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Portugal Visas
Luis Minvielle
Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.
Oleksandra Dosii
Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.
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If you’re planning to relocate to Portugal, you need to figure out your visa requirements according to the length of your stay and the reason for your stay. There are three general categories of visas in Portugal: short-stay, temporary stay and long-stay visas. Each of these categories encompasses various specific types of visas. Let’s take a look at the visa types in Portugal and the requirements for each of them.
When do you need a visa for Portugal?
If you're a non-EU national and plan on relocating to Portugal, you need to apply for a visa, according to the motive of your stay and how long you plan to stay. If you’re staying for less than 3 months, you may not need a visa if your country of origin has an agreement with Portugal.
European Union, EEA and Swiss citizens can live in Portugal visa-free, just like they can in other countries in the Schengen space.
Australians, Canadians, and Americans can visit visa-free for up to 90 days (within 180 days) for tourism or business. To stay longer or work, they must apply for the correct visa or residence permit, either before or after arrival, depending on the type.
Portugal visa types
There are 3 categories of visas in Portugal:
Short-stay visas
Short-stay visas cost €90, and for some countries, you may have to pay a service fee of €45 in most cases. Children between 6 and 12 years old pay a reduced base fee of €45.
Portugal, being an EU country, shares Visa Facilitation Agreements with Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine, so these countries pay a reduced fee of €35 for visas.
Children under 6 years old, students, postgraduates, and teachers travelling for educational purposes, scientific researchers, non-profit organisation representatives under 25 years old, and family members of EU and UK nationals are exempt from paying the visa fees.
Temporary-stay visas
Needed for all non-EU nationals who intend to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days and less than a year. They allow multiple entries, so you can leave the country for short periods.
Long-stay visas
Long-stay visas are also known as residency visas or national visas (according to Portugal’s official site in English). They are intended for anyone planning on staying in Portugal for longer than one year. With this visa, you can apply for a Portuguese residency permit.
You’ll sometimes read that these visas are only valid for four months or 120 days. This could be confusing, but it’s actually how these visas work. They have a step-by-step model in which you’re initially granted entry to the country for 120 days, and you must then seek a longer permit. Take, for example, this explanation from a Portuguese embassy: “As for any residence visa, the D1 visa grants two entries in Portugal to the visa holder, being valid for a period of 4 months. During that period, the visa holder is required to apply for a residency permit with the competent Portuguese authorities [at AIMA].”
These visas recently were priced at €90, but they now cost €110.
Let’s now take a closer look at some of the most popular Portuguese visa types:
Job Seeker Visa
Non-EU nationals can request a visa of up to 120 days with a 60-day renovation to look for work, as long as they prove their ability to support themselves during the job search.
Entrepreneur Visa - D2
For entrepreneurs who are planning to start a business in Portugal, acquire a Portuguese company or expand their pre-existing enterprises with operations in Portugal.
Passive Income Visa - D7
For anyone who can prove their ability to support themselves financially on a passive income for longer than one year in Portugal.
Digital Nomad Visa - DR/D8
For anyone who can demonstrate the ability to support themselves financially through a proven professional activity or active income for more than a year in Portugal.
Golden Visa - D9
Designed to attract outside investors, the Golden Visa arrangement speeds up the visa acquisition process for anyone who invests €500,000 into an investment fund in Portugal or makes a €250,000 cultural donation in Portugal.
Portugal visa requirements
The documents required to apply for a Portuguese visa vary depending on the type of visa. However, here is the general documentation required for any visa:
- Completed and signed visa application form
- Identification document
- Passport-sized photographs
- Health insurance
- Proof of financial means
Depending on the type of visa, you will need some additional documents, such as proof of employment if your visit is work-related, proof of activities, if your visit is religious, voluntary, or cultural in nature, and proof of acceptance into a study course if you’re applying for a study visa. On the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s website, you will find a detailed list of requirements for every visa type in Portugal.
Portugal visa application process
Here’s the general outline, but please note that some of these steps change depending on the visa. For example, these steps are slightly different if you’re already in Portugal. But the typical steps are:
- Determine the type of visa: Determine the specific type of visa you need based on the purpose of your trip.
- Collect the required documents: Check the requirements for your visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Gather all the necessary documents, making sure everything is up-to-date and meets the specified criteria.
- Complete the application form: Fill out the visa application form or use the E-Visa microsite. The form is usually available on the official website of the Portuguese consulate in your country.
- Schedule an appointment: Book an appointment with the Portuguese consulate in your country. Some countries require you to do this online, while others may require you to call or visit in person.
- Attend the appointment: Attend your scheduled appointment with all your documents. Be prepared for an interview, where you may be asked about your travel plans and the purpose of your visit.
- Pay the visa fee: Pay the non-refundable visa application fee. The amount varies depending on the type of visa and your nationality.
- Submit biometrics: Provide biometric information (fingerprints and photograph), if required.
- Wait for processing: Once you have submitted your application, the embassy or consulate will process it. Processing times can vary, so apply well ahead of your planned travel date.
- Receive a notification: You will be notified once your visa is ready. This may be by email, phone, or through the visa application centre tracking system.
- Pick up your visa: If your application is approved, you can pick up your visa at the embassy, consulate, or visa application centre. Make sure all the information on the visa sticker is correct.
Always check the website of the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country for specific procedures and requirements, as they may vary slightly from one location to another.
How do you get an appointment with AIMA?
This is one of the most asked questions by expats. If you used the E-Visa Portal to request your visa, you should be prompted with a calendar to choose your appointment. If you’re instead filling the form, or if the system didn’t prompt you to pick an appointment, you need to arrange it manually. The best ways to contact AIMA and get an appointment in 2025 are… by phone or email!
To make an appointment at AIMA, you can:
📞 Call:
+351 217 115 000
+351 965 903 700
📨 Email: [email protected]
Make sure you send that email in Portuguese.
Some outlets suggest that you can also try the MySEF dashboard. MySEF is a web app that aims to help out foreigners in Portugal. But, be warned: their English site does not work and the web app runs very slowly. Also, in late 2023, the Portuguese government replaced SEF with AIMA. So, you should probably try with the AIMA phone numbers.
Alternatively, some Portuguese official sites say that you can request an appointment through two portals: Serviços - AIMA and the SIGA web app. But these two sites are routinely offline.
So, you should call. Or, you can connect with immigration experts who can guide you through the process.
Portugal visa fees
Portuguese visa application fees vary depending on the type of visa and the applicant's nationality. Here is a general overview of the most common visa fees:
Short-stay visa, up to 90 days
- Standard fee: €90
- Service fee: €45 (depending on the country)
- Reduced fees:
- Children aged 6 to 12: €45
- Nationals of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine: €35
Temporary visa (between 90 days and 1 year)
- Standard fee: €90
Long-stay visa (more than 1 year)
- Standard fee: €110 (recently increased from €90)
As we outlined before, for the most accurate and specific information, it is best to check with the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Portuguese consulate or embassy where you plan to submit your application. We’ve seen that fees and procedures can vary slightly by location. The slight price difference is probably due to some exchange rate fluctuation between the euro and each country’s currency.
How to get a permanent residence permit in Portugal?
All non-EU nationals staying in Portugal for more than 3 months must request a residence permit. The temporary residence permit is valid for one year, but it’s renewable.
Learn More
How to get Portuguese citizenship?
After five years of continuous residence in Portugal, you can apply for a permanent residence permit or Portuguese citizenship. In certain circumstances, you can request Portuguese citizenship before the five-year period has passed, for example, if you marry a Portuguese citizen.
Learn More
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