If I have a Portuguese golden visa, can I apply to study or work in another EU country like Germany or France?

Question

P Sinha · Accepted Answer

Many people assume a Golden Visa means freedom to live or work anywhere in the EU &mdash; but that&rsquo;s not how it works.

A Portuguese Golden Visa gives you residence rights only in Portugal.
It allows visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but that doesn&rsquo;t include study or work permissions elsewhere.
To study or work in Germany or France, you must apply for that country&rsquo;s national visa, just like any non-EU resident.
These countries do not accept the Portuguese Golden Visa as a substitute for their own long-term permits.
Full EU mobility .meaning the right to live and work in other EU countries &mdash; only comes with Portuguese citizenship, not permanent residency.

Until then, each EU country requires a separate application if you want to stay longer than 90 days or engage in study or employment.

Shruti T · Answer

A Portuguese Golden Visa doesn&rsquo;t give automatic work or study rights in other EU countries like Germany or France. It&rsquo;s a residence permit for Portugal,  not a Schengen visa, though it does allow short-term travel within the Schengen Zone.
You can visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but that&rsquo;s as a tourist. If you plan to work or study in Germany or France, you still need to apply for a national visa or residence permit from that country.
For example, enrolling in a French university requires a French student visa, even if you already hold a Golden Visa for Portugal. The same applies for employment &mdash; each country processes those applications separately based on their own immigration laws.
So while you can travel, you can&rsquo;t relocate without going through the proper national visa route.