Portugal Article 90.2 for highly skilled professionals

90.2 article for highly qualified employees who have received a job offer or an employment contract with a Portuguese company valid for at least one year. This article presupposes entry into Portugal with a Schengen visa and further legalization.

3000.0+

successfully applied for a visa with our guides

Main requirements About visa Get residence with Migrun Documents checklist 👉 Step-by-step guide

Get a slot in AIMA

Certificate of no criminal record

Get your NIF

NISS

Proof of accommodation

Proof of high qualification

Employment contract

Proof of income and savings

Visit AIMA

Experts and attoneys Reviews

Summary Snapshot

Requirements

Higher education or 5-6 years of experience
Salary at least €2,300
Savings at least €11,040 (if applying with the promise of a contract)
Long-term contract with a Portuguese employer
Legal entry and presence

Apply with Migrun

FAQ about article 90.2

Turnaround time:

2-6 months

Residence length:

2 years with possibility of extension

Citizenship:

after 10 years of residence

Expenses for preparing:

up to €200 for translation and apostille

Possibility to work:

you have to sign a contract with a Portuguese company

Family:

can join after you get a residence permit under article 90.2

Verified by experts

Creators

‍90.2 — is an article of the Portugal skilled 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 you are a highly qualified specialist, you will need an apostilled diploma of higher education and a position in a Portuguese company corresponding to your education. The salary must be at least 1.5 times of Portugal's median salary. In 2026, €2,300 per month or more.

The main requirements:

👉 It is mandatory to prove higher education or 5-6 years of work experience.
👉 If you don't have a degree, you can show work experience of 5 years, and profile courses.
👉 After you receive your residency card you can do a family reunification within Portugal.

💡 If you're applying with the promise of a contract, you'll likely need to show savings from a personal account (not necessarily Portuguese) of €11,040 or more.

1/5

Are you currently located in Portugal?

Yes No

Get 90.2 residency with Migrun

You have access to a detailed guide with all the instructions for submitting your application

Creation of a user account with personal tracker

Pre-application documents package proofreading

Help me choose a package

Step-by-step guide

90.2 article application in AIMA

Proof of "legal entry"
International passport
Police criminal record
NIF (tax number) and NISS (social security number)
Rental contract
Proof of education and work experience in area of expertise
Work contract with Portuguese employer
Health insurance

Step

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: Request the certificate in paper format from your country, then obtain an apostille, translate the certificate into Portuguese, and have it notarized by a notary.

⏳ It is better to order the document as soon as possible and while it is being processed, start gathering other required documents.

‍Validity: The validity of a certificate is 90 days. If you have a criminal record, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a lawyer. The type of offense and the length of time since the conviction may impact the decision regarding your visa.

‍Translation and Notarization: Remember to translate the certificate into Portuguese and have it notarized before submitting it to the consulate or VFS.

Step

Get your NIF

The first document that residency applicants receive is a Portuguese tax number, known as NIF. You will need it to open a bank account, sign a long-term rental agreement, and to enroll in many educational institutions.

You can obtain it either remotely before arriving in Portugal, or in person at a Finanças office by making an appointment (which is free of charge).

💡 You can go to Finanças and apply for a NIF in your own name (or the name of your child), which will be a simplified version without a representative. You can open a bank account and rent property, but you cannot open self-employement or conduct any other active tax work. If you open a NIF with a representative, it will be a standard NIF for non-residents with full functions. If you open a NIF yourself and later want to open a sole proprietorship, you will need to add a representative in any case.

Step

Get your NISS

This is a Social Security Number (NISS). You will need it if you are employed by a Portuguese company or if you are self-employed and need to pay social security taxes on your self-employment activity.

👉 You can order on your own at the social service website.
‍Here's how to request NISS by yourself. Takes about 4 weeks.

👉 You can also call Seguranca Social at 210 548 888 or 300 088 888 and schedule an appointment for the "NISS na Hora" service.
You can choose a city or ask for the closest available day anywhere in Portugal. The service is free and during your short visit, you will receive your NISS. Be sure to bring copies of all your documents, including your passport, NIF, self-employment activity documentation, job contract, and rental contract.

Step

Proof of accommodation

To apply for a DN/D7 visa, many consulates are asking for a one-year rental contract in Portugal. For a D2/ D3 visa short-term accommodation might be acceptable.

💡 However, the official requirements listed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal's website indicate only a 4-month contract for the duration of the visa.

To ensure that you have the most up-to-date information, we advise that you contact the Portuguese consulate in your country before beginning the document collection process. In some countries even short-term Airbnb reservations are acceptable, while in others they require receipts from Financas proving that the lease is officially registered by the landlord. In CPLP countries you may submit the letter from a guarantor providing you accommodation instead. Don’t forget to include their rental contract or property certificate.

Pink building with balconies and a cafe terrace in Portugal

Documents to rent an apartment:

👉 Documents for Landlords
Prepare your income tax returns, contracts, and a motivation letter (preferably in Portuguese) explaining why you want to live there and how you plan to cover the expenses.

👉 You may be asked to provide a guarantor
Some landlords may require a guarantor who resides and works in Portugal (usually asking for a tax return). If you don't have a guarantor, you can sometimes address this by offering to pay several months' rent in advance or multiple deposits (equivalent to one month's rent) at once.

👉 The agent's services are free for the tenant, with the landlord covering the costs. However, there are instances where agents might be reluctant to cooperate if they need to share the commission with your agent. Therefore, we recommend offering the agent an extra commission so they can convince other agents. Also, ask the landlord to register the contract with the Finanças (tax office). Registering the contract is crucial, as staying illegally can lead to significant issues for both parties.

👉 A NIF (Tax Identification Number) and a bank account are required to sign a rental contract: Any bank that allows you to transfer money to the landlord will suffice for rent payments. Naturally, a Portuguese bank is the more reliable option. If you are unable to open a bank account yet, you can visit a bank branch and make cash payments for the rent and deposit through the operator.

Step

Prove your education and work experience

To prove higher education, you must provide an apostilled university diploma with a Portuguese translation. Ideally, your current profession should match the earned degree.

If you do not have a higher education degree, you 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.

Step

Work contract or job offer from a Portuguese company

After education, the second main requirement for a highly skilled worker is a contract with a Portuguese employer offering a high salary (minimum of €2,300 per month).

It is important to confirm that your profession is considered highly skilled. You can do this by referring to the directory of highly skilled professions in Portugal. It is crucial that the position you will hold in the Portuguese company aligns with your education. In addition to having a contract, if you have already started working, you should also provide the "recibo" (don't forget to sign it!). 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.

🔥Talk to a professional attorney or assistant. Get advice, reduce risks and feel safe.

We believe you can handle the Portugal 90.2 residence process on your own — but if you need support, our trusted professionals are here to help. We carefully select immigration attorneys and consultants with proven experience in handling cases. Write to us for expert guidance and learn the actual cost of applying for a Portugal residence permit under 90.2 article.

We verify all experts

Only with proven experience, references, and reviews

Discussion about your specific case

No abstract requirements. Your data is safe: account data is protected

Victoria provides personalized guidance on visa selection, document requirements, and legalization from within Portugal. Benefit from her personal experience and learn about working as an individual entrepreneur

Anna has extensive knowledge of immigration services. She provides consultations and assistance with immigration cases involving D7 passive income, Digital Nomad, student visas, and family reunification.

Daniela as a lawyer, executive analyst has high expertise in writing legal reports, mediation in private disputes, legal consultancy, and family and immigration matters. If you are thinking about moving to Portugal, wait no more!

After moving to Portugal, I'm very aware of all the challenges that can be encountered along the way. I understand how important it is to have support and confidence that the nuances of bureaucracy will not make the move difficult

100+

A global database of immigration professionals and lawyers

Choose an expert

15.000+ users work with our guides and platform

Read all testimonials →

Relocation made affordable, transparent and easy

Migrun is the greatest service for relocation – I have received my residence permit in Spain as a digital nomad in less than 1.5 months – from initiation to approval. The best thing about Migrun – they have many affordable solutions combined with lots of free guides, so you get the best value for your money. Plus you never feel pressured to pay more than you really need. Which is truly the mission of the company – to make relocation affordable, transparent and easy. Special thanks to Irina D. for helping with my case and questions! Looking forward to work with the Migrun team further. Many thanks!

Date of experience: August 02, 2023

Alex Ovechkin

🇪🇸 ES

Immigration service with emphatic and fair approach

My immigration to Portugal wouldn't happen if not for Migrun. First, they have a LOT of free guides of how to collect documents for different visas and residency types + a great chat with a lot of immigrants sharing their experience. A year ago it was a very simple website and a chat of a couple thousands - now an extensive platform and a family of useful chats on Portugal the largest being 10K people. I have collected all documents for D7 visa with their help for free.Later I changed my mind and decided to apply for residency as highly-qualified professional from inside of Portugal and did so with a great help of Migrun. Today I have received my residency card.Business with emphatic approach - unlike many other immigration services who just try to rip you off using your lack of knowledge.All people in Migrun have always been friendly, honest and trying to do their best.

Date of experience: July 31, 2023

Daria Gakova

🇵🇹 PT

Portugal Article 90.2 for highly skilled professionals

Summary Snapshot

Requirements

FAQ about article 90.2

Verified by experts

The main requirements:

1/5

Are you currently located in Portugal?

2/5

Do you have an employment contract or a job offer from a Portuguese employer?

3/5

Is your income under this contract €2,300 per month or more?

4/5

Do you have a higher education degree relevant to the position in the Portuguese company, or can you prove 5–6 years of professional experience in this field?

5/5

Can you show savings on your bank account of at least €11,040?

🎉 Great! You perfectly fit the requirements

🎉 Great! You perfectly fit the requirements

😔 Unfortunately, at the moment you don’t meet the requirements

Step-by-step guide

90.2 article application in AIMA

🔥Talk to a professional attorney or assistant. Get advice, reduce risks and feel safe.

15.000+ users work with our guides and platform