Portugal’s D3 Visa

Written by / Last updated on December 6, 2024

The work visa for highly qualified individuals who want to move to Portugal

Right to live in Portugal full-time

Citizenship application after 5 years

Family reunification possible

NHR 2.0 eligible

A person holds a magnifying glass over a newspaper's classified section, focusing on a bold red headline that reads "Looking For A Job?" The section lists various employment opportunities in fields such as accounting, administrative, and customer service.

Introduction to the D3 Visa

Are you a highly skilled professional dreaming of moving to Portugal? The D3 visa (or highly qualified activity visa) might just be your golden ticket.

This Portuguese employment visa is designed for citizens from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland who:

Possess unique, highly qualified skills

and

Either have a job offer or already have an employment contract from a Portuguese employer which pays at least €1,305 as of 2025

Basically: if you have in-demand skills and expertise, and you’re able to secure a job in Portugal, you could apply for residency (the right to live here).

Benefits of the D3 Visa

Moving to Portugal under the D3 visa comes with a number of benefits. As a resident of Portugal, you’ll be able to:

  • Apply for Portuguese Citizenship: Apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years through naturalization. You can also obtain Portuguese citizenship for any children born in Portugal (if you have been resident in Portugal for at least 12 months by that point)
  • Travel Visa-Free Within the Schengen Area: Travel freely within the Schengen Area (which includes other countries like Germany, France, and Spain)
  • Access Tax-Funded Public Healthcare: Access Portuguese public healthcare services
  • Take Advantage of Family Reunification: Bring qualifying family members to Portugal to live with you through family reunification
  • Make use of Portuguese educational facilities: Attend Portuguese educational institutions, such as universities, at the same rates as Portuguese nationals

Of course, those benefits are the standard benefits that come with simply being resident in Portugal.

However, there are some benefits that are specific to the Portugal D3 visa, such as:

  • After receiving your D3 Visa and assuming you maintain legal residency in Portugal for 18 months, you then qualify to apply for the EU Blue Card. Obtaining the EU Blue Card allows you, and your family, to relocate to any other EU Member State (excluding Ireland and Denmark) for the purposes of exercising a highly qualified activity.
  • The visa is prioritised and you should have a decision within 30-60 days (although some people have experienced delays).
  • Depending on your work, you may also be able to qualify for Portugal’s new NHR tax regime.

Our take:

  • What’s Great about the D3: Getting an employment visa is always challenging as you have to explain why a company should hire you as opposed to someone else in Portugal (or anywhere else in the EU/EEA/Switzerland). However, the D3 has clear criteria for qualifying, which means your application can be judged based on whether you meet that criteria – rather than just the judgement of the person reviewing your application.
  • EU Blue Card: Being able to move to another EU member state before you obtain Portuguese citizenship is also a big selling point, as countries like Germany or France have higher salaries than Portugal. However, doing so would mean giving up your ability to apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of residency. This is obviously a personal decision and will partly depend on how quickly you can apply for citizenship in the next country.
  • Tax Benefits: Tax benefits like the “NHR 2.0” aren’t tied to a particular visa and qualifying isn’t guaranteed. If you’re primarily moving to Portugal for tax reasons, be sure to seek out qualified advice before applying.
  • Processing Time: Some people report their application taking longer than 60 days, which means the D3 isn’t necessarily faster than most other visas. However, it’s good to know that, as of 2024, the time spent “residing” in Portugal for citizenship purposes starts from the time you apply – not when you move to Portugal and get your residency permit, as before.

What does “highly qualified activity” mean?

In Portugal, the term “highly qualified work” refers to jobs that require specialised technical skills or exceptional knowledge, or the right qualifications to perform the job well, as defined by the Portuguese Law on Foreigners.

The European Commission breaks down highly qualified activities into two main categories:

  1. Leadership Roles: This includes top-tier positions like executives, legislators, senior public administration officials, company directors, and managers in areas of administration, commerce, and services.
  2. Specialised Professionals: This group encompasses those with expertise in intellectual and scientific fields, such as engineers, scientists, educators, healthcare workers, business experts, ICT specialists, cultural professionals, and legal professionals.

It’s also suitable for teachers or researchers planning to work for Portuguese educational institutions.

Eligibility Requirements for the D3 Visa

To apply for the D3 Visa, you need to meet specific criteria, including having a job offer and certain qualifications:

Experience and Skills

You’ll need to show that your job is considered highly qualified work in Portugal. This involves providing proof of the necessary qualifications or experience needed for the role.

You’ll typically need to show that you’ve either:

  • Earned a higher education degree or
  • Amassed 5-6 years of relevant work experience

This is to ensure that you’re indeed highly skilled in your field.

Employment Agreement

An essential requirement is having a valid employment contract or a promise of one, lasting at least one year (12 months). This contract should clearly mention your job position and the specialised field you’ll be working in.

Salary Requirements

Your expected salary must be at least 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary in Portugal or three times the value of the social support index (IAS). As of 2025, the minimum wage in Portugal is €870 per month.

Our take:

While the minimum salary requirement being 1.5 times higher may seem like it makes it less attainable, this is actually a good thing. As most job offers will likely be for companies in Lisbon or Porto, you should factor in the higher cost of living there compared with the rest of the country.

As the Portuguese minimum wage is expected to increase by at least €50 per year until 2028, this means the requirements will get more challenging. There’s a €300 difference between applying in 2028 and 2024.

  • 2024: €820 X 1.5 or €1230
  • 2025: €870 X 1.5 or €1305
  • 2026: €920 X 1.5 or 1380
  • 2027: €970 X 1.5 or €1455
  • 2028: €1020 X 1.5 or €1530

As with other employment visas, the big challenge is getting a company to employ you (or promise to employ you) before you’ve shown you’re eligible to work in Portugal. If they’re to cover the cost of the visa, and any legal fees, you’ll need to stand out against other candidates applying.

Did you know? If you work for an international company with a Portuguese office, this visa can be used for an internal transfer – much easier than applying for a new job in Portugal.

Typical Documents Required

To apply for the Portugal D3 Visa, you’ll normally need the following documents:

  • Completed D3 Visa application form.
  • Two identical passport-sized photographs.
  • A Portuguese NIF Number (tax identification number).
  • A Portuguese bank account, funded with sufficient funds to support you during your stag. This can be shown through a statement of responsibility signed by the entity hosting you.
  • A valid passport (should be valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay) with at least two blank pages.
  • Proof of travel (typically a flight to Portugal booked in your name).
  • Proof of accommodation for you and your family, including a rental contract or an invitation letter from someone legally residing in Portugal.
  • Valid travel insurance (this typically means Schengen Visa travel insurance with includes repatriation and at least €30,000 worth of medical coverage).
  • A criminal record certificate from your country of origin. In practice, crimes with less than one year of prison time in Portugal do not exclude you from obtaining residency. However, it is recommended that you are upfront about these when applying.
  • A completed form allowing the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (AIMA) to access your criminal record certificate in Portugal.

Depending on how you qualify for the D3, you will also need one or more of the following:

  • An invitation letter from a professional training institution if you’re applying as a teacher or researcher.
  • A valid employment contract or promise of employment with an established company operating in Portugal.
  • For regulated professions, proof of professional qualifications that allow you to practice in Portugal.
  • For non-regulated professions, a professional certificate relevant to the activity or sector specified in your employment contract.

If you’re bringing family members, you may also require:

  • A marriage certificate (if bringing a spouse)
  • Documentation to prove a “stable union” (if bringing a partner you’re in a long-term relationship with
  • Children’s birth certificates (if bringing dependent children)

Stepping Stones to Your D3 Visa Application

Once you have secured a job offer, or the promise of a job offer, the next stage is to apply for the D3.

Applying for a D3 Visa involves a two-step process. Initially, you’ll need to apply at the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy in your home country. In some locations, applications go through VFS rather than a consulate or embassy. The second stage takes place at AIMA (previously known as SEF) in Portugal.

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

  1. First Stage: At this early phase, you must gather all required documents for the D3 Visa application. This includes completing various forms, declarations, and authorisations. These materials, along with your application, are submitted either to the Portuguese Consulate/Embassy or, in some cases, a VFS Office.
  2. Application Submission and Interview: After submitting your visa application online, you’ll book an appointment at the VFS office or consulate for a personal interview. Once your application is reviewed and approved, your passport will be stamped with the visa.

This double-entry visa enables you to enter Portugal for up to 120 days and then attend an interview with AIMA, where you will be granted your temporary residence permit (initially valid for two years and, once renewed, valid for an additional three).

The residence is permit or, as mentioned, can be exchange for the EU Blue Card. After five years of living in Portugal, it’s possible to apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship.

What’s the difference between the two?

  • Permanent residency is essentially the same as temporary residency but it’s granted for 10 years rather than 2-3 years. This means less paperwork and less AIMA appointment, which is always a good thing. You will need to show an A2 (or higher) level of Portuguese to qualify for permanent residency. Alternatively, you can continue to renew your temporary residence permit.
  • Portuguese citizenship allows you to have a Portuguese passport. As this is an “EU passport,” this not only grants you the right to reside in Portugal but to live, work, and study in other EU/EEA member states and Switzerland.

The D3 VS the D1

Both the D1 and D3 are residency visas for employees. The D1 is a more general employment visa whereas the D3 is aimed at highly qualified professionals.

There are two main pros to the D3 over the D1:

  • The D3 Visa is often seen as having a smoother and quicker application process. It’s given higher priority by the Portuguese government, leading to faster approval times than many other visa types.
  • A major advantage of the D3 Visa is that it can pave the way to obtaining an EU Blue Card in Portugal. Holding an EU Blue Card allows you the flexibility to work and live across the EU, enhancing your career options and freedom to move within the block.

Our take:

If you qualify for the D3, it obviously makes sense to apply for this. Not only are there additional benefits over the D1, but qualifying for the D3 makes it obvious why a company should employ you rather than someone already legally able to reside in Portugal.

Final Thoughts

Securing a D3 visa is a significant step towards starting your new life in Portugal. It’s a pathway designed for individuals like you, bringing unique skills to the Portuguese workforce. Remember, the journey requires preparation, from proving your qualifications to demonstrating financial stability.

So, are you ready to embark on this exciting journey? With the right preparation and a clear understanding of the requirements, the D3 visa could be the start of an incredible new chapter in Portugal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Portugal D3 Visa valid?

The D3 permit is valid for two years initially. It can be renewed for a further three, after which point you can apply for permanent residency.

Can I apply for the D3 visa while in Portugal?

You should apply for the D3 visa in your country of residence.

What is the processing time for a D3 visa?

Officially your visa should be processed in 60 days or less. However, some applicants have said their visas took slightly longer than this to process.

What other work visas are there?

As well as the D3, there is also the D1. This is a more general work visa than the D3, which is aimed at highly qualified individuals. If you are able to work remotely for a company outside of Portugal, you could consider applying for the “digital nomad visa.”

I’m married to an EU citizen. Do I need to apply for a D3 visa to stay in Portugal?

If you’re married or in a long-term stable union with a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you can move to Portugal under Article 15.

What are the tax benefits of moving to Portugal?

This varies from person to person and depends on the country you’re moving from. However, Portugal has a number of schemes in place to attract talented individuals.

Can I become a Portuguese citizen with a D3 Visa?

After five years of residency, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization.

Can US citizens apply for a Portugal D3 visa?

Yes. The D3 is suitable for all non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.

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