Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Montpellier

An Honorary Consul, who may or may not be Portuguese and is not a diplomat, resides in the country and location of his/her Consulate operation. They are appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protect and promote the Portuguese State's rights and interests in cities lacking official representation. Honorary Consulates usually cannot perform consular acts. Still, exceptionally, they might be allowed to conduct voter registration operations, civil registration and notary acts, and issue travel documents. The honorary consuls operate according to the Head of the Mission to which they are attached within their competency.

Visas handled directly by the post

Visa applications are handled by: Portugal's Consulate General in Marseille

Consular representations that do not use VFS services manage visa applications entirely on their own. The entire process, from application collection to decision-making, is conducted internally, which enables complete control over the visa process but may lead to longer processing times due to increased workload.

• Portuguese Tax Number (NIF): a unique tax identification number required for financial transactions in Portugal. You can obtain it at any tax office or through a fiscal representative.

• Portuguese Bank Account: major banks include Millennium BCP, Novo Banco and Santander. We can help you get a bank account in Portugal.

The main visa types available from France:

• D1 Work VisaFor those with a work contract with a Portuguese company. Initially valid for 4 months, convertible into a 2-year residence permit.
• D2 Entrepreneur VisaTo start a business or transfer an existing one to Portugal, with a viable business plan and sufficient means.
• D3 Highly Qualified Worker VisaFor professionals with specialized skills and a job offer meeting minimum salary requirements.
• D4 Study VisaFor students accepted into Portuguese institutions. Allows studying and working part-time.
• D5 Research VisaFor researchers hosted by a recognized Portuguese institution.
• D6 Family Reunification VisaTo join relatives already legally residing in Portugal.
• D7 Passive Income VisaPopular among retirees: stable passive income from investments, pensions or rental properties.
• D8 Digital Nomad VisaFor remote workers earning a stable income from non-Portuguese sources.
• D9 Golden VisaAn investment-based residence permit, with a minimum investment from €250,000 depending on the type.

The application usually goes through the Portuguese consulate of your home country if you are not from France. Most visas first grant temporary residence, which can lead to permanent residence after five years. Requirements and processing times change: check them before applying.