Visas
Portuguese Visas for Employees and Professionals
Move to Portugal with Confidence
Portugal is one of Europe’s most welcoming destinations for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. As part of the Schengen Area, a Portuguese residence visa allows you to travel freely across 26 European countries while enjoying a high quality of life, modern infrastructure, and a reasonable cost of living.
At Outsourcing Portugal, we support both employers and individuals throughout the visa process — from document preparation to employment compliance. Our immigration and EOR specialists make relocation and hiring in Portugal smooth, compliant, and efficient.
The Visa law is DL n.º 23/2007, from 4 July, with recent changes on 22 October DL n.º 61/2025.
Work and Relocation Visas
D1 Visa – Subordinate Professional Activity
Designed for employees with a valid job offer from a Portuguese company.
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Requires an official employment contract or invitation letter from the employer.
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Minimum contract duration: 12 months.
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Monthly salary must meet or exceed the Portuguese minimum wage.
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Ideal for non‑EU professionals hired directly by a Portuguese entity.
D2 Visa – Independent Professional Activity
Intended for freelancers and entrepreneurs providing liberal services to Portuguese clients.
- Must present a valid contract with a Portuguese company.
- Certain professions also require a certificate from the competent authority confirming eligibility to work in that field.
- A preferable route for consultants, independent contractors, and professionals offering specialized services.
D3 Visa- Highly Qualified Professional
Reserved for highly qualified professionals in fields requiring advanced technical or academic expertise.
- Requires a higher education qualification and a work contract for a skilled position.
- Geared toward engineers, researchers, IT experts, and executives hired to fill roles requiring distinctive qualifications
D4 Visa – Student visa
For those who plan to study in Portugal, a student visa may allow for part-time work,
D6 Visa - Family Reunification
Allow non-EU family members of legally residing foreign nationals to join them in Portugal.
Eligible applicants:
- Spouses and registered civil partners
- Children under 18 years old
- Dependent over 18 years old, studying in Portugal
- Dependent parents
- Minor siblings
D7 Visa - Passive Income/Retirement
A great option for non-EU nationals seeking permanent residence in Portugal. Ideal for people who have assured passive income, including pensions or rental income.
D8 - Digital Nomad Visa
Tailored for professionals working remotely for companies based outside Portugal.
- Applicants must demonstrate at least one year of employment or service with their foreign company.
- Must provide evidence of sufficient income to live comfortably in Portugal.
- Perfect for digital nomads or remote workers seeking long‑term residence in Portugal while working for an international employer.
Investment Visas
Startup Visa
Managed by IAPMEI, it aims to attract investment, talent, and innovative business ideas to Portugal. This program is ideal for founders who want to develop their projects in Portugal, even before forming a local company, as well as those with established businesses abroad who plan to relocate or expand their activity. More information here.
Golden Visa
The Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program introduced to attract foreign investments to Portugal.
Applicants can choose from several investment paths: opening a company, contributing to an existing business, financing scientific research, supporting cultural heritage, or purchasing investment fund units.
The program grants residence permits valid for two years and renewable for two-year periods, with minimal stay requirements. After five years of legal residency, investors are eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
Academic Expertise
This is a Special route to obtaining Portuguese citizenship after 5 years of residency.
It is the quickest, and it's more cost-efficient than the Golden Visa.
Ideal for Entrepreneurs with high qualifications and skills who are willing to cooperate with Portuguese Universities.
Golden Visa
This visa is for foreign citizens who wish to invest and, through this investment, obtain a residence permit in Portugal, as well as their close family members.
Capital Transfer
In an amount equal to or greater than € 500,000 applied to the acquisition of shares in non-real estate Investment Funds, with a maturity of at least five years on the date of the investment, and with at least 60% of the value of the investments realized in commercial companies based in Portugal.
Job creation
- Creation of at least 10 jobs (the number may be reduced to 8 in low-density areas);
- In an amount equal to or greater than € 500,000 applied to the incorporation of a company in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs;
- In an amount equal to or greater than € 500,000 or more applied to increase the share capital of a company in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent jobs for a minimum period of three years;
- An amount equal to or greater than € 500,000 is applied to increase the share capital of a company in Portugal, combined with the maintenance of 10 jobs (with a minimum of 5 permanent jobs), for a minimum period of three years.
Support for the Arts and Research
- In an amount equal to or greater than € 250,000 applied to (previously approved) artistic production projects or the recovery and maintenance of Portuguese cultural heritage (the investment amount may be reduced to € 200,000 in low-density territories);
- In an amount equal to or greater than € 500,000 applied to scientific research activities managed by accredited organizations (the investment amount may be reduced to € 400,000 in low-density territories);
Note: the term “low-density territory” refers to places on a list published by the government with fewer than 100 inhabitants per square kilometre or with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of less than 75 % of the national average.
Our Visa Assistance Process
Our Portugal Visa Support team follows a clear, transparent process to ensure a seamless application experience:
- Eligibility assessment for the appropriate visa category.
- Document preparation and translation in compliance with AIMA requirements.
- Submission through official Portuguese consulates or embassies.
- Coordination with EOR employment solutions for compliant onboarding and payroll once in Portugal, if this is the option.
- Relocation support, including assistance with NIF (tax number), bank account opening, and social security registration.
Why Choose Outsourcing Portugal
We deliver the most comprehensive employment and immigration support in Portugal. Through our integrated EOR and visa assistance, companies and professionals benefit from:
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Fast, compliant visa application handling.
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Legal and HR assistance under Portuguese labor law.
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Payroll, tax optimization, and Non‑Habitual Resident (NHR) support.
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End‑to‑end guidance on settling in Portugal — from first job offer to legal residence.
Start your Portuguese journey with a professional team that knows every step of the process.
Page updated @28 October 2025
