Access the ultimate guide to the D4 Visa in Portugal, designed for students aiming to pursue their education in Portugal.

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Seeking a first-rate education while living in Europe? You may seek a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, a researcher position, an internship or volunteering program in Portugal.

Moving to Portugal will help you to address any concerns you might have. With low cost of living and friendly culture, Portugal—a safe and culturally rich nation—has drawn expats.

Anyone wanting to volunteer or study in Portugal will find the Portuguese D4 Visa perfect.

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Dreaming of life in Portugal? Start your journey now by getting your D4 Visa checklist online, quickly and effortlessly!

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Quick resume about D4 Visa Portugal

Time for Application:

⌛ Processing time: 2 to 4 months*
*Highly depending of the processing times of the country in which you are applying.

Financial Requirements:

💶 For a single person: +9.840€ per year

Who is this visa for?

📚 Students

Those who are enrolled in recognized higher education institutions in Portugal.

💼 Interns

Individuals who have secured internships which are part of their educational.

🤝 Volunteers

Those participating in recognized volunteering programs or projects in Portugal.

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Get to know the D4 visa

If you have received an acceptance letter for enrollment in an educational facility in Portugal, or if you are participating in an internship or volunteering program, you are eligible to apply for this visa.

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What is the D4 visa?

The Portugal D4 Visa offers non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens the opportunity to obtain legal Portuguese residency if they have been accepted into an accredited institution in Portugal. This visa, also known as the Research, Student, Internship, or Volunteering visa, provides a pathway for individuals to pursue their academic or professional goals in Portugal.

⚠️ Professional internships (’Estágios Profissionais’) registered in IEFP are not eligible for this type of visa, as it grants an employment, instead of study or internship bond.

What are the benefits of the D4 visa?

This visa allows you to freely travel within Portugal and the Schengen Area without any restrictions or the need for additional Portuguese visas.

One of the advantages of staying in Portugal on a D4 visa is the availability of affordable Portuguese education and medical services. After a period of five years, you will become eligible for Portuguese citizenship and permanent residency.

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What are the main requirements for the D4 visa?

To be eligible, you must meet certain requirements. These include not having EU, EA, or Swiss citizenship, having a clean criminal record, and providing proof of acceptance from a Portuguese institution or company for a program lasting more than 1 year.

How much should I have in funding for my D4 visa application?

It is necessary to provide evidence of a monthly fund equivalent to Portugal's monthly minimum wage, earned by either yourself or your financial supporter within the past three months. In 2024, the value is 820 euros.

Please provide the necessary bank documents or your most recent tax return, as well as a letter from your financial supporter (if applicable) detailing their commitment to supporting you.

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What will I need to present with my D4 visa application?

Issuing your D4 visa will require several documents to be submitted.

How can I get ready for my D4 visa application?

Thorough preparation is essential for a successful D4 visa application.

Enroll in an accredited program in Portugal

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Take the time to review the expiration date on your passport

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Locate a suitable place and use it as evidence of accommodation for your D4 visa application

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See your nearest VFS office or Portuguese Consulate and schedule an interview

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Get a flight to Portugal.

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Make sure you have travel insurance for your D4 visa application.

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Please ensure that you have a few passport pictures ready for your D4 visa application

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Create your Declaration of Intent for your D4 visa application.

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Include your suitability for admission in the program.

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How much is my D4 visa fee?

In addition to the current rate of 90 euros per person, there may be additional administrative fees levied by certain municipal offices.

How long will I wait for my D4 visa?

Different offices have different wait times. The waiting time will be quite short in some regions (four weeks) and relatively long in others (a few months).

You usually have to wait, sometimes for months, once you submit your application. This is the time to get all of the paperwork you'll need for your AIMA appointment in Portugal together and get ready for your move.

Why should I gather documents for my AIMA appointment?

Bring all of your most recent paperwork to your appointment. It is possible that your criminal record is older than the three-month window that AIMA requires (the same as the visa).

Being prepared to have some re-issued before your trip to Portugal is also a good idea, since certain offices may retain your visa interview paperwork.

⚠️ Make sure you have all the required paperwork in your home country: designate a trustworthy individual to hold a power of attorney on your behalf; bring duplicates of important documents you can leave behind: marriage and birth certificates, titles to any properties you own, an additional copy of your power of attorney, copies of any vaccination cards you may need, and so on.

What could cause my D4 visa application to be rejected?

That is due to a number of factors. Below are the most typical:

  • There are not enough financial resources;
  • Insufficient documents provided by the Institution;
  • There is a criminal record with notes;
  • Unfinished documentation;

⚠️ Please feel free to contact AnchorLess at any time for questions or concerns about the D4 visa application process. If you have any questions or concerns, you can use our free consultation service.

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Is the D4 visa approved? Head to Portugal!

Moving is the next step after getting your visa approved.

  • Last Checks: Make sure everything is in order, particularly the papers you'll need to show to AIMA. Also, tell any necessary parties, such as the tax authorities in your home country, and finalize your travel arrangements.
  • Make sure you know what you can and cannot bring to Portugal. Some things, like hoverboards, aren't allowed because of their composition, and others, like kitchen equipment, require a luggage certificate from the Portuguese consulate in your area.
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Arrived in Portugal? Schedule an AIMA appointment for your D4 visa.

During the 120 days that your D4 Visa is valid, you will have ample opportunity to settle down in Portugal. You need to get your NIF and change it to your new address in Portugal so you may become a tax resident, register for health insurance in Portugal, set up your finances, and certify that you intend to stay at your new house.

You have 120 days from the date of your D4 visa's expiration to arrange an appointment with the AIMA in order to get a residence authorization and submit the paperwork that proves you've settled in Portugal and can support yourself here according to the visa's requirements (the values of which are explained at the beginning of this article).

Acquire NIF Portugal.

Acquiring a tax identification number, often known as a NIF or "Número de Identificação Fiscal", is necessary to embark on a fresh chapter in your Portuguese experience.

⚠️ It is necessary to have a NIF in to get a job, locate a rental, and create a bank account in Portugal.

What is AIMA?

This office is in charge of dealing with issues pertaining to foreigners in Portugal, such as their entrance, exit, and legalization. It was previously called 'SEF - Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras' (Immigration and Borders Service), and now it's AIMA, 'Agência para an Integração, Migrações e Asilo' (or Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum).

How can I schedule my AIMA appointment?

AIMA may become rather packed. So, getting in touch with them and setting up your appointments could be a bit of a challenge.

⚠️ Always be ready! If you want to get in touch with AIMA, you should probably phone them up, check their website often, and pay attention to whatever they say online, particularly on their official Facebook page. If you want to know how to get an appointment scheduled well, join a Facebook community where people have shared their experiences.

What can I expect from my AIMA appointment?

Prepare for and attend your AIMA appointment.

  • Confirming documents and biophysical information collecting (fingerprints, signatures, and pictures).
  • Please ensure that you bring all the necessary documents for the AIMA appointment. These include the original ones used in your visa application, any updated proof of accommodation in the event that you decide to move, and any documentation of your program enrollment. Additionally, rather than travel insurance, you should bring Portuguese health insurance.
  • A Portuguese bank account that has the Portuguese minimum salary accessible is required.
  • Your most recent payment receipt for school is another document AIMA will require from you as a student.

⚠️ For the criminal record, you'll need to translate and notarize it (even if it's in your mother tongue).

Create a Portuguese bank account

Not everyone who lives outside Portugal can open an account with one of the few banks that cater to non-residents. Online payment systems like Revolut may be rejected by AIMA on occasion.

Our Portuguese bank account service is something you should think about.

With just your Portuguese visa, evidence of address, income, and Portuguese legal status, you can open a bank account at any agency in Portugal once you've settled down.

⚠️ Maintaining a minimum monthly amount in a Portuguese bank account is mandatory according to your visa. It is necessary in order for your residence permit to be issued.

Transfer the necessary D4 visa threshold into your Portuguese bank account.

For smaller values (less than $20,000),

The low conversion rate and easy-to-understand interface of Wise (formerly TransferWise) make it our top pick. Immigrants often choose this solution due of the ease and speed of the application or website.

For bigger values

When dealing in greater amounts between USD and EUR, Currencies Direct is the way to go. Reduced conversion rates and a simple in-app payment option are two other features they provide. Help is on the way, and it will be tailored to your specific requirements.

Everything in order? At home, you should just await the arrival of your residency permit.

How much will I pay for my D4 visa residency card?

An AIMA residence card for a D4 visa would set you back around €90.

How long does my D4 visa residency card last?

Your first residency card will last one year.

After my residency card expires, how should I renew it, and how long will it last?

Once you get your AIMA residency card, you must renew it annually until you graduate or complete your program, using the initial procedure with the most recent documentation.

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How to become a Portuguese citizen?

After just five years of being in the nation on a D4 visa, you will be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, which would grant you the freedom to live and travel anywhere in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

What are the requirements for citizenship through a D4 Student visa?

To be eligible, you need to meet the following criteria: a Portuguese proficiency level of A2 or higher, five years of continuous residency in Portugal (or five years of non-consecutive residency within the last fifteen years), and a complete absence of criminal records in Portugal and any country you've ever lived in.

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