The residence visa for subordinate work (employment) is the main official work route for Pakistanis. You need a job contract, a promise of a contract or a written expression of interest from a Portuguese employer. The Embassy of Portugal in Islamabad no longer accepts Job Seeker Visa applications. You request an appointment from the Embassy by email and submit at the visa centre. The visa gives two entries over 4 months, during which you must apply to AIMA for a residence permit.
Processing timeLegal decision deadline for residence visas is 60 days
Validity / stayResidence visa valid for 4 months with two entries; the holder must apply for a residence permit with AIMA during that time
Official fees (approx.)PKR 34,257
Documents11 items
Important: The Embassy in Islamabad says the Job Seeker Visa has been discontinued for applicants in Pakistan and it no longer accepts requests for it. The route for employment is the residence visa for subordinate work.
- An employment contract, a promise of a contract or an individual expression of interest from an employer.
- Proof of professional qualification if the job is a regulated profession in Portugal.
- Means of subsistence, shown through the contract or a term of responsibility from the host employer.
- A police certificate issued less than 90 days before you apply, with a MOFA Pakistan apostille.
- Civil documents such as your birth certificate, FRC and marriage certificate, issued in the last 6 months and apostilled by MOFA Pakistan.
How to apply:
- Email sconsular.islamabad@mne.pt with your name, passport number, purpose, and the company invitation letter or work contract attached.
- Fill in the national visa form and prepare the D1 checklist.
- Submit at the visa centre and pay the fee.
- After you arrive, apply to AIMA for your residence permit while the visa is still valid.
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This summary is for guidance. Requirements can change at short notice; always confirm on the official website before you apply.
Common refusal reasons & how to avoid them
Purpose and conditions of stay not justified (Annex VI)
Annex VI lists this ground when the consulate is not convinced about why you are travelling or how the stay will go. Vague itineraries, weak invitations, or bookings that do not match the stated purpose can all trigger it.
How to fix it: Submit a detailed itinerary with dates, cities and activities. For business trips, include an invitation letter from the host company explaining meetings and who pays. For family visits, include invitation and relationship proof. Make sure hotel and flight reservations match exactly. Your cover letter should tell one clear story consistent with every document.
Insufficient means of subsistence (Annex VI)
Each Schengen state sets a daily amount needed for the stay and return. If your statements, income or sponsor evidence do not show enough, or the funds look unreliable, the consulate refuses for insufficient means.
How to fix it: Check the reference amount per day for the country you are applying to and calculate the total for your trip. Show six months of bank statements with regular income. If a sponsor pays, submit the official sponsorship or guarantee form where the country requires it, plus their finances. Include hotel prepayment or host accommodation proof to reduce the amount you need.
Intention to leave the Schengen area not ascertained (Annex VI)
This is one of the most common Annex VI grounds for Pakistani applicants. It is ticked when your ties at home, travel history or overall profile do not convince the officer that you will leave the Schengen area before your visa expires, so the risk of overstaying or not returning seems too high.
How to fix it: Strengthen ties: employer letter with approved leave, business documents, tax returns, property papers and family evidence. Build travel history to other countries first. Keep the trip short and purpose clear. Show a return ticket reservation and a consistent itinerary. Address the specific weakness from your refusal rather than simply resubmitting.
No valid travel medical insurance (Annex VI)
The Visa Code requires travel medical insurance valid for the whole Schengen area and the full stay, with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation. Missing insurance, low cover, wrong dates or a policy that excludes some states is a listed refusal ground on the Annex VI form.
How to fix it: Buy a policy from an insurer the embassy accepts, valid in all Schengen states, for every day of your trip plus a small margin, with at least EUR 30,000 medical and repatriation cover. Check that your name and passport number match exactly. Submit the full policy certificate showing cover and territory, not just a payment receipt, and keep a copy with you when you travel.
Already stayed 90 days in the current 180-day period (Annex VI)
Short-stay Schengen visas allow a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across all member states. If your previous stays already use up this allowance, or your planned dates would exceed it, the consulate must refuse, because the new stay would break the rule no matter how strong the rest of the file is.
How to fix it: Count your previous days using the European Commission short-stay calculator, including entry and exit days. Plan your next trip for dates when enough days have become available again, and state them clearly on the form. If you genuinely need to stay longer, look at the national long-stay visa of the relevant country instead. Declare previous stays accurately and attach copies of earlier visas and stamps.
Information or documents not reliable (Annex VI)
Annex VI includes a ground where the information given to justify the purpose and conditions of the stay was not reliable. Consulates often verify bank statements, employer letters and bookings directly. If a document cannot be confirmed, looks altered or contradicts another, the whole application loses credibility.
How to fix it: Use only genuine documents obtained directly from your bank, employer, hotel and airline, and check them yourself before submitting. Bank statements should carry the bank's stamp or be verifiable online. Correct any inconsistency between documents and the form. If you believe the decision is wrong, you can appeal as explained on the refusal form. Deliberately false documents can be recorded in shared systems and harm every future application.
Check your own risk
