---
title: "Portugal Highly qualified permit 2026: from €1,074/mo needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/highly-qualified-art90/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Portugal · Work

# Portugal Highly qualified permit

**Income needed:** from €1,074 a month ≈ $1,200

Residence authorization for highly qualified activity (Art. 90 REPSAE)

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Rule changed 18 May 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/2026-05-18-portugal-c53a9d/) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Income needed:** from €1,074 a month ≈ $1,200 (Income of at least EUR 1,611.39 a month (≈ $1,800) · Employee floor under Art. 61-A(1)(a), one of two alternatives: 3 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13, so 3 x 537.13. Income of at least EUR 2,157 a month (≈ $2,410) · Alternative employee floor under Art. 61-A(1)(a): 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary, stated by AIMA as EUR2,157 per month (2023 reference). Meeting either this or the IAS-based floor is enough. Income of at least EUR 1,074.26 a month (≈ $1,200) · Shortage occupations in ISCO major groups 1 and 2 designated by the Council of Ministers, one of two alternatives: 2 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13, so 2 x 537.13. Income of at least EUR 1,725.6 a month (≈ $1,930) · Alternative floor for those shortage occupations: 1.2 times the average gross salary, stated by AIMA as EUR1,725.60 per month. A fee of EUR 133 (≈ $150) · Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 when the application is filed digitally. A fee of EUR 114.3 (≈ $130) · Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 when applied for digitally. A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120) · National visa processing fee.)
- **First stay:** 2 yrs (The residence permit is valid two years from issue and renewable in successive three-year periods. The residence visa is valid four months with two entries.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals)
- **Spouse work:** Can work (Spouse or partner, minor or dependent children, unmarried adult children studying in Portugal, dependent parents and minor siblings under guardianship can apply for family reunification; the two-year wait for the permit does not apply to holders of this permit. Your spouse or partner may work in Portugal without a separate permit.)

## Key facts

Highly qualified permit is a work route for Portugal. Applicants need income from €1,074 a month ≈ $1,200. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Money needed:** from €1,074 a month ≈ $1,200
- **Government fees:** €133 ≈ $150 · +2 more
- **Processing:** Up to 30 days
- **First stay:** 2 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: 3 government fees listed below; income to show from €1,074/mo ≈ $1,200; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: €133 ≈ $150 · +2 more**

- EUR 133 (≈ $150) Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 (≈ $110) when the application is filed digitally.
- EUR 114.3 (≈ $130) Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally.
- EUR 110 (≈ $120) National visa processing fee.

**Shown, not spent: €1,611+/mo ≈ $1,800 · +3 more**

- EUR 1,611.39 a month (≈ $1,800) Employee floor under Art. 61-A(1)(a), one of two alternatives: 3 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13 (≈ $600), so 3 x 537.13.
- EUR 2,157 a month (≈ $2,410) Alternative employee floor under Art. 61-A(1)(a): 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary, stated by AIMA as EUR2,157 (≈ $2,410) per month (2023 reference). Meeting either this or the IAS-based floor is enough.
- EUR 1,074.26 a month (≈ $1,200) Shortage occupations in ISCO major groups 1 and 2 designated by the Council of Ministers, one of two alternatives: 2 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13 (≈ $600), so 2 x 537.13.
- EUR 1,725.6 a month (≈ $1,930) Alternative floor for those shortage occupations: 1.2 times the average gross salary, stated by AIMA as EUR1,725.60 (≈ $1,930) per month.

**Renewal: Renewable**

Valid two years from issue, then renewable in successive three-year periods while subsistence, housing and tax and social-security conditions are still met. File renewal at least 30 days before expiry.

[Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) [AIMA](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/trabalhar/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-atividade-altamente-qualificada-art-90-o)

**Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence**

Permanent residence needs five years on a temporary residence authorization, no serious recent conviction, means of subsistence, housing and basic Portuguese.

[Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis)

**Citizenship: After 10 years of residence**

Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence on any residence title or visa (7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU states), plus Portuguese language and culture, and means of subsistence.

[Diário da República / Assembleia da República](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf)

**Processing: Up to 30 days**

The consulate must decide the highly-qualified, teaching or cultural residence visa within 30 days; after arrival AIMA must decide the residence permit within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional cases.

[Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis)

**Where to apply: Abroad or in-country**

Apply for a residence visa at the consulate, or, if you entered Portugal and stay lawfully, apply for the permit directly with AIMA without a visa. (Art. 90(2)).

[Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis)

**Presence rules: Stay rule**

A temporary permit can be cancelled if you are away from Portugal without good reason for 6 consecutive months or 8 months in total during its validity, unless you worked or ran a business abroad.

[Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Needs a job offer from an employer in Portugal
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant holds a residence visa for highly qualified activity.
- The work is highly qualified employment or self-employment.
- Highly qualified means a higher-education diploma or at least 5 years of comparable professional experience.

#### What you must show

- Employee contract salary of at least 3 times the IAS, EUR1,611.39 (≈ $1,800) per month in 2026, or EUR2,157 (≈ $2,410) per month (AIMA, 1.5 times the average salary); either is enough.
- Shortage occupations in ISCO groups 1 and 2: 2 times the IAS, EUR1,074.26 (≈ $1,200) per month in 2026, or EUR1,725.60 (≈ $1,930) per month; either is enough.

#### Documents

- Valid passport, authenticated criminal record and proof of Portuguese address.
- Tax and social-security registration.
- Certified qualification or proof of specialisation.
- Employees: employer declaration of a contract at the salary floor.
- Independents: proof of activity start with the tax and social-security authorities, plus a service contract, company certificate or recent invoices.

#### Steps

1. The EU Blue Card and the certified-company Tech Visa regimes apply in preference where they fit.

#### After you arrive

- The permit is valid two years and renewable in three-year periods.

## What happens at day 183

How Portugal decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **2 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** - **More than 183 days in any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year** Residence by presence.
- **Foreign-source income:** Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income.

[All tax rules for Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Residence authorization for highly qualified employed or self-employed work, held with a highly-qualified-activity residence visa. Employees need a contract at or above the salary floor, or a certified-company responsibility statement. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

#### What you must show and pay

- Income of at least EUR 1,611.39 a month (≈ $1,800) · Employee floor under Art. 61-A(1)(a), one of two alternatives: 3 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13 (≈ $600), so 3 x 537.13. (sources 1, 3)
- Income of at least EUR 2,157 a month (≈ $2,410) · Alternative employee floor under Art. 61-A(1)(a): 1.5 times the national average gross annual salary, stated by AIMA as EUR2,157 (≈ $2,410) per month (2023 reference). Meeting either this or the IAS-based floor is enough. (source 1)
- Income of at least EUR 1,074.26 a month (≈ $1,200) · Shortage occupations in ISCO major groups 1 and 2 designated by the Council of Ministers, one of two alternatives: 2 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13 (≈ $600), so 2 x 537.13. (sources 1, 3)
- Income of at least EUR 1,725.6 a month (≈ $1,930) · Alternative floor for those shortage occupations: 1.2 times the average gross salary, stated by AIMA as EUR1,725.60 (≈ $1,930) per month. (sources 1, 2)
- A fee of EUR 133 (≈ $150) · Application review fee for the residence permit; EUR 99.80 (≈ $110) when the application is filed digitally. (source 4)
- A fee of EUR 114.3 (≈ $130) · Fee for granting or renewing the temporary residence permit; EUR 85.80 (≈ $96) when applied for digitally. (source 4)
- A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120) · National visa processing fee. (source 5)

#### Requirements

- The applicant holds a residence visa for highly qualified activity. (sources 1, 2)
- The work is highly qualified employment or self-employment. (source 1)
- Highly qualified means a higher-education diploma or at least 5 years of comparable professional experience. (source 2)
- Employee contract salary of at least 3 times the IAS, EUR1,611.39 (≈ $1,800) per month in 2026, or EUR2,157 (≈ $2,410) per month (AIMA, 1.5 times the average salary); either is enough. (source 1)
- Shortage occupations in ISCO groups 1 and 2: 2 times the IAS, EUR1,074.26 (≈ $1,200) per month in 2026, or EUR1,725.60 (≈ $1,930) per month; either is enough. (source 1)
- Valid passport, authenticated criminal record and proof of Portuguese address. (source 1)
- Tax and social-security registration. (source 1)
- Certified qualification or proof of specialisation. (source 1)
- Employees: employer declaration of a contract at the salary floor. (source 1)
- Independents: proof of activity start with the tax and social-security authorities, plus a service contract, company certificate or recent invoices. (source 1)
- The EU Blue Card and the certified-company Tech Visa regimes apply in preference where they fit. (source 1)
- The permit is valid two years and renewable in three-year periods. (source 1)

#### Stay

- The residence permit is valid two years from issue and renewable in successive three-year periods. The residence visa is valid four months with two entries.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Visa validity: 4 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

#### Work

Highly qualified employment or independent activity.

#### Family

Spouse or partner, minor or dependent children, unmarried adult children studying in Portugal, dependent parents and minor siblings under guardianship can apply for family reunification; the two-year wait for the permit does not apply to holders of this permit. Your spouse or partner may work in Portugal without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Residence authorization for highly qualified activity, Art. 90](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/trabalhar/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-atividade-altamente-qualificada-art-90-o) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-09-10
3. [Portaria n.º 480-A/2025/1: IAS 2026 EUR537.13](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/12/25001/0000200002.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2025-12-30
4. [AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026)](https://aima.gov.pt/documents/tabela-de-taxas-e-demais-encargos-a-cobrar-pelos-procedimentos-administrativos.pdf) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-03-01
5. [National visa fees](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/informacao-geral/emolumentos) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
6. [AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
7. [Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/10/20400/0000900017.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
8. [Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11

## Highly qualified permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highly qualified permit | Needs income from €1,074 a month ≈ $1,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Cultural activity permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/cultural-art90/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| [Intra-company transfer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/ict-art124b/) | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/researcher-art91b/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Highly qualified permit?

Income of at least EUR 1,611.39 a month (≈ $1,800). Employee floor under Art. Income of at least EUR 2,157 a month (≈ $2,410). Alternative employee floor under Art. Income of at least EUR 1,074.26 a month (≈ $1,200). Shortage occupations in ISCO major groups 1 and 2 designated by the Council of Ministers, one of two alternatives: 2 times the IAS; the 2026 IAS is EUR537.13 (≈ $600), so 2 x 537.13. Income of at least EUR 1,725.6 a month (≈ $1,930). Alternative floor for those shortage occupations: 1.2 times the average gross salary, stated by AIMA as EUR1,725.60 (≈ $1,930) per month.

### How long can I stay on the Highly qualified permit?

The residence permit is valid two years from issue and renewable in successive three-year periods.

### How long does the Highly qualified permit take to process?

The consulate must decide the highly-qualified, teaching or cultural residence visa within 30 days; after arrival AIMA must decide the residence permit within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional cases.

### Can I work on the Highly qualified permit?

Highly qualified employment or independent activity.

### Can I bring my family on the Highly qualified permit?

Spouse or partner, minor or dependent children, unmarried adult children studying in Portugal, dependent parents and minor siblings under guardianship can apply for family reunification; the two-year wait for the permit does not apply to holders of this permit.

### Who can apply for the Highly qualified permit?

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

### Does the Highly qualified permit lead to permanent residence in Portugal?

Time on the Highly qualified permit counts toward permanent residence in Portugal, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Highly qualified permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence.

### How are Highly qualified permit holders taxed in Portugal?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Highly qualified permit. The standard rules apply: Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income, at progressive rates from 12.5% up to 48% on the 2026 brackets set by the 2026 State Budget (Lei 73-A/2025: first bracket up to EUR 8,342, (≈ $9,320) top rate above EUR 86,634 (≈ $96,800)), plus an additional solidarity rate of 2.5% on taxable income above EUR 80,000 (≈ $89,400) and 5% above EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000); non-residents are taxed on Portuguese-source income.

## More in Portugal

[Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/working-holiday-youth-mobility/) [D8 nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/d8-remote-work-residence/) [D8 nomad (temporary stay)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/d8-temporary-stay-remote-work/) [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/) [D2 freelancer visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/independent-d2-89-1/) [Work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/employment-residence-88-1/) [Teaching permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/teaching-art90/) [Volunteer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/volunteer-art94/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 8 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Residence authorization for highly qualified activity, Art. 90](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/trabalhar/autorizacao-de-residencia-para-atividade-altamente-qualificada-art-90-o) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Lei n.º 23/2007 (Foreigners Law, REPSAE), consolidated text current to Lei n.º 62/2026 of 10 September 2026](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=920&tabela=leis) · Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Portaria n.º 480-A/2025/1: IAS 2026 EUR537.13](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/12/25001/0000200002.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
4. [AIMA table of fees for residence and stay procedures (Portaria 307/2023 as consolidated, in force from 1 March 2026)](https://aima.gov.pt/documents/tabela-de-taxas-e-demais-encargos-a-cobrar-pelos-procedimentos-administrativos.pdf) · Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) · checked 2026-10-11
5. [National visa fees](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/informacao-geral/emolumentos) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portuguese visa portal · checked 2026-10-12
6. [AIMA family reunification, Article 98(2) in Portugal](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2) · AIMA · checked 2026-10-10
7. [Lei n.º 61/2025 of 22 October (amends Law 23/2007, Arts. 98-105)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2025/10/20400/0000900017.pdf) · Diário da República · checked 2026-10-10
8. [Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May (amends the Nationality Law, Law 37/81)](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf) · Diário da República / Assembleia da República · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.