Help page to Request the salary bonus to value qualifications
On this help page you'll find a list of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQ), which can clear up your doubts about requesting the salary bonus.
- Questions about filling in and sending the form
- Questions about the requirements to request the bonus
- Questions about academic degrees
You can submit your request and find out more about the requirements and procedure for this service on the Request the salary bonus to value qualifications page.
It is not possible to make changes to an application once you have submitted it. If you have made a mistake, or for any other reason wish to change any of your details, please submit a new application. Only the last application you submit (associated with the same NIF and academic degree) will be considered.
If an error appears after filling in the application form, make a new application. Even if the first request was sent successfully, only the last request you submit (associated with the same NIF and academic degree) will be considered.
If the application is successful, you will receive a confirmation email.
The Directorate General for Higher Education (DGES) will analyse your application and check that you meet the academic requirements.
The Tax and Finance Authority (Finanças) will analyse your application and check that you meet the requirements regarding your income and respective declaration.
Yes. Once you have submitted your request, you will receive a confirmation email. You can also consult your reserved area on this portal, where you can follow the process of your request for a salary premium for the valorisation of qualifications.
The last day to apply for the salary bonus is 31 May.
During June, the DGES will analyse the applications submitted.
During July, the Tax Office will analyse the applications submitted.
The final decision on the award of the bonus rests with the Tax Office, and you can consult this in your personal area of the Portal das Finanças from July onwards.
You can also consult your reserved area on this portal, where you can follow the process of your request for the salary bonus for upgrading qualifications.
For technical reasons, the order form may be difficult to view on mobile devices. If this is the case, we recommend that you place your order using a computer.
Tenho de pedir o prémio todos os anos?
Não. Só tem de pedir o prémio uma vez. Nos anos seguintes, as Finanças verificam se continua a cumprir todos os requisitos para receber o prémio. Se continuar a cumprir todos os requisitos, as Finanças fazem o pagamento do prémio previsto para esse ano, sem ser preciso mais nada da sua parte.
No. You only have to claim the bonus once. In subsequent years, the Tax and Finance Authority (Finanças) will check that you continue to fulfil all the requirements to receive the bonus. If you continue to fulfil all the requirements, the tax office will pay you the bonus for that year, without you having to do anything else.
You can't. You can only apply, or receive the bonus, until the year you turn 35. In other words, the year you turn from 34 to 35.
You can't. You can only request the salary bonus at least the year after you graduate. If you graduated in 2024, you won't be able to request the bonus until 2025.
You are not entitled to receive the bonus. You must live in Portugal, i.e. have the address on your Citizen's Card, or the tax address for those who don't have a Citizen's Card, registered with a Portuguese address.
Yes, as long as the course you took is recognised in Portugal. When applying for the bonus, if you studied abroad, you will need to indicate the "unique recognition number" of your degree or diploma on the form. Find out how to apply for recognition of foreign higher education degrees and diplomas.
No. If you request the bonus without having earned any income or submitted your tax return, when the tax office analyses your claim, it will be rejected.
In order to be entitled to the bonus, you must have had type A income (dependent employment) or type B income (self-employment) and have submitted the relevant tax return for this income in the year in which you claim and/or pay the bonus.
No. If you request the bonus without having earned any income or submitted your tax return, when the tax office analyses your claim, it will be rejected.
In order to be entitled to the bonus, you must have had type A income (dependent employment) or type B income (self-employment) and have submitted the relevant tax return for this income in the year in which you claim and/or pay the bonus.
If you have any doubts about whether you fulfil all the requirements to be able to claim the salary bonus, check out the Request the salary bonus to value qualifications page. Or, ir you prefer, use this salary bonus request simulator.
You are not entitled to receive the bonus. In order to be entitled, you must file your personal income tax return (IRS) as a taxable person. In other words, you must not appear as a dependent on someone else's tax return.
You can file a joint tax return with your spouse or unmarried partner, as long as you declare income from dependent work (category A) or self-employment (category B) in your name.
The list contains all the courses indicated by higher education institutions between 2018 and 2023. If you can't find your course on the list, contact the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) via the support area of the DGES portal.
The unique recognition number is the identification number given at the end of a process for recognising academic qualifications. For example, if you have taken a course abroad and have asked for the course to be recognised in Portugal. The unique recognition number can be found on the recognition certificate issued by the competent authority. If you haven't already done so, find out how to apply for recognition of foreign higher education degrees and diplomas.
You don't need to make two different applications. In the same application, you can identify the bachelor's degree and the master's degree you completed.
If you didn't know and made two different applications, that's fine. Both applications will be considered.
You can apply just for the master's degree. In the case of integrated master's degrees, when you choose the master's degree, the entire cycle of studies and its total duration (bachelor's+master's) will be taken into account.
Yes, you can apply for the degree you completed, even if you haven't finished the integrated master's programme.
You should bear in mind that if you graduate from an integrated master's programme before 2023, and claim the bonus for the degree, you will receive the salary bonus for fewer years than if you claim it at the end of the integrated master's programme. In other words, you are only entitled to receive the bonus for the number of years equal to the difference between the number of years the degree is expected to last and the number of years that have passed since the year you finished the degree and the year 2023.
For example, if you completed a bachelor's degree (with an expected duration of 3 years) of an integrated master's degree in 2021, and you claim the salary bonus for that degree in 2024, you will only be entitled to receive the value of the bonus for one year, in 2024.
If you complete the integrated master's degree, for example in 2025 or later, and claim the salary bonus for the entire study cycle of the integrated master's degree, you will be entitled to receive the bonus for the total number of years of the planned duration of the study cycle (years of the bachelor's degree + years of the master's degree), even if you completed the bachelor's degree before 2023.
The list contains all the courses indicated by higher education institutions between 2018 and 2023. If you can't find your course on the list, contact the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) via the support area of the DGES portal.
You can request the salary bonus in 2024, but only for the bachelor's degree completed in 2023 or earlier. For the master's degree completed in 2024, you will only be able to request the bonus in 2025.