Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal. Service offer

Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal is a great opportunity to live on a legal basis in one of the most comfortable and safe countries of Europe. Portugal offers different programs for obtaining a residence permit allowing foreigners to choose the most suitable option depending on their purposes: employment in the country, doing business, study, etc.

Normally, the process of obtaining a residence permit starts with collection of necessary documents that prove the basis for issuance of a residence permit and filing the residence permit application. The resident status can be extended if migration requirements are met; after 5 years of legal residence in the country, it is possible to obtain Portuguese citizenship. This is one of the reasons why Portuguese residence permit is in great demand.

• Residence permit for work (D1 visa) – obtaining a residence permit for foreigners who have an employment contract with a Portuguese employer. It requires a certificate from the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional / IEFP) proving that the occupied vacancy has been published by the company but no Portuguese or other EU citizen has occupied it. A work permit will also have to be obtained from the Ministry of Labor in advance.
• Residence permit for entrepreneurs (D2 visa) – obtaining a business visa and residence permit for entrepreneurs (owners of companies, self-employed) who wish to conduct business in Portugal. It requires a detailed business plan, proof of having enough money, and, of course, having the business itself.
• Residence permit for highly skilled professionals (D3 visa) – intended for cultural workers, scientific workers, teachers, and IT specialists. It requires an employment contract valid for at least 1 year and proof of an income above average in the country.
• Residence permit for financially independent people (D7 visa) – a residence permit obtained on the basis of receiving a stable passive income, for example, dividends, rent, pension. It requires a stable proven monthly income (the threshold is bound to the minimum salary and changes annually), a deposit (the amount of which also depends on the minimum salary), and a dwelling in Portugal (leased or owned).
• Residence permit for digital nomads (D8 visa) – in 2022, a separate type of visa and residence permit was created for remote workers and freelancers who are not citizens of countries of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA). The applicant is required to be a self-employed person or employed by a company incorporated outside Portugal; they are also required to prove a monthly income at least four times greater than the minimum monthly salary (in Portugal).
• Student residence permit – obtained through accredited educational institutions of Portugal for students for 1 year and can be renewed during the whole period of study.

There is also a special family reunification visa (D6 visa). Having such a visa allows family members of the residence permit holder to live with them as well as work in Portugal and receive education in the country.

1. Preparation of documents

The first step is collecting all necessary documents to obtain a residence permit of the chosen category: valid passport, proof of place of residence in Portugal (lease contract, title document), no-criminal-record certificate from the country of current residency, documents proving the financial status and stable income (for the D7 and D8 visas), employment contract or job offer (for the D1 and D3 visas), business plan and documents of the company that conducts business in Portugal (for the D2 visa), and medical insurance for the whole period of stay.

Above are examples of documents: the list is not exhaustive.

2. Filing the application

Documents are reviewed either by the Foreigners and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras / SEF) in Portugal, or by the consulate of Portugal in the country of residence (with a subsequent visit to the Foreigners and Borders Service).

3. Review of the application

Documents filed to obtain a residence permit and the applicant’s compliance with all requirements of the chosen type of residence permit are thoroughly checked. Time required for the review may vary from a few weeks to a few months depending on the type of residence permit, workload of state authorities, and correctness and completeness of provided data.

4. Obtaining a residence card

In the case of positive decision on the residence permit, a residence card is issued. It is normally valid for 2 years (there may be variations depending on the basis for obtaining the residence permit) and may subsequently be renewed for 3 years. After five-year residency, one has the right to obtain citizenship of the country.

The total time required to obtain a residence permit in Portugal on average is 7 to 12 months:

• collection of documents: at least 2 weeks depending on the specific nature of the chosen program and individual situation of the applicant (including, for example, whether a residence permit is being obtained only for the applicant or also for their family members);
• filing the application: documents shall be submitted strictly by appointment, and an appointment can be made 4-6 months before the date of submission;
• review of the application by the Foreigners and Borders Service: usually up to 2 months;
• obtaining a residence card: from 2 weeks to 3 months after the documents have been approved and biometric data has been provided.

*The service fees are effective as of June 2025.