Learn about the different type of visas for entry in Portugal.
Portugal has become one of the top destinations for immigrants all over the world so if it also caught your interest, there is some important information you need to be aware of before you decide to move.
To enter and stay in the country, you may need a visa and/or a resident permit and this will depend on different factors:
The D7 visa is a resident visa that will lead you to citizenship after 5 years. If your goal is to move permanently to Portugal or at least more than 2 years, check if you meet the necessary requirements here.
The digital nomad visa, also known as the D8 visa, is a special type of visa that was introduced by the Portuguese government to attract remote workers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs to live and work in Portugal.
The D8 visa is available to non-European Union (EU) citizens who work remotely or provide services to clients outside of Portugal.
The D2 visa is a long-term visa that allows non-EU citizens to reside in Portugal for the purpose of developing entrepreneurial activities. This visa is ideal for those who want to start a business or invest in Portugal. The D2 visa is also known as the “Startup Visa” or “Entrepreneur Visa.”
If you are a EU citizen you can move to Portugal and get residency by registering at your Portuguese local council and requesting your CRUE (EU registration certificate). You need to do it within the 30 days period after the 3 months of your entry in Portugal.
For non-EU citizens different laws apply, but you can still move to Portugal to study, work or retire.
The regulating body of immigration is SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) – Immigration and Borders Service. It is going under major transformation and will be replaced until the end of March 2023 which means you can experience some delays in visa processes.
Many non-EU countries have an agreement with Portugal where there is no visa requirement for short stays, under a 3 months period. You can check here if your country is one of these. However, if you want to stay longer than 3 months you will need to apply for a long-term/resident visa.
The long-term national visa must be applied for in your home country before coming to Portugal and it will lead to a resident permit once you arrive.
If your nationality requires a Schengen visa, you need to request it at your local consulate (see form here) or you can register at e-visa and submit your application.
The visa will be valid for maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period and it will allow you to travel all Schengen space. The same period is allowed for citizens exempt from a visa. This means you can enter the Schengen space once every 6 months.
The fee for a short-term visa is 80€ for adults and 40€ for children over 6 and under 12. Some individuals are exempt of a visa. Check here.
Duly filled form and signed (For minors and incapacitated forms should be signed the by legal guardian);
Passport Photograph;
Authentic and valid (over 3 months after the date of exit) Travel Document; a photocopy of prior passport and visas.
Certificate of being in a regular situation when the applicant is from a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested;
Travel reservation (return ticket);
Travel medical insurance. Shall a multiple visa be granted, applicants shall sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays.
Economic and work conditions: work certificate and salary, as well as three last bank transcripts (proof of means of subsistence), covering the entire stay and return to the country of origin.
Travel authorization for minors or court decision (when applicable);
Hotel reservation (if applicable) or statement of responsibility.
If staying with a family member, proof of family relationship is required, and proof of housing conditions may be requested. If the person signing the term of responsibility is not a Portuguese national, proof of being legally in Portugal is required; or,
For business purposes, an invitation clarifying on the purpose of travelling and date of arrival and departure, as well as host organization and person responsible; or,
For participation in political, economic, scientific, cultural, sport or religious events, proof of attendance is required, registration or entry ticket; or,
For journeys undertaken for medical reasons: an official document of the medical institution confirming necessity for medical care in that institution and proof of sufficient financial means to pay for the medical treatment; or,
Entry visa for the destination country (if applicable).
As a EU citizen you have the right to live in any EU country without requiring a resident visa. However, there are some procedures you need to have in account if you want to spend more than 90 days in another EU country other than your own.
To be allowed permanent stay in Portugal, you will need to request a CRUE – Certificado do registo de cidadão da União Europeia (EU citizen certificate) at the local city council where the EU citizen has established residence, within 30 days following the 90th day of staying in Portugal.
Failing this procedure may incur in a misdemeanor punishable with fines from 500€ to 2500€.
Request the CRUE – Certificado do registo de cidadão da União Europeia (EU citizen certificate).
Duly filled form and signed (For minors and incapacitated forms should be signed the by legal guardian);
Valid Passport or ID document;
Declaration, under oath, that you exercise subordinate or independent professional activity in Portugal; OR
As mentioned above, if you want to stay in Portugal more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa.
Long-stay visas, in compliance with existing domestic law, can be either temporary or for residency authorization purposes, depending on the duration of the stay and granting the visa holder an authorization to stay in the country according to different purposes: study, internship, work, medical treatment, among others. There is also a new type of visa that allows foreign citizens to travel to Portugal in order to look for work.
Temporary stay visas allow entry and stay in Portugal for less than a year. Temporary stay visas are valid during the entire stay and allow for multiple entries.
Residency visas allow two entries and is valid for a period of 4 months. During that time, the holder of a residency visa is required to request a residency permit with the Immigration and Border Services (SEF).
The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for job; authorizes its holder to carry out a subordinated work activity, until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.