Portugal Immigration Policies: A 2025 Comprehensive Guide

Do you need a visa to immigrate to Portugal?

Most expats need a visa to immigrate to Portugal, but the exact requirements vary based on your home country. Non-EU citizens need a residency visa to stay for more than 90 days. However, there might be some exceptions, with countries that signed the CPLP Agreement (Community of Portuguese Language Countries).

Citizens of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland can immigrate to Portugal without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. If they plan to stay longer than that, they must register their residence with the Portuguese authorities by signing a Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (CRUE).

Citizens from the UK, US, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada have signed an international agreement with Portugal, which allows them to visit Portugal and stay there for 90 days in six months without having to apply for a visa. However, citizens outside the EU who prefer to live in Portugal for over three months require a long-stay visa.

You can begin your application for a long-stay visa in your home country at a Portuguese embassy or consulate. Once you arrive in Portugal, you can apply for a temporary residence permit at Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA). In five years, you can make the residency permanent and eventually apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Required documents for non-EU citizens for a Portuguese residency visa

• Two passport-sized photos
• Valid passport
• Submitted 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
• A clear criminal record
• Proof of a return ticket (if necessary)

The specific documents will vary based on the visa you apply for. For major financial purposes or to open a Portuguese bank account, you will also need to apply for a Portugal NIF number. You can visit a local tax office or have a fiscal representative, like a lawyer, accountant, or online service provider apply for a NIF on your behalf.

Why is Portugal attractive to immigrants?

The Portuguese immigration law is welcoming for foreign nationals, since they play a valuable role in the country’s economy and population growth. Many foreigners are drawn to the warm climate, welcoming immigration policies, and the lower cost of living in Portugal.

For example, Americans can get quality healthcare and commercial or residential real estate at a fraction of the cost in the United States. Portugal’s healthcare is renowned for its universal coverage and patient-centered care.

Also, foreign property ownership is not restricted, which means any foreigner can buy property in Portugal, such as a house, apartment, or luxury villa. Most locals speak English, making it easy for foreigners to integrate into society.

Some of Lisbon’s best neighborhoods, such as Alfama, Graça, Avenidas Novas, and Ajuda, have a growing expat community. Major cities like Lisbon and Porto have a large start-up ecosystem and are renowned tech hubs.

The Four Main Portugal Visa Types

Portugal has four main types of visas, which vary based on the length of stay. The purpose of your visit determines the basic requirements and eligibility criteria. Below, you can take a closer look at these Portuguese visas.

1. Schengen short-stay visa

The Schengen Visa is for you if you want to visit Portugal and travel freely within the 29 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. It is required for all passengers changing flights at an 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 and business visas.
• Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visa: A special short-stay visa allowing travel to one Schengen state or certain multiple Schengen states if specified beforehand.

2. 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

3. 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 must 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 the immigration law.

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

4. 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 considering working in Portugal.

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

If you are a US national moving out of the US and seeking employment in Portugal, check out our article on Jobs in Portugal for Americans.

Best Visas for Getting Residency in Portugal in 2025

For non-EU citizens looking for long-term residency in Portugal, there are many national visas you can apply for, like the D7 Visa and Portugal Golden Visa. Below, we explore some of the available Portugal residency visa options.

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 accompanying family members in the visa application.

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

The D7 Visa doesn’t require a minimum investment amount. Instead, the applicant must prove a steady stream of passive income equal to or more than the Portuguese minimum wage (€870 per month) and enough savings to support themselves 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. It allows foreign nationals to invest in Portugal for residency.

Non-EU nationals must make a minimum investment of at least €250,000 to qualify for the Golden Visa. You and your family will be granted the right to live, work, and study in Portugal and travel visa-free throughout the Schengen Area. Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, UK nationals can apply for the Portugal Golden Visa.

This visa option requires a clean criminal record, a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, and meeting the investment requirements. It also requires an average of seven days per year in Portugal (14 days over its two-year validity).

While the real estate pathway was discontinued in 2023, the investment funds route is popular. Our article, Portugal Golden Visa Investment Fund Option: The Complete Guide, gives you the full picture.

D8 Visa for Digital Nomads

Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa is for remote workers 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.

The D8 Visa is perfect if you are considering working remotely in Portugal. 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, 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.

Lisbon, Porto, and Braga are top choices for digital nomads, but if you consider living in Madeira, you’ll find the world’s first-ever digital nomad village.

D2 Startup Visa

The Portugal 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 ensure you have enough money to sustain yourself for one year and develop and run your business 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 not 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 Portugal 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 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 performed.

Family members of D3 (Highly Qualified) visa holders are also granted an exception under the new immigration law in Portugal, meaning they face no waiting period for their family reunification applications.

Moving from California to Portugal has proved popular in recent years, due to the similar climate and booming interest from tech companies.

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. Residence permits for family members are valid for the same amount of time as those for family members who already have their Portuguese residence permits.

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.

However, in-country applications for family reunification (made after the resident is already in Portugal) are now subject to new procedural waiting periods introduced by the recent 2025 immigration law amendments. D6 Visa applications from a Portuguese consulate abroad do not face the new waiting periods.

Immigration Requirements for Permanent Residence and Portuguese Citizenship

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.

Portuguese permanent residence 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 European country, legally, for five years, as well as provide the following documents:

• Valid residence visa
• Valid passport or travel ID
• Two passport photographs
• Proof of sufficient finances to support yourself
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of private health insurance with medical treatment coverage
• Criminal record certificate
• Proof of enrolment for the social security contributions (social security number)
• 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 meet the residency requirements.

You can apply for Portuguese nationality and obtain your Portuguese passport after five years (with access to all Portuguese passport visa-free countries), 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.

Family members applying for residency under the Golden Visa program benefit from an exception: they face no waiting period for their applications, even when applying from within the country.

If you are applying for or have moved to Portugal with a Golden Visa, you may want to check out this guide on the Portugal Golden Visa language test.

⚠️ Portuguese Nationality Law Update: October 2025

On 28 October 2025, Portugal's parliament approved key amendments to the Portuguese Nationality Law. This includes increasing the residency requirements for citizenship from five to ten years - and to seven years for EU citizens and CPLP nationals. This is a significant change that impacts how visa holders and residents can acquire citizenship. 

These changes are not yet law as they need to undergo Presidential review. The President may promulgate the law, issue a veto, or request a review by the Constitutional Court. The final text can still be amended to reflect any transitional provisions or potential grandfathering rules. Changes are not yet in effect, as the law will only become official once it is promulgated.

Read the latest updates on the Portugeuse Nationality Law.

Portugal Immigration Timeline & Processing Times

Wondering how long it takes to immigrate to Portugal? The average processing time for a Portuguese visa varies based on where you apply from and the type of visa you choose. It can take at least 3 weeks to get approved for a Schengen Visa (short-stay visa) from VFS Global or a Portuguese Consulate.

The processing time for the Golden Visa Portugal can take at least 18 months, mainly depending on your home country. But the average wait time can stretch further based on the number of applicants and your eligibility criteria.

Processing time for D Visas in Portugal, like the Digital Nomad Visa (D8) or Passive Income Visa (D7) can take up to 60 days. Processing begins when the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal receives the application.

While most D Visa applications follow standard timelines, in-country Family Reunification applications (D6) are subject to new, unspecified waiting periods introduced by the 2025 immigration law amendments.

Can you have dual citizenship in Portugal?

Yes, you can get Portugal dual citizenship. The country does not require individuals to renounce their previous citizenship when obtaining Portuguese nationality. However, you will need to ensure that your home country’s policies also allow dual citizenship.

Taxes in Portugal for Expats

Portugal’s tax residents are taxed on all income worldwide, including money earned abroad. In contrast, 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 Portuguese 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 12.5 percent 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 Resident (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. This incentive offers significant tax benefits for highly qualified professionals.

Contact Our Portugal Immigration Team

If you need professional help immigrating to Portugal, our Residency and Citizenship Division, Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), can assist you. GCS is a boutique investment migration consultancy that can streamline the moving process. They can help you choose a residency or citizenship program so you can easily immigrate.

Once you settle down and are ready to invest, Goldcrest is at your disposal. Our team of buyer’s agents works in Portuguese real estate. We can research the local market, negotiate prices, and offer property management services for long-term rentals. Whether you want to buy or rent property in Portugal, contact us today, and get one step ahead with the proper strategic insight.