Portugal Work Visa: Everything You Need to Know 

To work in Portugal, non-EU/EEA citizens need a Portugal Work Visa, and if the position is long-term, it must be converted into a residency permit that allows employment in Portugal. There are several options, including visas for digital nomads, highly-qualified professionals, and seasonal workers. The first step is getting a job offer from a Portuguese employer, who will then initiate the work authorization process.

After this, you must apply for a work visa at a Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country of residence. Once the visa is approved and you enter Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit through AIMA.

So, if you want to work in Portugal legally, this article explains all the visas available, how you can apply, and how much it will cost.

Portugal Work Visa: Key Takeaways

Non-EU citizens need to apply for a work visa to legally take up employment in Portugal, and there are several options.

Some of the most popular work visa types is the D2 Entrepreneur Visa, the D8 Digital Nomad Visa and the D3 Highly Qualified Visa.

Non-EU students with a Portuguese student residence permit can work in Portugal while they study.

The processing time of a work visa is about 60 days, but it can take longer for different visas.

After five years of legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency, and eventually, Portuguese citizenship.

Yes, you’ll need a work visa for Portugal if you are a non-EU citizen.

EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens do not need a work visa. However, if they plan to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, they must register their residence and obtain a Residence Certificate (Certificado de Registo) from the local town hall. The cost of this Residence Certificate is around €15.

The type of Portuguese work visa that you’ll need depends on your nationality and the length of your employment contract. There are two main types of Portuguese work visas available for non-EU citizens:

Short-term Portuguese work visas: A short-term Portuguese Work Visa is a temporary stay visa that allows work in Portugal for up to one year. These visas are required for temporary contracts that last less than six months, such as seasonal or self-employed workers, subject to an evaluation by the labor authority (IEFP).

Long-term Portuguese work visas (Type D): These visas are for those who get a long-term employment contract and will live and work in Portugal for more than six months.

Highly-Qualified Activities Visa (HQA)

The Portugal Highly Qualified Activities Visa is a work visa for highly skilled professionals. It is also called the Portugal D3 Visa.

Highly skilled workers such as scientific researchers, medical professionals, professors, and Ph.D. students located in Portugal are examples of eligible candidates for the residence permit work visa.

D1 Visa

The D1 Visa, also called the Subordinate Worker Visa, is for people who have received a job offer in Portugal. This offer must have been publicly advertised and subjected to interviews, but remained unfilled by a Portuguese or EU/EEA national.

D2 Visa

The Portugal D2 Visa, also known as the Entrepreneur Visa, is for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who want to establish a business or make a significant investment in Portugal. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent service providers eager to nurture innovative projects or invest in Portuguese enterprises.

The D2 Visa grants residency and opens the door to family reunification and the opportunity to apply for permanent residency and Portuguese citizenship.

This visa has two categories:

• Independent professional activities – people who can prove self-employment
• Entrepreneurs – people looking to start or purchase a business in Portugal

Seasonal Worker Visa

The Seasonal Work Visa, also known as the Portugal E8 Visa, allows the holder to obtain either a temporary stay visa or a residence permit. The latter allows a stay of up to 90 days and the option to extend. The visa is exclusively applicable to specific sectors of employment approved by the Portuguese government, which include:

• Agriculture, stock farming, game, forestry, and fishery
• Accommodation, catering, and related fields
• Food, beverage, and tobacco industries
• Wholesale and retail trade
• Construction
• Inland transport

D8 Digital Nomad Visa

The D8 Visa, or the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, is designed for self-employed individuals who want to live and work in Portugal. It’s a sought-after work visa for US citizens who wish to work remotely from Europe. According to our Global Intelligence Unit’s Global Digital Nomad Report 2025, Portugal ranks 6th among the best countries for remote workers, scoring higher than France, the UAE, and Germany.

To qualify, applicants must prove that they earn at least four times the minimum wage in Portugal (€920 per month), which equals €3,680.00, and produce a contract of employment or a statement confirming their employment relationship. 

Portugal Job Seeker Visa

Until recently, Portugal offered a Job Seeker Visa for non-EU nationals who wanted to come to the country and look for work, even if they didn’t have a job lined up. This visa gave you 120 days to find employment, with the option to extend for another 60 days. If you landed a job during that time, you could then apply for a residence permit.

However, Portugal changed its immigration rules in 2025. The Job Seeker Visa is no longer available under the same terms, and the new system is now geared more towards attracting highly qualified professionals, similar to the D3 Visa.

To apply, you needed to show that you had financial means equal to three times the Portuguese minimum wage. You’ll also needed to provide travel insurance, a criminal record certificate, and a declaration of interest with the Portuguese Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) before you submitted your application.

Getting a work visa involves several steps, including finding a job vacancy and signing a work contract with a Portuguese employer. Once hired, your employer should apply for your work permit by contacting the Portuguese Labor Authorities (Autorização de Trabalho).

Step 01/ Finding work in Portugal

Getting a job and working in Portugal as a foreigner is about understanding the local job market, navigating the application process, and meeting legal requirements. There are several job boards online, but a good starting point is some of the most well-known ones, such as Europe Language Jobs, Expatica, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Jobs In Lisbon.

Step 02/ Work permit application

Once you have accepted and signed your employment contract, your employer should apply for your work permit online through the Portuguese Labor Authorities and AIMA.

Step 03/ Portugal work visa application

After the authorities approve the Portugal work permit, you must submit the documents to the Portuguese Embassy in your home country as part of the work visa application. Once you obtain this work visa and prove that you have a guaranteed monthly minimum salary, you can legally enter the country and start working in less than six months. During this time, you will need to apply for a residence permit.

Step 04/ Residence permit application

You have already landed the job, obtained the work permit, obtained your Portuguese work visa, and traveled to Portugal safely and soundly. If you’re considering staying longer in Portugal, it’s time to apply for a Residence Permit. Your first residence permit is valid for two years and renewable for three years.

If your employer has not done so, you must register for a Social Security Number (NISS) from the Portuguese Social Security Office. It is essential for accessing various social services, including health care, pensions, unemployment benefits, and other social security benefits. Your social security is ordinarily a percentage of your earnings automatically deducted.

Step 05/ Renewing your work residency permit in Portugal

As an employee, you will be legally living and working in Portugal. The standard validation period for your residence permit is one year, and after that, it gets renewed as long as you’re still working in Portugal. Renewal can be done online through the AIMA website. After five years of residency, you can apply for Portuguese permanent residency and/or Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese passport.

Each work visa, such as the D8 or the D2, has its own set of requirements. However, in all cases, you must prepare the following documents for your visa application:

• A valid passport
• Passport-size pictures, following Schengen Visa picture guidelines
• Proof of sufficient funds to sustain yourself
• Clean criminal record certificate from your last country of residence of at least 1 year.
• A document permitting AIMA to check your Portuguese criminal records
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal
• Your signed contract

Processing time

The Portuguese Embassy can take two to three months to issue an entry visa, and AIMA can take up to 60 days to process the work permit application. However, depending on your specific circumstances, your visa could be processed quickly.

Fees

There is more than one fee you have to pay when applying for a Portuguese work visa.

• Cost of the entry visa issued by the Portuguese consulate –€90
• To apply for a Portugal residence permit at AIMA – €83
• To receive the residence permit from AIMA – €72

Why choose Global Citizen Solutions for your Immigration Visa?

GLOBAL APPROACH BY LOCAL EXPERTS

• GCS has offices located across Portugal.
• Members of the US-Portugal and UK-Portugal Chambers of Commerce in Portugal, and the Investment Migration Council (IMC).
• Our expert team can help you throughout your journey to secure your Visa. 

100% APPROVAL RATE

• Our successful track record in applications provides reassurance to applicants. 
• We have helped clients from more than 35 countries secure residency in Portugal.

ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOLUTION

• With a single channel of communication, our approach ensures that you have complete clarity on your application. 
• Our BeGlobal® Onboarding System allows for a total flow of information.

TRANSPARENCY AND PRIVACY

• Our pricing is clear and detailed, you will not face any hidden costs.
• All data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.

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Are you eligible for the D7 Visa?

The D7 Visa, also known as the retiree or passive income visa, is perfect for individuals who want to relocate to Portugal. The Eligibility Test below will provide a clear answer regarding your qualifications for the program.

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To qualify, the primary applicant must demonstrate their means of subsistence, by providing evidence of a work contract, a self-employed contract, or business ownership. The income amount must be at least four times Portugal's national minimum monthly wage (920EUR). For the year 2026, the minimum amount is 3,680EUR

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All fields - Golden Visa

GF22 Form Submission - Portugal Golden Visa ➡ MESSAGE Additional info: ⦿ INTEREST: Portugal Golden Visa Golden visa stage: Timeframe: Aware of €250,000 investment?: Interested in Cheaper Option: Move forward with inquiry: Type of investment: Will your family also apply: More about your family: Visiting Portugal soon: Visiting when?

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All fields - D7

GF22 Form Submission - Portugal D7 ➡ MESSAGE Additional info: ⦿ INTEREST: Portugal D7 Are you a pensioner/retired: Do you receive regular payments: Is your passive income at least €11,040 per year: Sources of passive income: Will your family also apply: Relocating to Portugal? Relocating when? Visiting Portugal soon: Visiting when? Portugal accommodation assistance: Portugal NIF/Bank account assistance:

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All fields - D8

GF22 Form Submission - Portugal D8 ➡ MESSAGE Additional info: ⦿ INTEREST: Portugal D8 Work remotely from Portugal: Duration of your stay: Timeframe: Income at least €3,680: Will your family also apply: Visiting Portugal soon: Visiting when? Portugal accommodation assistance: Portugal NIF / bank account assistance:

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All fields - Residence

GF22 Form Submission - Residence in Portugal ➡ MESSAGE Additional info: ⦿ INTEREST Timeframe: Will your family also apply: More about your family: Interest in second program: