What is the Portugal Subordinate Work Visa?
The Subordinate Work Activity Visa (also known as D1) is Portugal's main route for non-EU nationals with a full-time employment contract from a Portuguese employer. The employer applies for authorisation through IEFP (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional), which includes a labour market test. Once authorised, the candidate applies for a D visa at the Portuguese consulate. The visa is valid for 120 days. After arriving in Portugal, the candidate attends an AIMA appointment to receive a renewable residence permit. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship can be applied for.
Note: Information on this page is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
You must meet one requirement for the Subordinate Work Visa: a qualifying job offer. If an employer offers a role and confirms they will handle the IEFP authorisation, the job already satisfies the occupation and salary requirements. The employer handles the labour market test.
You cannot apply without a full-time employment contract or promissory employment contract from a Portuguese employer registered with the Social Security system (Segurança Social) and the Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária). The contract must comply with Article 5 of the Portuguese Labour Code. The salary must meet at least Portugal's national minimum wage (€920/month in 2026). The employer must obtain IEFP authorisation, which includes advertising the role and demonstrating that no suitable Portuguese or EU candidate is available.
2026 salary requirements
The Subordinate Work Visa has no visa-specific salary threshold beyond Portugal's national minimum wage. The contract must also comply with any applicable collective agreement for the sector.
How Portuguese salaries work: Portugal uses a 14-payment system — 12 monthly payments plus holiday pay (subsídio de férias) and Christmas pay (subsídio de Natal). The minimum wage of €920 is per payment, so the annual total is €920 × 14 = €12,880.
What you need to apply
The employer obtains IEFP authorisation first. Then the candidate applies for a D visa at the Portuguese consulate. After arrival, an AIMA appointment converts the visa to a residence permit.
If you do not have any of the documents below, you can read the FAQs section below for further guidance.
What to expect, step by step
From the employer deciding to hire to the candidate starting work in Portugal typically takes 3–6 months. The process has three stages: IEFP authorisation (30–60 days), consular D visa (30–90 days), and AIMA appointment after arrival (currently 2–6 months due to backlogs).
The employer registers the vacancy with IEFP and advertises the role. If no suitable Portuguese or EU candidate is found, IEFP authorises the hiring of a non-EU national. This stage takes 30–60 days.
Once IEFP authorisation is granted, apply for a D visa at the Portuguese consulate in your country. Submit the passport, criminal record certificate, travel insurance, proof of accommodation, and the IEFP-approved contract. Processing takes 30–90 days depending on the consulate. The visa is valid for 120 days with up to 2 entries.
Enter Portugal within the 120-day visa validity period. Register with the Tax Authority for a NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) and with Social Security for a NISS (Número de Identificação de Segurança Social). Begin work under the employment contract.
Schedule an appointment with AIMA to apply for the residence permit. Current backlogs mean appointments can take 2–6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but you must notify AIMA, and the new employer must also meet IEFP and labour law requirements. The new contract must be a valid subordinate employment arrangement registered with Social Security and the Tax Authority. Any change in employment must be reported promptly.
Yes. After receiving the residence permit, you can apply for family reunification for your spouse and dependent children. You must demonstrate adequate income and accommodation to support them. Suggested savings: approximately €5,220 per adult and €3,132 per child, in addition to the income from employment.
Not for the visa. There is no Portuguese language requirement for the D1 visa application. However, A2 Portuguese is required for citizenship after 5 years. For daily life, Portuguese is the working language — outside multinational companies in Lisbon and Porto, most workplaces and government offices operate in Portuguese. Starting Portuguese lessons before or immediately after arrival is strongly recommended.
Budget €300–€600 for the candidate. The D visa fee is approximately €90. Add the AIMA residence permit fee (~€83), criminal record certificate costs, apostilles, certified translations, and travel insurance. The employer covers the IEFP registration and authorisation costs. Overall, Portugal is one of the cheapest work visa destinations in Europe.
Three main differences. First, no labour market test for the D3 — the employer does not need to advertise or prove no EU candidate is available. Second, the D3 requires a higher salary (at least 3× the Social Support Index, or IAS, which is €1,611/month in 2026) and a higher education degree. Third, the D3 processes faster (30–60 days vs. 2–4 months). If the role and salary qualify for the D3, it is almost always faster and simpler.
Find visa-sponsored jobs in Portugal
You cannot apply for the Subordinate Work Visa without a qualifying job offer. Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in Portugal. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city, and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.