If I enter Portugal on an E4 (scientific research) visa, and obtain a Ph.D. fellowship after that, do I have to return to my home country (non-EEA) first, or can I convert my visa type to D4 from within Portugal?
Visas cannot be changed when in Portugal. The correspondent residency permit shall be requested, or, if the conditions are not met anymore, a different residency permit shall be requested, based on the available documents that sustained the evolution of the situation, which in some cases can be accepted.
It is possible for you to convert your residence type in Portugal, without the need to return to your home country. To this end, you just have to schedule an appointment with the Portuguese authorities (SEF) and update your employment situation, as well as fulfill the necessary criteria, providing all supporting documents.
Having entered Portugal with an E4 visa for scientific research, you can apply for a residence permit as a student in Portugal, without having to return to your country of origin.
+1-800-347-9390
