Portugal Global Talent Program: ultimate guide on the D3 visa for highly-qualified people

The Portugal Global Talent Program is a national residence visa for non-EU, non-EEA, and Swiss nationals engaged in teaching, research, cultural, or other highly qualified professional activities[1].

The legal framework is set by Law No. 23/2007 and Decree-Law 41/2023[2], which created the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, AIMA — the agency responsible for processing residence permits.

The Portugal Global Talent Program and Portugal D3 refer to the same visa route. Some terms like Tech Visa or HQA may appear during the process, but they are not separate visas. The Tech Visa is just a company certification that can support a D3 case. HQA, or highly qualified activity, is a label some providers use for D3-based projects.

Residency through the Portugal Global Talent Program is granted directly by AIMA without requiring an initial D-visa in the home country[3], followed by biometrics and issuance of residence cards. The whole process takes around 4 months.

The Portugal D3 is designed for professionals with advanced qualifications or exceptional experience who come to Portugal for skilled employment, research, or cultural work.

Eligibility criteria

A candidate is generally considered highly qualified if the following applies:

• holds a higher education degree at ISCED level 6 or above — bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD;
• has at least 3—5 years of specialised professional experience that demonstrates equivalent expertise, as recognised in AIMA’s Tech Visa standards[4].

To qualify, the applicant must also have a valid job offer or a signed promise of employment from a Portuguese company, university, or cultural institution. The position should involve advanced skills or senior responsibilities.

In the case of academic or cultural work, participation in an approved research or teaching project is also acceptable.

Eligible professional categories

Typical D3 applicants include:

• entrepreneurs and business owners;
• executives or senior professionals — directors, consultants;
• academics and researchers;
• technology and engineering specialists;
• finance, investment, and legal professionals;
• creative professionals — design, gaming, media, architecture;
• retired professionals with a record of expertise or mentorship capacity.

Example profiles

For instance, the following individuals qualify for the Portugal Global Talent Program:

• US-based software engineer with 5 years of experience seeking EU relocation;
• retired executive mentoring startup founders through the university mentorship track;
• entrepreneur from Singapore establishing links with Portuguese R&D projects;
• crypto investor collaborating with fintech research centers under the mentorship framework.

The Portugal D3 visa is based on two legal grounds: direct employment and institutional hosting[5]. The direct employment route is supported by a job contract, while the university collaboration route is based on a hosting agreement from a recognised university.

Direct employer route

The direct employer path applies when a Portuguese company is hiring the applicant into a senior or specialised role[6]. The application must include one of the following:

• signed employment contract;
• formal promise of employment, clearly outlining the job title, responsibilities, salary, work location, and start date.

The job must match the applicant’s education or professional experience and be considered highly qualified work. Supporting documents must confirm the applicant’s qualifications.

Research university collaboration route

This option is intended for those invited by a recognised institution to engage in research, teaching, or cultural work[7]. The application includes both:

• Letter of Commitment from the university;
• and a project outline specifying the goals, timeline, tasks, and needed resources.

The university route is based on formal cooperation agreements with institutions such as Coimbra, Évora, Algarve, Beira Interior, ISTEC, and NOVA Medical School. It is most suitable when the applicant’s stay in Portugal is linked to a specific academic or research project.

Each participant becomes affiliated with a Portuguese university or research institution, receiving recognised academic status within the EU. Through teaching, mentoring, or advisory roles, they contribute international expertise to support innovation and talent growth in Portugal.

The Portugal D3 allows family reunification. Applications for dependents are submitted immediately after the principal applicant receives a residence card.

Family members eligible under the Portugal Global Talent Program include:

• spouse or registered partner;
• children under 18;
• dependent full-time students under 26.

Parents or adult children over 26 are not included in the main family unit, but they may apply separately.

Each dependent must provide:

1. Passport copy.
2. Birth or marriage certificate.
3. Health insurance.
4. Proof of family relationship.

Appointments scheduled by AIMA are issued within 2—3 months after the main applicant’s approval.

The applicant pays participation and government fees and rents or buys a residential property to have a registered address in Portugal.

Total cost is €170,000+

The participation fee covers all legal and residence services for 5 years for the main applicant and up to three dependents. An extra €5,000 is added for each additional dependent, starting with the 5th.

Payment is made in three steps:

1. The process begins with a €20,000 non-refundable payment upon signing the contract and onboarding. 
2. When the AIMA appointment is scheduled, the next €75,000 is paid — refundable if the application is rejected. 
3. The final €75,000 is paid at residence card issuance and is refunded if the renewal at year 2 is denied.

Government fees amount to €1,000+

In addition to the programme fee, applicants must pay AIMA fees for residence permits and biometrics. These vary based on the number of family members. 

Biometric fee is €406.90 for adults and €58.10 for minors. The residence permit fee is €397 per person, irrespective of age.

Accommodation and insurance are €8,000 per year

Housing is another major cost. It must be rented for at least 12 months, with cost depending on location and property type. Health insurance is mandatory for residency applicants, too.

The table below shows the total cost for a single applicant and for a couple with two minor children and one adult child.

Document checklist for the Portugal D3 visa includes:

1. Passport.
2. Non-criminal record.
3. University degree or diploma.
4. Proof of address, such as utility bill, rental agreement, or bank statement — not older than 3 months.
5. CV in English.
6. Bank statement showing regular income or at least €15,000 balance.
7. Health insurance valid for 12 months, with a minimum €35,000 coverage.
8. Proof of accommodation — lease or technical address agreement.
9. NIF — Portuguese tax number, secured by Power of Attorney.
10. Proof of tax and social security registration, handled by World Talents.
11. University cooperation letter, issued later during the matching process.

All foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised and translated into English. The legal team must review each document for expiry and validity before uploading to the shared folder. If any document is pending, AIMA submission cannot proceed.

With a Portugal D3 visa, residents have access to:

• public healthcare, 
• free kindergartens for their children,
• schooling for minors, 
• work rights in a qualified role, 
• visa-free travel within the Schengen Area. 

Below is a more detailed overview of these rights, along with the related stay requirements.

Work and travel

Portugal D3 holders may work in their approved highly qualified role without requiring an additional work permit. Both salaried and self-employed activity are allowed, with a switch to self-employment possible with prior approval from AIMA[9].

Family members also have the right to work in Portugal, either as employees or self-employed, without needing separate permission[10].

A valid Portuguese residence card unlocks visa-free access to the entire Schengen Area, allowing short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period — ideal for those balancing work in Portugal with travel across Europe.

Residence presence

Portugal’s Global Talent Program offers a legal exemption from the usual physical stay requirement. D3 visa holders involved in recognised academic, professional, or cultural activities outside Portugal are not required to live in Portugal for 6 months per year.

Participation must be formally documented by the host institution. Records such as virtual lectures, mentorship sessions, or advisory meetings are maintained by the university and used to support residency renewal. This allows applicants to keep their Portuguese residence status while remaining internationally mobile.

To renew the Portugal D3 visa, residents must continue to meet the Global Talent Program requirements. Permanent residence and citizenship each have separate sets of conditions that must be fulfilled.

Renewal of the Portugal D3 residence permit

The first Portugal D3 residence permit is valid for 2 years. It is then renewed for 3 years, completing a total of 5 years of legal residence.

For renewal, applicants must provide:

1. Updated proof of cooperation with the university or institution.
2. Valid health insurance.
3. Evidence of accommodation in Portugal.

The university issues an updated participation report confirming continued engagement.

Portuguese permanent residence and citizenship

After 5 years of legal residence, D3 holders may apply for permanent residence. After another 5 years, they become eligible for Portuguese citizenship[11]. Both applications require the following:

1. Clean criminal record.
2. Proof of stable financial means.
3. Rental or ownership of housing in Portugal.
4. Portuguese language proficiency at A2 level[12].

Portugal recognises dual citizenship, allowing individuals to retain their original nationality. With a Portuguese passport, foreigners can travel visa-free to 174 countries.

Newborn children whose parents have held residence permits in Portugal for 5 years receive Portuguese citizenship by birth.

Portugal D3 visa holders are not automatically considered tax residents. Due to the flexible stay requirement, they may spend limited time in Portugal and are free to choose their tax residency based on where they live and work most of the year.

Taxes for Portugal D3 visa holders

If a D3 holder becomes a Portuguese tax resident — by spending more than 183 days per year in the country — they are subject to Portugal’s standard tax rules.

The main taxes include:

1. Personal income tax: progressive rates from 12.5 to 48%[13].
2. Social security contributions: 11% for employees, 23.75% for employers, 21.4% for self-employed[14].
3. Capital gains tax: 28% on most investment income[15].
4. Property tax: 0.3 to 0.8% annually, depending on the property value and location[16].
5. Wealth tax: 0.7% on residential property worth over €600,000[17].
6. Inheritance and gift tax: 10% for non-direct relatives and unrelated individuals[18].

Special tax regime for highly qualified professionals

The IFICI+ regime, introduced on 23 December 2024, is a tax programme designed to attract professionals in science, technology, and innovation[19].

Qualified individuals benefit from a 20% flat income tax rate and a 0% rate on capital gains and dividends. These advantages apply for up to 10 consecutive years.

Eligible professions include:

• executive and managing directors;
• specialists in physical sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology;
• industrial product and equipment designers;
• medical doctors;
• higher education lecturers;
• ICT professionals. 

Eligibility requires the applicant not to have been a tax resident in Portugal in the 5 years prior to applying.

Among Portugal’s popular residency options — such as the Golden Visa, D7, D2, and D8 — the D3 Global Talent Program stands out for its structure and efficiency. For example, it is granted for 5 years upfront, for renewal is already covered at the start.

Unlike most other routes, the D3 allows flexible physical presence, making it suitable for professionals with international commitments.

Direct coordination with AIMA and partner universities ensures fast processing and a 100% approval rate in compliant cases, setting D3 apart as the most streamlined legal route for highly qualified applicants.

Several recurring issues can delay or block a D3 application:

• incorrect criminal record certificates: expired documents, missing apostille, or apostille placed on the wrong page;
• offer and Letter of Commitment gaps: unclear job role, weak project details, or missing supervision and timeline;
• timeline errors: late AIMA booking or consular steps not matching project start or travel plans;
• document inconsistency: mismatched names or dates, poor translations, or missing notarisation and legalisation.

Immigrant Invest helps prevent these issues with a detailed readiness check, full document review, and a final audit of the consular pack to ensure compliance and smooth processing with AIMA.

1. The Portugal Global Talent Program, also called the D3 visa, offers residence to non-EU professionals in highly qualified roles.
2. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and 3—5 years of experience.
3. The program includes two routes: direct employment or university collaboration.
4. The €170,000 fee is not a donation or investment but a full-service package covering all residence-related costs for 5 years.
5. D3 residents are not required to live full-time in Portugal to maintain status.
6. The program maintains a 100% success rate through direct coordination with AIMA.
7. Eligible professionals may benefit from the IFICI+ tax regime with a 20% flat income tax and 0% on dividends and capital gains.
8. Family members can join and work in Portugal without needing separate permission.

1. Source: Portal de Serviços do Governo de Portugal — Visto de residência para exercício de atividade de investigação ou altamente qualificada
2. Source: Law No. 23/2007 and Decree-Law 41/2023
3. Source: AIMA: Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Activity
4. Source: IAPMEI — Requirements for Workers under the Tech Visa Programme
5. Source: AIMA: Residence Permit for Highly Qualified Activity
6. Source: European Commission — Highly-qualified worker in Portugal
7. Source: European Commission — Researcher in Portugal
8. Source: QS World University Rankings 2026 — Portugal
9. Source: Law No. 23/2007
10. Source: AIMA — Family Reunification with a Family Member in National Territory
11. Source: Justiça — Portuguese Nationality
12. Source: AIMA — Portuguese Language as Host Language Courses: Certification of A2 and above for Residence and Nationality
13. Source: Portal das Finanças — Personal Income Tax Code, Article 68: General Rates
14. Source: PwC — Social security
15. Source: Portal das Finanças — Competence for the liquidation of Personal Income Tax
16. Source: Portal das Finanças — Municipal Property Tax
17. Source: Portal das Finanças — Annual property taxes
18. Source: Portal das Finanças — Stamp Duty Code
19. Source: Portal das Finanças — Portaria No. 352/2024‑1: Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation (IFICI+)