Work / Employment in Portugal
2 documented routes of this kind in Portugal, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Work residence visa - subordinate employment (D1) and independent/entrepreneur (D2)
Portugal long-stay work residence visa for employed workers (D1) and independent/entrepreneur workers (D2). The national D-type visa fee is €110 since January 2025 (increased from €90). The previously listed '€75 appeal guarantee' is not a standard mandatory consular fee and should be removed from cost calculations.
- Processing time
- Residence-visa decision within 60 days
- Validity
- Visa 120 days / 2 entries; residence permit 2 years, renewable for 3-year periods
- Language requirement
- No language requirement for the visa/permit; A2 Portuguese is required only for later naturalisation
- Permanent residence
- Permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation generally after 5 years of legal residence
Requirements
- Valid work contract or written promise of a work contract (D1)
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond intended stay
- Valid travel medical insurance
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of means of subsistence (benchmarked to the annual minimum wage)
Required Documents
- Work contract or written promise of a work contract (D1) required
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond intended stay required
- Valid travel medical insurance required
- Criminal record certificate required
- Proof of means of subsistence required
Official fees
- Long-stay (national) visa fee 90 EUR
- Visa appeal administrative guarantee 75 EUR
- In-person residence-permit collection fee (Ordinance 307/2023) 28.5 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Secure work contract
Obtain a work contract or written promise of a work contract in Portugal.
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2
Apply for D1/D2 visa
Submit the residence visa application at a Portuguese consulate or VFS in your country of residence.
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3
Enter Portugal
Travel to Portugal within the 120-day visa validity window (2 entries).
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4
Obtain residence permit at AIMA
Attend an AIMA appointment to be issued a 2-year residence permit.
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5
Renew
Request renewal up to 30 days before expiry; permit renews for 3-year periods.
Official Sources
D3 Visa – Highly Qualified Activity (Atividade Altamente Qualificada)
Portugal's dedicated national visa and residence permit for highly qualified professionals — including engineers, scientists, IT specialists, senior managers, academics, and medical professionals — who hold a relevant higher education degree or have 5+ years of exceptional professional experience. Distinct from the general work visa (D1/D2): AIMA applies a different documentation checklist and the salary threshold is higher. Widely used by tech sector, multinationals, and intra-company transfers. Governed by Article 90 of Law 23/2007.
- Processing time
- Visa: 30–60 days at consulate; Residence permit at AIMA: up to 90 days
- Validity
- National visa: 120 days, 2 entries; Residence permit: 2 years, renewable for 3-year periods
- Language requirement
- No statutory Portuguese language requirement for the permit; employer contract must be in Portuguese or accompanied by certified translation
- Permanent residence
- 5 years of legal residence
- Citizenship
- 6 years of legal residence
Requirements
- Valid employment contract of minimum 12 months (or indefinite) with a Portuguese employer
- Gross annual salary of at least 1.5× Portugal's average gross annual salary for standard roles (approximately €21,030/year in 2026), or 1.2× for high-demand shortage professions
- Recognised higher education degree (minimum bachelor's level) relevant to the role, OR documented 5+ years of exceptional professional experience in the field
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, aged 18 or over
- Clean criminal record
- Valid comprehensive health insurance
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
Required Documents
- Valid passport (minimum 3 months validity beyond intended stay) required
- Signed employment contract (minimum 12 months, specifying salary) required
- Higher education degree certificate (apostilled/legalised) required
- CV/professional portfolio evidencing qualifications or exceptional experience required
- Criminal record certificate (issued within 90 days, from country of origin and recent countries of residence) required
- Comprehensive health/travel insurance required
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal (lease, letter of invitation, or hotel reservation) required
- Completed national visa application form required
- For regulated professions (medicine, law, engineering): proof of professional recognition by competent Portuguese authority
Official fees
- National D-type consular visa fee 110 EUR
- AIMA residence permit application fee (approximate) 85 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Obtain employment contract
Secure a written employment contract or formal job offer from a Portuguese employer for a highly qualified position meeting the salary threshold.
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2
Compile documentation
Gather certified copies of degree, criminal record certificate, insurance, accommodation proof, and completed application forms.
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3
Apply for national D-type visa
Submit the application at the Portuguese consulate or VFS Global centre in your country of residence. Pay the €110 consular fee.
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4
Enter Portugal
Travel to Portugal on the issued 120-day visa (2 entries permitted).
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5
Apply to AIMA for residence permit
Within the 4-month visa validity, attend an AIMA appointment to apply for the D3 residence permit under Article 90 of Law 23/2007. AIMA has 90 days to issue the card.
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6
Receive D3 residence permit
Upon approval, the D3 permit is issued for 2 years, renewable for 3-year periods. After 5 years of legal residence, you may apply for permanent residency or, after 6 years, citizenship.