Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Port Louis

An Honorary Consul can be a Portuguese or a non-Portuguese individual, who is not a diplomat and lives in the country and city where the Consulate operates. Appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, their role is to uphold and advocate the rights and interests of the Portuguese State and its nationals, in a city without official representation. Honorary Consulates generally do not perform consular acts but can be authorised to conduct voter registration, civil registration and notary acts and issue travel documents in certain exceptional and justified situations. The activities of honorary consuls are conducted within their competence, in coordination with the Head of the Mission to which they are attached.

Visas outsourced to VFS Global

Visa applications are handled by: Consulate General of Portugal in Maputo

This consular representation completely delegates its visa application procedures to VFS Global, managing all functional aspects except the final review and approval of the visa. This system streamlines the process, allowing the consulate to efficiently handle a large number of applications while retaining control over visa issuance.

• 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 Mauritius:

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