Who are they for?
Residence visas are visas that allow foreigners to stay in Portugal for a period of more than one year.
Features and advantages of these visas
– These visas are valid for a period of 4 months and allow two entries into Portugal. During this period, the visa holder must travel to Portugal and attend an appointment at AIMA to obtain their biometric data in order to be issued with a residence card;
– Allows the submission of accompanying person visas for close family members at the same time as the main applicant’s application for a D3 visa, so that they can immigrate at the same time as the main applicant.
Who can be considered a highly qualified worker
The law defines a highly qualified activity as one whose exercise requires specialised technical skills of an exceptional nature or an appropriate qualification for its exercise.
Although there is no express reference, AIMA understands a highly qualified activity to be one that relates to the higher education obtained by the applicant or an activity of an exceptional nature that requires the mastery of specialised technical skills and in which the applicant has more than 5 years’ experience.
Companion Visa
The D3 visa allows the following family members to obtain an accompanying person visa:
a) Spouse;
b) Minor or incapacitated children dependent on the applicant;
c) Adopted minors;
d) The applicant’s adult dependent children;
e) The applicant’s first degree relatives in the ascending line;
f) Minor siblings under the applicant’s guardianship.
The attribution of a residence permit for highly qualified workers – known as a D3 Visa – – is divided into two phases:
- Phase 1 – Consulate – Allocation of the Residence Visa
Applicants must submit an application for a residence visa to the Portuguese Consulate or Consular Section of the Portuguese Embassy in their country of origin or country of residence, either in person or via the E-visa portal (depending on the consulate involved).
It should be noted that in certain countries, in order to deal with the volume of applications, the Consulate may delegate powers to VFS Global, which is a company that receives the applications before they are analysed by the Consulate.
When submitting an application for a residence visa, the following documents must be provided, among others:
- Employment contract, promise of employment contract or service contract with an entity based in Portugal and with a minimum duration of 6 months;
- An annual salary of at least 1,5 times the national average gross annual salary or three times the social support index (IAS), i.e. around €1530 per month in 2024;
- Being hired for a profession for which you have higher qualifications or relevant professional experience of more than 5 years.
Fee: €90
Once this residence visa application has been submitted, the Consulate has 30 days to issue it.
When the residence visa is issued, it is time for the applicant to travel to Portugal to apply for a residence permit.
- Phase 2 – AIMA – Allocation of the Residence Permit
In most cases, the residence permit is issued by the Consulate with the date and place of the appointment. Where this is not the case, it is necessary to request an appointment by telephone.
At the time of the appointment, the applicant will collect biometric data – photograph, fingerprints and signature – and submit the necessary documentation, namely:
- Tax Identification Number (NIF)
- Proof of issue of Social Security Number (NISS)
- Proof of accommodation
- Employment contract or service contract signed with an organisation based in Portugal, signed by both parties for a minimum of 6 months with a monthly salary of at least 1530€.
- Proof of means of subsistence.
Fee: €170,08
Once all the documents have been submitted, AIMA has 90 days to issue the residence card.
Features and advantages of the residence card
– The residence permit for a highly qualified worker is issued for a period of 2 years and is renewable for a subsequent period of 3 years;
– This type of residence permit allows the possibility of applying for family reunification;
– Allows travel within the Schengen Area as a tourist for a period of 90 days without the need for a Schengen visa;
– Access to the National Health System;
– Access to the Courts, Education and the Business World
– Eligibility to obtain Portuguese nationality after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal;
– Eligibility to obtain a permanent residence permit after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal.
Minimum length of stay required to renew residence card
During the period of validity of the residence card, the holder must not leave the country for more than 6 consecutive months or 8 interpolated months.
However, there are a few exceptions to the obligation to meet these deadlines which, as exceptions, do not result in the cancellation of the residence permit. The existence of significant personal, family or professional reasons that justify the need to be absent from the country for periods longer than those listed above do not affect the maintenance of the residence permit by its holder.
