiry date of your current permit to avoid losing your residency status.

You may become eligible for permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal after 5 years of holding a valid residence permit.

Portugal charges a visa fee of €110 for most residency visas except for the Golden visa, which cost €605. This is paid directly to the Portuguese government.

Visa application centres like VFS Global (responsible for receiving Portugal visa applications in most countries) also charge a service fee of about €45, plus courier charges. You may also incur additional costs of €800 to €1,500 for document translations, apostilles, proof of funds, and health insurance, excluding the cost of legal consultation.

A residence permit in Portugal costs €154 for an initial application on most residency visas and €90 for renewal. For golden visa holders, residence permit cards cost €6,045 for an initial application and €605 for renewal.

The processing times for Portugal visas vary for the different visa types. Visit visas are typically processed faster than National visas, and you can expect a response within 15 days.

For national visas, the processing times vary by visa type. Work and study visas are usually processed within 4 to 12 weeks. Passive income and digital nomad (D7) visas can take up to 26 weeks to get a response. While Golden Visas processing often takes up to 2 years for final approval.