Long-Stay (Type D) — Subordinate Work (D1) Verified 2026-05-12Portugal D1 Subordinate Work Residence Visa (Long-Stay — Informational)
Informational guide to the Portugal D1 Residence Visa for Indian employees with a job offer from a Portuguese employer.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Portugal visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Please note: SureshotVisa does NOT process Portugal long-term residence visas (D1 Work, D2 Entrepreneur, D3 Teaching, D4 Research/Study, D7 Retiree, D8 Family Reunification, D9 Digital Nomad, CPLP Mobility, Golden Visa, etc.). This page is provided for informational purposes only. For Portugal residence visas, apply directly via the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi + AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) — or consult a licensed Portuguese immigration lawyer. We specialise in short-stay Schengen visas where our Indian-side expertise adds the most value.
Processing
60–90 days typically (D-visa preliminary decision by Embassy + AIMA substantive review)
Stay Duration
4-month entry D-visa; residence permit issued by AIMA on arrival (initial 1-2 years, renewable)
Starting Fee
€90
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Portugal visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1SureshotVisa does NOT process Portugal D1 work visas — informational only.
- 2Apply ONLY after you have a signed Portuguese job contract — speculative D1 applications are rejected.
- 3Regulated profession: secure DGES / Ordem certification BEFORE applying.
- 4Police registration with AIMA within 90 days of arrival is mandatory.
Who Can Apply
- Indian professionals with a signed job offer from a Portuguese employer
- Work contract must comply with Portuguese labour law (minimum wage / working hours)
- Roles in regulated professions need prior certification recognition
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Portugal / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| D1 Residence Visa — Embassy fee | €90 |
| AIMA Residence Permit fee (on arrival) | €84 |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,052 |
| Courier (outside Delhi) | ₹432 |
Government fees set in EUR by Portuguese Consulate / AIMA. INR equivalent varies. Fees change annually — verify on vistos.mne.gov.pt and aima.gov.pt before applying.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Employment Documents
4 items- Signed employment contract (or binding offer) with Portuguese employerRequired
- Employer's commitment to register the contract with IEFP (Portuguese employment authority)Required
- Educational certificates + qualification proofsRequired
- Regulated profession: certification recognition (DGES / Ordem profissional)
Required for medical, engineering, architecture, law, teaching, etc.
Core Documents
7 items- National (D-Visa) application form (signed)Required
- Valid passport (validity covering the visa + permit duration)Required
- 2 passport-size photosRequired
- Criminal record certificate (PCC) from India + every country lived 1+ year in past 5 yearsRequired
Apostilled
- Proof of accommodation in PortugalRequired
- Travel medical insurance (sufficient for first 4 months)Required
- Bank statement showing subsistence fundsRequired
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
6 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Secure Portuguese job offer
Real signed contract — not a letter of intent. Employer registers with IEFP.
- 02
Get qualifications recognised
Regulated profession: DGES / Ordem certification BEFORE applying.
- 03
Get PCC + apostille
India + every country lived 1+ year in past 5 years. Apostille by India MEA.
- 04
Fill D-visa application + submit at VFS
visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/prt — select National Visa.
- 05
Consulate + AIMA processing
60–90 days. If approved, 4-month D-visa stamp.
- 06
Enter Portugal + collect residence permit at AIMA
Book AIMA appointment, register, get Tax Number (NIF), open bank account.
What works
4 levers that flip a borderline case.
- D1 is the main route for skilled employees. Apply 3-4 months before intended start date.
- AIMA appointment slots are scarce — book immediately after entering Portugal.
- Get a Portuguese Tax Number (NIF) early — required for rental contracts, bank accounts, phone plans.
- Citizenship is possible after 5 years residency + A2-level Portuguese.
Download official forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens the official VFS Global page for Portugal
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Schengen Visa Application Form (Embassy of Portugal)
Portuguese MFA visa portal. Download the Schengen / National Visa application form, complete in English/Portuguese, sign.
VFS Global Portugal (India)
Book biometrics appointment, view checklists, track application status.
AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
Successor to SEF (since Oct 2023). Handles substantive decisions on Portugal long-term residence permits.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Portugal D1 Subordinate Work Residence Visa (Long-Stay — Informational) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently asked
Questions, answered straight
D1 is tightly coupled to the Portuguese employer (IEFP registration) + AIMA substantive decisions + Portuguese tax/social-security systems. Best handled directly by the employer + a licensed Portuguese immigration lawyer.
5 years of legal residence on a Portuguese residence permit + A2 Portuguese language + clean record qualifies you for citizenship. Portugal allows dual citizenship — India does NOT, so you'd have to choose.
Yes — once you have your D1 residence permit, you can sponsor spouse + dependent children under the Family Reunification (D6/D8) route.
Must meet Portuguese minimum wage (€820/month gross in 2024) and the role's collective-agreement baseline. Skilled positions typically pay €1,500–4,000+.
Still have a question about your case? Ask us directly — we usually reply in 5 minutes.
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other Portugal visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
Other Portugal Visa Types
Portugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Apply for a Portugal Schengen tourist visa from India — fees, documents, VFS process and tips for Indian travellers.
View guidePortugal Business Visa (Schengen Type C)
Portugal Schengen business visa from India — for meetings, conferences and training. Fees, documents, invitation letters and VFS process.
View guidePortugal Visit Visa (Family & Friends — Schengen Type C)
Portugal Schengen visa to visit family or friends from India — host invitation, Statement of Responsibility, fees and VFS process.
View guidePortugal Student Visa (National Type D — Long Stay)
Portugal National Type D student visa from India — for study, research or internships over 90 days. Documents, process and AIMA route.
View guidePortugal Work Visa / Permit (National Type D — Information Only)
Information about Portugal's National Type D work visa/permit. SureshotVisa does NOT process work visas or permits — this page is informational only.
View guidePortugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting Portugal for tourism — Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Madeira, Azores — up to 90 days.
View guidePortugal Business / Conference Visa (Schengen Type C)
Short-stay Schengen visa for Indian business professionals attending meetings, conferences, training, or trade events in Portugal.
View guidePortugal Visa for Visiting Family & Friends (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends resident in Portugal — up to 90 days.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Portugal website and Embassy of Portugal. Last verified 2026-05-12. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.