D1 Visa Portugal: Requirements and Costs 2026
Portugal D1 visa is a residency visa for those who have been accepted to work in Portugal and have an employer. This visa is considered a long-term visa as it lasts at least 12 months.
If you have gained employment in Portugal and require a visa, the D1 visa is for you. To get started and get some help with the application process, contact an advisor at Total Law on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today or contact us online.
What is a D1 Visa in Portugal?
Portugal D1 visa, also known as a ‘subordinate worker visa’, is for Non-EEA/Swiss working professionals who have already accepted an employment offer in Portugal. This visa is initially valid for over 12 months.
You must have a formal job offer and a signed employment contract with a Portuguese company to be eligible for a D1 visa. It does not apply to non-EEA/Swiss nationals looking for work in Portugal.
Moreover, the concerned job position must have been advertised and interviewed for, and your Portuguese employer must have been unable to fill it by hiring a Portuguese citizen or a citizen from another country in the European Union.
Benefits of a D1 Visa Portugal
With a D1 visa in Portugal, you can enjoy:
- Right to live and work in Portugal
- Access to high-standard education and healthcare infrastructure
- Freedom of movement across the Schengen area
- Right to bring immediate family members to Portugal
- Eligibility for Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident tax regime
- Route to Portuguese citizenship
Page Contents
- An Introduction to Portugal D1 Visa
- Eligibility for the Portugal D1 Visa
- Are Tourists Allowed to Apply for a Portugal D1 Visa?
- A List of Portugal D1 Visa Requirements
- D1 Visa Fees
- How to Apply for a Portugal D1 Visa and Processing Timeline
- How to Prepare for the D1 Professional Worker Visa Interview
- The Steps After Obtaining the D1 Visa
- Can A Portugal D1 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency or Citizenship?
- What If My D1 Visa Application Is Refused?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- FAQs
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Eligibility Criteria For Portugal D1 Visa
To apply for a Portuguese D1 visa, you must:
- Have received a job offer in Portugal
- Have a signed employment contract from an employer in Portugal
- Be a skilled non-EEA/Swiss professional working in high-demand sectors within the Portuguese labour market
- Meet Portugal’s general immigration requirements (e.g., no serious criminal convictions or immigration abuse history, etc.
The D1 visa is not for a third-country national who wants to move to Portugal and then search for jobs. Instead, you must already have received an offer of employment in Portugal to apply for a D1 visa.
Eligible Family Members
You can bring your immediate family members as your dependants to Portugal on a D1 visa per the family reunification principles, provided you meet the required income threshold and suitable accommodation requirements.
For this visa purpose, ‘immediate family members’ refer to:
- Spouse
- Minor children (both biological and adopted)
- Adult children if they are dependent on the parent(s), not married, and studying in a Portuguese institution
- First-degree lineal ascendants who are dependents of either the resident or their spouse
- Minor siblings under the guardianship of the resident
Are Tourists Allowed To Apply For A Portugal D1 Visa?
Tourists can apply for D1 work visas; however, it does depend on some factors. If a tourist has been in Portugal for a while and can provide proof of a valid contract of employment, they will be eligible for a work visa.
Tourists will also be required to meet some additional requirements before they can actively apply for a residence permit. The requirements for a residence visa include the following:
- A valid residential address in Portugal
- Proof of the contract of employment
- Proof of income that will meet or surpass the Portuguese minimum wage, showing you can financially support yourself and any dependants
- Proof of contributions to social security in the past
Portugal D1 Visa Requirements
Required Documents for Portugal D1 Visa
To apply for your Portugal D1 visa, there are certain requirements you will need to meet. A primary requirement is that you will need to have several relevant documents prepared to obtain your visa. These documents include (but are not limited to):
- A valid copy of your contract of employment. This must be signed by the employer in Portugal as well as the candidate.
- Professional certificate, when such profession is regulated in Portugal (if applicable)
- A copy of the applicant’s CV as well as any other relevant documentation that would display the professional qualifications of the applicant
- An official letter from the employer or business in Portugal that states why they need to employ the applicant
- A declaration that is signed by the applicant. This document is required to state the estimated period of stay in the country, relevant legal residence details, and the primary reason for the visa application
- A statement that is endorsed by the IEFP regarding the contract of employment
- Proof of salary income from the job in Portugal as proof of means of subsistence
- National Visa application, filled and duly signed by applicant (a parent or legal guardians must sign on behalf of any accompanying minor children or incapacitated dependants)
- Two passport size photos
- Passport or other travel document
- Photocopy of the biometrics page of the passport
- Proof of residence status in the country you are applying from (if not a citizen there)
- Valid health insurance covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent assistance and possible repatriation
- Criminal record check certificate(s) from your home country or from any country where you have previously resided for over a year (not required for minors)
- Relationship proof for any dependants (e.g., birth or marriage certificates)
All foreign documents must be appropriately legalised or apostilled.
Medical Requirements
Those who are planning on taking a trip to Portugal for professional activity should also consider their health, and therefore, there are medical requirements that must also be met.
International Travel Insurance Requirements
Having international travel insurance is one of the most important medical requirements when it comes to making an application for a D1 work visa.
Every applicant for a D1 visa is required to get this type of insurance in the case of any medical emergencies during their stay in Portugal. During your D1 visa application, you must supply required documentation regarding this to enter Portuguese territories.
How Does It Work?
When getting international travel insurance for a D1 visa, you need to ensure that it covers the total duration of your residency in Portugal. The insurance should cover all medical treatments, including any emergencies and/or any costs of repatriation in the event of grievous accidents or deaths.
Portugal D1 Visa Application Cost
The processing fee for this application is €110. This is a non-refundable fee required to be paid per applicant including any dependants. Children under 6 are exempt from having to pay any visa fees.
You should also be aware that there will be some additional expenses around the visa application, such as the fees for travel insurance, fees to get your documents legalised or apostilled, etc. There may also be fees associated with the presentation of the documents.
How to Apply for a Portugal D1 Visa?
Before you can apply for a D1 visa, your Portuguese employer must submit a work permit application. They must apply to SEF or at the Portuguese Labor Authorities for your work permit on your behalf. To do so, they will have to submit:
- Your employment contract
- Company tax statements
- Proof of having registered with Social Security
- Proof that your position could not be filled by an EEA or Swiss citizen
After receiving work authorisation in Portugal, you must apply for a residency visa from the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. This visa will allow you to travel to Portugal for work purposes and apply for a temporary residence permit.
Step-By-Step Process
- Collect all the necessary supporting documents
- Fill in the National visa application form
- Schedule an appointment at the nearest visa application centre or Portuguese Consulate in your country of residence
- Submit your documents, including your employment contract
- Pay the required visa application fees
- Attend a visa interview
- Wait for a decision
D1 Subordinate Worker Visa Processing Time
The legal timeframe for a D1 visa application is up to 60 calendar days. This period starts as your application is submitted to the concerned Portuguese consulate.
The timeline may increase in case due to a requirement for meticulous scrutiny of your submitted documents and/or if the consulate asks you for further documentation, among other reasons.
If your documents are not either in Portuguese or English, you will have to submit certified Portuguese or English translation copies for them. If you fail to do so, the consulate may treat these documents as ‘missing’, which in turn will lead to further delay in processing or even a refusal.
How To Prepare for the D1 Professional Worker Visa Interview?
Those who are applying for a D1 visa or resident permit will have to attend an interview face-to-face at the Portuguese consulate in their residing country.
You can prepare yourself by becoming familiar with the questions commonly asked during an interview for a D1 visa. These are some examples of what you may be asked:
- Have you travelled to Portugal before?
- Do you have any relatives or friends who are currently in Portugal?
- What length of time will you be staying in Portugal?
- Are you married?
- Do you have any children? If so, who will be taking care of them during your time away?
You should also expect that the interviewer will also ask questions regarding your offer of employment or professional activity in Portugal.
Steps After Obtaining The Portugal D1 Visa
Once you have had your D1 subordinate worker visa approved, you can travel to Portugal on this visa. A residency visa like D1 usually allows two entries into the country and is valid for a period of 4 months.
After arriving in Portugal, you will be required to apply for a residency permit with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) within four months, or within the period granted on your residency visa. You will also have to register for social security and get a tax number.
Can A Portugal D1 Visa Lead To Permanent Residency Or Citizenship?
Through a Portugal D1 visa, you will gain a temporary residence permit. A temporary residence permit for work is renewable for up to five years, provided you still have a job offer from your employer and continue to meet the other eligibility criteria.
You should apply to SEF to renew your residency permit. SEF has a pre-booking system for scheduling a date and time for customer service, and you can book your appointment either by phone or online.
After five years, you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal, provided you fulfil all other terms and conditions.
What If My D1 Visa Application Is Refused?
You can appeal the visa refusal in compliance with Portuguese domestic law.
You may lodge a complaint at your concerned embassy/consulate within 15 days from receiving the visa refusal notice. Or you may appeal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within three months after receiving the notice.
Alternatively, you can initiate legal action at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle within three months after receiving the notice.
The above options are not mutually exclusive. You may appeal to the Ministry and depending on the results of such appeal, continue towards legal action.
How Can Total Law Help With a Portugal D1 Visa Application?
Preparing the documents to apply for your D1 visa and ensure a safe and smooth transition into Portugal before obtaining your visa can be tricky. Yet, you must have all you need ready.
This is why it can be extremely helpful to speak to a legal advisor and get help in making sure that you have all the necessary paperwork and documents ready in advance.
At Total Law, we have legal advisors who are well-versed in all of the requirements that make the D1 visa process run smoothly. Give us a call today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to get started and feel certain that your visa process will go smoothly. You can also give us a message, and we can help you plan your D1 visa application.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQs
Your spouse will be allowed to work in Portugal once they receive their temporary residency permit. Please get in touch with SEF to obtain their work authorisation.
D1 visas can be obtained provided that you already have secured work in the country. Even a tourist can apply for a D1 work visa in some situations. For example, if the tourist has been in Portugal for quite some time and can prove that they have a valid employment contract, they will be eligible to apply for this visa.
However, be aware that this visa is not for those who are looking to get work in Portugal. It is only viable for those who have already secured work in Portugal.
The primary difference between a D1 visa and a D3 visa is the level of occupation that they are for. D3 visas typically require you to hold an occupational level in which you would typically have a high-level qualification. D3 visas also require you to have a higher level of income than a D1 visa does.
D3 visas are typically used for directors, high-level management, legal professionals, and scientific researchers
