D4 Visa Portugal (Short-Term Student Visa)

Non-EU nationals who want to study in Portugal for over 90 days must procure A D4 Student Visa.

That means that the visa is necessary for any student who has chosen a long-term higher educational program, such as a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree.

The Portugal student visa is also suitable for those seeking a secondary education for over a year or looking to learn Portuguese at a language course. Last but not least, non-EU nationals may want to do volunteer work or apply for an internship in Portugal, which renders a D4 student visa useful.

There are various scenarios where foreign students can study in Portugal without a Portuguese short-term student D4 visa.

For one, EU/EFTA nationals do not need it to spend over three months in Portugal. Instead, they will need a certificate of residence from their local city council.

Additionally, non-EU nationals from different countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia, can study in Portugal without going through the visa application process if their study programs are short (under three months). In that case, a passport (valid for six months) is enough to legitimize their stay.

To take it a step further, even non-EU nationals from other countries do not have to obtain this student visa for a short program of under 90 days. What they need is a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa.

Certain qualifications and required documents are needed during the visa process. They should be certified with an apostille and translated into Portuguese. These are:

• A non-EU/Schengen country citizenship
• A valid passport or travel ID for at least six months past the expected end of the program with no less than two blank pages
• Two current, identical, and up-to-date passport photographs in good condition
• Confirmation of being enrolled in a higher or secondary vocational education institution in Portugal
• A certificate of no criminal record
• A form authorizing the Portuguese law enforcement authorities to run a criminal background check
• Confirmed availability of a rental agreement in an apartment, hostel, or other accommodation for the residency duration
• Bank statements for the last three to six months confirming the applicant’s financial ability to cover their living expenses during their stay in Portugal (about 400 € a month)
• Medical insurance that allows the applicant full coverage for no less than a year
• A motivation letter describing the goals of studying at a Portuguese educational institution

After procuring their valid passport and necessary documents, a person can begin the visa application process by presenting them at the Portuguese embassy or a consulate in their city.

Then, they may be asked to attend an interview or provide additional documents. Also, they should have the original copies of the required documents with them during the interview.

Afterward, applicants need to wait for their application form and documents to be processed. Several Portuguese authorities need to consult about a national visa.

Accordingly, the processing time can range from 30 days to three months from the visa application form submission or interview date. Also, the period ranges according to the country the applicant is applying for a student visa from.

It is worth noting that the visa validity period is four months, so getting a residence permit for a year after traveling to Portugal is necessary.

Then, applicants can extend this permit if needed. In fact, they can renew their student permits for up to five years at the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).

When applying for a long-stay visa, the visa processing fees are about €99 (compared to €60 for a short-stay visa). However, if the applicant is from Russia, Kosovo, Ukraine, or Georgia, they will only pay €35.

However, they must consider the associated costs with visa issuance. For example, they have a tuition fee, which can be €700 a semester in a bachelor’s program or €4.5K-10K for a two-year master’s program.

There are also immigration consultant fees (about €1400) and even language courses, which can start at €400 per semester.

Where D4 is a student visa, D2 is a visa for emerging entrepreneurs. D2 visa issuance urges entrepreneurs to start their enterprises in Portugal.

An admission letter or admission certificate is required to apply for a student visa. To compare, an original or creative idea, a coherent business plan, and nominal capitalization are required for the other visa.