Honorary Consulate of Portugal in Maracay

An Honorary Consul, who could be Portuguese or a non-Portuguese, is not a diplomat and resides where the Consulate operates. They are appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to uphold and defend the rights and interests of the Portuguese State and its citizens, specifically in a city lacking official representation. Honorary Consulates typically lack the competency to perform consular acts, but under exceptional and justified scenarios, they might be permitted to conduct voter registration procedures, civil registration, notary acts, and issue travel documents. Their work, subject to their competence, is executed in accordance with the directives of the Mission Head they are attached to.

Visas handled directly by the post

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

This consular representation does not engage VFS services and therefore manages all visa applications independently. It oversees every step from application gathering to decision making internally, which guarantees full control over the visa procedure but might lead to extended processing times due to the enhanced 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 Venezuela:

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