International service provider in Portugal

Conditions

1. Business visitors for establishment purposes (BVEPs)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

If you are a national of a country, whose nationals are exempt from the requirement to be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the EU Members, for stays of no more than 90 days, in any 180-day period according to regulation (EU) 2018/1806, you can enter Portugal without a visa.

For stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period, you need to obtain a short-stay visa valid for the Schengen area.

For stays of over 90 days, please refer to other categories below.

Work permit requirements

You do not need to apply for a work permit for stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period.

For stays of over 90 days, please refer to the other categories below.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

The general requirements for a short-stay Schengen visa apply. Please note that depending on the country where you submit your visa application, a harmonised documentation list may be in force. 

For further information please refer to this page. 

Where and how to file an application

All visas, including short-term visas for nationals of countries subject to a visa obligation, must be applied for in the Portuguese Diplomatic Representation or through an external service provider (ESP) in the applicant’s country of usual residence or in the country within the consular jurisdiction of their residence area. For short-term visas, please refer to this page.

Application fees and indicative processing time

Visa fees for processing a short-term visa application are the following: 

• General fee: 90€
• Reduced fee: 45€ (children over 6 and under 12 years of age)
• Visa fee applied under an implementing decision adopted by the Council to certain nationalities: Gambia – 120€.

The reduced fee is applicable to the following countries with which the European Union has facilitation agreements:

• Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Belarus (partial suspension), Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia (suspended), Serbia and Ukraine - 35€
• Cabo Verde
  • Adults – 67,50€
  • Children between 12-18 years – 33,75€
  • Children up to 12 years - exempt from paying visa fee.

Exemptions to the short-term visa fee:

• Children under the age of six (at the date of submission of visa application);
• Students and teachers/professors traveling for training or study purposes;
• Researchers traveling for scientific research purposes;
• Representatives of non-profit organisations under 25 years of age attending seminars, conferences, cultural/sport events, organised by non-profit organisations;
• Family members of EU Member States nationals, EEA countries, Swiss nationals, and family members of UK nationals under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Applications must be submitted no more than six months and no later than 15 days before the start of the intended visit. In cases of justified urgency, applications may be accepted within 15 days of the intended visit.

Decisions on visa applications should be made within 15 days from the date the application is deemed admissible. In exceptional cases requiring further scrutiny, this period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 days.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

Short-term visas have a maximum validity of 90 days in each 180-day period, allowing for one, two or multiple entries.

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

Any request for extension of a short-stay visa must comply with the requirements stipulated by Schengen legislation. Extension requests must be submitted to AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum).

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

Accompanying dependents need to apply for their own short-term visa.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

Applicants can appeal refusal to grant a visa, in compliance with Portuguese domestic law. The available options are:

• Complain to the author of the act, within 15 days of this notification at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Appeal hierarchically, within three months after this notification, to the member of the Government responsible for the area of Foreign Affairs, at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Initiate administrative action to challenge acts, within three months after this notification, at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle.

The referred options are not mutually exclusive. As such, the applicant can appeal to the Minister and, depending on the results of such appeal, continue towards litigation.

The applicant can also appeal the decision and bring an action simultaneously to the administrative court, without waiting for the results of the appeal.

For the administrative costs of handling each appeal procedure, a fee of 75 € is due for the use of administrative guarantee, to contest a visa applications decision, except for applications resulting from authorisations for family reunification.

For more information, please see this page. 

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

Please see this page.

2. Short-term business visitors (STBV)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

If you are a national of a country, whose nationals are exempt from the requirement to be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the EU Members, for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, according to regulation (EU) 2018/1806, you can enter Portugal without a visa.

For stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period, you need to obtain a short-stay visa valid for the Schengen area. 

For stays of over 90 days, please refer to other categories below.

Work permit requirements

You do not need to apply for a work permit for stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period. For stays of over 90 days, please refer to the categories below.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

The general requirements for a short-stay Schengen visa apply (same as for Business visitors for establishment purposes).

For further information, please refer to this page.

Where and how to file an application

All visas, including short-term visas for nationals of countries subject to a visa obligation, must be applied for in the Portuguese Diplomatic Representation or through an external service provider (ESP), in the applicant’s country of usual residence or in the country within the consular jurisdiction of their residence area.

For short-term visas, please see this page.

Application fees and indicative processing time

The same visa fees and processing times apply for all short-stay Schengen visas (same as for business visitors for establishment purposes). 

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

Short-term visas have a maximum validity of 90 days in each 180-day period, allowing for one, two or multiple entries. 

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

Any request for extension of a short-stay visa must comply with the requirements stipulated by the Schengen legislation. Extension requests must be submitted to AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum).

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

Accompanying dependents need to apply for their own short-term visa (same as for business visitors for establishment purposes). 

Available review and/or appeal procedures

The same review or appeal procedures apply for all short-stay Schengen visas as the ones described above for business visitors for establishment purposes.

For more information, please refer to this page. 

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

Please see this page. 

3. Contractual service suppliers (CSSS)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

For stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period, please refer to the categories above.

For stays of over 90 days, different types of national visas may apply, depending on two criteria:

• The company to which the services are being provided has its Headquarters or Home Office in Portugal or abroad;
• The length of the stay in Portugal:

Work permit requirements

Both holders of a temporary stay or residence visas can work in Portugal, but only the holder of a residence visa can apply for a temporary residence permit. 

For holders of a residence visa, when issuing the sticker, a date will be specified for submitting the application for a residence permit with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum).

At that date, to be granted a residence permit, applicants must meet the following cumulative requirements:

• Be in possession of a valid residence visa.
• Absence of any fact that, if known by the competent authorities, would prevent the granting of the visa;
• Being in Portugal;
• Demonstrate being in possession of means of subsistence, as defined by Law;
• Accommodation;
• Social security registration, whenever applicable;
• Lack of conviction for a crime that in Portugal is punishable by a custodial sentence lasting more than one year;
• Not being within the period of ban on entry and stay in national territory, following a removal order;
• Lack of indication in the SIS;
• Lack of indication in the SII UCFE for the purposes of refusal of entry and stay or return.

Without prejudice to applicable special provisions, the granting of a residence permit may be refused for reasons of public order, public security, or public health.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

All national visas (temporary and residence) require the following documentation:

• Dully filled form and signed (for minors and incapacitated forms should be signed by the legal guardian);
• Passport or other travel document, valid for an additional 3 months following the duration of the intended stay; photocopy of prior passport and visas;
• Two identical passport photographs, up-to-date and in good condition, allowing proper identification;
• Document certifying the third-country national is in a regular situation when the applicant is from a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested;
• Travel reservation (return ticket), only for temporary stay visa applicants;
• Valid travel medical insurance, covering necessary medical expenses, including emergency assistance and repatriation;
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the applicant is residing for over a year (children under the age of 16 are exempt from producing a criminal record);
• Proof of means of subsistence as stipulated by law (the base is the annual minimum wage);
• Proof of subsistence means can be made through a statement of responsibility, signed by a Portuguese national or by a foreign national legally resident in Portugal.

Additional documents for minors:

• When minors are not travelling with both parents, or are travelling with a third person, a travel authorisation of one or both parents respectively, is required, or a court order;
• Copy of the parent’s identity card.

Depending on the intended purpose, the following documentation is also required:

Temporary Stay (less than one year)

1. Temporary stay visa for self-employment

• Work contract or service agreement in the framework of independent and temporary work activity;
• When applicable, a statement issued by the competent institution verifying compliance with necessary professional requisites, when the referred profession is subject to special qualification in Portugal;
• For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the means derived from a contract or promise of employment contract must be considered;
• Proof of means of subsistence can be done through a term of responsibility with a recognised signature issued by the workers' reception entity.

2. Temporary stay visa in the framework of transfer of nationals to state parties to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for service providing or professional training purposes

• Document certifying that the transfer:
  • is occurring within the same company or corporate group, and that the host institution is providing similar services to those provided by the institution from which the third-country national is being transferred;
  • or is referring to partners or workers, that have been in that institution for at least one year, based in another state party to the WTO falling under one of the following categories:
    • partners or workers in a managerial position working as senior staff and perform executive administration tasks, under the guidance of the board of administration;
    • partners or workers with the necessary technical skills to the delivery of the referred activity, research equipment, as well as technical and managerial skills;
    • partners or workers due to get professional training in Portugal.

3. Temporary stay visa for periods of over 3 months, pursuant to WTO obligations or those arising from conventions and international agreements to which Portugal is a state party

In the framework of international commitments related to free movement of services, the following documents are necessary:

• Service agreement contract between the third-country national and the final consumer;
• Certificate of technical qualification for the delivery of the referred service.

Residence visa (more than 1 year)

1. Residence Visa for Self-Employment

• Contract or written service provider proposal for liberal professions; and,
• If applicable, a declaration by competent authorities certifying professional competence for the referred activity.

2. Residence Visa for Immigrants living on own income

• Detailed proof of income, such as:
  • Remote worker – Declaration authorising or stating the possibility of remote work and income value;
  • Other types of income – Documental proof with specified origin and amount of said income. 

Where and how to file an application

All visas must be applied for in the Portuguese Diplomatic Representation or through an external service provider (ESP) in the applicant’s country of usual residence or in the country within the consular jurisdiction of their residence area.

For temporary stay and residence visas, please refer to this page.

Application fees and indicative processing time

Visa fees for processing a long-term visa application (residence or temporary stay) are 90€.

The deadline to decide on a resident visa application, except in circumstance stipulated by law, is 60 days.

The deadline to decide on a temporary stay visa application is 30 days.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

A residence visa is issued for 120 days with 2 entries. It allows its holder to request a residence permit valid for 2 years (multiple entries) and renewable for another 3 years (multiple entries).

A temporary stay visa is valid from 91 days to 365 days, according to the applicants’ documentation and needs. This visa has multiple entries.

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

National legislation also provides for the possibility of extending temporary stay visas and renewing residence permits.

In the case of temporary stay visas, extension requests must be submitted to AIMA.

In the case of renewals of residence permits, if it is not possible to renew online, the request must be submitted at the IRN – National Registry Institute. 

Renew Residence Permits 

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

The legislation provides that applicants for a national visa (residence or temporary stay) can simultaneously submit their family members' visa applications so that they can travel together.

For that they will have to apply for visa for accompanying family member applying for a residence/temporary visa. 

The family members must present, additionally to the above-mentioned documentation (common to all national visas), proof of:

• Family ties;
• Availability of stable and regular means, enough to cover the needs of the residency visa applicant and the accompanying relatives during the required period of stay or for the period of 12 months, whatever is lesser, under the provisions laid out on the nº 2 of article 2 of Ordinance nº 1563/2007, of 11 December.

For this purpose, family members are:

• The spouse;
• Underage children or incapable persons under care of the couple or of one spouse;
• Minors adopted by the applicant when unmarried, by the applicant or spouse, as per decision of the competent authority of the country of origin, on condition that the country’s laws attribute to the adopted children identical rights and duties akin to natural parenthood and that the decision be recognised in Portugal;
• Adult children, dependent on the couple or on one spouse, single and that study in a teaching establishment in Portugal;
• Underage children, under the care of the couple, or of one spouse, that are single and study, if the holder of the right to family reunion is the bearer of a residence permit issued under the article 90.º-A;
• The ascendants in direct line and in first degree of the resident or of his/her spouse if they are under their care;
• Underage siblings, if they are dependent of the resident, as declared by a decision of the competent authority of the country of origin and that the decision be recognised in Portugal;
• The partner, in Portugal or in other country, with whom the foreign resident citizen has a civil union, duly proven under the law;
• Unmarried children, under aged or incapable, including adopted children of the partner in the civil union, if they are legally under the protection of the partner.

Note:

These visas are not intended for family members of legal residents in Portugal. 

Family members of foreign citizens legally residing in Portugal must only apply for a Family Reunification visa, after the family reunification is granted to legal resident by AIMA.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

Applicants can appeal refusal to grant a visa, in compliance with Portuguese domestic law. The available options are:

• Complain to the author of the act, within 15 days of this notification at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Appeal hierarchically, within three months after this notification, to the member of the Government responsible for the area of Foreign Affairs, at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Initiate administrative action to challenge acts, within three months after this notification, at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle.

The referred options are not mutually exclusive. As such, the applicant can appeal to the Minister and, depending on the results of such appeal, continue towards litigation.

The applicant can also appeal the decision and bring an action simultaneously to the administrative court, without waiting for the results of the appeal.

For the administrative costs of handling each appeal procedure, a fee of 75 € is due for the use of administrative guarantee, to contest a visa applications decision, except for applications resulting from authorisations for family reunification.

More information is available here. 

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

Please see this page.

4. Independent Professionals (IPs)

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

For stays of 90 days or less within a 180-day period, please refer to the categories above.

Depending on the length of the stay, the independent professional requires a Temporary Stay Visa for Self-Employment (less than a year) or a Residence Visa for Self-Employment (more than a year). 

Work permit requirements

Both holders of a temporary stay or residence visas can work in Portugal, but only the holder of a residence visa can apply for a temporary residence permit. 

For holders of a residence visa, when issuing the sticker, a date will be specified for submitting the application for a residence permit with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum).

The same criteria apply as for Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS), please refer to section C above.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

All national visas (temporary and residence) require the following documentation: 

• Dully filled form and signed (for minors and incapacitated forms should be signed by the legal guardian);
• Passport or other travel document, valid for an additional 3 months following the duration of the intended stay; photocopy of prior passport and visas;
• Two identical passport photographs, up-to-date and in good condition, allowing proper identification;
• Document certifying the third-country national is in a regular situation when the applicant is from a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested;
• Travel reservation (return ticket), only for temporary stay visa applicants;
• Valid travel medical insurance, covering necessary medical expenses, including emergency assistance and repatriation;
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the applicant is residing for over a year (children under the age of 16 are exempt from producing a criminal record);
• Proof of means of subsistence as stipulated by law (the base is the annual minimum wage);
• Proof of subsistence means can be made through a statement of responsibility, signed by a Portuguese national or by a foreign national legally resident in Portugal.

Additional documents for minors:

• When minors are not travelling with both parents, or are travelling with a third person, a travel authorisation of one or both parents respectively, is required, or a court order;
• Copy of the parent’s identity card. 

Depending on the intended purpose, the following documentation is also required:

Temporary Stay visa (less than one year) for Self-employment

• Work contract or service agreement in the framework of independent and temporary work activity;
• When applicable, a statement issued by the competent institution verifying compliance with necessary professional requisites, when the referred profession is subject to special qualification in Portugal;
• For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the means derived from a contract or promise of employment contract must be considered;
• Proof of means of subsistence can be done through a term of responsibility with a recognised signature issued by the workers' reception entity.

Residence visa (more than 1 year) for Self-Employment

• Contract or written service provider proposal for liberal professions; and,
• If applicable, a declaration by competent authorities certifying professional competence for the referred activity.

Where and how to file an application

All visas must be applied for in the Portuguese Diplomatic Representation or through an external service provider (ESP) in the applicant’s country of usual residence or in the country within the consular jurisdiction of their residence area.

For temporary stay and residence visas, please refer to this page. 

Application fees and indicative processing time

Visa fees for processing a long-term visa application (residence or temporary stay) are 90€.

The deadline to decide on a resident visa application, except in circumstance stipulated by law, is 60 days.

The deadline to decide on a temporary stay visa application is 30 days.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

A residence visa is issued for 120 days with 2 entries. It allows its holder to request a residence permit valid for 2 years (multiple entries) and renewable for another 3 years (multiple entries).

A temporary stay visa is valid from 91 days to 365 days, according to the applicants’ documentation and needs. This visa has multiple entries.

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

National legislation also provides for the possibility of extending temporary stay visas and renewing residence permits.

In the case of temporary stay visas, extension requests must be submitted to AIMA.

In the case of renewals of residence permits, if it is not possible to renew online, the request must be submitted at the IRN – National Registry Institute. 

Renew Residence Permits

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

The same criteria apply as for Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS), please refer to section C above.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

Applicants can appeal refusal to grant a visa, in compliance with Portuguese domestic law. The available options are:

• Complain to the author of the act, within 15 days of this notification at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Appeal hierarchically, within three months after this notification, to the member of the Government responsible for the area of Foreign Affairs, at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Initiate administrative action to challenge acts, within three months after this notification, at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle.

The referred options are not mutually exclusive. As such, the applicant can appeal to the Minister and, depending on the results of such appeal, continue towards litigation.

The applicant can also appeal the decision and bring an action simultaneously to the administrative court, without waiting for the results of the appeal.

For the administrative costs of handling each appeal procedure, a fee of 75 € is due for the use of administrative guarantee, to contest a visa applications decision, except for applications resulting from authorisations for family reunification.

More information is available here. 

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

Please refer to this page.

5. Investors

Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay

An investor requires a Residence Visa for Immigrant Entrepreneurs or under the Start-Up Visa Program.

Work permit requirements

The holder of a residence visa can apply for a temporary residence permit. When issuing the visa sticker, a date will be specified for submitting the application for a residence permit with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum).

The same criteria apply as for Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS), please refer to section C above.

Documentation required and conditions to be met

All national visas (temporary and residence) require the following documentation: 

• Dully filled form and signed (for minors and incapacitated forms should be signed by the legal guardian);
• Passport or other travel document, valid for an additional 3 months following the duration of the intended stay; photocopy of prior passport and visas;
• Two identical passport photographs, up-to-date and in good condition, allowing proper identification;
• Document certifying the third-country national is in a regular situation when the applicant is from a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested;
• Travel reservation (return ticket), only for temporary stay visa applicants;
• Valid travel medical insurance, covering necessary medical expenses, including emergency assistance and repatriation;
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where the applicant is residing for over a year (children under the age of 16 are exempt from producing a criminal record);
• Proof of means of subsistence as stipulated by law (the base is the annual minimum wage);
• Proof of subsistence means can be made through a statement of responsibility, signed by a Portuguese national or by a foreign national legally resident in Portugal.

Additional documents for minors:

• When minors are not travelling with both parents, or are travelling with a third person, a travel authorisation of one or both parents respectively, is required, or a court order;
• Copy of the parent’s identity card. 

Depending on the type of Visa, the following documentation is also required:

1. Residence Visa for Immigrant Entrepreneurs

• Investment operations executed;
• Proof of financial means available in Portugal, including those obtained through a financial institution in Portugal, and proof, by any means, of intention to invest in Portuguese territory.

2. Startup Visa Program

• Declaration issued by the Agency for Competition and Innovation (IAPMEI), certifying the signing of an incubation contract with a certified incubator, in accordance with Article 6 of Normative Order n.º 4/2018 of the Minister of Economy, of 2 February that regulates the «Startup Visa» Program;
• For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the funds arising from a contract or promise of an employment contract must be considered;
• Proof of means of subsistence can be provided through a term of responsibility with a recognised signature issued by the entity hosting workers.

Where and how to file an application

All visas must be applied for in the Portuguese Diplomatic Representation or through an external service provider (ESP) in the applicant’s country of usual residence or in the country within the consular jurisdiction of their residence area.

For residence visas, please refer to this page.

Application fees and indicative processing time

Visa fees for processing a long-term visa application (residence or temporary stay) are 90€.

The deadline to decide on a resident visa application, except in circumstance stipulated by law, is 60 days.

The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation

A residence visa is issued for 120 days with 2 entries. It allows its holder to request a residence permit valid for 2 years (multiple entries) and renewable for another 3 years (multiple entries).

Conditions for any available extensions or renewal

In the case of renewals of residence permits, if it is not possible to renew online, the request must be submitted at the IRN – National Registry Institute.

Renew Residence Permits

Rules regarding accompanying dependents

The same criteria apply as for Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS), please refer to section C above.

Available review and/or appeal procedures

Applicants can appeal refusal to grant a visa, in compliance with Portuguese domestic law. The available options are:

• Complain to the author of the act, within 15 days of this notification at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Appeal hierarchically, within three months after this notification, to the member of the Government responsible for the area of Foreign Affairs, at the Consular Post/Consular Section;
• Initiate administrative action to challenge acts, within three months after this notification, at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle.

The referred options are not mutually exclusive. As such, the applicant can appeal to the Minister and, depending on the results of such appeal, continue towards litigation.

The applicant can also appeal the decision and bring an action simultaneously to the administrative court, without waiting for the results of the appeal.

For the administrative costs of handling each appeal procedure, a fee of 75 € is due for the use of administrative guarantee, to contest a visa applications decision, except for applications resulting from authorisations for family reunification.

More information is available here.

Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons

Please see this page.