Work visa (D1 / D3), contract first
From the promise of contract to the residence card, with licensed lawyers filing at AIMA.
Most refusals on this route are contract problems, not applicant problems. We read the contract before it becomes a file.
For people with a Portuguese job offer, and for employers moving a hire.
A real contract with a Portuguese employer
D1 and D3 share the same file. What differs is the role, so pick the one that matches and the requirements switch with it.
5 steps, in order
The same steps the Build my path tool returns for a work case, in the same order.
Contract review, the document checklist, certified translation, file assembly and submission.
Consulate and AIMA decision times vary by route and season. We tell you the current expectation for your route before you commit.
What you need to have
The confirmed list comes with your quote. Anything marked for confirmation is checked against current rules for your nationality before you commit.
No VAT if you live outside the EU. EU residents: EUR 6,150 including 23% VAT, added at checkout.
Dependants quoted after case check.
All-inclusive, delivered by e-expat and our partner law firm.
About this route
Work visas we have handled
We prepared their D1 files. All three work in Portugal today.
A former shop owner. Two years after closing her shop in China, she obtained a D1 on a promise of contract. The first job was in a warehouse, nothing special, but it gave her a footing. A year later she moved to a restaurant and doubled her income. She is now applying for family reunification and plans to open a shop of her own in Portugal.
A machine fitter. Twenty years of skill that was worth less every year at home. He started work the month he arrived in Portugal, was settled within a few months, and has since brought his family over. Skilled trades are in short supply here: no racing to the bottom on price, just do the work well and a decent, stable life follows.
A former supermarket owner. After selling his supermarket he chose to start again in a new country. He now drives deliveries for a warehouse, with meals and housing included and a wage that is good for the role. The rent he does not pay is his first savings here.
The Employer Match Report opened in 2026; the visa step behind it is what we have done for years.
Send us the contract, we will tell you what it needs
A short call, a read on the contract, and a fixed scope in writing before any work starts.
Or message us on WhatsApp →