5-Year PR Pathway

Study in Portugal.

Affordable Europe. 100% Student Years Count for PR.
MOI Accepted. Spouse Work Rights.

Quick Facts

Schengen

CapitalLisbon

CurrencyEuro (€)

IntakeSept / Feb

Work Rights20 Hrs/Week

Stay Back12 Months

SchengenYes

Cities & Industry

From Tech Hubs to Port Wine.

Lisbon

Capital

Political & Financial Heart. Tech Hub.

Porto

North

'Capital of the North'. Famous for Port Wine & UNESCO district.

Vila Nova de Gaia

North

Hub for wine cellars. Best beaches.

Coimbra

Central

University City. Home to oldest university in Portugal.

Braga

North

Oldest Christian city. Religious heritage & Tech industry.

Funchal

Madeira

Capital of Madeira archipelago. Tourism hub.

Faro

Algarve

Gateway to southern coast beaches & lagoons.

Aveiro

Central

'Venice of Portugal'. Canals & boats.

Setúbal

South

Industrial & fishing port near Arrábida Park.

Amadora

Lisbon

Major residential satellite city.

Key Industries & Brands

Energy & Utilities

EDP, Galp, REN

Wind, Solar, Green Hydrogen leaders.

Cork & Forestry

Corticeira Amorim (World's #1)

Space tech & construction usage.

Tourism

Pestana, TAP Air Portugal

Luxury & sustainable travel.

Retail & Food

Jerónimo Martins, Sonae

Dominant supermarket chains.

Financial

Caixa Geral, Millennium BCP

Fintech & Banking focus.

Tech & IT

Farfetch, OutSystems, Talkdesk

Software engineering hubs.

Textiles

Parfois, Salsa Jeans

High-quality luxury manufacturing.

Food & Bev

Sogrape, Super Bock

Famous Port wine exports.

Automotive

Autoeuropa (VW), Salvador Caetano

Vehicle assembly hub.

Universities

Public, Polytechnic & Private.

University of Lisbon (ULisboa) - Largest

University of Porto (U.Porto) - Research Top

University of Coimbra (UC) - UNESCO Site

NOVA University Lisbon - Business

University of Minho (UMinho)

University of Aveiro (UA) - Engg/Telecom

University of Algarve (UAlg) - Marine Bio

University of Évora (Arts/Heritage)

University of Beira Interior (Aeronautics)

UTAD (Agricultural Sciences)

University of Madeira (UMa)

University of the Azores (UAc)

Entry Requirements

Academic & English Criteria.

Academic & Age

Undergraduate

Score 60% - 70%

Note Min 14/20 Portuguese Scale. Elite: 75%+. Entrance Exams may apply.

Postgraduate

Score 60% - 65%

Note Relevant Bachelor's. Elite (Nova SBE): GPA 3.0/4.0.

Gap

Score 2-5 Years Accepted

Note Must justify with work experience/SOP.

Backlogs

Score Accepted if Cleared

Note Active backlogs hinder admission.

Gap of 2-5 years accepted with justification. No official age limit.

English Proficiency

MOI Accepted

Many universities accept MOI (Medium of Instruction). However, Embassy may interview. We recommend IELTS for visa safety.

Test	UG	PG
IELTS Academic	6.0 (Min 5.5)	6.5 (Min 6.0)
TOEFL iBT	72 - 80	90 - 100
PTE Academic	58 - 62	65 - 73
Duolingo	105 - 115	120 - 130
MOI	Accepted*	Accepted*

Funds & Living

Budget for 2026.

Monthly Living

Rent€300 – €500

Food€150 – €200

Transport€30 – €40

Misc€100

Total€600 – €800

Funds to Show

€7,200 - €8,000 / year

Plus remaining tuition fees.
Proof: Bank Statement (3-6 mo), Sponsor Affidavit (Notarized), ITRs.

Sponsors:

Self, Parents, Guardians. Close relatives can also sponsor with valid proof.

Visa Fee

D4 Visa: Approx €90. Process: 60-90 Days.

Application Process

Admission to Visa Arrival.

Critical Step: Apostille

You MUST apostille originals of Degree/Marksheets, Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), and Birth Certificate. Translation required if not in English.

Admission

Apply online (€50-150 Fee). Get Accepted.

Initial Payment

Pay Reg Fee + 1st Installment (€120-600) for Enrollment Letter.

Apostille Docs

MEA Apostille on Degree, PCC, Birth Certificate.

Visa Filing

Apply for D4 Visa at VFS/Consulate.

Interview

Embassy Interview (English check).

Approval

Timeline: 60-90 Days.

Path to PR (Permanent Residency)

100%

Student Years Count

100% of your time spent on a student visa counts towards the 5-year requirement for PR. (Unlike 50% in other EU countries).

Family

Spouse Rights

Spouse can join via Family Reunification. Once granted residence, spouse has FULL Work Rights.

Requirements: 5 Years Residence + A2 Portuguese + Clean Record

FAQs

Common questions about Portugal.

YES! Unlike many other EU countries (like Germany/France where it's 50%), in Portugal **100% of your student visa time counts** towards the 5-year Permanent Residency requirement.

Portugal is very strict. You MUST Apostille your originals: Degree, Transcripts, Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), and Birth Certificate. Process: Notary -> State Home Dept -> MEA (Central).

Yes. Many universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate. However, the Embassy may ask for a formal English test or conduct an interview to check your proficiency.

After graduation, you get a **12-Month Job Search Visa**. Once you find a job, you switch to a Work Permit (Residence Permit for Employed Workers - Art. 88).

Yes, via Family Reunification. Spouse gets **FULL Work Rights**. You need to show accommodation and extra funds (~€410/mo for spouse). Best to apply after main student gets residency card.

The Golden Visa **real estate route was eliminated in October 2023**. Remaining options: investment funds (€500K+), capital transfer (€1.5M+). For students: D4 visa, 20 hrs/week during term, full-time during breaks. Financial requirement €11,040/year (linked to min wage €920/month from Jan 2026). Student time counts 100% toward 5-year PR.

Bem-vindo a Portugal!

We handle Admissions, Apostille, and D4 Visa Filing.

Available for students across India

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Complete documentation

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