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Guide: D3 visa for highly skilled professionals 🇵🇹

Move to Portugal with a D3 visa without relying on agencies or overpriced assistance.
This guide is based on consultations with 12 attorneys and an analysis of over 3,000 cases.

~ €550 expenses

Save up to €7K

Simple, handle on your own

~ 3-6 months

Verified by 3 attorneys

About D3 visa

The D3 visa is a visa for highly qualified professionals who have received a job offer or have concluded a work contract with a Portuguese employer. To qualify for this visa, you must hold a higher professional education diploma and an appropriate position in a company in Portugal, and your salary must be at least 1,800 euros per month
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Where to Apply for the D3 Visa:

You can apply for this visa in your country of citizenship or residence (where you have a residence permit or long-term visa).In most countries, apply directly to the Portuguese consulate. However, in some countries, you may need to apply through the VFS Global visa center.To find out the process in your country, contact the Portuguese consulate and ask for information on the current requirements and document list. Some consulates may have have their own specific requirements, despite the general list on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

You can also apply for a high-skilled professional residence permit after arriving in Portugal as a tourist and accepting employment there. The process is similar to that of applying for a D3 visa, except that you apply directly to the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) for consideration and to receive a residence card in Portugal.
However, if you have the option to request a D3 visa before entering the country, we recommend using this method as it is legally more straightforward and familiar.
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Main requirements

You must apply in the country where you hold citizenship or a residency permit.

You can apply with a job-offer or employment contract in a Portuguese company

You must have a university degree and work experience of 5 or more years

If you apply for a D3 visa, your family can apply simultaneously for accompanying visas, but you will need to show more funds.

SEF official requierments

Users statistics

Dozens of applicants applied for a D3 through the platform. Here are some statistics

Higher education

90% of applicants for this visa have higher education.

€550 expenses

Apostilles, certifications and translations

Waiting period: 4-6 months

From collecting documents to moving and getting an ID card

What does a typical process looks like

Preparation of Documents:

You need to gather documents related to your education, work experience,and a job offer or work contract with a Portuguese company

up to 60 days

Visa application:

Submit your application to the consulate or VFS in your country and obtain your visa.

Notes

When your visa is ready consulate will paste it into your passport with date of apply in Portugal.

The visa will be valid for only 4 months with the ability to enter only twice. The SEF filing date is usually 4-5 months from the date of the visa. Yes, it's strange, but that's how it works.

Notes

after 4-5 months

SEF Application:

Upon arrival in Portugal, apply at the SEF. Simply arrive on the designated date and provide the necessary documents. You're almost there!

Notes

There will be a link in your visa with the date, time and address to apply in SEF (immigration service). This is a purely formal procedure; you can relax.

You will need almost the same docs as you applied for a visa; here is a list. And here are instructions on what to expect when you apply in SEF.

Also, sometimes you can call the SEF when you will be in Portugal and try to ask for an earlier appointment.

Notes

2-12 weeks

Wait for Residence Card:

On average, you can expect to wait 2-3 weeks for the arrival of your ID card. However, it may take up to 3 months in some cases.

Step #11: Come to Portugal and apply in SEF

Portugal

€158 cash or card

a few hours

Check-up with an attorney

Your visa is approved!

Once the visa is granted, you will be scheduled to visit the SEF. If you do not have a visit scheduled by the consulate you will need to make an appointment yourself.

Your D visa will be valid for 120 days and will allow you to enter the EU twice during that time frame.

If your appointment with the SEF is scheduled after your visa expiration date, don't worry, you will still be legally in Portugal until your appointment. The most important thing is to arrive while your visa is still valid.

If you are not comfortable with the date assigned to you, you may call the SEF at 217 115 000 to reschedule if there are available slots.

The cost of the SEF fee

The SEF fee cost is €158, which can be paid by bank card.

Get your residence permit card

About two to twelve weeks after your SEF appointment, you will receive an envelope in the mail containing your residence permit card, which will be valid for 2 years..

You can pick up your residence permit card at the SEF

When applying for a residence permit at the SEF office, you may indicate that you will personally retrieve it, which will incur an additional cost of 25 euros.

Learn tips how to apply FROM your country

Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 and Digital nomad visas tips for India

The main points:
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✅ to apply for a D7 visa in India, you will need a Portuguese bank account and a minimum one-year lease registered with Finanças (tax office in Portugal).
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✅ It is recommended to show sufficient funds for 2 years instead of 1.
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The main problems:
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✅ Long waiting times. It can be difficult to secure an appointment for visa application and you may need to wait for 3-6 months after you catch a slot
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✅ After application, processing times can also vary greatly, with some applicants waiting 4-6 months or even longer. And you will leave your passport at the Embassy on the day of application.
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✅ Embassy in New Deli does not reply to emails or phone calls and does not allow visitors without appointments. Consulate in Goa might be slightly more responsive.
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Where to apply
In India the application for the D7 visa is based on the jurisdiction.

✅ If your state of residence (state you have been legally residing in the past 6 months) is Maharashtra, Goa, or the UTs of Daman & Diu or Dadra & Nagar Haveli - apply at the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa.

✅if you belong to Maharashtra, you can also apply with VFS Global in Mumbai and Pune. However, your application will be processed by the consulate in Goa.

✅ If you are from the rest of the states and UTs in the country, you must apply at the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi through VFS Global visa application centres.

✅ VFS Global visa centres are available in 9 big cities in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jalandhar).

✅ Appointments can be booked online or through call centres. It can be difficult to secure an appointment, so it is recommended to check availability multiple times per day and check different centers across the country. Currently, people are booking slots in 3-6 months ahead.

✅ If you apply in Goa, visit the online visa application portal, choose the consular post as the ‘consulate general of Portugal in Goa’, and fill in the rest of the visa online application form with all the relevant details. Choose your required consulate appointment time and date on the same application form.

✅ You can check the Portugal Visa status online by visiting the online portal of the Portuguese embassy and logging in using the username and password provided during application.
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Family
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✅ As of now, spouses need to apply separately. The application form is per individual; it doesn't have space/fields to mention spouse details hence it is to be filled individually.
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✅ Two VFS appointments are required to be booked [same day, consecutive time slots] for submission considering there are two individuals.
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✅ Write personal statement/motivation letter in a way you are complimenting each other and express the interest in moving there as a couple.
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Submit a copy of your marriage certificate, joint bank account statements.
Rent agreement/lease [Portugal] should be in joint names.
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✅ If one spouse is financially dependent on another, the dependent should submit financial portfolio statements of the spouse along with their application, and it is also worth mentioning it in their personal statement or motivation letter.

Tips
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✅ Long waiting times mean that your insurance may expire. Most companies in India offer maximum 6 month long insurances, so opt for the longest available period.

✅ You may need your passport in the waiting period, and it is possible to request it back from the embassy. It is a slow process, and you won’t be able to get it for immediate emergency travel - requests are processed approx. 30 days. Be careful: it’s unclear how regaining your passport back from the embassy for travel may affect the visa application process.

Not clear
if rental contracts with Flatio or cheaper contracts of accommodation services typical for student housing and hotels are eligible. Remember that you’ll need to pay rent while staying in India - sometimes up to a year of rent for a house you can’t use

How to apply in India?

The hardest part is making an appointment to apply, and then waiting sometimes longer than six months.

Consular requirements

Download

Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

Applying from Brazil

The main points:
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✅ As Brazil is a member of CPLP there are some specific features mentioned in CPLP MOBILITY AGREEMENT

CPLP citizens are exempted from presenting:
👉 travel insurance,
👉 means of subsistence,
👉 and return air ticket upon presentation of responsibility term in the following terms:

👉 a) Presentation of a term signed by the host entity for interns or workers, as well as by the organization responsible for student exchange or volunteer programs.

👉 b) Presentation of a term of responsibility, signed by a Portuguese citizen or a foreign citizen, with a residence permit in Portugal, which guarantees food and accommodation for the visa applicant, as well as the replacement of removal costs, in case of irregular stay.

✅ To assume this role of responsibility for the visa applicant, it will be necessary to prove financial means, also in the amount of three times the minimum wage (760€).

✅ The proof can be done through bank balances and income tax declaration of the previous year, preferably. Also the embassy may require proof of the guarantor’s accommodation - their lease contract or property certificate.

✅ The process is very simple. The citizen or resident must fill out a term of responsibility with his/her personal data and send it to the applicant so that he/she can include it in the documentation requesting the visa. Some consulates may require notarisation of the letter, so better prepare it beforehand.
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Note:
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✅ It is not recommended to try to replace D7/D2/DN income proof with a letter from the guarantor. The Embassy will likely consider it insufficient. For D7/D2/DN visas (and Job Seeker visa applicants without guarantors) it is necessary to show the required amount of money on a Portuguese bank account.

✅ Accommodation provided by guarantors is usually well accepted for all visa types, though it depends on individual circumstances.

✅ If you do not have a guarantor, prepare an official rental contract registered with Financas for 1 year, because Airbnb or Booking short-term rentals are no longer accepted.
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How to apply for all types of visas:
In India the application for the D7 visa is based on the jurisdiction.

👉 1. Apply for a visa on the VFS.Global platform.
👉 2. Proceed with the payment of the application fee - which can be via Pix, debit card or bank deposit
👉 3. Forward all the necessary documentation to the nearest consulate to your location by post

✅ Three consulates are in the southeast, in the following locations: Nova Lima, MG; Rio de Janeiro, RJ; São Paulo, SP. There is also one in the northeast, in Salvador, BA, and one in the center-west, in Brasilia, DF. Unfortunately, there is currently no agency in the north or south with an active and operating visa application center.

✅ After submitting the initial application, applicants may be contacted by VFS to provide additional documentation or to attend an appointment at their preferred consulate.

👉 If VFS requests additional documents you may be able to send them via email to VFS and pay their printing fee

👉 VFS often request additional documentation, even if they have already received it in the past. However, it is more efficient to simply resubmit the documents rather than to try to explain any potential mistakes

👉 Keep a fresh criminal record as they may request it again. It should be issued during the last 30 days

👉 The processing time for a response, either approval or denial, currently takes 2-4 months.

✅ VFS will keep the applicant updated through email or SMS on the status of their application. The status will change to "processed by consulate" once VFS has received, checked and sent the applicant's documents to the embassy. The applicant will receive a notification when their passport is ready for collection, but the final result will only be known when they open the package from the embassy to check their passport.

Family
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✅ It is possible to apply for family reunion in Portugal, after the legal entry as a tourist, accompanying the holder of the main visa. Pay attention to the deadline for contacting the SEF: there are only 3 working days after arriving in the country. There is no problem if the service is scheduled for a later date, but initial contact with the SEF must be made within that period.

✅ Alternatively, the request may be sent to the Portuguese Consulate, at the same time that the visa request is made for the main holder. On the VFS website, family companion visas are available in two modalities, depending on the type of digital nomad visa requested: Residence visa for accompanying family members for period over 12 months and Temporary stay visa for accompanying family members for period less than 12 months.

Job seeker visa
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✅ Brazilian citizens also may apply for a Job Seeker residency visa and obtain a residency up to 120 days. By acquiring a position that will give them formal employment, applicants will be able to work until the end of their stay.

✅ Applicants can extend their stay for another 60 days. If the employer wants to keep them on staff, they can apply for permanent residence.

✅ Despite its short duration, a Job seeker visa is a residence visa, so family members may apply simultaneously for accompanying visas.

✅ Job seeker visa requires proof of the availability of financial resources in the amount of at least three times the value of the minimum monthly salary. OR, ALTERNATIVELY: Term of responsibility with a signature certified by a notary public in Portugal, signed by a Portuguese citizen or a qualified foreign citizen, with a residence document in Portugal, which guarantees food and lodging to the visa applicant, as well as the replacement of the removal costs, in case of irregular stay.

SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS
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✅ Declaration indicating the conditions of the intended stay.

✅ Registration with IEFP — must be done online. You must express your interest in registering with the Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP), the Portuguese public employment service, before submitting your visa application. In order to declare your interest in enrolling in the IEFP, you must complete the following form: https://formularios.iefp.pt/index.php/929227?lang=pt‍ After submitting the form, you will receive an extract (by email). It takes around 6 hours to receive it via email.

How to apply in Brazil?

Unlike other countries, in Brazil you can apply by mail and the process is not as complicated.

Consular requirements

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Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 and Digital nomad visas tips fo USA

The main points:
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✅ In the U.S., the method of application varies depending on where you live. Some consulates accept documents directly, and some accept them through VFS visa centers. You can apply only at the consulate to whose area of jurisdiction your permanent residence belongs.
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✅ The way to apply also differs. Usually you need to make an online appointment at the consulate or visa center and then submit the documents in person. However, Boston, for example, requires you to send all electronic versions of your documents first for initial verification and to get an appointment to file in person. Check with your consulate for procedures.

✅ Rental or property purchase agreements must be submitted in Portuguese, as translation is not legally binding according to the law.

✅ It is necessary to show all funds in a bank account in Portugal.

✅ For DN visa you need to show income for the last 3 months and work contracts. For D7 visa you should prove a stable passive income - for example, provide pension certificates or payments from Social Security. For D2/4/6 visas, you need to show the employment contracts, bank statements for the last 6 months and an Income Tax Return (ITR) certificate. It is recommended that you show funds for 2 years of residency, instead of 1 (i.e., the entire term of the residence permit).

✅ For the FBI criminal record certificate, you will need to ask the police for fingerprints. You can request the certificate online or through authorized agencies. Time: 3 to 5 working days, price from $18 to $50. You will need to have the certificate apostilled by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentication or - order a copy by email and a hard copy by mail. If you DO NOT open an envelope with the FBI report mailed to you, you will not need the certification (apostille) from the U.S. Department of State, except for the New York office. U.S. citizens applying from outside the United States will need the certificate apostilled.

✅ Proof of residency for at least 12 months is required (except for some applications with a 6-month lease through Washington, D.C.). This can be a rental agreement, property purchase agreement, proof of residency on Airbnb or similar sites, staying with friends or relatives. If spouses are applying, it is advisable to have them both listed on the contract. If the contract of sale is in process, you will need a Contrato de Promessa de Compra e Venda (CPCV). If the accommodation is provided by the landlord free of charge, a Termo de responsabilidade certificate is drawn up, and the host's signature on the form must be notarized in Portugal. This is not the best option, you have to prove your relationship with the landlord and it reduces the chances of success.

The main problems:
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✅ Processing times vary greatly from consulate to consulate. For example, in New York you can get your visa approved in 4 weeks, but in San Francisco the wait is up to 5 months.
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✅ The requirements vary from consulate to consulate: they may request additional documents at their discretion.
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✅ Once your visa is approved, you will receive an email telling you to send your passport to the consulate to have your visa affixed, along with a pre-paid and signed envelope to send it back. It is very important to check your spam folder and if there is a delay, check with the consulate (perhaps through a lawyer) to see if there is an error in the address. There are cases where people were not able to get their visas for over a year because of a simple error in their email addresses - the consulate itself will not try to contact you and clarify the data if there is no letter from you.
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Where to apply
In USA the application for the Portugese visas is based on the jurisdiction.

✅Boston
AREAS OF JURISDICTION: States of: Maine, Massachusetts (except the area covered by New Bedford), New Hampshire and Vermont
• Use https://www.vistos.mne.pt/pt/ for applications and information. All documents should be uploaded on the site for pre-check, afterwards you will be assigned an appointment
• Consulate often requests copies of all documents
• Requires proof of travel arrangements to Portugal (entering Portugal as your first Schengen Area country)

✅New Bedford
AREAS OF JURISDICTION: Counties of: Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket and Plymouth; Cities of: Acushnet, Dartmouth, New Bedford and Fall River Use https://www.vistos.mne.pt/pt/ for applications and information.

✅New York (Uses VFS Global’s services)
AREAS OF JURISDICTION: States of: Connecticut, Michigan and New York; Territories of American Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Puerto Rico
• You should schedule an appointment and fill in the application form on VFS Global website.
• You should sign a form permitting Portuguese Criminal Records Check
• Consulate may request marriage and birth certificates even for solo applicants
• Correct Consular fee must be paid via Money Order/Banker/Postal/Cashier check payable to "VFS Services USA Inc.”

✅ Newark
AREAS OF JURISDICTION: States of: Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
• Use https://www.vistos.mne.pt/pt/ for applications and information.
• Schedule an appointment on https://newark.consuladoportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/consularmatters/appointments

✅ Providence
AREAS OF JURISDICTION: State of: Rhode Island
• Consulate often requests copies of all documents

✅San Francisco (Uses VFS Global’s services)
AREAS OF JURISDICTION: States of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
• Requires printing out and bringing your visa application form and appointment verification
• Requires that applicants arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the appointment
• Visa application form brought to the in-person interview must have your signature notarized unless you sign it in front of the agent
• Consulate often asks for a “reference” in Portugal
• Requests you complete a Release of Liability for Passport Mailing that they provide at the appointment. It specifies where you want your passport and visa sent, unless you wish to pick it up or aren’t leaving your passport
• Requesting and sometimes requiring that you leave your passport with them until it is stamped. This request isn’t legal.
• The full application package cannot exceed 50 pages
• Often pressures couples to have one person apply, the other follow Family Reunification in Portugal, to reduce their workload. Family reunification is a slightly more complicated process due to expiration of the FBI report and reprinting financial statements.
• Correct Consular fee must be paid via Money Order/Banker/Postal/Cashier check. Applications submitted to the VFS Center in San Francisco need this check payable to "Consulate General of Portugal” or “Embassy of Portugal”.

✅ Washington D.C. (Uses VFS Global’s services)
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If you are a resident of the State of Illinois and need a Schengen Visa to Portugal, you can apply with the Consulate-General of Lithuania in Chicago: https://chicago.mfa.lt/cikaga/en/traveland-residence/coming-to-lithuania/visas/schengen-visas

AREAS OF JURISDICTION: States of: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia.
• You should schedule an appointment and fill in the application form on VFS Global website.
• Correct Consular fee must be paid via Money Order/Banker/Cashier check. For applications submitted to the VFS Center in Washington DC, the Money order/Banker or Cashier check must be payable to “Embassy of Portugal"
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Family
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✅ Each family member must fill out a separate visa application form. Some consulates advise parents of children under the age of 5 not to obtain accompanying visas but to use family reunification option within Portugal.

Tips
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✅ Documents can be submitted in English, Portuguese or French.

✅ A motivation letter is required: However, do not include too much detail; it is detrimental to the consideration. The letter should mention your education, profession, reasons for choosing Portugal (family, friends, business, real estate), income, bank accounts and place of residence. You can include contacts for a landlord or your lawyer in Portugal.

✅ Prepare color notarized copies of your passport if you do not want to leave the original document at the consulate until the visa is pasted. Your passport must be maximum 10 years old and have at least 2 blank pages.

✅ If you are submitting a stamped, return address envelope (SASE) to the U.S. Department of State to return an apostilled FBI report, DO NOT use FedEx, as the Department of State does not work with this carrier and your document will be delayed.

✅ At times consulates require marriage and birth certificates even if the applicant is filing alone and is not requesting family visas.

✅ Consulates in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. sometimes ask for a recommendation from Portugal. The “reference” can be your attorney, landlord, Dean of Admissions, friend, real estate agent, family member, etc., who is a European Union citizen or permanent legal resident in Portugal. Along with the rest of your documents, submit a note with their name, address, phone number, nationality, and enclose a copy of their national ID card or residency card.

Timeframe
waiting time for visa approval can take up to 5 months

How to apply in USA?

Be sure to check particular requirements of thec onsulate in your area. Waiting times and application methods may vary greatly.

Consular requirements

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Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 и Digital nomad визы из стран СНГ

Главные особенности:
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✅ для оформления визы D7 необходимо предоставить банковский счет в Португалии с необходимой суммой накоплений и как минимум годовой контракт аренды жилья.

Для Диджитал Номад визы достаточно показать сбережения на счете любого банка (предпочтительно не российского. Казахстанский или турецкий отлично подойдут)
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✅ Для D7 лучше показывать сбережения на 2года, а не на один, так как именно на этот срок выдается первый ВНЖ. Доход желательно демонстрировать не менее 1000 евро/мес. Подробнее от необходимых суммах на счету можно прочитать в наших гайдах ккаждому типу визы

✅ Для Диджитал Номад визы также стали требовать годовой контракт аренды. Подходят договора с платформы Флатио.
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Главные проблемы:
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✅ Сложно поймать свободное окно на подачу документов. Мы рекомендуем проверять сайт консульства каждый день в полночь по Лиссабону (3 часа по Москве) когда обновляются данные. Вы можете выбрать дату отстоящую не более чем на 180 дней, так как в анкете дата предполагаемого въезда также не может быть далее 6 месяцев впереди.

Позднее будет возможность перезаписаться на более ранние даты, так как консульство время от времени открывает дополнительно освободившиеся слоты.
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Нужно учитывать:
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✅ Необязательно подгружать все актуальные документы при подаче заявки, так как скорее всего все равно придется их обновлять перед подачей.

✅ Необходимо доказать уплату налогов встране резиденства

Сроки: не ожидается значительных задержек, стандартное время обработки до 60 дней

Где подавать заявления на визы гражданам стран СНГ?

Большинство граждан стран СНГ должны подавать заявления на долгосрочные визы в Москве (кроме граждан Молдовы, которые относятся к юрисдикции консульства в Бухаресте)

Consular requirements

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Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 and Digital nomad visas tips for Israel

The main points:
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✅ VFS visa center in Israel recently started to accept documents for DN and D7 visas

✅ No problems reported with appointment scheduling, there are available slots for the next month
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✅ DN visa requires an annual lease or proof of company-provided housing, as well as savings equal to 12 times the minimum monthly income, though it is not stated on their website

✅ Portuguese bank account is not required, but the consulate strongly recommends opening one. You can use your Israeli bank account to show your savings.

✅ All statements should be in English.

✅ Flatio or Uniplaces rental contracts are accepted (no Airbnb)

✅ DN visa requires 3 months of income, employment contract, and company information

✅ Form 106 tax payment statement is required

✅ You will need to write a detailed motivation letter
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The main problems:
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✅VFS website may not have up-to-date information on required documents; contact support for clarification and keep written answers

✅ Passport must be valid for at least 2 years and 3 months; request Teudat Maavar if your Darkon is about to expire (takes 1 month to process)
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Tips
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✅ Israeli bank statement in English requires appointment with bank manager and in-person visit

✅ Israeli certificate of no criminal record takes about 1 month to process; if holidays occur, wait longer. It should be requested on the site (the first link) https://www.gov.il/he/departments/general/police_criminal_information_certificates. The certificate is sent to the consulate, so you will need to retrieve it from there to attach it to the package of your documents.If living in Israel for more than a year, no need for another certificate of criminal record

Timeframe
Processing time for visas is uncertain due to recent opening of VFS center, but no major delays expected

How to apply in Israel?

Apply to VFS and make sure that your Darkon is not about to expire

Consular requirements

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Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 and Digital nomad visas tips for UAE

Main features:
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✅ The documents for visa application in UAE are submitted through VFS global.

✅ You do not need an account in Portugal for DN visa. An account in the UAE is enough, where you have to show the receipts as per the requirements of the particular visa.
You can apply for DN visa 3 months after opening an account in the UAE.

✅ However, for D7 visa, certified account details in Portugal are required.

✅ The VFS website does not have any specific housing requirements for DN visas, but during consultations, they recommend providing at least a short-term rental for 30 days. It is desirable to make a reservation for 4 months, which is the entire period of validity of DN visas.

✅ Bookings on websites such as Booking and Flatio are suitable.

✅ D7 visa requires a long-term lease and a certified contract.

✅ There is no minimum residency requirement before applying for a visa through VFS.

✅ Resident ID must be valid for at least 7 months from the filing date. In addition, if you are submitting your application with your family, all family members must have a Resident ID as well.

✅ A Dubai tax residency document is required, or a letter from VFS counselors stating that it is not required.

✅ A detailed motivation letter is needed with your documents and VFS explanations, for example, showing that VFS asked for a 30-day reservation or stated that it is not required for employees of Dubai companies to prove tax residency.

✅ You need to prepare a certificate of no criminal record from the UAE and have it certified by MOFA, even if you have lived there for less than a year. The details for the certification can be found at https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/Services/attestation)
‍

Main problems:

✅ It can be very difficult to catch the slot for visa application. You often have to check the VFS website every day for months before you can get an appointment. Unfortunately, Portugal buys only a few slots to apply for all types of visas in the UAE. The choice of dates is extremely limited, and it's good if there is any availability in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Unlike in Moscow, you cannot sign up to apply six months in advance.

✅ At the time of application, they often ask for additional documents that are not listed on the VFS website. Therefore, it is recommended to send all questions about your case to VFS via email and keep and print their answers to attach them to your cover letter/motivation letter to convince the manager to accept your application. If you realize that the manager is not quite right, be persistent!

✅ Filing as a family requires booking multiple slots at once, which is often not feasible. If that fails, try requesting a letter from VFS stating that you can apply together for D visas and escorting visas at the same time. However, it's not a guarantee that the consulate will agree to let you in, but it's worth a try.
‍

To keep in mind:
‍
✅ All documents from UAE banks must be wet-stamped. It's recommended to order a certificate of account in advance to ensure that you have the necessary documentation.

✅ All telephone numbers and addresses must be given in the UAE, not in the country of citizenship.

✅ Flatio contracts, work contracts should be certified with live signatures, e.g. via DocuSign to ensure that they are accepted.

✅ It's important to check if the manager forgot to attach your housing reservation - since it is not on the VFS list, this is sometimes overlooked.

✅ They do not take your passport when you apply, they will invite you to paste your visa after it has been approved.

Timeframe:
It is better to set the date of entry at least 2 months from the date of filing to allow for processing time

How to apply in UAE?

Apply through VFS, but it may be difficult to catch an appointment slot

Consular requirements

Download

Last update — 13 Feb. 2022

Based on users and attorneys experience

Main Features:

✅ No need for a Portuguese bank account. An account in Turkey or another EU country that meets the savings requirements for the specific visa is enough.

✅ Short-term housing reservations (2-4 months) are accepted. There are many approved D7 and DN cases with reservations on Airbnb, Booking, and Flatio.

✅ To confirm your income, you need bank statements from any bank (including RU) with regular account receipts for 3-4 months.

✅ Tax information is not necessary.

✅ You can apply for a visa immediately after obtaining a residence permit. There's no minimum residency requirement in Turkey.

The Main Problems:
‍
✅ Email registration is the only option. The website registration doesn't work, so you should send an email to sconsular.ankara@mne.pt.Since August 2022, registration for DN, D7 visas is actually stopped - the consulate does not send the letters and does not provide slots to submit documents. It is not quite clear how long this state of affairs will last. It might help to request a slot for filing documents through a licensed attorney. In some cases the consulate did respond to attorney's letters.

Things to Keep in Mind:
‍
✅ To increase your chances of approval, the recommended savings amount is 12-15k euros per person. If you have income in Russia, it's better to show larger amounts in your account.

✅ Consular fees must be paid in cash (in liras) and are equivalent to ~90 Euros per person. The nearest bank from the embassy is far away, so it's better to bring banknotes.

Standard queestions for an e-mail to consulate —You can speed up communication with the consulate by writing a request and including answers to the standard form:

Passport copies for all

Residency permits in turkey for all

Name and Surname

Nationality

Where do theylive in Turkey or KKTC

What do you do in Turkey or KKTC

Do they have a valid Turkish or KKTC residence permit ?

If yes, what is the exact validity date of the residency? (You need to write the exact date.)

What is the purpose of the visit to Portugal?

10.

For how long are they intended to stay in Portugal?

11.

What are the traveling dates to Portugal?

12.

Will they go to another Schengen countries other than Portugal? If yes, please write to each country´s name and how many days they will stay in?

13.

The relationship between the people ; father, mother ,…

How to apply in Turkey?

You need a residence permit (ikamet) or Turkish citizenship

Consulate in Ankara

Download Ankara list

Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 and Digital nomad visas tips for Serbia

The main points:
‍
✅ To apply for a Portuguese visa, your Serbian/Montenegrin residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months after your expected departure date. I.e. you must submit documents to the consulate eight months before the end of the residence permit.

✅ You can apply for the visa as soon as you receive your local residence permit.You don't need a Portuguese bank account for DN or D7 visas. Accounts from other countries, including Russia, are accepted.

✅ Make sure to show account statements for the past 3 months to prove the money is legitimately yours.

✅ For DN and D7 visas, you can show paid or unpaid reservations for 4 months (the duration of the visa) on booking sites such as Airbnb or Booking. Flatio contracts should be notarized or have a digital signature. (You can use DocuSign service for this). You only need to include the primary applicant on the lease.

✅ For DN it is enough to show 3 months of income, but the consulate may ask for a six-month statement in the course of consideration.

✅ Sole proprietors should attach evidence of payment into the account along with the invoices, even if they have already provided a general bank statement.Employees should ensure their contract allows for remote work, otherwise the application might be declined.

✅ For D7 visas, it's recommended to show at least 6 months of income.

✅ For individual entrepreneurs, a certificate of no tax debt is required.
‍

The main problems:
‍
✅ The consulate can become overloaded and may temporarily stop accepting applications. Currently, they are not accepting DN, D7, and Schengen visas until April 1st.
‍

Tips
‍
✅ To sign up for submission via email, send scans of all documents with proper translations and apostilles to visas.belgrado@mne.pt. It takes about 10 days to check them, and if everything is in order, a personal visit will be scheduled within about a week.
The list of required documents on the website includes a request to the SEF, but the form there is not up to date. There is no point in filling it out because they will give you another one on the spot.

✅ Although the website does not mention a letter of motivation, they will ask for it when you apply.

✅ The fee for a resident visa is 90 euros, payable in cash in dinars.

✅ Bring copies of all original documents to the consulate.

✅ All translations must be in English or Portuguese and completed by a court interpreter in Serbia.

Timeframe
Approval for a visa can take up to 2 months.

How to apply in Serbia?

Consulate may stop accepting submissions from time to time in order to deal with received documents.

Consular requirements

Download

Last update — 13 Feb. 2023

D7 and Digital nomad visas tips for Iran

Check our local guides:
‍
✅ Digital Nomad Visa

✅D7 visa for passive income guide

✅D2 business visa guide

✅D3 visa for highly qualified professionals

✅Family reunification

✅Startup visa
‍
✅Residence if you have a 14-y old child
‍

How to apply in Iran?

We prepared comprehensive guides in your language!

Consular requirements

Download

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