Portugal Immigration Guide: Visa Options To Freely Circulate In Portugal (2024)

Non-EU nationals must usually apply for a Schengen Visa to stay in Portugal legally. However, nationals from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom can enter Portugal and circulate freely for the first three months without a visa. However, afterward, they’ll need to apply for a visa.

You must live in Portugal for an uninterrupted time of five years to qualify for Portuguese permanent residency, as well as prepare all the necessary documentation and submit a test proving your language proficiency.

You can either apply for the D7 Visa scheme or alternatively, apply for Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme. This lets you live in Portugal, provided you make a qualifying investment in the nation.

There are also other visa options to consider, such as the D2 Visa for entrepreneurs, the Digital Nomad Visa, perfect for remote workers, the Portugal qualified worker visa, and the Portugal self-employment visa.

If you are looking for information about getting a Portuguese work permit, then you can consult this article: Portugal Work Visa: All You Need to Know.

The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment scheme that welcomes foreign investors to reside in Portugal legally, provided that a qualifying investment is made first.

To get residency in Portugal, you must first enter Portugal with a valid visa for the duration of your stay. Afterward, you must lodge your residence visa for Portugal application with the immigration agency in Portugal, SEF (Immigration and Border Services).

The Portugal residence visas requirements are as follows:

• Valid residence visa.
• Passport
• Two passport photographs.
• Proof of enough finances to sustain yourself.
• Accommodation proof.
• Medical insurance
• Clean criminal record
• Proof of enrolment in social security and evidence of tax status

You need a visa to enter Portugal if you’re a third-country national (non-EU/non-Swiss/non-EEA). The type of visa you will need will depend on your personal circ*mstances and home country. Passport holders of the EU can freely arrive in Portugal without the need for a visa.

There are usually three categories of Portugal Visa types:

1. A short stay visa, known as a Schengen Visa. These are valid for up to 90 days.
2. Temporary stay visas, which are valid for up to a year in most cases.
3. Long stay visas, also known as residency visas. These are for stays of one year or more.

The three common visa types are short-stay visas, temporary stay visas, and long-stay visas. The right visa for you will depend on the length of time you are looking to live in Portugal and your country of origin.

There is no best visa. You have different visa types, and the best option for you will depend on what you are looking to move to Portugal for.

To provide you with an example, the D7 Visa is perfect if you are looking to retire to Portugal, the Digital Nomad Visa is a great option for remote workers, and various work visas are the way forward if you are seeking to move to Portugal to work. The Golden Visa should be on your radar if you want to secure residency in the country by making an investment in Portugal. Entrepreneurs should also check out the D2 Visa.

A Type C Visa or short-stay visa allows individuals to transit through or stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. If you have this visa type, you will be able to transit through international transit areas in airports that are located in the Schengen Area.

You can keep up with the latest Portugal immigration news on the SEF website. SEF is the Immigration and Border Service in Portugal, and for any immigration services that you require, they will be your go-to entity responsible for your move to the country. Portugal’s immigration policy generally welcomes foreigners moving to the country. For example, the Digital Nomad Visa launched in 2022 allows remote workers to live in Portugal, provided they meet the requirements.

For updates related to the Portugal Golden Visa, you can consult our article on Golden Visa Changes, Updates, and New Rules for 2023. Note that the Golden Visa is coming to an end. If you are interested in applying to the program, you should lodge your application now.

There are several ways to secure residency in Portugal in 2023, including the D7 Visa, the Digital Nomad Visa, or securing a work visa to move to Portugal. The Portugal Golden Visa, a residency by investment visa, is also a straightforward route to residency, although this requires a substantial investment into the country.

Portugal provides many immigration options. For EU citizens, it is very easy to move to Portugal, given the fact that EU citizens can live, work, and study in any one of the 27 EU nations. For non-EU citizens, there are a variety of options open, depending on your requirements, and Portugal is one of the easiest countries in Europe for non-EU citizens to move to.

For example, if you are looking to retire to Portugal, the D7 Visa (also referred to as the Passive Income Visa or the Retirement Visa) is an excellent option. You will simply need to show that you receive sufficient passive income to sustain yourself in the country.

If you are looking to invest in Portugal, the Portugal Golden Visa program allows foreign citizens to make an investment in the country and secure residency.

The Digital Nomad Visa, introduced in 2022, allows remote workers to live in Portugal, provided they make four times to minimum wage in Portugal and work for a foreign employer. Another option to work in Portugal is to obtain a Portuguese work visa, whereby you can then live and work in the country. Entrepreneurs should also consider the D2 Visa.

It can be worth seeking the assistance of a Portugal immigration lawyer, who will be able to assist you with your move to the country. They will be able to discuss which option could be best suited to your needs, and provide you with more information about the immigration process, the requirements, and the documents you will need to show.

How much money you need to immigrate to Portugal and secure a residence permit will depend on the immigration option you choose. For foreign citizens, there are many different ways to migrate to Portugal.

For the D7 Visa, the minimum income requirement is that foreign citizens earn a passive income of at least €760 per month (your income can come from pensions, transferable equity, real estate, intellectual property, or financial equity).

To qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa, introduced by the Portuguese government in 2022, you will need to make four times Portugal’s minimum wage or more.

Through the Portuguese Golden Visa residency by investment program, you can secure residency in the country by making an investment.

Regardless of the visa you opt for, there will be an application form to complete and a procedure that you will need to follow.

Non-EU citizens can apply for a Schengen Visa if they are simply looking to visit Portugal for a short time period. As a third-country national, it is important to have the appropriate visa when entering Portugal.

Yes, Portugal generally has a very favorable immigration policy to foreign citizens. There are many different options to relocate to the country, including the Portugal Golden Visa, the D7 Visa, the Digital Nomad Visa, and the Entrepreneurship Visa.

Note that as of October 2023, there have been significant changes to the Portugal Golden Visa, and now it is not possible to invest in real estate or capital transfer to apply to the scheme.

One of the easiest ways to immigrate to Portugal is through the Golden Visa Program, which invites foreign investors to make substantial financial investments in the country in exchange for a residence permit. Other common ways include securing a job, studying, or having family ties in Portugal.

Yes, you can. Most Portuguese national visas and residence permits allow for family reunification, which means you can bring your spouse, minor children, or dependent parents with you. The exact definition of “family member” can vary, so it’s important to confirm the specifics when you apply.

While knowledge of Portuguese is not a strict requirement for most visas or immigration paths, it can be very beneficial. In order to fully integrate into Portuguese society and navigate daily life, a basic understanding of the language is highly useful. Moreover, for some paths to citizenship or permanent residency, proof of Portuguese language proficiency may be required.

There are no strict age restrictions to immigrate to Portugal. However, each type of visa or residence permit has its own conditions and requirements that may indirectly relate to age. For example, work visas generally require proof of a job offer, and retirement visas require proof of sufficient funds to support oneself.

As a resident of Portugal, you will generally be liable to pay taxes on your worldwide income there. However, Portugal has a special tax regime known as Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) status, which can provide significant tax advantages for a period of 10 years to individuals who have not been tax residents in Portugal in the previous five years. This program covers certain types of income, including pensions, so it’s worth looking into if you’re planning to relocate.

Yes, you can bring your pets when you move to Portugal, but there are specific requirements you need to follow. These typically include having a valid pet passport, ensuring your pet is microchipped, and that they’re up to date with certain vaccinations, including rabies. The specifics can vary depending on your current country, so it’s important to verify the requirements with official sources or a trusted vet before you move.

Yes, its possible for a US citizen to apply to any of the visas on offer in Portugal, provided that they meet the requirements. If you’d like to see how Portugal compares to the US, look at our comparison guide here.