Scientific Research Visa (D4 & E4)
Portugal
Last updated: December 27, 2025
1 year
$110
60 days
Medium
About this Visa
This visa lets you do scientific research in Portugal. It's for researchers, PhD students, and academic teachers from outside the EU. You work with a Portuguese university or research center while living in Portugal. There are two types. The D4 is for research lasting more than one year. The E4 is for shorter projects (3-12 months). Both let you stay legally and work in your research role. Portugal wants to attract researchers from around the world. They make this visa easy to get if you have a job offer or research project at a Portuguese institution.
Key Benefits
- Work part-time (20 hrs/week) or full-time during breaks
- Bring spouse and children
- Access to public healthcare
- Travel freely in Schengen countries
- Time counts toward citizenship (10 years)
- Easy path to work visa or citizenship later
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Have job offer or research project at Portuguese university/research center
- Have college degree or be PhD student
- No serious criminal record
- Have valid health insurance
- Can support yourself or employer sponsors you
- Not from EU/EEA
Financial Requirement
About $750-800 per month to live in Portugal. Institution can sponsor instead. Researchers with job offer don't need to prove if employer sponsors.
Documents
- Valid passportMust last 3+ months beyond stay
- Job offer letterFrom Portuguese employer/research center
- Health insuranceMust cover €30,000+ ($35,000+) in medical care
- Police recordFrom home country (must be recent)
- Proof of addressWhere you will live in Portugal
- Passport photos2 standard passport-sized photos
- Completed visa formOfficial Portuguese application
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.