D3 Visa - Portuguese Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Professionals

The D3 visa is an authorization to enter the country for highly qualified professionals who have received a job offer or have already concluded a work contract with a Portuguese employer. The visa entitles the holder to a two-year residence permit.
90.2  – is an article of the immigration code. It legalizes a person with a suitable university degree on the basis of employment with a Portuguese company that needs highly qualified personnel.
To prove that the applicant is a highly qualified specialist, the applicant will need an apostille diploma of higher education and a position in a Portuguese company corresponding to their education. The main requirements:
● it is mandatory to prove higher education or 5-6 years of work experience.
● if the applicant works not by education, show work experience of 5 years and profile courses.
The client can apply for a visa with their family and this is easier than reunification within Portugal.
If the applicant wants to apply with the promise of a contract, to show savings in a personal account (not necessarily Portuguese) of 9120 euros or more is needed.
Within Portugal, the applicant can obtain a residence permit under article 90.2. The list of documents is the same as for a visa. If the client intends to apply internally, their journey starts with making an appointment at the AIMA Migration Office and collecting the documents.

D3 VISA STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Appointment to consulate or VFS Global
We’ll get the appointment for the client to the consulate or VFS Global visa center.

Certificate of no criminal record
All applicants over the age of 16 must provide a certificate of no criminal record from their country of citizenship and any countries where they have lived for more than a year after the age of 16.

Obtaining the Certificate: Depends on the country of residence we or the client request the certificate in paper format from their country, then we will obtain an apostille, translate the certificate into Portuguese, and notarize it by a notary.
It is better to order the document once they get an appointment date and while it is being processed, start gathering other required documents.

Validity: The validity of a certificate is 90 days.

Translation and Notarization: Translation of the certificate into Portuguese and its notarization is needed before submitting it to the consulate or VFS.

Obtaining of the NIF

The first document that applicants for residence in Portugal receive is a Portuguese tax number, known as NIF. They will need it to open a bank account, and sign a long-term rental agreement as well as for enrollment in many educational institutions.
We will obtain the NIF before Clients arrive in Portugal.

Proof of accomodation

To apply for a D3 visa, the Portuguese Consulate is asking for a one-year rental contract in Portugal.
The client may also submit the letter from a guarantor providing them accommodation instead (including their rental contract or property certificate).

Prove your education and work experience

To prove higher education, the applicant must provide an apostille university diploma with a Portuguese translation. Ideally, the client’s current profession should match the earned degree.
If the applicant does not have a higher education degree, they must provide evidence of at least five years of work experience, such as a work history, employment contracts, letters from past employers, etc. However, it is worth noting that in recent months, AIMA has been increasingly refusing to accept documents without a diploma. Therefore, it is advisable to take this requirement seriously.

Work contract or job offer from a Portuguese company

After education, the second main criterion for obtaining a D3 visa as a highly skilled worker is a contract with a Portuguese employer offering a high salary (minimum of 1800 euros NET per month).
It is important to confirm that the profession of the applicant is considered highly skilled. The client can do this by referring to the directory of highly skilled professions in Portugal. It is crucial that the position he will hold in the Portuguese company aligns with their education. In addition to having a contract, if the applicant has already started working, they should also provide the “recibo” (monthly payment slips). Alternatively, it is possible to apply for a D3 visa or residence permit under Article 90.2 with an open Portuguese “Atividade” (recibo verde) and a contract with a Portuguese client, but this option is considered riskier than working directly for a Portuguese company. All other requirements, such as education, work experience, and income as a highly skilled worker, must still be met.

Savings for a D visa

Official requirements do not mention mandatory savings for the main applicant. However, based on experience, if the client applies with a promise of a contract for the client, the applicant will need to show at least €9840 per person. To increase the chances of getting approved for a long-term visa, some applicants aim to show a deposit of €12000 – €16000.
The applicant can show that on any bank account, not necessarily Portuguese. If they are applying with their family, they will need to show half the amount for their spouse (0.5 x €820 x 12 months) and one-third of the amount for each underage child (0.3 x €820 x 12 months). This amount is fixed by law.
Therefore, for example, if the client is applying with their spouse and one child, it is recommended to the client to show a balance of €9840 + €4920 + €2952 = €17712, although the official requirements set a minimum threshold of €7872.

Family documents

Family members must submit documents providing their relationship with the principal applicant. According to Portuguese regulations, such documents as birth certificates and marriage certificates are valid six months after the issue date. This means that the applicant will have to request fresh duplicates and have them apostilled. If this is not possible, ask the Portuguese consulate of the country of the applicant for a certificate that proves the document in their country is issued indefinitely.
Remember that all documents must be apostille and notary translated into Portuguese. If their documents were issued in English, they wouldn’t need to be translated.
If someone has changed their name, they need to provide official evidence.

Health insurance

It is important to note that insurance for a D visa and for a residency permit are two different things.
For a D visa, it is sufficient to obtain standard travel insurance for the duration of 120 days (the length of the visa).
However, for a residency permit, the applicant will need to obtain Portuguese insurance. the client will need to attach it to their application to AIMA. Options include Tranquilidade and Fidelidade, among others, and can cost as low as 8 euros per month. The client may be able to obtain this insurance through their Portuguese bank when opening an account.

Tickets to Portugal

The applicant does not need to purchase actual tickets, only show proof of ticket reservations for the approximate date of their planned arrival in Portugal with a D visa. Typically, it is best to show ticket reservations for a date that is 2,5-3 months after the date of their visa application to the consulate. The exact date on the tickets does not affect the processing speed of their visa application.
Appointment to a consulate or VFS
We will make an appointment at the consulate or VFS. In some countries (for example, in Brazil or USA) the client can send all the documents by mail. Waiting time is around 1-2 months (in some countries waiting times may be longer up to 6 months), and the visa is ready.
If the client applies in person, the applicant needs to arrive 15-20 minutes before the appointment time, at the Portuguese consulate or VFS.
Our lawyers will check that all documents are translated, certified, and required official documents have been apostilled. All translations must be certified by a notary. Also we will make changes to the Questionnaire if the client has changed any information during the preparation of documents.

Prepare passport and photos

● Passport
The applicant needs to provide a valid passport for traveling abroad. The passport must be valid for at least six months after their consulate application.

● Photo
To apply for a D visa, the applicant needs 2 photos that measure 3.5 × 4.5 cm. The images must be in color against a white background. One photo should be attached to the form in the upper right corner, and the other should be included in the package of the applicant documents. On the back of each photo, the client will write their passport number.

Motivation letter

It is not necessary, but it will help to convince the consulate – an essay explaining why they chose Portugal, demonstrating their financial stability, dependability, and plans for the future in Portugal.
Although not required, a well-written motivation letter can positively impact their visa application. In the letter, the client can briefly describe their source of income, reason for choosing Portugal, and future plans.

Come to Portugal and apply in AIMA

Once the visa is granted, the client will be scheduled to visit the AIMA.
The applicant’s D visa will be valid for 120 days and will allow them to enter the EU twice during that time frame.
If their appointment with the AIMA is scheduled after their visa expiration date, don’t worry, they will still be legally in Portugal until their appointment. The most important thing is to arrive while their visa is still valid.
The AIMA fee cost is €170.50, which can be paid by bank card.

At first glance, this entire process may seem complicated, lengthy, and unclear. However, if you reach out to Relyon Relocation, you’ll be pleasantly surprised and can obtain your D3 Visa quickly and at the most affordable price in Europe.