For Foreign Workers With a Job Offer Already in Hand
D1 Visa Portugal
The D1 is Portugal's work visa for non-EU citizens who already have a job offer or signed contract with a Portuguese company, not for job hunting once you arrive.
WHO IT'S FOR
What the D1 Portugal Visa Category Is
Already Have a Job Offer? This Is Your Route
If a Portuguese company has offered you a position, or you've already signed a contract, the D1 is your route into legal residence. It's officially a residence visa, not a temporary stay visa, which matters because it's built for a stay of more than a year, not a short-term arrangement.
Still Job Hunting? You Need a Different Visa
The D1 doesn't work if you're planning to move to Portugal and look for work once you're here. If that's your situation, our Job Seeker Visa page covers the route that actually applies to you. Applying for the wrong one from the start is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes we see.
THE PROCESS
How the D1 Visa Portugal Process Actually Works
01
It Starts With the Employer, Not With You
This is the part most people get wrong. Before your application can move forward, your employer has to publish the position through the IEFP, Portugal's Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, and wait around 30 days to confirm no qualified Portuguese or EU candidate is available. Only once the IEFP issues a favourable opinion does your side of the process actually begin. Skip this step, or get it wrong, and it's one of the most common reasons D1 applications get refused. We check this with your employer before anything else moves forward.
02
Then Your Consular Application
Once the employer's side is cleared, you book your appointment at the Portuguese consulate in your country of residence, or through VFS Global where that's the designated centre, and submit your visa application in person.
03
Arriving in Portugal and Registering With AIMA
The visa itself gets you into Portugal. Once you're here, you'll need to attend an appointment with AIMA to convert it into your actual residence permit, the document that lets you stay long-term.
ELIGIBILITY
Portugal D1 Visa Requirements
01
A Contract or Job Offer of at Least 12 Months
Either a signed employment contract or a formal promise of contract works, both are accepted equally, as long as the term is 12 months or more, or open-ended. A short-term or trial contract under 12 months won't meet this requirement.
02
Meeting Portugal's Minimum Wage — €920 in 2026
Your contracted salary needs to meet or exceed Portugal's national minimum wage, €920 a month as of 2026.
03
Personal Documents You'll Need
A valid passport with at least three months' validity beyond your planned stay, a clean criminal record certificate, proof of accommodation in Portugal, and proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself.
GOOD TO KNOW
What Changed for Portugal Work Visa Applicants in 2025
The Old Job Seeker Visa No Longer Exists
Under Lei n.º 61/2025, of 22 October, which amended Article 57.º-A of Lei n.º 23/2007, the previous Job Seeker Visa was discontinued from 23 October 2025. Portuguese consulates and VFS Global stopped accepting applications under that route from that date, and all existing appointments were cancelled. If you're planning to come to Portugal to look for work rather than starting with a confirmed offer, that door is currently closed, a replacement visa for qualified job seekers has been announced but still depends on further regulation and isn't available yet.
What Comes Next, If You're Looking for Work Without an Offer
If a confirmed job offer isn't your situation yet, don't assume the D1 is simply on hold until you find one. Book a free consultation and we'll tell you honestly what your options look like right now, rather than waiting on a regulation with no confirmed date.
WHY PONTE
Why Choose Ponte for Your Portugal D1 Visa Application
We Check the Employer's Side First, Not Just Yours
Most guidance online treats the D1 as something that depends entirely on you. It doesn't. We work with you and your employer together, because the IEFP step is where most D1 applications actually fail.
24-Hour Quote Guarantee
Send us your situation and we'll come back with a clear quote within 24 business hours. Our D1 visa service is €1,500.
Free Exploratory Consultation
Not sure if your contract or job offer meets the requirements? Book a free consultation and we'll check it with you.
NEXT STEPS
After Your D1 Visa — Relocation and Registering With AIMA
Getting the visa is the first step, not the last. Once you’re in Portugal, you’ll need your NIF, a bank account, and your AIMA appointment sorted to actually settle in. We handle all of it alongside your visa, not as a separate scramble after you land.
Frequently Asked Questions about the D1 Visa
Can I apply for a D1 visa without a job offer?
No. The D1 requires a signed contract or a formal promise of contract with a Portuguese employer before you apply. If you don't have one yet, a different route applies, and the former Job Seeker Visa is no longer available.
What is the IEFP's role in the D1 visa process?
Before your visa application can proceed, your employer must publish the position through the IEFP and wait around 30 days to confirm no qualified Portuguese or EU candidate is available. Without this step, the application is one of the most common to get refused.
How long does the D1 visa process take?
It depends on your employer's IEFP timeline, then consular appointment availability, then AIMA's processing once you're in Portugal. We give you a realistic estimate based on your specific case rather than a generic figure, since each stage moves at its own pace.
What happened to the Portugal Job Seeker Visa?
The previous version was discontinued on 23 October 2025 under Lei n.º 61/2025. A replacement for qualified job seekers has been announced but isn't available yet, pending further regulation.
Book Your Free Strategy Session for Your D1 Visa Portugal Case
Have a job offer from a Portuguese company? Book a free Strategy Session and we'll walk you and your employer through exactly what's needed.