On top of being a beautiful, sunny country, that’s full of history and culture, Portugal also stands out for its overall triumph in the higher education realm – being home to many universities, both public and private, and offering a very wide range of programs. So it is only natural that many people from all over the world want to move to Portugal for university. However, all the documentation that’s needed might make the process look a little stressful. We are here to tell you all about the Portugal D4 or Student Visa and how you can easily further your education here. Come find out more!
Short-stay visa
Free for:
Cost:
Temporary-stay visa
The temporary-stay student visa will cost you €75 when you submit your application and around 90€ when you need to get your residence permit, after travelling to Portugal.
Long-term student visa
The long-term student visa can cost you €90 to apply (depends on the Portuguese embassy of your home country) and around €108 to get your residence permit at AIMA.
Our trusted partners can help you with anything related to your D4 Visa appeal, including even your University application. This is the usual process:
If you want all of these services included in your immigration agency application, it will cost you 2,000€.
The family members who qualify to come with you to Portugal under your student visa:
It is important to note that, when bringing family with you, you must prove that you have enough financial resources to sustain them and yourself. And, of course, they need to submit their own documentation and pay the fees.
You can, as long as you get a job or show concrete proof of a job offer – but you will need to change the nature of your visa. Once you get a job, your residence permit will be updated to a residence permit for work purposes.
It is very important to take care of this at least 30 days before the expiry date of your student visa. If the visa does terminate before you have sorted out your situation, you will need to apply for a new visa from your home country.
Yes! Your student visa residence permit allows you to work part-time (20 hours per week) during the semesters, and full-time during breaks and the summer.
As previously said, during the semester you can only work part-time. Any city with a university is sure to have a lot of restaurants, so picking up shifts that fit your class schedule and workload is definitely a great and popular option.
During summer break, since you can work full-time, you have a broader plethora of job options to choose from. This is peak tourism season, so you can easily find a job either in food service, costumer service (e.g.: clothing stores) and hospitality. Moreover, since these jobs are tourism-oriented, you most likely won’t need to be able to speak a lot of Portuguese (however, it is still recommended).
It is important to note that if you start working, you have to pay income tax and social security, which means that you must get a Portuguese Tax Number (NIF) and a Portuguese Social Security Number (NISS). So, if you are on a scholarship or getting some sort of funds while in Portugal, you should check the terms and conditions of your situation before you take up employment. Good luck!
As long as you have the proper acceptance proof from a recognized university or institution in Portugal, yes, it should be fairly easy to get. The short stay version, especially, is quite easy to get.
Yes. During the semester, your Portuguese Student Visa allows you to work part-time (20h/week). During breaks, you can have a full-time job.
Yes, you must show a bank balance that proves you have enough money to sustain yourself throughout your stay in Portugal. As a general rule of thumb, make sure you have at least €45 per day you’ll be spending in Portugal (so, around ~€15,000 in savings).
This depends on your country of origin and the Portuguese embassy there, but the average processing time for a Portuguese student visa is 2-3 months.
You can absolutely rent an apartment or room in Portugal on a student visa.
Most Portuguese visas require proof of long-term accommodation — and that’s exactly where relocation plans often stall. Our bundled packages combine expert visa guidance with the right home to match, so your paperwork and your move happen in sync, not months apart. Choose the Visa Bundle, the Visa & Rental Bundle, or a full Buyer’s package — one team, start to finish.
