Visas & residency options for non-residents in Portugal
If you’re buying a property in Portugal as a non-EU citizen, and intend to stay there for over 90 days in every 180, then you’ll need a visa.
There are various visa and residency options, but the process has two parts. First comes the visa application. Then, when you arrive in Portugal, you attend an appointment with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) to get your residence permit/card. This will allow you to stay in Portugal for the duration of your visa.
Citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland have the right to travel, work and reside in Portugal without a visa. For stays exceeding three months, however, they will need to secure a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo).
There are a number of visa types available to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens in Portugal, divided into two main categories, short-stay and long-stay visas.
Short-stay visas
Schengen visa
A Schengen visa allows the carrier to stay in any country within the 29 countries of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Portugal is part of the Schengen area and although the UK isn’t, British citizens are covered by a Schengen visa waiver. As a result, you do not need to apply for a visa if you’ll be residing in Portugal temporarily.
The Schengen visa is governed by the 90/180-days rule and the terms are used interchangeably.
The 90/180-days rule is important if you own a holiday home that you intend to use for some of the year but will not be living in Portugal full time.
Nationals from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, among others, do not need a Schengen Area visa to visit any Schengen countries. The days you’ve spent within the Schengen zone are calculated at the border when you enter the country using your passport as proof of recent travel.
Temporary short-stay national visa
If you’re planning to spend over 90 days in Portugal, you will need to apply for a Temporary Stay national visa which allows you to legally reside in the country for up to one year.
There are several types of temporary visas such as work visas, study visas, training or internship visas, and so on. For advice on finding the right visa for you, speak to a visa specialist.
Long-stay visas
They are as follows:
- Work visa (D1)
- Immigrant entrepreneur visa (D2)
- Highly qualified individuals visa (D3)
- Family reunification (D6)
- Non-lucrative visa (D7)
- Digital nomad visa (D8)
- Golden visa
Work visa (D1)
Suitable for: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss individuals
The long-term Portuguese work visa is a long-term Schengen visa (Type D), which allows travel across the 29 states in the Schengen area. After securing the D1 work visa, non-EU nationals must apply for a residence permit as soon as they enter the country.
If you’re from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel or Japan, you can apply for the visa within 90 days of arriving in Portugal due to bilateral agreements with Portugal. All other non-EU nationals must apply before their trip to Portugal.
Once you receive this declaration, you can take the next step and apply for a residency visa (work permit).
To apply for a D1 visa, you’ll first have to request a work permit and submit essential documents. Then, you’ll be required to schedule an appointment at your local embassy or consulate or VFS Global. Please note, this appointment must take place in your home country.
The final step, once you’ve arrived in Portugal, is to apply for a residence permit at AIMA. You’ll be required to visit the agency for biometric data collection and will receive your residence permit.
Cost: The entry visa application at the Portuguese consulate in your home country is €80 and there’s an additional €170 fee to submit and receive your residence permit from AIMA.
Immigrant Entrepreneur visa (D2)
Also known as the Immigrant Entrepreneur Visa.
Suitable for: Entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Portugal, freelancers who wish to work in Portugal and already have a job offer or contract in writing, and business owners who wish to establish a branch in Portugal but already have established branches in their home country.
Requirements: On top of the essential documents needed to apply for this visa, you must be able to supply:
- Proof of business viability
- A solid business plan
- The solid capital
- Reasons for choosing Portugal
Once arriving in Portugal, you have four months (120 days) to get a residence permit which you can do by booking an appointment at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).
Validity: The initial permit is valid for two years and there is a minimum stay requirement of at least 16 months in a two-year period. D2 visa holders cannot be out of the country for more than six consecutive months. If you are, your residence permit may be invalidated.
After two years, you can renew for a subsequent residence permit, which will last three years. In that time, you must be in the country for at least 28 months in a three-year period and again, not be out the country for more than six consecutive months.
After five years of legal residency in Portugal, you will qualify to apply for a permanent residency permit. For that, the minimum stay is 30 months over five years and you cannot be absent for more than 24 consecutive months.
Please note: Once your application is submitted, the average processing time at the consulate is 60 days.
Cost: €80 for the entry visa application at the consulate in your home country, then €170 to submit and receive your residency permit from AIMA when you arrive in Portugal.
Highly qualified individuals visa (D3)
Suitable for: Non-EU citizens who are highly skilled in a particular field.
The D3 visa allows highly skilled individuals to work and reside in Portugal.
There are two classifications of highly skilled professions. They are:
- Management positions (e.g. executives, public admin offices, company directors, administrative and commercial managers, legislators etc.)
- Experts in intellectual and scientific activities (e.g. scientists, engineers, teachers, health professionals, business professionals, legal experts, etc.)
For a full breakdown of professions that qualify, speak to an independent solicitor or visa specialist.
On top of the essential documents needed to apply for this visa, you must also be able to:
- Demonstrate sufficient experience, qualifications etc.
- Produce a valid employment contract which must be valid for a minimum of 12 months, state the position and specialty
- Annual salary (this must be more or equal to 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary)
Validity: The residence permit will be valid for two years and renewable for another three. After five years of legal residency, you will meet the requirements for permanent residency.
Non-lucrative visa (D7)
Suitable for: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with a passive income (not your salaried income) who do not plan on working in Portugal. For example, retirees.
If you’ve been granted a D7 visa, then you’ll be able to apply for a D7 residence permit.
Requirements: Alongside the basic visa requirements and essential documents, you will need to meet the minimum passive income requirements qualify for the D7 visa. This income can come from savings, royalties, dividends, pensions or intellectual property.
The minimum requirement for an individual is €9,840 per year. For a couple, you’ll need to add an additional 50% and 30% for each dependent child.
Validity: The residence permit will be valid for two years and you can then extend it for another three years. After five years, you’ll be able to apply for permanent residency.
Once you’ve been granted a D7 residence permit, you’ll need to reside in Portugal for at least six months and one day for it to be valid. This can be in the form of 183 consecutive days in Portugal or eight months with various breaks throughout the year.
Cost: €80 for the entry visa application at the consulate in your home country, then €170 to submit and receive your residency permit from AIMA when you arrive in Portugal.
Digital nomad visa (D8)
A relatively new residency pathway, the D8 (also known as the digital nomad visa) is the most common residency visa for freelancers, despite the availability of the D2.
Requirements: Alongside the basic visa requirements and essential documents, you will need to meet the salary requirements for the D8.
The minimum requirement for an individual with a minimum monthly income of €3,280 through remote work or freelancing.
Validity: There are two residency routes that can be used for the D8 visa. The temporary residence visa is valid for up to one year and can be extended for another two years. Whereas the residence permit allows you to stay for up to two years and can be renewed for an additional three.
The digital nomad visa is initially valid for four months, in that time you’ll need to book a residency appointment at the AIMA to receive the temporary residence visa or residency permit.
Cost: €80 for the entry visa application at the consulate in your home country, then €170 to submit and receive your residency permit from AIMA when you arrive in Portugal.
Golden visa
Suitable for: Foreign investors looking to gain residence in Portugal via significant strategic contribution to the Portuguese economy. Portuguese, EU and EEA-nationals are not eligible for this program.
Please note: As of October 6, 2023, the golden visa program no longer allows for residency via real estate investment.
The main benefit of the golden visa is that the applicant only has to stay in Portugal for an average of seven days, whereas other visa routes require a minimum stay of six months. However, the process is quite slow and there are significant application costs involved.
Requirements: The routes to qualifying for the golden visa program are as follows:
- A capital transfer of at least €500,000 for the acquisition of investment funds’ units or venture capital funds aimed at the capitalisation of Portuguese companies
- A capital transfer of at least €500,000 to be incorporated in a Portuguese business along with the creation of 5 jobs, or €500,000 to increase the share capital of an existing Portuguese business along with the creation of 5 jobs or the maintenance of 10 jobs
- Creation of 10 jobs
- Scientific research or technology contribution of at least €500,000
- Investment or donation in the arts or reconstruction of national heritage with a donation of at least €250,000 (Global Citizen Solutions, 2023
These investments can be materialised individually or through a single shareholder limited liability company (“Sociedade Unipessoal por Quotas”.)
For more information or guidance on your requirements, we recommend you speak to a Portugal golden visa specialist.
Validity: The initial golden visa residency permit is valid for two years and can be renewed every subsequent two years.
Cost[i]: You will be subject to application and permit fees when applying for the golden visa. These fees are applicable per person and are subject to annual revisions.
The application fee is €581.76 and an additional €581.76 for the first and second annual renewal.
The registration card issuance costs €5,817.60 and is an additional €2,935.80 for the first and second annual renewal.
Family reunification visa (D6)
Suitable for: Family members of foreign nationals who are legally living in Portugal.
The following family members are eligible for a D6 visa if you hold a legal residence permit[ii]:
- Spouses or partners recognised by law
- Dependent children (including adopted children) and dependent children of the resident’s partner
- Dependent children over 18 who are dependent on the applicant or their spouse. They must be single and study in Portugal.
- First-degree ascendents who are direct relatives of the applicant or their spouse and are dependent on them.
- Minor siblings, if dependent on the applicant or their spouse
Requirements: The main applicant will have to prove that they have sufficient funds and resources to host the family member in their home. Your primary income must be at least €820 per month and you will also have to have an additional 50% more to support a second adult and an additional 30% for each dependent.
You will also be required to provide proof of familial ties. E.g. a birth certificate, marriage certificate etc.
Please note: Family reunification visa applications must be made by the person currently living in Portugal with a legal and valid residence permit.
Validity: The validity for the family member permit will match the length of the main applicant’s residence permit. For example, if the applicant has a two-year residency permit, the family member’s D6 visa will be valid for up to two years and vice versa for a temporary visa duration.
The D6 visa can be renewed after two years and then again after three years. D6 visa holders will have the option to apply for Portuguese residency after five years of living in Portugal.
Cost: The application fee is €90.
https://www.sef.pt/pt/Pages/homepage.aspx
https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/d6-family-reunification-visa/