Path to staying
- Study4 months, renewable
- Post-study workup to 12 months
- Permanent residencyafter 5 years
- Citizenshipafter 5 years
Overview
- Country
- Portugal
- Visa name
- D4 Student Visa
- Local name
- Visto de Residencia para Estudantes (D4)
- Status
- Active
- Duration
- 4 months
- Renewable
- Yes
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.
Tuition and costs
- Tuition policy
- Subsidized
- Tuition range
- $810 – $8,100/year
- Proof of funds
- $12,779/month
- Funds type
- Bank statement
- Scholarships
- Available
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.
Work rights during study
- Work allowed
- Yes
- Term hours
- 20 hrs/week
- Vacation hours
- Unlimited
- Permission
- Automatic
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.
Post-study work options
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion to Work Permit | Work permit | 12 mo–24 mo | Any | Unrestricted | Yes |
Language requirements
| 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. |
Fees and costs
| 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 |
Dependents and family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Restriction
- Spouse/partner and minor children. Must show sufficient funds for entire family.
- Spouse work
- Unrestricted
- Conditions
- Spouse with family reunification residence permit has unrestricted work access.
Long-term pathway
- Post-study visa
- Available
- Work permit
- Possible
- Permanent residency
- After 5 years
- Citizenship
- After 5 years
- Study time counts
- 100% credit
How to apply
- Method
- In person
- Via
- VFS Global (in many countries)
- Processing
- 30-60 days
- Interview
- Not required
- Official site
- vistos.mne.gov.pt
- Health insurance
- Required (buy separately)
Notes and caveats
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.
Also in Portugal
Last verified May 3, 2026 Source