Residency Visas in Portugal: Pathways to Portuguese Citizenship

Farrukh Dall

In our previous blog, we covered the various types of visas available in Portugal, including the long-stay D type visas. In this blog, we will delve deeper into the D type visas to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of which visa type is best suited for your needs. It is crucial to grasp all aspects of each visa, as D type visas can ultimately lead to fixed residency visa Portugal and Portuguese nationality. By shedding light on these visas, we aim to equip you with the knowledge necessary for a well-informed and successful visa application. Join us as we explore the intricacies of D type visas and guide you towards making the right choice for your future in Portugal.

Portugal provides a range of long stay fixed residency visa Portugal, including the renowned Golden Visa, D7 Visa, and D2 Visa, which are particularly sought after by non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. These visas offer a multitude of advantages, such as unrestricted travel within the Schengen area, employment and educational opportunities in Portugal, opportunities for family reunification, and even the potential to acquire Portuguese citizenship. The long stay D Type visas encompass different categories, each tailored to specific circumstances and objectives. Let’s explore the diverse types of long stay D visas available in Portugal and discover which one suits your needs best.

How We Can Assist You

According to the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF), there were over 1 million foreign residents in Portugal as of January 2023. 

This represents a 10% increase from the previous year. The largest group of foreign residents in Portugal are Brazilians, followed by British, French, and German.

The growing interest in obtaining Portuguese citizenship can impact the duration of the process. A poorly prepared application submitted to Portuguese authorities can lead to unnecessary delays. 

To streamline and expedite the evaluation of your application, scan and email all relevant documents that might qualify you for Portuguese citizenship. As previously mentioned, Portuguese law outlines various pathways to naturalization, and determining the most suitable one for you can be complex.

That’s where we come in – we can provide guidance and support to help you achieve citizenship more efficiently. We’ll employ a secure and effective approach to increase your chances of a successful application. 

Our firm specializes in this area of law, and by leveraging the available resources and maintaining open communication with you, we aim to make the journey to citizenship hassle-free and straightforward. 

Plus, you’ll be able to track your application through an online system, ensuring you receive real-time updates on your citizenship application status.

D1: Subordinate work activity

D2: Independent professional activity

D3: Teaching purposes, highly qualified subordinate/ cultural activity

D4:  Study, higher education, students exchange, internships, volunteer work and research

D5: Study exchange.

D6: Family Reunification

D7: Fixed residence (retirement, religious purpose or individual revenues)

D8:  Visa Portugal Professional activity done remotely “Digital Nomad”

D9: Golden Visa

DP: Job Seeker Visa

DF: Accompanying family members applying for a residence visa.

D1 Visa: Work Visa

A D1 visa of Portugal is a residency visa for professionals who have already accepted an offer of employment in Portugal. It is valid for stays longer than 12 months. You can only be employed in Portugal if the position was advertised and interviewed for, and if it could not get filled by hiring a Portuguese citizen, or a citizen of another EU country. This visa is not suitable for non-EEA nationals who are still looking for work in Portugal.

The D1 visa in Portugal is a type of residency visa designed for professionals who have accepted a job offer in the country and plan to stay for more than 12 months. However, you can only be employed in Portugal if;

• the position was advertised and interviewed for,
• and if it could not get filled by hiring a Portuguese citizen, or a citizen of another EU country.

D2 Visa: Entrepreneurship Visa

The D2 Visa is a Portuguese residency visa that aims to encourage entrepreneurs to establish an innovative business in the country. To qualify for this visa, you must have an original and feasible business plan, along with a small amount of capital. Unlike conventional businesses such as restaurants or guest houses, the D2 Visa is geared towards freelancers, entrepreneurs, and independent service providers outside of the EU/EEA/Switzerland who are looking to settle in Portugal. This visa is designed for small and medium-sized businesses that can contribute to the development of the Portuguese economy by attracting foreign investment. You can start any business venture, from a tech startup to a digital agency, as long as you have a viable business plan evaluated based on its cultural, technological, and economic impact.

The cost of a D2 Visa falls between that of the D7 Visa and the Golden Visa. To obtain a D7 Visa, you only need proof of passive income, while a Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of €350,000. On the other hand, the D2 Visa demands proof that your business is sustainable, and you must invest at least €50,000 in the share capital. The more you invest, the higher the likelihood of obtaining the visa. You must also demonstrate that you have the financial capacity to support yourself and your family while residing in Portugal.

The D2 Visa also allows for family reunification, where your family members are granted residency rights similar to yours. Similar to the D7 Visa and Golden Visa, you can apply for permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 6 years. However, to be eligible for permanent residency, you must spend at least 6 consecutive months in Portugal during those 5 years.

D3 Visa:   Portugal Highly Qualified Activity

The D3 Visa, which is also known as the  Portugal highly qualified activity, is intended for highly skilled foreign nationals in various specified fields and industries. To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must meet at least one of the following three main criteria:

1. You must have an offer of employment or a signed job contract for at least 12 months with an annual salary package of at least 1.5 times the national minimum wage. The 2021 national minimum wage is €7,980, so your gross salary must be €11,970 or more, preferably much higher.
2. You must possess a postgraduate degree and/or professional certification in a regulated industry.
3. You must hold a highly specific and relevant professional qualification in a non-regulated profession.

It should be noted that the Tech Visa, which is a type of Portugal highly qualified activity Visa, also falls under this category. Additionally, the government’s objective of promoting research and development in Portugal is served by the concierge-style Portugal highly qualified activity visa, or HQA for short, which is issued under the same legal framework as the D3 Visa. However, since this visa program helps to achieve the government’s goal, the minimum stay requirements associated with it are as flexible as those associated with the Golden Visa Program (D9 Visa).

We will be creating separate videos that offer a comprehensive analysis of each of these visas, including the Tech Visa, individually. If you want to stay up-to-date, you can subscribe to our channel.

D4 Visa:  Portugal Student Visa from Pakistan

The D4 visa in Portugal is specifically designed for individuals engaging in study, student exchange programs, professional internships, or volunteer work. This visa is intended for higher education students (both undergraduate and graduate), interns, or volunteers whose projects or studies have a duration of more than one year. It is important to note that obtaining this visa requires a study or internship period of more than one year. It’s worth mentioning that short-term language courses for a few months alone will not qualify for a resident visa or a residence permit in Portugal, particularly for immigrants from the CIS countries. If you’re coming to Portugal for study purposes for shorter than 90 days, you’ll have to apply for a C-Type Schengen Visa).

D5 Visa:

D5 is a residence visa designed for the mobility and transfer of higher education students. It is typically sought by students who wish to continue their ongoing study program in another country, often within Europe, while residing in Portugal. This visa covers student exchange programs, double degrees, and short-term internships. Since this visa is primarily applicable to students already studying in another European country, we won’t delve extensively into it in this article. For more detailed information on the transfer of international students within the EU, you can refer to Article 63 and Article 91 of the Portuguese immigration law.

D6 Visa: Family Reunification Visa

The D6 is the Portuguese visa category for family reunification purposes. If you hold legal residency in Portugal, you can apply for the D6 Visa in order to bring your spouse, dependent children under the age of 18, and your financially dependent parents over the age of 65 to Portugal.

D7 Visa: The Passive Income Visa

Also frequently referred to as the Portuguese retirement or passive income visa, the D7 Visa, which we specialize in, is ideally suited for a range of applicants – provided that you can prove sufficient income (and ideally passive income) sourced from outside Portugal. The minimum income requirement for this visa, in 2021 is €665 per month, or €7,980 per year for a single applicant, and at least €11,970 per year for a married couple.

But consider that to be the absolute minimum. To maximize your chances of getting approved for this visa, you’ll need to be able to prove a stable income that is substantially higher than the minimum required amounts.

I have created a video playlist called “The Passive Income Visa” which provides a comprehensive guide on the D7 visa. You can watch the videos to gain insights into the visa requirements and application process.

D8 Visa: Visa Portugal

The D8 visa of Portugal is a new type of visa for digital nomads who want to live and work remotely in Portugal. It is also known as the Digital Nomad Residence Visa. According to the Nomad list, around 16,000 digital nomads already live in the Portuguese capital Lisbon alone.

There are two types of Digital Nomad Visas in Portugal: Temporary Stay Visa or Residence Visa. The Digital Nomad Temporary Stay Visa it is valid for up to one year, allowing you to stay in Portugal, with the possibility of extension for the same period. It is crucial to note that certain websites may still refer to the D7 visa as a digital nomad visa, but this information is outdated.

If you are looking for a longer stay in Portugal, you should apply for the D type Digital Nomad Residence Visa and afterwards a Residence Permit.

The residence visa allows a foreigner to enter Portugal for a period of 4 months (equivalent to 120 days) and subsequently apply for a residence permit valid for a period of 2 years, renewable for subsequent periods of 3 years.

Residence permit holders may apply for a permanent residence or citizenship after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal.

Portugal D8 Visa Requirements

Some of the main features of this visa are:

• You must be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.
• You must be employed by a company outside of Portugal or self-employed.
• You must have a minimum income of €3,040 per month, which is four times the minimum wage in Portugal.
• You can apply for a Temporary Stay Visa or a Residence Visa, depending on the duration of your stay.
• The Temporary Stay Visa allows you to stay in Portugal for up to one year, with the possibility of renewal. It costs €754.
• The Residence Visa allows you to stay in Portugal for more than one year and apply for a residency permit with the Immigration and Border Services (SEF). It costs €904.
• You need to provide proof of accommodation, health insurance, criminal record, tax residence, and employment contract or freelancer contract.

The D8 visa of Portugal is a great option for digital nomads who want to enjoy the benefits of living in Portugal, such as the sunny weather, the friendly culture, the low cost of living, and the access to the Schengen area. If you are interested in applying for this visa, you can book an initial consultation with us.

D9 Visa: Golden Visa

This visa category is better known as the Portuguese Golden Visa, or ARI, in Portuguese. In order to qualify for this residency visa, you’ll have to invest a minimum of €280,000 in real estate in Portugal, although the overwhelming majority of investors opt for the €350,000 investment pricing category, which involves investing in a property that is at least 30 years old, requires renovation, and is located in government specified areas within Portugal.

The newly launched artistic support option, also known as the Cultural Production Golden Visa, is priced at only €200,000 for projects located in low-density areas, and €250,000 for projects in urban areas.

DP Visa: Job Seeker Visa

The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for job; authorizes him/her to carry out a subordinated work activity, until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.

This visa is granted for a period of 120 days, renewable for another 60 days and allows only one entry into Portugal.

The issuance of this visa supposes the attribution of a date of scheduling in the competent services, within the period of validity of 120 days of the visa, and it allows the applicant, after the formalization of the employment contract throughout that period, the right to apply for a residence permit. To do so, you must fulfil the general conditions for granting a temporary residence permit, under the terms of article 77 of the Law.

Once the maximum validity limit of the visa for looking for work has expired, without an employment relationship having been established nor the process of requesting the granting of a residence permit having begun, the visa holder must leave the country.

In these situations, you can only re-apply for a new visa application for this purpose, one year after the expiry of the previous visa’s validity.

The request for a visa extension by a job seeker visa holder must be accompanied by proof of registration with the IEFP, I.P., and a declaration by the applicant indicating that the conditions of the planned stay are maintained, which will be assessed considering the reasons that justified its issuance.

DF Visa: Accompanying Family Members Applying for a Residence Visa

Under Portugal’s Alien National Act, only immediate family members of residence permit holders or citizens are eligible to apply for a family visa. An immediate family member according to Portugal’s Alien National Act is defined as:

• Married or registered partner.
• Minor children, including adopted children.
• Any children under the care of the applicant.
• Children who are of age but dependent on the applicant and are enrolled in an established educational institution in Portugal.
• First-degree relatives who are dependent on the applicant.
• Minor siblings who are under the legal custody of the resident.

For holders of a student permit, unremunerated traineeship, or voluntary service, family members are considered only the first three categories; spouse, children, and adopted children.

CPLP Visa

The CPLP Visa of Portugal is also a Long Stay Residency Visa for citizens of countries belonging to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), which allows its holder to apply for a residence permit in Portugal12. The CPLP residence permit allows residence in Portugal, with an initial duration of one year, renewable for successive periods of two years2.

The CPLP countries consists of Portugal, Cape Verde, Brazil, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, and Mozambique

Portuguese Citizenship Made Easier with Trek Law

Our law firm is here to assist individuals seeking Portuguese naturalization. Our team of dedicated Portuguese citizenship lawyers brings substantial expertise to this field and maintains close relationships with Portuguese registries.

We serve descendants of Portuguese immigrants from around the globe, including former colonies and territories.

When clients entrust Trek Law with their citizenship aspirations, we go the extra mile to ensure their peace of mind. Upon submitting their claims to our office, we promptly issue a digital receipt with the important submission date. 

This receipt isn’t just a formality; it’s a valuable tool that empowers our clients to track the progress of their case right up to its resolution.

This journey often leads to a triumphant outcome – the successful acquisition of a Portuguese passport and a coveted citizen card. We understand the significance of these documents and work diligently to make them a reality for our clients.

Moreover, we simplify the often complex processes of travel and residency claims by handling applications in Portugal, sparing our clients the hassle of dealing with embassies abroad.

In theory, Portuguese naturalization welcomes a diverse range of eligible candidates, including children, grandchildren, spouses (whether in marital bonds or long-term relationships), Sephardic Jews, and individuals with established legal residency in Portugal, among others.

Note: It’s important to note that applications can occasionally face delays or even denials, often due to insufficient knowledge of the intricacies of the law. While such setbacks can be rectified, it’s our aim to steer clear of them, as a rejected application can momentarily dim one’s prospects of success.

 conclusion

understanding the different types of long stay D visas in Portugal is crucial for choosing the right visa category that suits your needs and aspirations. Whether it’s the Golden Visa, D7 Visa, D2 Visa, or other specific visas, each offers unique benefits and opportunities for residency and potentially obtaining Portuguese citizenship. It is important to seek professional advice to ensure a smooth and successful visa application process. Stay informed, explore your options, and make informed decisions as you embark on your journey towards fixed residency visa Portugal  and a new chapter in Portugal.

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Obtain a Portuguese Passport?

The timeframe for obtaining a Portuguese Passport varies depending on the type of case you’re applying for, typically ranging from 3 to 2 years. It’s important to note that several authorities are involved in the processing of Portuguese Passports, and any inaccuracies in processing and submission can extend the processing time.

Can You Track the Progress of Your Portuguese Passport Application?

For some Portuguese nationality cases, there is a tracking number assigned upon submission. This tracking number is provided right after the case is submitted, and both the lawyer and the client can monitor its status through a designated website. In cases without a tracking number (although it’s anticipated that all cases will have one in the future), the lawyer must personally track the application’s progress with the relevant authorities.

Does the Portuguese Nationality Case Result in a Passport?

After the Portuguese authorities process the application, it leads to the issuance of a birth certificate. This birth certificate is a crucial document that enables the applicant to obtain both the Portuguese Passport and the Portuguese citizen’s card. These can be acquired either at the nearest embassy or directly at any Passport Office within Portuguese territory.

How Can I Obtain EU Citizenship Through Investment?

Malta offers a pathway to EU citizenship through direct investment in its beneficial services. This is one of the fastest ways to acquire the citizenship of a European Union member country. Initially, investors receive a residence permit, and after one to three years, they become eligible to apply for citizenship. The minimum investment required is €690,000.

Is It Possible to Obtain Portuguese Citizenship Through Investment?

No, Portuguese citizenship cannot be obtained solely through investment. However, you can obtain a residence permit through investment in Portugal. The minimum investment amount required is €250,000. After maintaining residency for five years, you can apply for a fixed residency visa Portugal.

Whats The Difference Between D7 Vs D8 Visa Portugal?

The D7 and D8 visas in Portugal serve distinct purposes. The D7, often referred to as the “Passive Income Visa,” is designed for individuals seeking residence in Portugal without engaging in active employment, typically requiring a stable source of income. On the other hand, the D8, or “Portugal student visa from Pakistan,” is for Pakistani students pursuing higher education in Portugal, necessitating acceptance and enrollment in a recognized educational institution. While the D7 focuses on retirement or passive income, the D8 is tailored to educational pursuits, and each visa type has its specific eligibility criteria and benefits.