D3 Visa Portugal – For Highly Qualified Professionals

D3 Visa – Residence for Highly Qualified Professionals

📌 What it is The D3 Visa is a residence permit designed for:

• Employees engaged in highly qualified activities

• Master’s students admitted to Portuguese institutions

• Researchers collaborating with research centers recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science

• University professors or lecturers in high-value disciplines

It is particularly aimed at professionals of high value in the IT and Digital sectors, with employment contracts in Portugal.

🛂 How to Apply Applications must be submitted in the applicant’s country of origin, at the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy. If no Portuguese consular office exists, the application should be filed at the consulate with jurisdiction over that country.

📑 Requirements

For teaching, cultural, or highly qualified activities:

• Employment contract, job offer, or service agreement

• Invitation letter from an educational or vocational training institution

• Responsibility statement issued by a certified company

• Invitation letter from a government-recognized cultural entity

• Invitation letter from a research center

For highly qualified employment as a subordinate worker:

• Valid contract of at least 1 year, with annual salary of at least 1.5 times the national gross average wage or 3 times the IAS

• For regulated professions: proof of professional qualifications in accordance with Law No. 9/2009

• For non-regulated professions: proof of qualifications appropriate to the sector or activity

⏳ Duration and Renewals

• The D3 Visa is valid for 2 years

• Renewable for successive periods of 3 years

• After 5 years of legal residence, permanent residency may be requested

• After 6 years, Portuguese nationality may be applied for through naturalization

✅ Conclusion The D3 Visa is a solid pathway for those wishing to work, research, or teach in Portugal. It is designed to attract highly qualified international talent, offering benefits such as long-term residence, family reunification, and eventual access to European citizenship.