Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Bilbao

An Honorary Consul can be a Portuguese or non-Portuguese resident, who is not a diplomat, residing in the country and location of his Consulate operations. He's appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to champion and protect the rights and interests of the Portuguese State and its citizens, in cities without official representation. Honorary Consulates usually do not have the authority to perform consular acts; however, in special and justified instances, they might be permitted to conduct voter registration, civil registration, notary acts, and issue travel documents. The duties of honorary consuls are performed in line with the instructions of the Mission Head they are attached to.

Visas handled directly by the post

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

This consular representation does not utilize VFS services, therefore oversees all visa applications directly. It manages every step from application collection to decision-making internally, resulting in thorough control of the visa process, but may lead to extended processing times due to the additional 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 Spain:

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