Portugal's national residence visa for non-EU students planning to study for more than one year. The D4 visa grants 120 days to enter Portugal and apply for a residence permit with AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum). Affordable tuition and mild climate make Portugal increasingly popular with international students.
Public university tuition: EUR 700-7,000/yr for international students (varies by institution and program). Portuguese and EU students pay regulated fees around EUR 697/yr. Lusophone country citizens may access reduced rates at some institutions. Private universities: EUR 4,000-12,000/yr.
Up to 20 hours per week during academic semester. Full-time work allowed during school breaks and holidays. No separate work permit required with valid student residence permit.
| Program | Type | Duration | Min Degree | Work | PR Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion to Work Permit | Work permit | 12mo-24mo | Any | Unrestricted | Yes |
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPLE/CELPE-Bras | Admission | Portuguese | B2 | CAPLE (Centro de Avaliacao de Portugues Lingua Estrangeira) B2 level for Portuguese-taught programs. CELPE-Bras (Brazilian Portuguese) also accepted. |
| IELTS Academic | Admission | English | 6.0 | Required for English-taught programs. Growing number of English-taught master programs. TOEFL iBT 79+ also accepted. |
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| D4 Visa Application Fee | Application | $127 | One time |
| VFS Global Service Fee | Service | $46 | One time |
| AIMA Residence Permit Card | Permit | $104 | One time |
D4 visa grants 120 days to enter Portugal and apply for residence permit at AIMA. Residence permit typically issued for 2 years, renewable. NIF (tax number) and NISS (social security number) needed for work. AIMA appointment, renewal, and card issuance delays remain operationally unstable. Students from CPLP (Lusophone) countries may have simplified procedures. SEF was replaced by AIMA in October 2023.
- D8 Digital Nomad Visa (digital nomad visa)
- Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa (passive income)
- Portugal Golden Visa (golden visa)
- Portuguese Citizenship by Descent (descent)
- Portuguese Citizenship for Sephardic Descendants (ethnic return)
Last verified: May 3, 2026. Source