Portugal work visas (D1, D3 and Tech Visa)

To work in Portugal you need a job contract or offer before you travel. The D1 is for ordinary employment and the D3 for highly qualified workers. The D3 has a key advantage: under the 2025 law your family can join you without a waiting period. The old general job-seeker visa has been replaced by a new one for people with specialised technical skills.

Types of work visa

D3 salary floor

The annual salary must be at least 1.5× the national average gross annual salary or 3× the IAS index (IAS in 2026: €537.13). In priority sectors, 1.2× the average salary or 2× IAS is enough. Applicants usually need a degree or relevant specialist experience.

Tech Visa

With the Tech Visa the Portuguese company, not the applicant, is certified by IAPMEI. The employee usually needs a bachelor's degree (or a shorter degree plus 5 years' experience), must be a non-EU national, and must speak Portuguese, English, Spanish or French.

Qualified job-seeker visa (new)

• The 2025 law abolished the general job-seeker visa and replaced it with a qualified job-seeker visa.
• It is only for people with specialised technical skills, is valid for 120 days and carries an AIMA appointment.
• If you do not find work in that time you must leave Portugal and cannot reapply for 1 year.
• The list of qualifying skills has to be set by a government order; check with us that this visa is open before you plan around it.

Steps

1. Find an employer and sign a contract or offer
2. Translate and legalise your degrees and employment records
3. Apply at the embassy or VFS centre
4. Enter Portugal, give biometrics at AIMA, receive the residence card and register with social security (NISS)

Frequently asked questions

Can I move to Portugal to work without a job offer?

Only if you qualify for the new specialised job-seeker visa; most people need a contract or job offer before they travel.

What is the difference between the D1 and D3?

The D1 covers any employment contract; the D3 is for highly qualified, better-paid jobs, and the holder's family can join without a waiting period.

Can a work visa lead to permanent residence?

Yes. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years of legal residence and citizenship after 10.

Requirements reflect the foreigners law as amended in 2025 and the position in October 2026.