Highly qualified activity visa to Portugal

Thinking about working in Portugal? You could apply for a D3 visa. Know all about the highly qualified activity visa to Portugal in our latest article.

Article bu Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree

12 08 2023

Read the full in-depth article here

It’s never been just a tourist destination! This stunning country may be home to the most attractive sights in Europe, but there are more reasons why people love it. Most come here with a dream to work and explore opportunities. Well, the highly qualified activity visa to Portugal makes their wildest imaginations come true. 

Visas and residence permits facilitate the legalization of those who want to be part of the Portuguese community. Residents treat new entrants like family, and the growing economy covers the rest of their basic needs. 

For highly qualified professionals, there is a special visa dedicated to them. Heading toward economic growth can never be possible without professionals who know their work well! Check out this article to learn all about the special visa, its perks, and how you can obtain one. Happy reading!

What is the highly qualified activity visa to Portugal?

As the name implies, the highly qualified activity visa to Portugal is a visa for professionals of this level from different areas. Its official name, however, is the D3 Visa, and it is a residence type of visa.

Like many other types of residence visas, it gives you permission to enter Portugal and the right to apply for a residence permit.

With this, you will be able to live in Portugal with the same basic rights as a Portuguese citizen. You can use the public health system and banks and even travel freely through the countries of the Schengen area.

Who can apply for the D3 visa?

The D3 Visa is dedicated to highly qualified professionals. But what exactly is a highly qualified professional? According to Portuguese law on foreigners, highly qualified work is:

“That work whose exercise requires specialized technical skills of an exceptional nature or an adequate qualification for the respective exercise”

Here are some examples:

Information and communication technology Professionals

Management positions such as Directors and Chiefs

Scientific researchers, professors, and PhD students in Portugal

Science, Engineering, and Health professionals

Legal, Social and Cultural Professionals with expertise

For being able to apply for a D3 Visa, the professional must also have an employment contract or a promise with some requirements that we will explain later in this article.

However, saying you are a highly qualified professional isn’t enough. Your visa application will be carefully examined based on the European Commission’s statutory employment criteria. Also, your skill level regarding your profession should be on the 4th level, according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations.

Apply for a D3 visa to Portugal

Do I need a D3 Visa?

The only people who need a visa to enter Portugal are those who do not belong to a European Community country.

In other words, if you are from the United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, United Kingdom, India, and Israel, among others, you need a visa and Residence Permit to live in Portugal.

Don’t worry! The process isn’t tedious, even if you’re not from the Eurozone. Knowing the right information and having the right kind of help from professionals will make the process shorter and easier! 

Keep reading to learn the benefits of and how to obtain a highly qualified visa to Portugal.

What are the benefits of the highly qualified activity visa to Portugal?

The highly qualified activity visa to Portugal categorizes as a residence type of visa. These visas are intended for those who will live in Portugal for more than one year. Among many benefits, we can quote:

You can get a residence permit valid for 1 year and then renew it every 2 years;

The right to free movement through the countries that comprise the European Union and Schengen area;

Possibility of applying for an EU Blue Card after complying with its requirements;

You can bring your family with you through the family regrouping procedure;

Possibility of applying for Portuguese nationality after legally living in the country for more than 5 years.

Let’s not forget the numerous benefits of living in a country with a low cost of living, excellent weather conditions, safety, great healthcare, and educational facilities! The list is super long, and that’s perhaps exactly why highly qualified professionals look to relocate to Portugal in the first place. 

The main municipalities, namely Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, continue to grow and help increase room for more professionals to grow within their respective industries. Tourism continues to be one of the most happening industries, but many more sectors have flourished in the last decade. 

The result? More demand for highly qualified individuals and skilled labour! 

To read all about how to apply for a highly qualified activity visa to Portugal, read the full article here