Long-stay visas, in compliance with existing domestic law, can be either temporary or for residency authorization purposes, depending on the duration of the stay and granting the visa holder an authorization to stay in the country according to different purposes: study, internship, work, medical treatment, among others. There is also a new type of visa that allows foreign citizens to travel to Portugal in order to look for work.
Temporary stay visas allow entry and stay in Portugal for less than a year. Temporary stay visas are valid during the entire stay and allow for multiple entries.
Residency visas allow two entries and is valid for a period of 4 months. During that time, the holder of a residency visa is required to request a residency permit with the Immigration and Border Services (SEF).
The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for job; authorizes its holder to carry out a subordinated work activity, until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.
How do I know which is the adequate visa, according to both purpose and duration of stay?
Temporary stay visa for seasonal work for a duration of over 90 days.
Independent work
Temporary stay visa for independent work.
Highly qualified activity
Temporary stay visa for scientific research, higher education professorial activity or highly qualified activity purposes for a period of less than a year.
Remote Work / Digital Nomad
Temporary stay visa for the exercise of a professional activity done remotely - "digital nomads"
Professorial activity
Temporary stay visa for scientific research, higher education professorial activity or highly qualified activity purposes for a period of less than a year.
Amateur sports activity
Temporary stay visa for amateur sports purposes.
Transfer of workers or service providers when the applicant has been working for over one year
Temporary stay visa for transfer of workers purposes for state parties to the WTO, for provision of services or professional training.
Investigation
Temporary stay visa for scientific research, higher education professorial activity or highly qualified activity purposes for a period of less than a year.
Temporary stay visa for periods of over 3 months, for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, volunteer work purposes, as well as commitments pursuant to international agreements or conventions.
Professional training, internship or volunteer work
PURPOSE
TYPE OF VISA
Transfer of workers or service providers when the applicant has been working for over one year.
Temporary stay visa for transfer of workers purposes for state parties to the WTO, for provision of services or professional training.
Transfer of workers or service providers when the applicant has been working for less than one year.
Temporary stay visa for transfer of workers purposes for state parties to the WTO, for provision of services or professional training.
Or
Temporary stay visa for periods of over 3 months, for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, volunteer work purposes, as well as commitments pursuant to international agreements or conventions.
Unpaid internship
Visto de estada temporária para permanências períodos superiores a 3 meses; frequência de programas de estudo, intercâmbio de estudantes, formação, estágio profissional não remunerado, voluntariado ou compromissos decorrentes de convenções ou acordos internacionais.
Volunteer Work
Temporary stay visa for periods of over 3 months, for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, volunteer work purposes, as well as commitments pursuant to international agreements or conventions.
Professional training
Temporary stay visa for courses in an educational or professional training institution.
Work and holiday / Exchange pursuant to international instruments
Temporary stay visa for periods of over 3 months, for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, volunteer work purposes, as well as commitments pursuant to international agreements or conventions.
Applicable only to nationals from countries with whom Portugal has signed Memorandum of Understanding. Check further information at Youth Mobility.
Residency visa for the exercise of a professional activity done remotely - “digital nomads”
Independent work
Residency visa for independent work purposes or entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs
Highly qualified activity
Residency visa for higher education teaching purposes, highly qualified activity or cultural purposes, as well as, highly qualified subordinate activity.
