How does D3 Visa work in Portugal, and who qualifies?

The D3 visa is for highly qualified non-EU professionals who have a job offer in Portugal. It is the route for roles such as scientists, engineers, IT specialists, senior managers and teachers, and depending on salary and qualifications the resulting residence permit may take the form of the EU Blue Card.

To qualify you generally need a valid employment contract or binding job offer for a highly qualified role, a higher-education qualification or recognised equivalent professional qualification, and a salary meeting the applicable threshold for highly qualified work or the Blue Card. You will also need proof of accommodation and health insurance. As usual, you apply for the visa at a consulate or VFS and then apply for the residence permit with AIMA after arrival, with the visa decision due within around 60 days.

Because the salary threshold and the Blue Card option depend on your specific role, it is worth checking which form best suits you. ACME can review your offer and qualifications against the highly qualified and Blue Card criteria, and we suggest confirming the current thresholds on vistos.mne.gov.pt before applying.