Portugal's Honorary Consulate in Thessaloniki

An Honorary Consul, who may or may not be Portuguese and a non-diplomat living in the country and city of operation, is appointed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to promote and protect the interests and rights of the Portuguese State and its citizens, in a city lacking official representation. Honorary Consulates typically are not authorized to perform consular acts, but in certain special and justified situations, they might be permitted to conduct voter registration, civil registration, notary acts, and issue travel documents. Honorary Consuls operate within their jurisdiction, in alignment with the Head of the Mission they're attached to.

Visas handled directly by the post

Visa applications are handled by: Embassy of Portugal in Athens - Consular Section

This consular representation doesn't engage VFS services and manages all visa applications in-house. It oversees the entire process from application collection to decision making internally, ensuring end-to-end control over the visa process. This may, however, lead to extended 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 Greece:

• 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 Greece. Most visas first grant temporary residence, which can lead to permanent residence after five years. Requirements and processing times change: check them before applying.