Types of Visas in Portugal: A Complete Guide for Foreigners

Portugal offers a wide range of visa options for individuals looking to live, work, study, retire, invest, or start a business in the country. Whether you’re a digital nomad, a student, or a retiree, there’s likely a Portuguese visa tailored to your goals.

At Borderless Lawyers, we help clients from around the world select the right visa, handle the legal paperwork, and secure legal residency in Portugal with confidence.

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✈️ Do You Need a Visa for Portugal?

If you’re from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you’ll need a visa to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days. For shorter stays, many nationals (like U.S., UK, Canada, Australia) can enter Portugal visa-free for tourism, but not for work, study, or residency.

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📋 Overview of Portugal’s Visa Types

1. 🧳 D8 Digital Nomad Visa

For: Remote workers and freelancers
Requirements:

• €3,280+ monthly income

• Proof of remote job or freelance contracts

• Private health insurance

✅ Ideal for location-independent professionals
🔗 Path to residency and citizenship

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2. 💼 D1 Work Visa

For: Non-EU nationals with a job offer in Portugal
Requirements:

• Contract with a Portuguese employer

• Labor market approval in some cases

• NIF, housing, and insurance

✅ Legal right to live and work
🔗 Family reunification allowed

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3. 🏖️ D7 Passive Income Visa

For: Retirees or those with passive income (pensions, investments, rental)
Requirements:

• €820+ monthly income (individual)

• Housing in Portugal

• Clean criminal record

✅ Access to NHR tax benefits
🔗 Leads to permanent residency

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4. 🚀 D2 Entrepreneur & Freelancer Visa

For: Entrepreneurs, startup founders, self-employed professionals
Requirements:

• Viable business plan

• Company registered in Portugal

• Sufficient financial resources

✅ Build your business in the EU
🔗 Eligible for permanent residency after 5 years

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5. 👨‍🎓 Student Visa

For: Non-EU students accepted into a Portuguese university or school
Requirements:

• Enrollment letter

• Proof of funds

• Health insurance

✅ Temporary residency for duration of studies
🔗 May convert to work/residency visa after graduation

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6. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Reunification Visa

For: Family members of legal Portuguese residents or citizens
Requirements:

• Proof of family relationship

• Financial support from sponsor

• Accommodation in Portugal

✅ Allows legal stay, study, and work
🔗 Fast-track processing in many cases

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7. 💻 Tech Visa

For: Highly skilled tech workers hired by certified Portuguese companies
Requirements:

• Job offer from an approved tech firm

• Degree or 5+ years experience

• Criminal background check

✅ Streamlined processing
🔗 Sponsored residency permit

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8. 🧬 Startup Visa

For: International entrepreneurs with high-tech or innovative ideas
Requirements:

• Endorsement from an incubator

• Proof of funding and potential job creation

✅ Special support from Portuguese innovation agencies
🔗 Leads to residency and potential citizenship

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9. 🏡 Temporary Stay Visa (Less Than 1 Year)

For: Short-term work, training, internships, digital nomads
Requirements:

• Proof of purpose and financial means

• Valid for up to 12 months

✅ Doesn’t count toward citizenship
🔗 Easier process, no long-term commitment

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10. 🥇 Golden Visa (Suspended for Real Estate)

For: High-value investors (via funds or business creation)
Current Status: Real estate pathway eliminated
Available Options:

• Investment funds

• Job creation

• Research funding

✅ Leads to permanent residency and citizenship
🔗 Only certain investment paths remain

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🇵🇹 Visa to Residency to Citizenship: The Pathway

📌 Portugal allows dual citizenship, and time under most visas counts toward naturalization.

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🧭 How Borderless Lawyers Can Help

We handle everything:

✅ Visa eligibility assessment
✅ Gathering and translating documents
✅ NIF, bank account, housing contracts
✅ Appointment scheduling
✅ Family reunification support
✅ Appeals and renewals
✅ Citizenship and permanent residency filing

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📞 Ready to Choose the Right Portuguese Visa?

Let Borderless Lawyers guide you through the process of selecting and applying for the visa that best fits your personal or professional goals. We offer expert legal guidance at every step of your Portugal relocation journey.