Highly Qualified Activity Visa (D3)
🇵🇹 Portugal visas · Work
What it is
For professionals in managerial, technical, or highly specialised roles seeking employment or self-employment in Portugal. Leads to permanent residence after 5 years.
Key facts
- Category
- Work
- Duration
- 2-year initial residence permit, renewable. Permanent residence after 5 years.
- Processing time
- Up to 4 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 3 years
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Indirect route
- Dependants
- Yes
- How to apply
- Mixed
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (national visa fee (Order 229/2021))
- EUR 110
- Application fee (exempt from any visa fee)
- EUR 0
Key requirements
- Job offer or employment contract from a Portuguese employer
- Higher education degree or at least 5 years of documented specialised experience
- Salary of at least EUR 1,800 per month
- Health insurance covering Portugal
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
Working on this visa
HQ/teaching/cultural work via contract, invite or certified-company term (Art 61(1), 90(1)); EU Blue Card (121-A) is separate; Art 59 inapplicable (61(4)). Art 61-A employee variant: 6-mo contract at 1.5x avg gross salary or 3x IAS.
Bringing family
Family can apply with the applicant (Art 58(5)). The 2-year sponsor rule is waived for family of Art 90 permit holders (Art 98(3)(c)); family = spouse, minor/dependent children, dependent ascendants (Art 99).
Money you must show
Min-wage scale; 12-mo cover; waivable if host ensures
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 27 July 2026.