Portugal's Honorary Consulate in Beirut

An Honorary Consul can be a Portuguese citizen or a foreigner who isn't a diplomat but resides in the country and location where their Consulate operates. They are appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advocate and protect the rights and interests of the Portuguese State and its citizens in cities where there isn't an official representation. While Honorary Consulates generally don't possess the competence to perform consular acts, they might be authorized to carry out voter registration, civil registration and notary acts, and issue travel documents under certain exceptional and justified circumstances. The responsibilities of honorary consuls, within the extent of their competence, are performed in alignment with the directives of the Head of the Mission they are connected to.

Visas handled directly by the post

Visa applications are handled by: Embassy of Portugal's Consular Section in Nicosia

Consular representations of this sort don't employ VFS services and instead manage all visa applications themselves. They are responsible for everything from application collection to decision making internally, ensuring complete control over the visa process. However, this might result in longer processing times due to the 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 Lebanon:

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