Portugal D1 Visa (Subordinate Work / Dependent Employment Visa)
Portugal PRT
The D1 visa is Portugal's standard national visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals taking up dependent (subordinate) employment with a Portuguese employer under a formal contract or binding job offer. Unlike the highly-qualified D3 visa, the D1 has no advanced-skill requirement -- it covers ordinary salaried roles in sectors such as hospitality, agriculture, construction, and services, provided the employer is registered with Social Security and pay meets or exceeds the national minimum wage. Applicants apply at a Portuguese consulate, then convert this into a residence permit through AIMA, the agency that replaced SEF in 2023. Portugal's 2025 nationality law reform raised the residency period required before naturalization from five years to ten (seven for CPLP nationals), though permanent residency remains available after five years.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Work
- Processing Time
- 6 months
- Application Fee
- $180
- Minimum Income
- $11,500/mo
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Spouse/partner and dependent children can apply for family reunification, either alongside the primary applicant or once the primary applicant holds a valid residence permit
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 10 years
- Physical Presence
- Must maintain Portugal as habitual residence; long or frequent absences can interrupt the legal residence period required for permanent residency and naturalization.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Individuals present 183+ days per year, or who maintain a habitual home in Portugal, become Portuguese tax residents taxed on worldwide income under progressive IRS rates; the former NHR regime closed to new entrants in 2024 and was replaced by the narrower IFICI ('NHR 2.0') scheme for qualifying scientific, research, and innovation roles.
- Renewal Cost
- $180
The job offer must pay at least the Portuguese national minimum wage (Retribuicao Minima Mensal Garantida, RMMG), which is reviewed annually by the government; sector-specific collective bargaining agreements may set higher floors. The figure shown is an approximate USD equivalent of the current annualized minimum wage.
Application Timeline
Apply
6mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 10 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Signed employment contract or formal promise of contract with a Portugal-based employer registered with Portuguese Social Security
- ✓Offered salary at or above the current national minimum wage (RMMG), or the applicable collective agreement minimum
- ✓Valid passport with at least the minimum required remaining validity
- ✓Clean criminal record certificate from country of residence, apostilled and translated into Portuguese
- ✓Proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental agreement or property deed)
- ✓Private health insurance valid in Portugal until enrollment in the national health system
- ✓Portuguese NIF (tax identification number), typically obtained before or during the application
- ✓Employer confirmation of job vacancy registration where required by Portuguese labour authorities
Am I eligible for Portugal D1 Visa (Subordinate Work / Dependent Employment Visa)?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
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Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $11,500/month.
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This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need this visa, as they have free movement and work rights under EU law
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Secure a Portuguese job offer and employment contract
home countryObtain a signed employment contract or legally binding promise of contract from an employer registered with Portuguese Social Security, specifying role, salary, and start date.
Typical duration: Varies, typically 1-6 months of job search
- 02
Obtain NIF and gather supporting documents
home countryApply for a Portuguese NIF via a tax representative or in person, and compile passport, criminal record, proof of accommodation, and health insurance documents.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
- 03
Book and attend consulate appointment
home countrySchedule an appointment at the Portuguese consulate with jurisdiction over the applicant's residence and submit the national visa (D1) application with fees and biometrics.
Typical duration: Appointment wait 4-16 weeks
- 04
Consulate and AIMA review and visa issuance
home countryThe consulate, in coordination with AIMA, reviews the file; if approved, a 4-month single or multiple-entry national visa is issued.
Typical duration: 60-90 days
- 05
Travel to Portugal within the visa validity window
destinationEnter Portugal before the D1 visa expires, using it to establish initial lawful presence.
Typical duration: Within 4 months of visa issuance
- 06
Attend AIMA appointment for residence permit
destinationAttend a scheduled AIMA appointment for biometrics and issuance of the temporary residence permit card, typically valid for an initial 2-year period.
Typical duration: 8-24 weeks depending on backlog
- 07
Renew residence permit and build residency toward PR/citizenship
destinationRenew the residence permit as required, generally every 2-3 years, while continuing lawful employment and accumulating time toward permanent residency and citizenship eligibility.
Typical duration: Ongoing
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠AIMA appointment backlogs have at times stretched residence-card issuance well beyond official processing targets, leaving newly arrived workers in a legal limbo period
- ⚠The D1 visa is tied to a specific employer and role; changing jobs generally requires notifying AIMA and may require a new authorization depending on circumstances
- ⚠Portugal's 2025 nationality law reform extended the general residency requirement for naturalization from 5 to 10 years (7 years for CPLP/Portuguese-speaking country nationals); applicants should confirm the current rule with a Portuguese immigration lawyer given ongoing implementation clarifications
- ⚠The former NHR tax regime closed to new applicants at the start of 2024; most D1 holders in ordinary salaried roles will not qualify for the narrower IFICI replacement, which targets scientific, research, and innovation roles
- ⚠Minimum wage compliance is checked against gross salary; underpaid or informally structured job offers are a common reason for refusal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the D1 visa the same as Portugal's Golden Visa?+
No. The D1 is a standard employment-based national visa requiring an actual job with a Portuguese employer. The Golden Visa is an investment-based residency route with no employment requirement; the two have different eligibility criteria, costs, and processing tracks.
Can D1 visa holders switch employers?+
Yes, but it typically requires notifying AIMA of the change and, depending on the specifics of the case, may require an updated or new work authorization tied to the new employer and role.
How long does it take to become a Portuguese citizen on a D1 visa?+
Following Portugal's 2025 nationality law reform, most non-CPLP applicants must accumulate 10 years of legal residence before applying for naturalization, up from the previous 5-year standard (7 years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking/CPLP countries). Permanent residency remains available after 5 years.
Does the D1 visa require a minimum salary?+
Yes. The job offer must pay at least the Portuguese national minimum wage (RMMG), set and reviewed annually by the government, or a higher amount if a relevant collective bargaining agreement applies to the sector.
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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