Which Portuguese visa do I need?

Since Brexit, British citizens are “third-country nationals” in Portugal. You can visit for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa, but to live there you need a residence visa from the consulate and then a residence permit from AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency.

How it works

You apply for a residence visa at the Portuguese consulate before you go (in the UK, through VFS Global). A residence visa allows two entries and lasts 4 months. In that time you must apply to AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, which replaced the old SEF in October 2023) for a residence permit (autorização de residência). The legal deadline for the consulate to decide a residence visa is 60 days; temporary stay visas, for less than a year, take up to 30 days.

The main routes at a glance

Working for a Portuguese employer

For an ordinary job you need a work contract, a promise of a contract or a statement of interest, plus a professional certificate if the job is regulated in Portugal. For highly qualified work, the consulate accepts a contract, an invitation from a university or research centre, or a statement from a company certified under the Tech Visa programme. The EU Blue Card needs a contract of at least 6 months paying at least 1.5 times Portugal’s average gross annual salary (1.2 times for jobs on the shortage list). Ask your employer for the current threshold See Is my Portuguese job offer a good one?

D7: pensions and passive income

The D7 is for retirees and people living on income from property, investments or intellectual property. You show a document with your pension amount, or proof of the passive income. Means of subsistence are tied to the minimum wage, which is €920 a month in 2026: 100% for the first adult, 50% (€460, about £390) for each extra adult and 30% (€276, about £235) for each child, normally for 12 months. These are minimums; consulates can ask for more evidence. See How do pensions work in Portugal?

D8: digital nomads

• Employees show a work contract or a letter from the employer; freelancers show a company contract, service contracts or proof of services to clients
• Your average monthly income over the last 3 months must be at least 4 times the minimum wage: €3,680 in 2026
• You also show where you are tax resident. There is a temporary stay version for less than a year and a residence version
• The visa is for work for employers or clients outside Portugal. The law sets no percentage limit on Portuguese clients, unlike Spain’s 20%; if you plan to take clients in Portugal, ask AIMA or an immigration lawyer first
• See Can I freelance or start a side business? for tax and social security once you are there

Entrepreneurs, students and family

• Entrepreneur (D2): evidence of investment made or planned, and funds available in Portugal. The Startup Visa needs an incubation contract with a certified incubator, confirmed by IAPMEI
• Students: proof of admission and means. Students admitted to a recognised higher education institution can be exempt from showing health insurance and means
• Partners and children can apply as accompanying family members alongside you, with proof of your relationship and enough money for everyone
• Family reunification is for relatives joining a resident later. Since Law 61/2025 (22 October 2025) the resident usually needs 2 years of legal residence first, with exceptions including minor children and holders of highly qualified and Blue Card permits. AIMA has up to 9 months to decide; after approval the family member has 90 days to apply for the visa

The golden visa now

Residence through buying property, property funds and the €1.5 million capital transfer ended in October 2023. The scheme itself continues. The main routes left are a €500,000 investment in regulated Portuguese investment funds with no property exposure (about £424,000), €500,000 for scientific research, €250,000 for culture or heritage (€200,000 in low-density areas), or setting up a company with €500,000 and 5 jobs, or creating 10 jobs. Investments are held for at least 5 years and can lose value. Get independent legal and financial advice.

Fees and where to apply

Portugal has consulates in London and Manchester. If you live in the London consulate’s area you apply at the VFS centre in London; if you’re in the Manchester consulate’s area, at VFS in Manchester or Edinburgh. VFS’s UK page still shows some older visa fees alongside the €110, so confirm when you book. Fees for the residence permit itself are set by AIMA; check them when you book. Budget the whole move with the moving fund calculator.

AIMA after you arrive

AIMA has struggled with backlogs since it took over from SEF: it inherited about 327,000 pending residence applications in October 2023, and by 7 January 2026 about 124,793 court cases against it were pending, many over delays to permits and renewals. Bring up-to-date documents to your appointment, keep every receipt, and plan around waits with the moving timeline. You must carry your residence document. Temporary residence cards are renewed every 2 to 3 years, and after 5 years you can apply for permanent residence.

Citizenship: the 2026 law

Organic Law 1/2026 came into force on 19 May 2026. Naturalisation now needs 10 years of legal residence for most nationalities, including British citizens (7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking countries), counted from the date your first residence permit is issued, not from your application. Applications filed before 19 May 2026 are assessed under the old 5-year rules. The regulation that sets out the new Portuguese language and civics test was due within 90 days but had not been published by September 2026, so check with the registry office (IRN) before you plan an application. Portugal recognises dual citizenship with the UK. See How do we get permanent residence and citizenship?

The 90/180 rule, EES and ETIAS

• Visits to any Schengen country in the previous 180 days count towards your 90. Overstaying can lead to a ban of up to 3 years. Time on a Portuguese residence card or long-stay visa doesn’t count
• The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) began on 12 October 2025 and has replaced passport stamping since 10 April 2026. It records your fingerprints and photo; the record lasts 3 years
• British residents with a biometric Portuguese residence card don’t register in EES. Carry the card with your passport
• ETIAS, an online travel permit for visa-free visitors, isn’t running yet; the EU had aimed for the last quarter of 2026, but later reports suggest 2027. Check the official ETIAS site before you travel. It will cost €20

If you lived in Portugal before 2021

If you moved to Portugal before 1 January 2021 and have lived there legally since, you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement and should hold a Withdrawal Agreement residence card. If you don’t have one, email AIMA at brexit@aima.gov.pt with proof of your residence. After 5 years you can apply for a permanent card valid for 10 years.