D2 Visa Portugal

Residence visa for independent professional activity or immigrant entrepreneurs

If you wish to launch your own service, invest in a company, or work as a freelancer and you have contracts or a business plan, and seek flexibility in choosing your field — from online services to physical businesses — Portugal offers a special visa designed specifically for individuals earning income from independent professional activity, freelance work, or investments within Portuguese territory.

Main Requirements:

The applicant must be over 18 years of age and earn income in Portugal from registered professional activity or investment, in amounts not less than:

• In 2025: €870 / month or €10.440 / year
• In 2026: €920 / month or €11.040 / year

Required Documents:

• Completed visa application form
• Passport or other travel document valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended return date; copy of passport (biographical data)
• Proof of legal residence status if the applicant is not a citizen of the country where the visa application is submitted; validity must exceed the visa duration
• Two recent passport-type photographs (3.5×4.5 cm)
• Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 per person, covering necessary medical expenses, including emergency care and possible repatriation for the entire visa period in Portugal
• Criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship and any country of residence for over 1 year, with apostille and notarized translation into Portuguese
• Tax residency certificate
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal (rental agreement, property ownership documents, or a declaration of accommodation from a Portuguese citizen who owns the property and can provide it to the applicant) — required for Step 3

Income Verification Documents:

• 9-A. For income from INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY / FREELANCE WORK:

  • A partnership agreement or written service proposal in the field of liberal professions
  • A document issued by a competent authority confirming that you are qualified to carry out independent activity in Portugal (if applicable).

• 9-B. For IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS intending to invest in Portugal:

  • A declaration stating that you have already carried out or intend to carry out an investment operation in Portugal, specifying its nature, value, and duration
    or
  • Proof of financial resources in Portugal, including those resulting from financing obtained from a Portuguese financial institution, and demonstration — by any means — of the intention to carry out an investment operation within Portuguese territory.

Proof of Income:

1. Bank statements dated at the time of application — covering the last 3 months, showing income deposits corresponding to the required limits (€870/month in 2025 / €920/month in 2026).

2. Bank statements showing account balances at the time of application, confirming sufficient funds for subsistence (€10,440 in 2025 / €11,040 in 2026).

* All documents must be apostilled, translated into Portuguese or English, and notarized.

Visa is issued for 4 months. Followed by issuance of a residence permit valid for 2 years, or a 1-year visa without residence permit.

Application Steps:

Step 1. Booking an appointment at the consulate

After collecting all required documents, the appointment is scheduled via the E-Visa portal or by email in countries where separate applications are submitted.

To apply online, the form must be correctly filled out with personal data and documents attached. This visa category allows joint applications with spouse and/or children. In such cases, the monthly income requirement increases. Each family member, including minors, must submit a separate application form and document package.

Step 2. Visit to the consulate

On the scheduled date, the applicant must present original documents and certified translations at the Portuguese consulate or VFS. Processing time is up to 60 days.

Consulates may request additional documents beyond the listed items. Incomplete applications may be rejected. After review, the visa will be approved or denied. In case of unjustified refusal, the applicant has 15 days to appeal.

Step 3. Appointment with AIMA

After receiving the visa (valid for 120 days), the applicant must schedule an appointment with AIMA to submit biometric data and additional documents, after which the residence card will be issued.

Required documents include: a new criminal record certificate, rental agreement in Portugal for at least 12 months, notarized declaration from the property owner, and bank statements for the last 3 months. Additional documents may be requested.

Step 4. Receiving the residence card (Título de residência)

Within 15–90 days after the AIMA appointment, the residence permit card will be mailed or can be collected in person at the AIMA office.

To collect it in person, an additional €25 must be paid at the time of submission.