The D4 is Portugal's residence visa for study and related activity lasting more than a year - higher education, research, secondary-school exchange, internships and volunteering. You need proof of admission to a recognised Portuguese institution and enough funds to support yourself: for 2026 that means showing an available bank balance of at least EUR 920 for each month of your stay (MNE means-of-subsistence page and Decreto-Lei 139/2025, checked 17 October 2026). The higher-education study residence permit is issued for up to three years (or the programme's duration if shorter) and is renewable for equal periods; confirm your category's term with AIMA.
Who the D4 is for
The D4 covers degree students (bachelor's, master's, PhD), researchers, recognised secondary-school exchange students, interns at certified hosts, and volunteers. Programmes shorter than about a year usually fall under a temporary-stay visa instead. Scholarship holders and citizens of Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries benefit from several exemptions.
How much money do you need for a D4 visa in 2026?
Portugal's 2026 minimum wage is EUR 920/month (Decreto-Lei 139/2025). For the D4 you must show an available bank balance of at least EUR 920 for each month of the intended stay - income from a grant or contract counts as a source, but the balance still has to be there. Family members are added at 50% per extra adult and 30% per child.
| Who | Funds per month (2026) | Annualised (12-month year) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student (main applicant) | EUR 920 | about EUR 11,040 | 100% of the minimum wage |
| + each additional adult | + EUR 460 | + about EUR 5,520 | 50% |
| + each child | + EUR 276 | + about EUR 3,312 | 30% |
| Scholarship / CPLP students | May be exempt | May be exempt | Check your category |
Eligibility and documents
- Proof of admission or enrolment at a recognised Portuguese institution (or research/internship/volunteering agreement).
- Proof of accommodation; students and interns may use a confirmed booking of at least one month.
- Proof of funds (see above), unless exempt.
- National visa application form, passport valid beyond the visa period, and a personal statement.
- Travel/health insurance and a criminal-record certificate (for applicants aged 16+), apostilled and translated.
How do you apply for a D4 visa, and how long does it take?
Apply at your Portuguese consulate or VFS centre. MNE's decision deadline for residence visas is 60 days, and the visa is issued for 120 days with two entries. After you arrive, you attend an AIMA appointment to collect the residence permit - bring a complete file, because AIMA can refuse to proceed with an incomplete one.
- Secure a firm admission or enrolment letter from a recognised (DGES-listed) institution.
- Get a Portuguese tax number (NIF); you will need it for accommodation, a bank account, the SNS and the AIMA step.
- Book the consular or VFS appointment and submit the D4 file: application form, passport, photos, an apostilled criminal-record certificate, proof of funds, accommodation and insurance.
- Wait for the consular decision (MNE's deadline is 60 days); the visa is then issued for 120 days with two entries.
- Travel to Portugal and attend your AIMA appointment with a complete file to collect the residence permit.
Can you work on a D4 student visa?
Higher-education students on a D4 permit can work, employed or self-employed, as long as it stays complementary to their studies (Article 97 of Law 23/2007). Portuguese law frames the limit as work that does not compromise your academic progress rather than a fixed number of hours, so the often-quoted 20 hours a week during term (with more in the holidays) is a practical guideline, not a figure written into the statute; confirm the current rule and any registration step with AIMA. Secondary-school exchange students, unpaid trainees and volunteers cannot do paid work on the permit.
Health insurance and the SNS
At the visa stage you usually need travel or health insurance covering urgent care and repatriation, although higher-education students admitted to a recognised institution under Article 91-B can be exempt from showing insurance, and Camoes Institute scholarship holders are exempt from insurance, enrolment and means-of-support proof. For the AIMA residence-permit step you show either private health insurance or proof that you are covered by the public health service. Once you hold the residence permit you can register with Portugal's national health service (SNS) free of charge and get a numero de utente at your local health centre or an Espaco Cidadao, taking your passport, NIF, residence permit and Portuguese address.
Costs and government fees (2026)
| Fee | 2026 amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consular study (residence) visa | EUR 110 | Scholarship holders funded by the Portuguese State are exempt |
| AIMA reception and analysis of the permit application | EUR 99.80 | Charged on the residence-permit application in Portugal |
| AIMA grant of the temporary residence permit (Art. 75(1)) | EUR 85.80 | Also charged on each renewal |
| Consular-visa waiver (in-country only) | EUR 230.40 | Applies to specific in-country procedures, not the standard route |
Government fees shown are 2026 figures from the MNE fees page and the AIMA fee table in force from 1 March 2026 (checked 17 October 2026). On the standard route that is about EUR 296 in total: the EUR 110 visa fee plus AIMA's analysis and permit-grant fees. Confirm current amounts before you apply.
Cost of living for students
What you spend depends heavily on the city and whether you share a flat. The figures below are 2026 estimates for a single student, not official thresholds; the visa funds rule is still the EUR 920/month available balance covered above.
| City | Room in a shared flat | Estimated monthly total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | ~EUR 450-550 | ~EUR 900-1,300 | Most expensive; university halls are limited |
| Porto | ~EUR 350-450 | ~EUR 750-1,100 | Roughly 15-20% cheaper than Lisbon |
| Coimbra or a smaller city | ~EUR 300-400 | ~EUR 600-1,000 | Best student-housing supply |
| University residence | ~EUR 200-500 | utilities add ~EUR 50-150 | Apply early; often over-subscribed |
These ranges drift with the market, so check current listings and your university's own cost-of-living guidance. A student monthly transport pass is around EUR 30 in the Lisbon and Porto areas.
Scholarships and fee exemptions
Some routes both fund your studies and cut the paperwork. Scholarship holders funded by the Portuguese State pay no visa fee at all. Camoes Institute scholarship holders are also exempt from showing admission, tuition, insurance and means of support. Nationals of Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries admitted to a higher-education institution are exempt from the means-of-support requirement, with further exemptions under the CPLP Mobility Agreement. Common funding includes Erasmus+ for EU mobility, FCT doctoral studentships for PhD researchers, and merit or means-tested scholarships run through DGES and individual institutions.
Finding accommodation
Lisbon and Porto have a real housing shortage, and university residences are limited and over-subscribed, so most students secure a private room before they arrive. For both the visa and the AIMA step you show proof of accommodation: a confirmed booking, a rental contract, a landlord or host declaration of the legal basis of occupancy, or a university-residence confirmation. At AIMA you also sign a sworn declaration of your Portuguese address, so line this up early.
Duration, renewal and the path to residence
The higher-education study permit is issued for up to three years (or the length of your programme if shorter) and renewed for equal periods; students in EU or multilateral mobility programmes get two years (AIMA, Art. 91, checked 17 October 2026). Some guides say study-permit time counts at half toward permanent residence, but AIMA's permanent-residence page (Art. 80) asks only for at least 5 years as a holder of a temporary residence permit and does not mention any reduced weighting for study; confirm with a lawyer how your study years will be counted.
Path to settlement: most other temporary permits are issued for 2 years and then renewed for 3-year periods; the student permit follows the term above. After 5 years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence (with A2-level Portuguese). Citizenship rules changed in 2026: under Lei Orgânica 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026), naturalisation now needs 10 years of legal residence in general, or 7 years for citizens of EU and Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries, counted from the date your first residence permit is issued. Applications filed on or before 18 May 2026 keep the previous 5-year rule.
Common pitfalls
- Treating the EUR 920 as monthly income rather than an available balance, scaled across every month of the stay.
- Applying on a conditional offer instead of a firm admission/enrolment letter.
- Short or unregistered accommodation proof, or an apostille/translation gap on the criminal record.
- Arriving at the AIMA appointment with an incomplete file, which AIMA can refuse to process.
Tuition, accreditation and setting up
Check that your institution and programme are recognised: Portuguese higher-education institutions and courses are accredited by A3ES, with foreign-degree recognition handled by DGES (NARIC); the D4 requires a recognised institution. Public-university tuition for non-EU students is commonly around EUR 2,500 to EUR 7,000 per year for most undergraduate and master's programmes (some are lower; private institutions cost more); confirm the exact fee with your school. After you arrive you will also need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and usually a local bank account to manage rent and fees.
After your studies: staying in Portugal
A D4 is a stepping stone. On graduating you can often switch in-country to a work or business route - the D3 (highly qualified employment), D8 (remote work), or D2 (your own business), provided you meet that route's own requirements. Portugal's old job-seeker visa was abolished in October 2025 (Lei 61/2025), and its replacement for qualified job-seekers was still not being issued at consulates on 17 October 2026, pending regulation (MNE job-seeker visa page). Plan the transition before your study permit expires so there is no gap in your legal residence.
Bringing your family
Family reunification is more limited for students than for workers, and is assessed case by case - it is not guaranteed on a study permit. If you plan to bring family, confirm eligibility with AIMA or a lawyer before you apply, and budget the higher means threshold (add 50% of the base per adult, 30% per child). Our Portugal family reunification guide explains the process.
How Movingto helps
Movingto is a Portugal-first immigration firm that puts a named, Bar-registered lawyer from its in-house legal team on your case and publishes its fees.
Our in-house lawyers check your funds and enrolment evidence, prepare the consular file and handle the AIMA residence-permit step with you. See our D4 student visa service for what we handle. A Portuguese NIF, which you need for housing, banking and AIMA, costs €199 including one year of tax representation, and the first consultation is free.