Visa

Subordinate work activity

• Work contract, work promise or demonstration of interest; 
• Declaration issued by the Portuguese Employment and Training Institute (IEFP) (*); 
• Professional certificate, when such profession is regulated in Portugal.
• To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through a work contract or work contract promise should be taken into consideration.
• Proof of means of subsistence can be produced through a statement of responsibility issued by the workers hosting entity.

 

(*) Article 193 of Law no. 75-B / 2020, of December 31 - State Budget Law for 2021, suspends the establishment of a global quota for the purpose of granting a residence permit, introducing temporary changes to the provisions of this article 59, in the same terms: "During the year 2021, the establishment of the global contingent for the purpose of granting a residence permit visa for the exercise of subordinate professional activity provided for in article 59 of Law no. 23 / 2007, of July 4th is suspended, and are applied the conditions provided for in paragraph 5 of the mentioned article.

Independent work activity or migrant entrepreneur

Independent Professional Activity:

• Contract or written service provider proposal for liberal professions; and, if applicable, a declaration by competent authorities certifying professional competence for the referred activity;

Migrants Entrepreneurs: 

• Investment operations executed; 
• Proof of financial means available in Portugal, including those obtained through a financial institution in Portugal, and proof, by any means, of intention to invest in Portuguese territory; or,

• Declaration issued by the Agency for Competition and Innovation (IAPMEI), certifying the signing of an incubation contract with a certified incubator, in accordance with Article 6^o of Normative Order n.º 4/2018 of the Minister of Economy, of 2 February that regulates the «Startup Visa» Program.

Teaching purposes, highly qualified or cultural activity, or highly qualified subordinate activity

Professorial activity, highly qualified activity and cultural activity (art. 61.º):

• Work contract, work promise or service provider contract; or,
• An invitation letter issued by a higher education institution or professional training institution; or,
• Statement of responsibility provided by a certified company as stipulated by law; or,
• An invitation letter issued by a company or institute developing a relevant cultural activity, in the Portuguese territory, recognized by the government agency responsible for cultural activities, or as stipulated by law; or,
• An invitation letter issued by a research center;
• To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through a work contract or work contract promise should be taken into consideration. Proof of means of subsistence can be made through a statement of responsibility signed by the workers hosting entity.

Subordinate highly qualified activity (art. 61.º-A):

• Valid work contract or work promise, for a minimum period of one year and for a salary of 1,5 times de annual gross salary, or three times the indexed value for social welfare support (IAS);
• Professional certificate, when required, for regulated highly qualified professions, as stipulated by Law n.º 9/2009, 4 March, or specific legislation referring to the recognition of professional qualifications necessary for the profession mentioned on the work contract or work promise;
• A professional certificate, in the case of unregulated professions, adequate for the referred field of work or sector stipulated in the work contract or the work promise. For work-related activities in the 1st and 2nd international category types (CITP) groups, as stipulated by the Council of Ministers, and following the opinion of the Permanent Commission for Social Harmonization (CPCS). For professional activities considered particularly in need for professionals from third countries, de minimum salary should (Article 1, a) ) correspond to 1,2 times de annual gross salary, or two times the indexed value for social welfare support (IAS);
• To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through a work contract or work contract promise should be taken into consideration. Proof of means of subsistence can be made through a statement of responsibility signed by the workers hosting entity.

For further information on types of activities and for the purpose of verification of professional experience of third-country nationals, line ministries responsible for employment, education and science should provide their formal opinion prior to the decision to issue the visa.

Research, study, higher education students exchange, internships and volunteer work

Research purposes:

work contract or agreement with the research center or university, letter of acceptance by the research center or university scholarship or research stipend or statement of responsibility signed by the research center or university to cover admission and living costs.

Researchers that have been admitted to officially recognized research centers or universities are exempt from producing any health insurance or similar, work contract or agreement, travel insurance or means of subsistence.

To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through grants or scholarships should be taken into consideration. Proof of means of subsistence will not be necessary when the applicant benefits from a scholarship or research grant. Researchers admitted to officially recognized research or higher education centers (Article 91^o-B Law 23/2007) are exempt from providing proof of means of subsistence.

Higher education purposes: 

Fulfils admission criteria or has been accepted to university for a study program and has sufficient resources to attend such program. Students that have been admitted to an officially recognized university are exempt from producing any health insurance or similar, proof of compliance with admission criteria or acceptance to the university, travel insurance or means of subsistence.

Document issued by the higher education institution certifying admission or eligibility for admission. This document is waived when benefiting from a scholarship.

To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through grants or scholarships should be taken into consideration. Students benefiting from a scholarship are exempt to provide proof of means of subsistence, as well as nationals from Portuguese-speaking countries.

Secondary Education purposes:

Proof of acceptance in high school; respect the maximum age limit set by law; proof of host family or of adequate housing, for the duration of the stay. These documents will not be necessary when benefiting from a scholarship from the Instituto Camões.

To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through grants or scholarships should be taken into consideration. In the case of student exchange, proof of means of subsistence can be made through a statement of responsibility issued by the organization in charge of student exchange programs.

For internship purposes:

Proof of internship acceptance by the certified host institution, proof of practical and theoretical training in the field of studies obtained or ongoing, including:

• Description of the training program, including objectives and learning components;
• Duration and schedule for training; 
• Location and supervising conditions;
• The legal status of the intern within the host institution;
• A statement that internship does not constitute a replacement for a professional post and acknowledgement of responsibility of payment by the host institution of living costs and removal in case of illegal stay.

To determine means of subsistence: means obtained through grants or scholarships should be taken into consideration. Proof of means of subsistence can be made through a statement of responsibility issued by the entity hosting interns.

For volunteer work purposes:

Proof of contract with host institution responsible for the volunteer program, including a description of content and duration of program, schedule, supervising conditions, and living costs guarantee (housing and food), including a minimum living stipend or per diem; subscription of civil liability insurance except for volunteers participating in the European Volunteer Service.

In the case of student exchange, proof of means of subsistence can be made through a statement of responsibility issued by the organization in charge of volunteer work programs.

Family reunification

• Notification of family reunification authorization by the Immigration and Border Services (SEF);
• Proof of family relationship: birth certificate or marriage certificate;
• Minors or unfit persons require a travel authorization by the parents or legal guardian.

Fixed residency for retirement purposes, religious purposes or people living out from individual revenues 

For religious purposes: 

Certificate from the church or congregation they belong to, as long as such church or congregation is recognized by the Portuguese legal system.

For retirement purposes:

Document certifying retirement amount.

For people living out from personal revenue:

Document certifying revenue from movable and immovable property; intellectual or financial assets.