The visa name is the second question.

Stronger starting point when

People establishing residence around pension or other stable own income rather than remote employment.

Material rule

The means-of-subsistence framework uses the national minimum monthly wage as a reference. In 2026 the first-adult reference is €920/month; the nature, continuity and evidence of the income still matter.

What we assess

Income structure, household size, filing jurisdiction, accommodation strategy and the sequence from visa to residence.

Stronger starting point when

Employees and independent professionals living in Portugal while working remotely for employers or clients outside Portugal.

Material rule

For the residence-visa route, the income test is linked to four times the Portuguese minimum monthly wage. With the 2026 reference of €920, that is €3,680/month.

What we assess

Employment or service structure, remote-work evidence, income history, tax-residence questions and family timing.

Stronger starting point when

Non-EU nationals taking up dependent employment with a Portuguese employer.

Material rule

A qualifying employment contract or promise of employment can support the route. There is no universal rule that every D1 case must start with a 12-month employment contract.

What we assess

Employment documentation, filing jurisdiction, family plan and the residence stage after arrival.

Stronger starting point when

Founders, entrepreneurs and independent professionals establishing genuine economic activity connected to Portugal.

Material rule

There is no universal statutory €50,000 or €100,000 minimum investment for the ordinary D2 route. The activity, evidence and financial position need to make sense together.

What we assess

Business or service model, contracts, Portuguese setup needs, financial evidence and whether another founder or specialist route fits better.

Stronger starting point when

Professionals entering qualifying academic, technical, specialist or highly qualified employment.

Material rule

D3, Tech Visa and the EU Blue Card are not interchangeable. Employer status, qualification, remuneration and contract structure can change the route.

What we assess

Role, employer, qualifications, remuneration and which legal framework actually fits the position.

Stronger starting point when

Qualifying non-EU investors who want Portuguese residence with a low physical-presence model.

Material rule

The current ARI framework includes qualifying job-creation, research, cultural, non-real-estate collective-investment and specified company-capitalisation routes. Real-estate acquisition is not itself a qualifying ARI investment.

What we assess

Qualifying investment category, source and transfer of funds, family structure, compliance and the separate long-term residence or nationality questions.

Stronger starting point when

Families moving with a principal applicant, joining a resident sponsor or using a separate EU-family framework.

Material rule

“Family reunification” is not one universal process. The right framework depends on when the family applies, the sponsor’s status and nationality, and whether the move is temporary or for residence.

What we assess

Principal status, family relationship, timing, waiting-period rules or exceptions, financial means and accommodation.

Stronger starting point when

EU citizens relocating to Portugal and qualifying EU or non-EU family members.

Material rule

EU free movement follows a separate framework from Portuguese national residence visas. CRUE is only one document within that framework, not a catch-all term for every EU residence status.

What we assess

EU residence basis, family relationship, entry status, registration/card route and permanent-residence planning.

Stronger starting point when

Highly qualified third-country professionals recruited through a Portuguese company certified under the Tech Visa programme.

Material rule

Tech Visa is employer-dependent: the Portuguese company must be certified. The worker-side framework includes qualification, contract and indexed remuneration criteria.

What we assess

Employer certification, role, qualifications, contract, remuneration and whether D3 or EU Blue Card is a better comparison.

Stronger starting point when

People coming to Portugal for a qualifying temporary purpose without structuring the move around long-term residence.

Material rule

A Temporary Stay Visa is not the same as a Residence Visa or a temporary Residence Permit. It is designed for qualifying stays of less than one year.

What we assess

Purpose, duration, income or activity basis, family accompaniment and whether a residence route is more appropriate.