Portugal Immigration: Your Guide to Visas and Permits 2025

Portugal immigration has been a hot topic in recent years, particularly with the country’s growing popularity as a destination to work, retire, or raise a family. 

Curious about how to immigrate to Portugal and become a Portuguese resident? In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about entering Portugal and the process of immigrating to the country, including Portuguese visa options, timelines, and requirements.

Do you need a visa to immigrate to Portugal?

Portugal is part of the European Union (EU), so the immigration process depends on your nationality, the purpose of your stay, and how long you plan to stay in the country.

Citizens from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland can enter Portugal without a visa and stay for up to 90 days using just a valid ID or passport. If you want to stay longer, you will need to register for a residency certificate at their local city council (Câmara Municipal). After five years, they can apply for permanent residency.

Non-EU citizens follow a different process depending on their home country. Some countries, like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, have agreements with Portugal that allows citizens from these countries to visit without a visa for short stays (up to 90 days in a 6-month period). Other non-EU countries do require a visa even for short visits.

For stays longer than 90 days, all non-EU citizens must apply for a Portuguese residency permit. After five years of legal residence, they can apply for permanent residency or citizenship.

Required documents to get a Portugal residence visa

Any visa you apply for will require you to submit a Portugal visa application form to the Portuguese Embassy or Portuguese Consulate in your country of residence. If there is no Embassy, check the Portuguese Embassies in nearby countries. 

It is essential you have the appropriate visa for your personal situation. Visa processing times can take anywhere from two weeks to three months, so make sure to start your Portuguese visa application process to allow for this time. 

For your application, you will generally need the following documentation:

• Two passport-sized photos
• Your passport, valid for at least three months after your planned stay
• A completed visa application form
• Travel insurance that covers you while in the Schengen Area
• Cover letter stating the purpose of your visit and your itinerary
• Accommodation plans during your stay
• Proof of sufficient funds to support you during your stay
• A clear criminal record
• In some cases, proof of a return ticket

Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, you may need to show proof of a booked return flight and provide details of your flight times and dates. 

You may also be asked to present extra documentation regarding your specific visa application. For example, if you’re a student, you must show proof of your enrollment at a Portuguese education institution.

Portugal Immigration: The Four Main Visa Types

The type of Portuguese visa you can apply for will depend on your unique situation. Fortunately, Portugal offers a few visa options to choose from:

• Schengen short stay visa
• Temporary stay visa
• Portuguese residency visa
• Portugal work visa

Let’s take a more detailed look at each of these Portuguese visas.

Schengen short-stay visa

The Schengen Visa is for you if you want to visit Portugal and travel freely within the 26 Schengen countries that make up the Schengen Area. The Schengen Visa is valid for 90 days during a six-month period; you can choose between the following types of Schengen Visa:

• Airport transit visa (Visa A): This Schengen country airport visa allows travel from one flight to another within the international area of an airport. Required for all passengers changing flights in the airport of a Schengen country, unless exempted.
• Transit and short-term stay visa (Visa C): Issued for transit and short-term stays in the Schengen Area and valid for 90 days within a six-month period. The most common short-term stay visas are the Portuguese tourist visa and business visa.
• Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa: A special short-stay visa allowing travel to one Schengen state or certain multiple Schengen states if specified beforehand. 

Temporary stay visa

This visa allows you to remain in Portugal for four months with multiple entries, meaning you can leave the country for short periods. It is granted for the following reasons:

• Medical treatment or accompanying a family member undergoing medical treatment
• Transfer of workers providing services or training between countries within the World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Temporary employment or self-employment
• Conducting scientific research or teaching in a higher education institution
• Pursuing sports activity

Portuguese residency visa

This Portugal visa is for individuals who want to reside in Portugal for longer than four months and is granted after you arrive in Portugal for any of the following reasons:

• Employed work
• Self-employment or entrepreneurial activities
• Higher education programs for students who want to further their studies and already reside in Portugal
• Study, student exchange, internship, or voluntary services
• Scientific research or teaching
• Family reunion
• Pensioners and people with an income to support them during their stay in Portugal

The Portuguese residency visa can be issued as a multiple-entry visa that allows travel within the Schengen Area. No matter your residency visa, you will need to apply for a residence permit once you have entered Portugal. After five years with this temporary residence visa, you can then apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship, provided you meet all the requirements under immigration law and Portuguese nationality law.

For more information, take a look at our article on how to get Portuguese residency.

Portugal work visa

Your nationality and the period you will be employed will determine whether you require this visa. There are a few national visa options for non-EU nationals:

• Short-term work visa: This applies to work contracts lasting six months or less and is available to employees and self-employed workers. You can extend this visa for a year.
• Long-term Portugal online worker visa: Required for non-EU nationals looking to work long-term in Portugal. Classified as a type D Schengen Visa, it allows visa-free travel across the Schengen Area.

Best Visas for Getting Residency in Portugal in 2025

For non-EU citizens looking for long-term residency in Portugal, there are many visas you can apply for, like the D7 Visa and Portugal Golden Visa. It is important to understand your options before beginning your application. Below, we explore some of the options available.

D7 Visa

The D7 Visa, or passive income visa, allows non-EU citizens to gain Portuguese residency as long as they can provide proof of sufficient funds from passive income sources to support them during their time in Portugal. This income can come from a pension, rental income, dividends, investment income, intellectual property, or movable property.

This visa is an attractive option for retirees, self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in Portugal immigration with zero investment. You can also include your family in the visa application.

You can renew the D7 Visa after the second year, which is then valid for a further three years.

Unlike the Portuguese Golden Visa, obtaining the D7 Visa does not require a financial investment in Portugal; instead, it mandates that the applicant can prove a steady stream of passive income equal to or more than the Portuguese minimum wage (€870 per month) and enough savings to support yourself in the country. Check out our guide to Portugal’s D7 Visa for more information.

Portugal Golden Visa

The Portugal Golden Visa program is one of the most popular residency-by-investment programs of its kind amongst foreign investors. Non-EU nationals must make a minimum investment of at least €250,000 to qualify for the Golden Visa. You, and your family members, will be granted the right to live, work, and study in Portugal, as well as to travel visa-free throughout the Schengen Area. Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, UK nationals can apply for the Portugal Golden Visa.

Besides having a clean criminal record, being a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, and meeting the investment requirements, this visa option also requires you to spend an average of seven days per year in Portugal (14 days over its two-year validity). You can find more information about the Portugal Golden Visa program in our guide.

D8 Visa for Digital Nomads

Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa is for remote workers who are employed by companies outside of Portugal, freelancers who offer services to clients worldwide, and tech professionals involved in start-ups or technology-related ventures who wish to reside in Portugal while managing their remote business. 

To qualify for this visa, you’ll need to prove that you can support yourself by earning at least four times the minimum wage in Portugal, which is around €3,480 per month.

The D8 Visa allows multiple entries into Portugal and the opportunity to apply for a residence permit. This means you’ll be able to live in Portugal while having the flexibility to travel when necessary and renew your residency status according to what suits you best.

D2 Startup Visa

The D2 Visa also goes by the startup or entrepreneur visa and is aimed at those wanting to start a business in Portugal or purchase an existing Portuguese company. 

To qualify, you’ll need to make sure you have enough money to sustain yourself for one year and develop and run your business while in Portugal. Before applying, you will need to have your business idea approved by the IAPMEI body. 

The visa is valid for four months but can be extended up to two years with an application for a residence permit.

D3 Tech Visa

The Portuguese government introduced this visa to attract highly qualified tech professionals to Portugal. Nationals who are not a part of the Schengen Area and technology specialists are welcome to apply. You must meet the following set of Portugal immigration requirements to qualify for the D3 Visa:

• The applicant must be a third-country national who resides in a territory that is not part of the EU
• All tax obligations must be fulfilled.
• The applicant must have a clean criminal record and be at least 18 years of age when applying for the visa.
• The applicant must have completed a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent level – level six, according to ISCED 2011, or level five, tertiary level education, with five years’ experience in specialized technical functions.
• Be proficient in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish at a level appropriate to the functions and duties to be performed.

D6 Family Reunification Visa

The D6 Visa, or Family Reunification Visa is a temporary residence permit you can get if you have family members who are Portuguese residents. Your residence permit will be valid for the same amount of time as your family member who already has their Portuguese residence permit.

Qualifying family members include spouses, partners recognized by law, dependent children of the resident or resident’s partner, and minor siblings of the resident.

When applying for this visa, the Portuguese resident family member will show evidence of the relationship (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) and prove they have the means to support their family members in the country.

Portugal Immigration Requirements: Permanent Residence and Portuguese Citizenship

As we have already mentioned, after five years of legal residency in Portugal, you will have the option to apply for permanent residence or citizenship. Below, we explore the process for each pathway.

Portugal permanent residency requirements

After living in Portugal for five years, non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals can apply for permanent residence in Portugal. You must prove that you have resided in the country, legally, for five years, as well as provide the following documents:

• Valid residence visa
• Passport or travel ID
• Two passport photographs
• Proof of sufficient finances to support yourself
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of health insurance with medical treatment coverage
• Criminal record certificate
• Proof of enrolment in the social security scheme
• Proof of tax status
• Proof of legal and uninterrupted residence in Portugal for the preceding five years
• Proof of reason for any lengthy absence from Portugal during these five years, e.g., for work or medical reasons
• Proof of basic proficiency in the Portuguese language, such as a certificate of qualification or test at a language assessment center

Portuguese Citizenship Requirements

Another option after maintaining five years of legal residency in Portugal through the residency visas is to become a Portuguese citizen through naturalization. This includes the Golden Visa, as long as you maintain your investment and continue to meet the residency requirements over the period.

You will be able to apply for Portuguese nationality and obtain your Portuguese passport after the five years, provided you meet the requirements, such as having a clean criminal record and proving basic proficiency in the Portuguese language. Once granted, you’ll have the same rights and benefits as any other Portuguese national.

New Changes in Portugal's Nationality Law

Portugal’s parliament has approved changes to its nationality law that will benefit many Golden Visa and D7 Visa applicants facing delays in residency approvals. Previously, the five-year residency requirement for citizenship began only after receiving a residency permit.

Under the new rules, the wait time between applying for a temporary residency permit and receiving it will now count toward the five years, provided the permit is eventually granted.

This means that people applying for residency in 2025 could be eligible for Portuguese citizenship by 2030, even if there are delays in processing. The update aims to make the path to citizenship easier and fairer for those moving to Portugal.

Can you have dual citizenship in Portugal?

Yes, Portugal allows dual citizenship. The country does not require individuals to renounce their previous citizenship when obtaining Portuguese nationality. However, you will need to make sure that the policies of your home country also allow dual citizenship.

Portuguese Language Proficiency Requirements

When applying for citizenship, you will need to pass a basic Portuguese language proficiency test if you are from a country where Portuguese is not the main language spoken.

However, applicants from former Portuguese colonies, such as Brazil, Angola and Mozambique, among others, may not need to complete the test.

Understanding Taxes in Portugal for Expats

To understand your tax obligations in Portugal, you need to know if you’re a tax resident. Tax residents are taxed on all income worldwide, including money earned abroad, while non-residents are only taxed on income earned in Portugal, usually at a flat rate of 25 percent for work income and 28 percent for investments.

Being a tax resident is different from holding a residence visa. You’re considered a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Portugal in a 12-month period or if you have a permanent home in Portugal.

Income taxes for expats

If you are a tax resident in Portugal, your Individual Income Tax is calculated at rates ranging from 13 to 48 percent, and applied to all income earned, including:

• Employment income
• Self-employment income
• Investment income
• Rental income
• Capital gains
• Pensions

The tax incentive replacing the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) Program

From 2009 to 2024, expats in Portugal enjoyed tax advantages through the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) Program. However, this program has officially ended.

In its place, the new Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation, also referred to as the NHR 2.0 in Portugal, was introduced, which offers significant tax benefits for highly qualified professionals.

Get in Touch with Our Portugal Immigration Team

For help with your journey of immigrating to Portugal, contact Global Citizen Solutions, our Residency and Citizenship division. Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique investment migration consultancy firm focused on finding the right residency or citizenship program for individuals wishing to secure their future and become global citizens.

Then, to meet your accommodation requirements for your visa application, allow Goldcrest to help. Goldcrest is a local buyer’s agent situated in Portugal. We provide insightful real estate expertise and strategic advice. Whether you’re looking to buy or rent property in Portugal, our team of experts can help you find the right property without the hassle or fuss.