Self-employed professional residence permit – D2 visa type.

In this type of residence permit, the applicant must have a permanent legal income in the country of residence (at the time of application).

Who can receive this type of residence permit?

• Persons who intend to and are willing to reside in Portugal for 183 days per year.
• Persons who can verify a documented, legal, stable, active income in the country of residence at the time of application (including CIS countries).

Requirements:

• Monthly income per applicant = EUR 725 (as of 2022).
• At the time of applying for a residence permit, the applicant may not yet be receiving a salary (in the case of applications submitted in the country of permanent residence during the application for a residence permit),
• In the case of applying for a residence permit directly in Portugal (entering the country using a tourist visa), it is mandatory for the applicant to provide information on the receipt of the first salary.
• In the case of moving with family, it is necessary to provide financial guarantees. The necessary minimum active income for a second spouse is 1/2 of the subsistence minimum and for each child 1/3 of the subsistence minimum.

Which professions are eligible for a residence permit as a self-employed/freelancer?

• IT specialists,
• Designers,
• Engineers and architects,
• Art sector (artists, actors, musicians),
• Education,
• Medical staff,
• Journalists,
• Service workers.

The required procedures are:

• complete the forms and declarations,
• attach the relevant documents to the D2 visa application form (confirming the intention to carry out independent professional activities in Portugal).
• Submit the documents to the Portuguese diplomatic representation in the country of residence.

Following the acceptance of the application for a residence permit in Portugal, the applicant is granted a Freelancer’s Visa D2. The visa is valid for 4 months. Once you have entered the territory of Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit. This type of visa enables you to stay legally in Portugal for the duration of the pending decision on the residence permit, even if it exceeds the 4 months indicated.

Procedure for obtaining a D2 visa – Freelancer visa:

Preparing all necessary documents* in order to request residency on a D2 visa:

• completed visa application form,
• 2 photos (3×4 format),
• original passport and copies of all pages,
• documents verifying your financial status (the availability of the minimum necessary funds to stay in Portugal), this can be a bank account statement,
• documents verifying your accommodation in Portugal (flat or house rental contract, documents confirming the availability of immovable property in the country),
• an apostilled certificate of cleanliness (absence of criminal record),
• a signed authorization from the applicant to check the criminal status of the applicant in Portugal,
• full medical insurance (it is essential),
• a contract, or a signed offer to collaborate regarding the provision of services in the profession, declared in the application form.

*All documents must be notarized and translated into Portuguese.

1. Apply documents to the Consulate of Portugal in your country of residence (personal presence is compulsory),
2. Once the documents are successfully submitted, the average waiting time for a decision is 60 days.
3. Take back your documents (passport) with your D2 visa stamped on it,
4. Upon arrival in Portugal, you need to contact the local SEF (Immigration Department) https://www.sef.pt regarding the issuance of the residence permit.
5. You can apply for citizenship after 5 years of residence in Portugal.