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D3 Visa: The complete guide
Unveil the complete guide to the D3 Visa for Portugal. Whether you are an academic or a specialist in your field, this visa facilitates your move to Portugal.
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Are you a professional looking to transfer to a magnificent country with an excellent quality of life?
Moving to Portugal will settle every question you may have. Portugal, a safe and culturally rich country, has been attracting investors and expats due to its low cost of living and hospitable attitude.
The Portuguese D3 Visa is appropriate for employees considering skilled jobs in Portugal.
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Quick resume about D3 Visa Portugal
Time for Application:
⌛ Processing time: 2 to 5 months*
Financial Requirements:
💶 Minimum monthly income: ~1.530€
👷️ Highly Qualified Professionals
Non-EU citizens with advanced education or professional qualifications and a job offer or employment contract in Portugal for at least 12 months
📝 Cultural, Educational, and Scientific Activities
Professors, researchers, and cultural professionals with contracts or agreements to work in Portugal in roles of significant importance
🧑💼️ Management and Leadership Positions
Experienced managers and senior executives with job offers specifying their leadership roles in Portuguese companies
Get to know the D3 visa
The Portugal D3 Visa, also known as the Highly Qualified Activity Visa, grants legal Portuguese residency to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who are being recruited for a skilled role in Portugal.
What is the D3 visa?
Anyone with a technical or specialized field can apply for the Portugal D3 Visa, as long as they have a job offer from a Portuguese-based company.
The process requires significant proof regarding job availability and its lack of success in hiring in the EU.
What are the benefits of the D3 visa?
The D3 visa allows you to enter Portugal and move within the Schengen Area without the need for additional visas or time restrictions, as well as start a business in a country with favorable business conditions.
Another important advantage of living in Portugal on a D3 visa is access to affordable Portuguese education and medical care. After five years, you will be eligible for Portuguese citizenship (along with anyone in your family who joined you when you applied), as well as permanent residency.
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What are the main requirements for the D3 visa?
In addition to possessing no EU, EA, or Swiss citizenship and a clean criminal record, you must demonstrate that you have a job offer from a Portugal-based company that qualifies as a highly skilled position.
Which roles qualifies as a D3 visa position?
- Healthcare professionals.
- IT professionals.
- Management positions (directors or c-levels).
- Students admitted to a PHD.
- University professors.
- Researchers.
- Scientists and engineers.
- Social, cultural, or juridical professionals.
What is the criteria for a D3 visa position?
There are several points to be met:
- Role must be registered at IEFP - ‘Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional’ or Institute of Employment and Vocational Training.
- Annual wage must meet the wage threshold.
- Worker must prove their highly qualified position, such as University diplomas, work's entity registration, professional path.
- Contract or Promise contract for a minimum of 1 year.
- Level 4 of ability according to EU's International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO).
How much is my D3 visa application wage threshold?
Your annual wage must reach 3 times the IAS for each month ('Indexante dos Apoios Sociais' or Social Support Index), which in 2024 is 1x IAS = 509,26. Or 1.5 x the Portuguese annual average wage.
In this case, the applicant's annual wage total must be 18.336,33 euros if under IAS, or 14.760,00 euros if under the Portuguese annual minimum wage rule.
The IAS threshold, along with the Portuguese minimum wage, changes every year.I
How much is my D3 visa application funds threshold?
This is not a recommendation but is a recommendation from our experiences.
For a single person, the value is the annual Portuguese minimum wage, 9.840,00 €.
If you have dependents, the threshold changes accordingly.
-> If you submitted your application with a spouse or major family dependant 👫
-> If you are applying with children 👨👩👧👦
Who can I bring as a dependent on my D3 visa application?
You can bring:
- Your spouse or civil partner.
- Your minor children (above 18 qualifies if enrolled in a Portuguese educational facility).
- Dependent parents (when included at your tax return or under your care).
- Anyone whom you or your spouse may have legal guardianship (like disabled children or family members under your care, siblings you may have legal guardianship, adopted children).
What will I need to present with my D3 VISA application?
Your D3 visa will require multiple pieces of paperwork for successful issuance. Before arriving in Portugal, you must submit certain documents, like the NIF, to the authorities.
How can I get ready for my D3 visa application?
Preparation is critical to a successful D3 visa application.
1
Secure a highly skilled activity position in a Portuguese-based company.
2
Check your passport's expiration date
3
Get your NIF Portugal to your D3 Visa application
4
For your Highly Qualified Activity Visa application, create a Portuguese bank account
🏦 Prestige bank
5
Transfer the necessary D3 visa threshold into your Portuguese bank account.
6
Find a place to live and use it as proof of accommodation in your D3 visa application.
FREE D3 checklist
What are the other steps for my D3 Visa?
Unlock for FREE your visa D3 checklist step by step and access to your personal dashboard.
How much is my D3 visa fee?
Currently, the fee is 90 euros per person, plus any administrative fees from local offices, which vary depending on the office.
How long will I wait for my D3 visa?
The wait time varies from office to office. Some areas will have a short waiting time—only four weeks; others will take a couple of months. This visa has a shorter wait time than the other categories.
After submitting your visa application, there’s typically a wait time, which can extend for months. Use this period to prepare for your move and gather documents you'll need to present at your AIMA appointment when you arrive in Portugal.
Why should I gather documents for my AIMA appointment?
At your appointment, you will need to present updated documents. Your criminal record may be outside of AIMA's required timeline (same as the visa—no more than 3 months old). You should also apply for a NISS number in Portugal.
Additionally, some offices may keep your visa interview documents, so be prepared to re-issue some before you go to Portugal.
⚠️ Ensure that you have all the necessary documentation in your home country: Leave a power of attorney in the name of a trusted person; bring copies of the main documents you may leave at home: birth and marriage certificates, house-owning titles, an extra copy of your POA, copies of vaccination cards, or anything else you may need at hand.
What factors could cause my D3 visa application to be rejected?
There are several reasons for that. The most common are:
- Insufficient funds.
- Invalid position documentation.
- Criminal record with annotations.
- Documentation incomplete.
⚠️ If you need any clarification regarding the D3 visa application process, AnchorLess is here for you! We have a free consultation service where you can clear up any doubt.
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Is the D3 visa approved? Head to Portugal!
After your visa is approved, it's time to relocate.
- Final Preparations: Finalize travel arrangements, inform relevant parties (e.g., tax authorities in your home country), and ensure all paperwork is in order, especially what you'll need to present to AIMA.
- Check what you can take with you to Portugal. Some items may be forbidden due to their composition (like hoverboards) or may need a baggage certificate at your local Portuguese consulate (like kitchen appliances).
- Upon arrival in Portugal, register your address with the local authorities (NIF address).
Arrived in Portugal? Schedule an AIMA appointment for your D3 visa.
Your D3 Visa will have a 120-day duration period, during which you'll have time to establish yourself in Portugal. You should confirm your intention to stay at your new home, register for Portuguese health insurance, establish your finances, and become a tax resident by moving your NIF address to your new home in Portugal.
You must schedule your AIMA appointment during this 120-day period to convert your D3 visa into a residence authorization and provide the necessary documentation proving your settlement in Portugal and your ability to support yourself here in accordance with your visa requirements (values explained at the beginning of this article).
What is AIMA?
Formerly known as 'SEF - Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras' (Immigration and Borders Service), AIMA, 'Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo' (or Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum), is the office responsible for handling matters related to foreigners in Portugal, including their entrance, exit, and legalization.
How can I schedule my AIMA appointment?
AIMA is a bit crowded. As a result, contacting them and scheduling your appointments may pose some difficulties.
⚠️ Be prepared! You may need to make extensive calls, visit the AIMA website frequently, and pay close attention to any information about AIMA from various sources, especially their Facebook official page. Join Facebook groups where you can find shared experiences and tips to successfully schedule your appointment.
What can I expect from my AIMA appointment?
Prepare for and attend your AIMA appointment.
- Biometric data collection (picture, signature, and fingerprints) and verification of documents.
- Documents needed for the AIMA appointment: Bring all the documents you submitted for your visa application (with proof of accommodation updated if you decide to move and business proof if established or in the works), and add to that Portuguese health insurance instead of travel insurance.
⚠️ For the criminal record, you'll need to translate and notarize it (even if it's in your mother tongue).
All set? Just wait for your residence permit to arrive at home!
How much will I pay for my D3 visa residency card?
The AIMA fee for a D3 visa residency card is approximately 90 euros.
How long does my D3 visa residency card last?
Your first residency card will last two years. Subsequent ones will have a longer expiration period.
After my residency card expires, how should I renew it, and how long will it last?
Follow the same process for your first AIMA residency card, with updated documentation, and check the table below to understand the duration period.
| Duration since issue | Minimum stay in Portugal | Renewal period | Renovation qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years |
6 consecutive months, or; 8 non-consecutive months. |
End of 2nd Year | Residency card with 3 years duration |
| 3 years |
6 consecutive months, or; 8 non-consecutive months. |
End of 3rd Year (or 5th year in total) | Residency card with 3 years duration, Permanent residency card, or Portuguese Citizenship |
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The path to citizenship
Only five years after your arrival in Portugal, with a D3 visa, you can request Portuguese citizenship, allowing you to freely move between the EEA area and live in any country within the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
What are the requirements for citizenship through a D3 highly qualified activity visa?
You must have lived in Portugal for five consecutive years (or five non-consecutive years in the past 15 years), have an A2 level in Portuguese, and have a clean criminal record in Portugal and any previous countries you may have lived in.
Portugal’s D3 Visa offers foreigners a fantastic opportunity to invest in an economically prolific country and enjoy a high quality of life in a beautiful and welcoming country. Understanding the requirements and preparing thoroughly can help you make the transition smoothly and begin your new adventure in Portugal.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between D3 visa and article 90.2?
What's the difference between D1 and D3 visa?
Can I bring family members with my D3 visa?
Do I need to know Portuguese to apply for a D3 visa?
Can I change employers while in a D3 visa?
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team of experts.
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