To study for a bachelor's or master's degree in Portugal, non-EU students need a national residence visa for higher education, known as the D4, and then a residence permit from the migration agency AIMA after arrival. Russian citizens apply at the BLS International visa centre in Moscow, and since April 2026 the Portuguese embassy has accepted D4 applicants there without an appointment if they bring a letter from their university. The consular fee is $120 (€110), the legal decision period is up to 60 days, and the visa is valid for four months with two entries. The study residence permit is issued for up to three years, can be renewed, and allows work alongside studies. For choosing a university and budgeting, see studying in Portugal.
| At a glance | Details as of September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Visa type | national residence visa for higher education (D4) |
| Where Russian citizens apply | BLS International, Moscow; D4 applicants walk in with a university letter |
| Citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan | through the Portuguese embassy in Moscow and the BLS centre in Moscow |
| Consular fee | $120 (€110), paid in cash in roubles in Moscow |
| Decision time | up to 60 days |
| Visa validity | 4 months, two entries; apply to AIMA within that period |
| Funds | $1,040 (€920) a month for 12 months, $12,540 (€11,040); half if you already have housing |
| Residence permit | up to 3 years or the programme length, renewable; AIMA fees about $210 (€186) |
| Work | allowed alongside studies |
Which visa you need
Portugal has two national visas for study:
- residence visa (visto de residência) for programmes longer than a year, i.e. bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The Moscow embassy calls it the D4 study visa. It lets you enter and apply for a residence permit within four months;
- temporary stay visa (visto de estada temporária) for study under a year, such as an exchange semester or a language or preparatory course, with a decision within 30 days.
Erasmus Mundus joint master's students receive a separate visa coded E9. The law (Article 91(4)) also allows a higher-education student who entered Portugal legally to obtain a residence permit without a D4, but that requires a separate visa-waiver request, which AIMA's fee table prices at $260 (€230.40) with the current 25% reduction (full rate $350 (€307.20)), and AIMA decides case by case, so it is a risky plan.
Where Russian and CIS citizens apply
Russia. Schengen visas can be filed at any BLS International centre in Russia, but national visas only at BLS in Moscow. Appointments for national visas are booked through the e-Visa portal subject to availability; in March 2026 the embassy warned that national visa slots were fully booked until August. Students are the exception: since 17 April 2026 D4 applicants are admitted without an appointment if they show a letter from their university at the entrance. The consular fee is paid in cash in roubles, with BLS services charged separately. BLS is the embassy's only authorised service provider; other companies selling appointments are not connected to it.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Portuguese embassy in Astana states that national visas for citizens and residents of these three countries are processed by the embassy in Moscow, with applications lodged at BLS in Moscow. The walk-in rule for students applies to them as well.
Other countries. If you hold another nationality or live outside your country of citizenship, find the competent post in the "where to apply" table on the Portuguese visa portal. You can apply from a third country where you live legally, with proof of status valid beyond the requested visa.
D4 visa documents
The Portuguese visa portal sets the general list for residence visas:
- national visa application form signed by the applicant (or a legal guardian for minors);
- two identical recent passport-type photos;
- passport valid for at least three months after the planned departure date, plus a copy of the data page;
- proof of legal status if you apply outside your country of nationality;
- travel insurance covering emergency medical care and repatriation;
- criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or any country where you lived for over a year, with an apostille; not required under 16;
- proof of means of subsistence.
Higher-education applicants add proof of admission, or of meeting admission criteria, and of sufficient funds for the programme. Minors travelling without both parents need parental authorisation or a court order and a copy of the parent's ID.
Documents issued in Russia and Kazakhstan are apostilled in the issuing country. If papers are not in Portuguese, check with BLS in advance whether a translation is required.
How much money you must show
The benchmark is Portugal's minimum wage, $1,040 (€920) a month in 2026. For a study residence visa you show it for 12 months, i.e. $12,540 (€11,040). Ordinance (Portaria) 1563/2007 allows reductions:
| Situation | Amount to show for a year |
|---|---|
| Standard requirement | $12,540 (€11,040) |
| Accommodation paid or provided | half: $6,270 (€5,520) |
| Accommodation and meals covered | may be reduced by up to 90% |
| Scholarship holder | the consulate waives proof of funds and of admission |
Grants and scholarships count as means. If your university is officially recognised under Article 91-B of Law 23/2007, the visa portal exempts students from insurance and proof of funds; ask the international office whether this status applies. If tuition is already paid, attach the receipt, as AIMA will ask for proof of payment later. Legal ways to transfer money from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia, and the overall budget in the cost of studying in Portugal.
Step by step: from offer letter to residence permit
- Get your admission letter. You cannot apply for a D4 without it, which is why the first admission phase is the safer choice; see applying to Portuguese universities.
- Collect documents over three to four weeks. The apostilled criminal record certificate and bank statements take longest.
- Lodge the application at BLS in Moscow. D4 applicants walk in with the university letter; the consular fee is paid on submission.
- Wait for the decision. Residence visas are decided within 60 days, so apply by July at the latest to start in mid-September.
- Enter Portugal while the visa is valid. It lasts four months and allows two entries.
- Apply to AIMA for a residence permit before the visa expires.
A refusal can be challenged; the administrative fee for an appeal is $85 (€75).
The AIMA residence permit
Since 29 October 2023 foreigners' affairs have been handled by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), which replaced the former SEF. Higher-education students holding a D4 receive a residence permit under Article 91 of Law 23/2007 on foreigners.
How to apply. By appointment at any AIMA office; an online platform for residence visa holders is being introduced. The application is submitted in person.
Documents:
- passport and valid residence visa;
- a declaration of your address with supporting proof, such as a landlord's statement or residence letter;
- proof of means of subsistence;
- criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or previous residence;
- proof of enrolment at the university;
- proof of tuition payment where the university requires it;
- health insurance or proof of cover by the national health service (SNS).
If your university is approved under Article 91(5), AIMA waives the proof of funds and tuition payment; ask the international office whether this applies.
Fees. Under the table in force since 1 March 2026, application processing costs $150 (€133) and card issue $130 (€114.30). While these services are not yet digital, AIMA applies a 25% reduction: $110 (€99.80) and $97 (€85.80), about $210 (€186) in total.
Validity. A higher-education residence permit lasts three years and is renewable for equal periods, or matches the programme if it is shorter. For students on EU mobility programmes it is usually two years.
Working during and after your studies
A study residence permit holder may work as an employee or be self-employed, as long as the work is complementary to studies, which remain the basis of residence. AIMA sets no weekly hour cap for this category, but attendance and course progress still matter at renewal.
After graduation, options depend on the level:
- after a master's or doctorate, you can obtain a residence permit of up to one year to look for work or start a business related to your qualification;
- after a bachelor's, a work residence permit requires an employment contract, a promise of one, a service contract or registration as self-employed.
Schengen restrictions for Russian citizens: what applies to students
Since 12 September 2022 the EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement has been suspended, raising the Schengen visa fee for Russian citizens to $100 (€90) and lengthening processing. A European Commission decision published on 7 November 2025 restricted multiple-entry Schengen visas for Russian nationals applying in Russia. Both measures concern short-stay Schengen visas and do not apply to the national D4 visa or to residence permits.
Common mistakes
- Applying in August. With up to 60 days for a decision, late applications mean missing the start of classes.
- A criminal record certificate without an apostille. Neither BLS nor AIMA will accept it.
- Showing the bare minimum of funds. $12,540 (€11,040) is the consulate's threshold, not a real budget for Lisbon or Porto.
- Travelling without a D4 and hoping to sort it out locally. The visa waiver carries a separate fee and AIMA's answer is not known in advance.
- Missing the four-month window. The AIMA application must be filed while the visa is valid.
FAQ
National visas, including the D4, are filed only at the BLS International centre in Moscow. Since 17 April 2026 students are admitted without an appointment if they present a letter from a Portuguese university.
The consular fee for a national visa is $120 (€110), paid in cash in roubles in Moscow. BLS services, insurance, apostilles and translations are extra, and the AIMA residence permit adds about $210 (€186).
Under Portuguese foreign ministry rules, residence visas are decided within 60 days and temporary stay visas within 30 days. Book your visa submission as soon as the admission letter arrives.
Yes. The visa requires travel insurance covering emergency care and repatriation, and the AIMA residence permit requires health insurance or proof that you are covered by the national health service.
Yes. The law allows employment or self-employment alongside studies. Studies remain the basis of your residence, so AIMA looks at your enrolment when you renew.
No. The suspended facilitation agreement and the Commission's 2025 decision on multiple-entry visas cover short-stay Schengen visas. The D4 visa and the residence permit are issued under Portugal's law on foreigners.
After a master's or doctorate you can obtain a residence permit of up to one year to look for work or start a business. After a bachelor's, a work permit requires a contract or self-employment registration.
Sources
- Embassy of Portugal in Moscow: visas, D4 walk-in notice, 17 April 2026, visa information, 31 March 2026
- Embassy of Portugal in Astana: national visas via Moscow, 8 June 2026
- Portuguese visa portal: visa types, residence visa documents, means of subsistence, fees, decision times
- AIMA: residence permit for higher-education students, Article 91, fee table from 1 March 2026
- AIMA: job-search permit after a master's, work permit after a bachelor's
- European Commission: decision on multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals, 7 November 2025
ECB rate of 29.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355. Rounding step: $1 below $100, otherwise $10. Facts checked on 29 September 2026.
Checking the file against consular requirements, preparing the visa pack, booking and support up to the AIMA residence permit are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university makes the admission decision, the consular authority decides on the visa, and AIMA, the migration authority, decides on residence. If you want your document pack checked before your BLS visit, send an application.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Applying to Portuguese Universities: How the International Student Competition Works
- Cost of Studying in Portugal for International Students: Tuition, Housing and a First-Year Budget
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- Studying in Portugal for international applicants
- Bachelor's Degrees in Portugal: Studying After School in Portuguese or English
- Master's Degrees in Portugal for International Students: English-Taught Programmes, Fees and Admission
