Independent index: figures taken from official tariffs, not from agents
themigrationroute.com/
Get offers
The threshold rises with the minimum wage every January

Portugal
Student visa D4

University enrolment plus financial means at the level of the minimum wage — for 2026, that is €920/month, roughly €11,040 for a year. AIMA assesses it at the rate current on the appointment date, not the filing date.

Financial means from
€11,040/yr
Per month (2026)
€920/mo
Stay requirement
for the duration of studies
Work while studying
allowed

How the amount is calculated and who confirms it

The financial requirement is structured the same way but accepts different sources of proof — a scholarship, a sponsor’s letter, or parental support.

SOURCE OF FUNDS
WHAT IS NEEDED
WHAT TO KNOW
Personal savings
WHAT IS NEEDEDa bank statement for €11,040+
The amount is tied to the minimum wage — it rises every January along with it.
University scholarship
WHAT IS NEEDEDan official scholarship award letter
Counts directly if it covers the required level.
Sponsor (parents/third party)
WHAT IS NEEDEDa notarised sponsorship letter + proof of the sponsor’s income
The sponsor must prove their own financial capacity, not just declare willingness to help.

What the process consists of

Besides financial means, you need to pay for the visa itself and the subsequent AIMA residence registration.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
D4 visa (consulate)
RATE~€90
per applicant
Residence card via AIMA
RATE~€165
per applicant
Health insurance (mandatory for the visa period)
RATEfrom €30–50/mo
per applicant

How the process runs

01
Enrolment at a Portuguese university
An enrolment letter is a mandatory condition for filing a D4 visa.
02
Preparing financial proof
The amount is calculated at the minimum-wage rate in effect at the time of assessment, not when documents are gathered.
03
Filing for the D4 visa at a consulate
The visa is issued for entry, after which the applicant registers in Portugal.
04
AIMA appointment and assessment
AIMA assesses financial means at the rate current on the appointment date — if it slips into a new calendar year, the amount can change.
05
Residence card for the study period
The card is issued for the study programme’s duration, with renewal available.

A good fit if

You have an enrolment letter from a Portuguese university or a recognised study programme.
Financial means are confirmed at the minimum-wage level (2026: €920/mo, roughly €11,040/yr) — via savings, a scholarship, or a sponsor’s letter.
You want a legal way to work part-time alongside your studies.
You accept that the exact confirmation amount can shift if your AIMA appointment slips into the next calendar year.

A poor fit if

You have no university enrolment letter — the D4 visa requires an actual place of study, not a speculative application.
Your financial means are below the current minimum-wage threshold and you have no sponsor able to document their financial capacity.
You need a fixed exact figure for several years ahead — the threshold officially rises with the minimum wage (already approved to reach €970 in 2027 and €1,020 in 2028).
Your health insurance is not arranged for the full visa period — a separate mandatory condition, independent of the financial threshold.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Why isn’t the required amount fixed?

Because it is officially tied to Portugal’s minimum wage (salário mínimo nacional), which the government revises every January. For 2026 that is €920/month — up from €870 in 2025 under Decree-Law No. 139/2025.

At what date is the amount calculated?

AIMA assesses financial means at the rate current on the applicant’s appointment date, not the date documents are filed or the process begins — if the appointment slips to the next year, the amount can rise.

Can a sponsor confirm the funds?

Yes — a notarised sponsorship letter from parents or a third party, but the sponsor must document their own financial capacity, not just declare willingness to help.

Is part-time work allowed during studies?

Yes, the D4 visa allows work alongside studies — specific hourly limits are not covered on this page pending separate verification.

What happens to the amount in 2027 and 2028?

The minimum wage is already approved to rise — to €970 in 2027 and €1,020 in 2028, under a tripartite agreement between the government, the UGT union, and employers.

Who reviews documents after the visa — the consulate or AIMA?

The D4 visa is issued by the consulate for entry, while the subsequent residence registration and final document review happen in Portugal through AIMA.

Sources

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.