Portugal Post-Study Work Visa Cost 2026: Fees and Total Expenses
Portugal Post-Study Work Visa Cost 2026: Fees and Total Expenses
If you are graduating from a Portuguese university and want to remain in the country, understanding the Portugal post-study work visa cost is an important part of planning your next step.
Portugal does not officially use one single immigration category called a “post-study work visa.” Instead, international graduates may move from a student residence permit to another residence status that allows them to look for work or begin professional activity.
For eligible master’s and doctoral graduates, Portuguese immigration rules provide a route that can allow up to one year to look for work or create a business in Portugal, provided the activity is compatible with their qualifications. Bachelor’s graduates follow a somewhat different route and generally need evidence of employment, a promise of employment, a service contract, or self-employment activity.
So, how much should an international graduate expect to pay in 2026?
Portugal Post-Study Work Visa Cost in 2026
Portugal’s immigration authority, AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), introduced an updated schedule of immigration fees from 1 March 2026.
For a standard temporary residence permit procedure, the main government charges may include:
- Application reception and examination fee: approximately €133
- Temporary residence permit grant fee: approximately €114.30
- Combined basic government fees: approximately €247.30
Applicants using an eligible digital procedure may benefit from reduced charges. AIMA states that applications submitted through available digital channels receive a 25% fee reduction compared with the applicable standard fee.
Using the reduced amounts in the 2026 fee schedule, the two basic charges can fall to approximately:
- Application examination: €99.80
- Temporary residence permit grant: €85.80
- Combined: approximately €185.60
The exact amount payable can depend on the application route and any additional services required.
Is the Post-Study Job Search Period Free?
No. Graduates should not assume that remaining in Portugal after graduation is automatically free simply because they already hold a student residence permit.
Eligible graduates who want to change or regularize their residence status must complete the relevant AIMA procedure and pay the applicable immigration fees.
For graduates of the second or third cycle of higher education—generally master’s and doctoral programs—Article 122(1)(p) provides a route allowing a maximum period of one year to search for employment or establish a business compatible with their qualifications.
Additional Costs International Graduates Should Budget For
The AIMA fee is only one part of the total Portugal residence permit cost after graduation.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to budget for:
1. Document Translation
Documents issued outside Portugal may need to be translated into Portuguese.
Costs depend on:
- Number of documents
- Language
- Certified translator fees
- Whether certification is required
2. Document Legalization or Apostille
Some foreign documents may need authentication or an Apostille before Portuguese authorities accept them.
This is particularly relevant to documents such as:
- Criminal record certificates
- Civil status certificates
- Certain official documents issued abroad
3. Criminal Record Certificate
AIMA may require a criminal record certificate from the applicant’s country of nationality or a country where the applicant previously lived for more than one year, depending on the application.
The price varies by country.
4. Health Insurance
Applicants may need appropriate health coverage depending on their residence situation.
The cost will depend on the insurance company, coverage level, age, and policy.
5. Residence and Accommodation Expenses
Applicants should also consider the financial requirements associated with maintaining legal residence in Portugal.
AIMA procedures commonly require evidence of accommodation and sufficient means of subsistence.
These are not visa fees, but they can represent a much larger financial commitment than the application itself.
Bachelor’s vs Master’s and PhD Graduates
One of the most important details is that the post-study rules are not identical for every graduate.
Bachelor’s Graduates
Graduates of the first cycle of higher education who want to remain and work in Portugal may apply under Article 122(1)(o).
AIMA lists evidence such as:
- Employment contract
- Promise of an employment contract
- Service contract
- Evidence of starting self-employed activity
- Proof that the degree was completed
Therefore, bachelor’s graduates should not automatically assume that they receive the same one-year job-search period available under the route for certain advanced-degree graduates.
Master’s and PhD Graduates
Graduates who previously held residence authorization for the second or third cycle of higher education may be able to use Article 122(1)(p).
This allows eligible graduates to request a period of up to one year to:
- Search for employment in Portugal
- Find work compatible with their qualifications
- Create a company or pursue qualifying professional activity
AIMA requires evidence that the relevant studies have been completed.
How to Reduce Portugal Post-Study Residence Permit Costs
There are several practical ways to avoid unnecessary expenses:
- Use AIMA’s digital channel when available. Eligible online applications can receive a 25% reduction in applicable fees.
- Prepare documents correctly the first time. Missing or incorrectly authenticated documents can create additional costs.
- Check the current AIMA fee table before paying. Immigration charges can be updated.
- Avoid unnecessary immigration intermediaries. A lawyer or immigration consultant is not automatically required for every straightforward application.
- Apply under the correct graduate category. Bachelor’s graduates and master’s/PhD graduates can face different requirements.
How Much Money Should You Budget?
For the immigration procedure itself, a graduate should expect the core government charges to be roughly €185–€250 under the current 2026 fee structure, depending on whether a reduced digital rate applies.
However, your actual total could be higher after adding:
- Certified translations
- Apostille or document legalization
- Criminal record documents
- Insurance
- Copies or administrative services
- Professional legal assistance, if you choose to use it
For this reason, it is better to separate the official AIMA application fees from your overall relocation and immigration budget.
Final Thoughts
The Portugal post-study work visa cost in 2026 is relatively straightforward once you identify the residence route that applies to your degree.
The basic AIMA charges for a temporary residence permit can total around €247.30 at the standard listed rates, while eligible reduced rates can bring the comparable basic charges to approximately €185.60.
More importantly, graduates should verify whether they qualify for the one-year job-search route or need an employment-related residence application. Portugal’s rules differ depending on the level of study completed.
Because AIMA fees and immigration procedures can change, always check the official fee schedule before submitting or paying for an application.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
Official Sources
- AIMA – Updated Immigration Fee Schedule: AIMA 2026 fee update
- AIMA – Residence Route for Master’s/PhD Graduates (Article 122(1)(p)): AIMA graduate residence information
- AIMA – Residence Route for Bachelor’s Graduates (Article 122(1)(o)): AIMA first-cycle graduate residence information
