Portugal’s D1 visa is the main residence-visa route for many non-EU workers who already have a job in the country. For applicants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Asian countries, the key point is simple: you normally need a genuine Portuguese employment offer or contract before applying.
As of 23 October 2026, the application is made from outside Portugal through the Portuguese consular authority responsible for your area. After arriving with the D1 visa, the applicant must complete the residence-permit process with AIMA.
What is the Portugal D1 visa?
The D1 visa is a Portuguese residence visa for people coming to Portugal to work as an employee.
Portuguese immigration law says a residence visa for subordinate professional activity can be issued to eligible third-country nationals who have a work contract, promise of a work contract, or, in the circumstances provided by law, an individualised expression of interest from an employer.
That means the D1 is not simply a visa for coming to Portugal to search for any job.
If you already have a Portuguese employer ready to hire you, the D1 may be the appropriate route.
Do I need a job before applying?
Yes, in most D1 cases.
The Portuguese Government specifically says that the residence visa for subordinate work depends on a work contract or promise of a work contract, which must be provided when the visa application is prepared in the applicant’s country of origin.
This is especially important for applicants being offered jobs in sectors such as construction, hotels, restaurants, agriculture, logistics and other manual or service jobs.
A person who wants to come to Portugal first and then look for employment should not automatically apply for a D1; they should check which visa category applies to their situation.
Who can apply?
The Portuguese Government says the residence visa for dependent employment is available to foreign nationals who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and who intend to work in Portugal.
This includes eligible applicants from countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The applicant must still satisfy the full immigration and document requirements.
What documents do you need?
The exact checklist can vary according to the country where you apply, so applicants should always check the instructions of their responsible Portuguese consulate or visa centre.
In general, prepare:
- Valid passport
- Completed national visa application form
- Recent passport photographs
- Portuguese employment contract or promise of employment
- Criminal-record certificate
- Proof of accommodation, where required
- Proof of financial means, where required
- Travel/medical insurance, where required
- Proof of professional qualification, if the job is a regulated profession
- Any required apostille or legalisation of foreign documents
The Portuguese Government confirms that applicants may need to prove they are qualified to perform a profession when that profession is regulated in Portugal.
The employment contract is very important
A D1 application should not be based on a casual WhatsApp job offer or an informal promise from an agent.
The current Portuguese visa documentation states that employment or promissory contracts must contain important information about the employer, employee, job, salary and working conditions and comply with Portuguese labour rules.
Applicants should therefore check the employer and contract carefully before paying anyone for immigration assistance.
How much does the D1 visa cost?
The current legal table of Portuguese consular fees lists €110 for national visa applications.
This amount was established by Portaria n.º 91/2025/1, which changed the previous €90 national-visa fee.
Important: some older Portuguese Government webpages still display €90, so applicants should check the fee actually charged by the consular post at the time of submission.
A visa application centre may also charge a separate service fee.
Where do you apply?
You normally apply through the Portuguese consular post with jurisdiction over your place of residence.
The Portuguese Government specifically advises applicants to consult the competent consular post for the procedure and opening arrangements.
For applicants in countries where Portugal uses an external visa service provider, the submission process may involve that provider.
For applicants in India
The current Portugal visa information for India identifies D1 as the residence visa for subordinate professional activity.
It also contains an important practical rule: D1 and certain work-visa applications have a specific appointment procedure involving the Portuguese Embassy in New Delhi and the employing companies, rather than simply following the ordinary appointment process used for every other visa category.
Indian applicants should therefore follow the latest instructions published for their jurisdiction rather than relying on agents or old social-media videos.
How the D1 process works
The process can be understood in five simple stages:
1. Get a genuine Portuguese job.
You need the employment documentation required for the D1 route. Portuguese law expressly recognises a work contract or promise of a work contract as the basis for this visa.
2. Prepare your documents.
Collect your passport, application form, photographs, employment documents, criminal record and the other documents required by your consular jurisdiction.
3. Submit the visa application.
Apply through the competent Portuguese consulate, embassy or authorised visa centre, according to the rules for your country.
4. Wait for the visa decision.
Portuguese law provides a 60-day period for a decision on a residence-visa application, subject to the applicable legal rules and circumstances.
5. Travel to Portugal and complete the AIMA process.
The D1 visa is not your final residence card. After arriving in Portugal, you must proceed with the AIMA residence-permit application.
How long is the D1 visa valid?
A D1 residence visa is issued for an initial period that allows the holder to enter Portugal and then obtain a residence permit.
The current Portuguese visa documentation states that residence visas are generally valid for 120 days and allow up to two entries for the residence-permit process.
The important deadline is therefore not simply “when can I travel?” but also when must I complete the residence process after arriving?
What happens at AIMA?
After arriving in Portugal, the worker must apply for the residence permit with AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo.
AIMA currently requires, for this D1 route, documents including:
- Valid passport
- Valid residence visa for subordinate employment
- Employer declaration confirming the employment relationship
- Declaration concerning the applicant’s address in Portugal
- Proof of registration with the Portuguese Tax Authority
- Proof of registration with Social Security
The temporary residence authorisation is currently valid for two years from the date of issue and can subsequently be renewed for successive three-year periods, according to AIMA.
Is D1 the same as the job-seeker visa?
No.
The D1 is for people coming to Portugal for subordinate employment, normally with employment documentation already in place.
Portugal has also changed its job-seeker system: the old job-seeker visa stopped being accepted under the previous rules from 23 October 2025, with a new skilled job-seeker route requiring further regulation before becoming available.
Therefore, applicants should be very careful with websites or agents still selling the old Portuguese job-seeker visa as though nothing has changed.
Can an agent guarantee a D1 visa?
No.
A company or agent can help prepare documents or provide immigration services, but no private agent can guarantee that Portugal will approve a visa.
This is particularly important for applicants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, where fake Portuguese job offers and claims of “guaranteed visas” can expose applicants to significant financial loss.
The safest approach is to verify the Portuguese employer, employment contract and official visa procedure before paying large sums to any intermediary.
What applicants should remember
For most D1 applicants, the process comes down to four basic things:
A real job. A valid contract. Correct documents. The correct Portuguese authority.
Do not rely on an old YouTube video, Facebook post or agent’s checklist when the Portuguese Government or the relevant consulate has published newer information.
The bottom line
As of 23 October 2026, the Portugal D1 visa remains a key residence route for non-EU workers who have qualifying employment in Portugal. The process starts in the applicant’s home country and, if the visa is approved, continues in Portugal with AIMA.
For applicants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Asian countries, the most important advice is to secure and verify the job before paying anyone for a visa service.
The Portuguese Government makes clear that the employment route is based on a contract or promise of contract, while AIMA requires proof of the employment relationship when the residence permit is processed.
Always check the latest instructions from the Portuguese consular authority responsible for your country before submitting your application, because document lists, appointment procedures and fees can change.
Bikrant Niure is an immigration analyst and writer, and the founder of PortuGuide and Citizhub—a specialized app tracking Portuguese nationality applications. Based in Portugal since 2018, he translates complex AIMA regulations, visa frameworks, and legal updates into actionable guides for the expat community.