Portuguese Immigration Law
A clear guide to the visa routes that allow you to work and live in Portugal, the two-stage consular and AIMA procedure, and the legal articles that govern each route under Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Act).
Quick Answer
To work in Portugal you generally need a residence visa from a Portuguese consulate before you travel, then a residence permit from AIMA. The old shortcut of entering as a tourist and regularising later was abolished in 2024 and closed again by Law 61/2025. The main routes are D1 (employees), D2 (freelancers and entrepreneurs), D3 (highly qualified), EU Blue Card, D8 (remote work) and the skilled job seeker visa.
Decree-Law n.º 37-A/2024 repealed the exceptional procedure that let foreigners enter on a tourist or Schengen visa and regularise work under Article 88(2) (employees) and Article 89(2) (self-employed). Law n.º 61/2025, in force since 23 October 2025, confirms that the appropriate visa must be obtained in the country of origin before travelling. Employees and entrepreneurs must secure a consular residence visa before entering Portugal.
Visa directory
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Trabalho Subordinado
For people with a signed employment contract or a formal promise of contract (promessa de contrato de trabalho) with an employer registered in Portugal.
Imigrantes Empreendedores / Trabalho Independente
For freelancers who provide services to Portuguese entities, and entrepreneurs who start a business with economic, social, scientific or cultural relevance.
Atividade Altamente Qualificada
For executives, researchers, specialised engineers, medical professionals and graduates in high-level roles.
Cartão Azul UE
An EU residence and work title for highly qualified workers, with mobility rights between EU member states. It requires recognised higher qualifications or equivalent senior experience and a qualifying contract.
Trabalho Remoto
For employees of non-Portuguese companies and independent professionals serving clients outside Portugal. Available as a temporary stay or a residence visa.
IAPMEI-certified tracks
Startup Visa: for foreign innovators whose projects are incubated by IAPMEI-certified bodies.
Tech Visa: a faster hiring route for pre-certified Portuguese technology companies.
Visto para Procura de Trabalho Qualificado
Lets qualified professionals enter Portugal to look for work in person. Law 61/2025 replaced the former generic job seeker visa with this skilled version.
Acordo de Mobilidade da CPLP
A simplified route for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries: Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste. AIMA's prior opinion is no longer required for their residence visas.
Legal framework
The Foreigners Act (Regime Jurídico de Entrada, Permanência, Saída e Afastamento de Estrangeiros) works in two stages: a consular entry visa, followed by the AIMA residence title.
| Route | Consular visa | AIMA residence permit | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1 Employment | Art. 59.º | Art. 88.º, n.º 1 | Portuguese employment contract or binding promise of contract. |
| D2 Freelance / entrepreneur | Art. 60.º | Art. 89.º, n.º 1 | Business plan, incorporation or service contract, with qualifications where required. |
| D3 Highly qualified | Art. 61.º-A | Issued by AIMA | Higher qualifications, specialised skills and a high salary threshold. |
| D8 Remote work | Art. 61.º-B | Issued by AIMA | Remote work for employers or clients outside Portugal, with sufficient income. |
| Skilled job seeker | Art. 57.º-A | Converts to a residence route on signing a contract | 120 days plus 60 days; conditions set by ministerial order. |
Other routes, including the EU Blue Card, Tech and Startup visas and the CPLP agreement, follow their own provisions and certification rules. Article numbers should be checked against the current consolidated text.
What changed
Step by step
Obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF), open a Portuguese bank account, and secure your employment contract, promise of contract or company documents.
Apply at the Portuguese consulate or its authorised application centre in your country of residence, with proof of accommodation, a criminal record certificate and your qualifying contract.
You receive a residence visa valid for two entries, with a four-month stay to apply to AIMA for your residence permit.
Attend AIMA for biometrics, present your Social Security number (NISS) and receive the Título de Residência.
FAQ
No. Decree-Law 37-A/2024 abolished the manifestação de interesse procedure, and Law 61/2025, in force since 23 October 2025, ended regularisation after entering as a tourist. You must obtain the appropriate visa from a Portuguese consulate in your country of residence before travelling.
The main routes are the D1 for employees, the D2 for freelancers and entrepreneurs, the D3 for highly qualified activity, the EU Blue Card, the D8 for remote work for foreign employers or clients, and the skilled job seeker visa. Startup and Tech Visa tracks use IAPMEI-certified bodies and companies.
It has two stages. First you obtain a residence visa from the consulate, which is valid for two entries and gives a four-month stay. Then you attend AIMA in Portugal for biometrics and the residence permit.
Applicants generally need remote income of at least four times the Portuguese minimum monthly wage, from employment or clients based outside Portugal. Confirm the current figure when you apply, because the minimum wage changes each year.
Law 61/2025 replaced the generic job seeker visa with a skilled job seeker visa. It is granted for 120 days, extendable by 60 days, with a single entry. The detailed requirements are set by ministerial order, so check the current rules before applying.
Under Law 61/2025, AIMA generally has nine months to decide residence applications, which can be extended in exceptional cases. Actual timings vary, so ask us about current practice.
CPLP nationals benefit from the CPLP mobility framework, and AIMA's prior opinion is no longer required for their residence visas. They also lost the old regularisation route after tourist entry, so a visa before travelling is now needed.
Immigration lawyers in Lisbon
A refused or badly prepared application costs time and money. We assess your profile, choose the route and prepare your file for the consulate and AIMA.
This page gives general information on Portuguese immigration law as of October 2026 and is not legal advice. Requirements, thresholds and article references change, so confirm them against the current legislation and AIMA guidance for your case. Related pages: residence permits · D7 visa · work visa · Portuguese citizenship.
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