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 · 5 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 23 July 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 23 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 23 July 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 23 July 2026
D3 visa (highly qualified activity)
Residence visa for highly qualified workers with a Portuguese employment contract.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 23 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.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 23 July 2026
Recent Portuguese Republic policy changes
·material
Portugal tightens D8 digital-nomad documentation requirements
AIMA clarified documentation expectations for the D8 digital-nomad visa, standardising how contract income, remote-work arrangements, and minimum income evidence are assessed.
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?+
5 of the 7 Portuguese Republic routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
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.
Find a regulated advisor in Portugal