Do you need a visa to Portugal?

Whether one needs a visa to Portugal or not depends on their citizenship.

62 countries and territories have a visa-exempt regime with Portugal, including the Schengen states, the UK, the USA, and others. Citizens of these countries don't need visas for brief visits of up to 90 days.

For longer visits over 90 days, foreigners obtain national visas regardless of their nationality. The only exception is EU citizens who can simply register at a Portuguese address to be able to reside in the country long-term.

Types of Portugal visas

All Portuguese visas can be divided into four categories, depending on the intended stay's duration and purpose.

Residence visas are granted to foreigners planning to stay in Portugal indefinitely and are eligible for a residence permit. This includes relatives of the country's nationals, entrepreneurs, employees of Portuguese companies, students of local universities who intend to stay for longer than a year, and others.

Typically, a residence visa is valid for 4 months and allows two entries to the country. The holder of such a visa is expected to apply for residency once they arrive in Portugal.

Residence visas are also often called type 1 visas; however, this name is not official.

Temporary stay visas allow multiple entries and are valid for one year maximum. They are granted to students, employees, interns who intend to stay in Portugal for less than a year, and foreigners arriving for medical or religious purposes.

The Job Seeker visa is a single-entry visa granted for 120 days and extendable for another 60 days. As the name implies, it is granted to foreigners who don't have a job in Portugal yet but are willing to find one.

A short-term tourist visa is a uniform visa valid in Portugal and the other 27 Schengen states.

Schengen visas are granted to foreigners planning a short visit to Portugal for tourism, business or medical treatment. It allows staying in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days every half a year within the validity period.

Schengen visas can be single-entry or multiple-entry — it is up to an embassy to allow or restrict multiple entries and set the validity period for each applicant.

7 common ways to obtain a long-term or residence visa to Portugal

A foreigner can obtain a residence visa to Portugal for employment, study, sufficient passive income, family reunification, and business investments.

Residence visas to Portugal allow two entries into the country and 4 months of stay. A holder of this type of visa is expected to apply for a residence permit once they enter the country.

1. Business initiatives. Entrepreneurs willing to fund a business in Portugal can apply for one of the two long-term visas:

• a Startup Visa for those starting innovative projects;

• a D2 visa for other types of businesses.

Neither of the options requires applicants to invest a certain amount; however, entrepreneurs are expected to have rented or owned accommodation in Portugal and sufficient funds for everyday expenses. For instance, an applicant's minimum amount in their bank account to apply for a Startup Visa is €5,200.

2. Employment. Two different types of visas are intended for foreigners employed by Portuguese companies - D1 and D3.

The D1 visa allows foreign employees of Portuguese companies to obtain residency in the country. To get the visa, applicants must provide a work contract for at least 12 months and proof of accommodation. The D1 visa does not require higher education.

The D3, or HQA, visa is granted to highly qualified professionals with higher education in specific fields. Typically, this includes IT professionals, engineers, doctors, scientists, and top management. Applicants for a D3 visa need to provide a job contract with a salary of €1,441 or higher.

3. Professional training, internship, or volunteer work. 

Foreigners who have an agreement with a Portuguese institution about an unpaid internship, volunteer work or training can apply for a special type of visa. This also applies to high-school student exchange program participants.

Aside from proof of accommodation and sufficient funds, applicants need to provide an invitation letter from a Portuguese institution.

4. Remote work. 

For freelancers, foreign company employees, and self-employed third nationals who work remotely, Portugal offers a Digital Nomad Visa that allows them to obtain residency in the country for two years and then exceed the period of stay.

To obtain a Digital Nomad Visa, a remote worker must prove an income of €3,040 monthly and rent or buy a residential property.

5. Study and research. 

International students of Portuguese universities, as well as researchers, can apply for a residence visa. It is available to those who already have the offer to study in a bachelor's, master's, PhD, or Postdoc program.

Aside from a letter from a university or research institution, applicants are required to show proof of accommodation and enough funds to live in Portugal.

6. Passive income. 

Foreigners with a stable passive income can obtain a D7 visa to get residency in Portugal.

For the D7 visa, almost any legal income obtained remotely from sources outside Portugal qualifies as passive income. This includes salary from a remote job, pension, rental payments, interest, royalties, etc.

The income should equal or exceed the minimum wage in Portugal. The threshold changes every year. In 2023, it's €760 monthly, and it'll rise to €820 on January 1st,

2024.

Long-term visa for retirement. The D7 visa is also an option for retirees looking for a slow life pace in Portugal.

Portugal is the 7th safest country in the world, according to the 2023 Global Peace Index. Portuguese residents have access to the National Health Service, which means they can receive treatment and all medical procedures on the same conditions as citizens of Portugal.

7. Family reunification.

 Close family members of Portuguese citizens and residents can apply for a residency visa. It is available to the resident's or citizen's spouse and dependent children, parents and siblings.

To apply for this type of visa, applicants must present documents that prove their relationship to a Portuguese national or resident, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers, or a copy of the custody decision.

Additionally, a Portuguese citizen who wants to provide their family members with permits must present evidence of suitable accommodation for everyone and sufficient funds to support their relatives.