Portuguese Republic visas
Portugal runs residence visas (D-series) administered by consulates and AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, which replaced SEF in late 2023). Popular routes include the D7 passive-income visa, D8 digital-nomad visa, and residence for highly qualified activity.
7 routes · 4 without a sponsor · 6 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo ↗ · AIMA (Portugal)
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Ordem dos Advogados (OA) — Portuguese Bar Association — regulates lawyers (advogados) authorised to give immigration advice.
Visa routes (7)
D7 visa (passive income / retirement)
Residence visa for non-EU retirees and other applicants who can live from stable income of their own.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work)
Residence visa for remote workers employed by or freelancing for companies outside Portugal.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 30 July 2026
D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment)
Residence visa for business owners, founders, and self-employed workers establishing activity in Portugal.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment)
Residence-by-investment route; real-estate and capital-transfer pathways were closed in October 2023, but fund-investment and other options remain.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
D3 visa (highly qualified activity)
Residence visa for highly qualified workers with a Portuguese employment contract.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 25 July 2026
Portuguese Student visa
Residence visa for international students enrolled in Portuguese higher education or research programmes.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Family reunification (residence)
Residence authorisation for family members of legal residents in Portugal.
Family sponsor required; no employer sponsor · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Recent Portuguese Republic policy changes
·significant
Portugal changes family-reunification sponsor conditions and decision deadlines
Law 61/2025 introduced residence-authorisation waiting conditions, specified family exceptions and a nine-month decision deadline. The amended provisions apply to procedures started from the law’s entry into force; earlier pending cases require a separate check.
·material
Portugal establishes remote-work residence-visa documentation rules
Decree-Regulation 4/2022 set the documentary framework for the remote-work residence visa commonly called D8. This records the 2022 legal change, not a new application checklist or an October 2024 tightening.
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Portuguese Republic have?+
We cover 7 Portuguese Republic visa routes in these categories: general residence, digital nomad, entrepreneur, investor, sponsored work, study, and family. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Portuguese Republic visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
4 of the 7 Portuguese Republic routes we cover are not marked as requiring an employer or family sponsor. 1 family-sponsored route requires a qualifying family sponsor. Check the requirements on each route: sponsorship can involve a family member, employer or educational institution, and does not always mean a job offer.
Which Portuguese Republic visas lead to permanent residence?+
6 of the 7 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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