PortugalNational visa for obtaining a residence permit (employment)

D1 employment visa in Portugal

A national visa for foreign nationals who have obtained an employment contract or a letter of offer from a Portuguese employer. It is issued for four months and for two entries to the country, for the purpose of requesting a residence permit from AIMA. It gives the right to work as an employee only for the specific employer named in the contract. The financial requirements are calculated from the guaranteed minimum income and depend on the make-up of the family.

Source: Portal Diplomático MNE — Vistos Nacionais, Documentação instrutória: Residência

Who can apply

The visa is intended for third-country nationals ready to start work as employees in Portugal. The main requirement is an employment arrangement with a Portuguese firm.

Main candidates

Professionals with the qualifications the Portuguese employer requires
Workers with experience in regulated professions (medicine, law, engineering)
Staff transferred within an international company

Conditions to be met

A signed employment contract or a letter of intent from the employer
Compliance with the professional qualification requirements (where the profession is regulated)
Documentary evidence of means of subsistence under the MNE criteria

Support from the employer

A letter from the company stating the position, the salary and the term of the employment contract
The employer's registration in the Portuguese registers (checked by the consulate)
The employer may accept written responsibility for maintaining the worker, where the worker's own means are insufficient

When the programme is not a fit

You are looking for work but the contract has not been signed yet

Obtain a job-search visa (Visto para procura de trabalho) — three months with the right to look for work

You want to work for several employers at once

The D1 visa is tied to a specific contract; changing it requires a new visa or a re-registration

Your profession requires a licence and the licence has not been obtained

First have your diploma recognised and obtain the professional licence from the Portuguese authorities

You are an EU or EFTA national

EU/EFTA nationals have other, simplified procedures; a direct employment contract is enough

What it costs

State fee for processing the visa (consular fee)A fixed amount, paid once when the application is filed	110 EUR
Financial support for one adult (monthly figure)The minimum means of subsistence per month in line with the RMMG	920 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1 030 EUR

Paid separately

Relocation and accommodation costs — Not part of the state fee; paid separately by the applicant or the sponsor
Additional consular charges — Some consulates may charge regional fees; check with the embassy or consulate general in your country

Documents to gather

Prepare originals or notarially certified copies of all documents. Every foreign document must carry a Hague Convention (1961) apostille.

The visa application on the prescribed form, completed and signed
A valid passport (at least three months' validity beyond the planned stay)
Two recent colour photographs measuring 35×45 mm
A criminal record certificate with a Hague Convention apostille
An employment contract signed by both parties, or a letter of promise from the employer stating the position, the salary and the term of the contract
Evidence of qualifications (diploma, certificate, recognition certificate, if the profession requires a licence)
Evidence of means of subsistence: a bank statement, the employment contract, a salary certificate, a letter from the employer guaranteeing the worker's maintenance (where applicable)
A valid medical insurance policy covering the costs of emergency medical care
A certificate that there is no ban on entry to Portugal (where required)

How the process runs

The process has two main stages: obtaining the national visa at the consulate in your country, and then arranging the residence permit in Portugal.

1
Preparing and collecting the documents for the consulate
2-4 weeks
Collect every required document from the list. Check your consulate's requirements, as they can differ slightly. Make sure foreign documents carry an apostille and translations into Portuguese (where required).
2
Filing the visa application at the consulate
1 day
Bring the full set of documents, pay the consular fee (110 euros) and give biometric data (fingerprints, photograph). The consulate will issue a receipt of acceptance.
3
Consideration of the application by the consulate
60 days
The consulate checks the documents and contacts the employer and the Portuguese authorities. The standard processing time is 60 days. In some cases an interview is required.
4
Receiving the national visa at the consulate
1 day
Once the application is approved, the consulate invites you to collect the passport with the visa. The visa is valid for four months and allows two entries to Portugal.
5
Entering Portugal and arranging the residence permit with AIMA
2-4 weeks
Once in Portugal, you have to apply to a local branch of AIMA (the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) within the four months the visa is valid to request the título de residência (residence permit). Bring further documents if required.
6
Issue of the residence permit
2-6 weeks after applying to AIMA
AIMA arranges the autorização de residência (residence permit) for one year, renewable for three years. After that you receive the resident card (cartão de residente) and can work lawfully.

Timelines and rights

Work

It gives the right to work as an employee for a Portuguese employer.

Who you can bring with you

The applicant's spouse and minor children can be included in the visa application or file a separate one. The financial requirements rise with the make-up of the family.

Spouse (a third-country national)

May be included in your application or file a separate one based on the family tie. The financial figure rises by 50% of the RMMG (in 2026, a further 460 euros a month). A marriage certificate with an apostille is required.

Children (under 18, minor dependants)

Included in the application with documents (birth certificates, a school record). For each child the financial figure rises by 30% of the RMMG (in 2026, a further 276 euros a month each). Children receive their own visas and residence permits.

Dependent adult children (over 18, fully maintained)

Sometimes recognised where full financial and material dependence is evidenced. For each such dependant the financial figure also rises by 30% of the RMMG. Evidence of dependence is required (a university certificate, a medical certificate of disability and so on).

Trips, renewal and the grace period

After entry the status is arranged as a residence permit (autorização de residência) with AIMA.

The residence permit (autorização de residência) is issued for one year to begin with. Once that period ends you can apply to AIMA for renewal. The first renewal is usually granted for three years, and so on. Renewal requires documents evidencing that the reason for the stay (work) still holds and that you still meet the financial criteria. Changing employer requires a re-registration or a notification to AIMA.

Frequently asked questions about D1 employment visa

What happens if the consulate refuses the visa?

The consulate issues a letter setting out the grounds for refusal (usually failure to meet the financial requirements, doubts about the authenticity of the contract, or a criminal record). You can put right the shortcomings identified and file a new application. Filing again is chargeable (another fee of 110 euros).

Can I work for several employers on a D1 visa?

No. The D1 national visa is tied to the specific employment contract named in the application. Working for another employer requires a new visa or authorisation. If you want to change employer, you have to apply to AIMA and register the new contract, or file an application for a new visa.

What minimum income is required in 2026?

The guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG) in 2026 is 920 euros net (before social insurance contributions are deducted). For a family the calculation uses coefficients: 100% for the first adult, 50% for each further adult and 30% for each child under 18 or adult dependant. For example, a family of two adults and one child must have 1,656 euros a month.

What should I do if my passport is lost or stolen in Portugal?

Contact your country's consulate in Portugal at once and report the loss. The consulate will issue a temporary document for returning home or for re-issuing the passport. If the passport was stolen, also report it to the local police so that a record is made. For continuing your stay in Portugal, the temporary document issued by the consulate is recognised by AIMA.

Other ways to move to Portugal

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Portugal.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.