The Portuguese residence permit is granted to those who have a good reason to move to the country with the purpose of staying there for more than 3 months. At the moment there are 10 grounds for registration of the status. Let's say you are going to work in a company on Portuguese territory, study at university, open your own business or have another reason for requesting a residence permit. First you will need to apply for a long-term visa at the Portuguese Embassy/Consulate in your place of residence, use it to cross the Portuguese border and apply for the status.

The Portuguese residence permit can be your first step on the way to legalization in Europe, i.e., obtaining EU citizenship. With this document you can live in a developed and warm EU country for a long period of time - usually from 1 to 2 years.

What are the benefits of a Portuguese residence permit?

With a temporary residence permit in Portugal, you can:

• live in the country for more than 3 months with the possibility to temporary leave the country;
• reunite with close relatives to live together;
• apply for social assistance according to your status, such as benefits and housing subsidies;
• be served by European banks with access to international transfers and favorable credit;
• receive quality health care;
• freely provide the goods and services in the EU Single Market without paying additional customs duties or surcharges when crossing borders within the EU;
• work officially (for certain types of residence permits);
• apply for permanent residence status and citizenship in the future (for immigration types of residence permits).

Those who have EU citizenship rather than residence permit have more rights and advantages. It can take as little as 8-12 months to obtain an EU passport. Check your chances by contacting Immigrantinlaw lawyers for a free consultation.

What you need to obtain a residence permit in Portugal

You can become a resident of Portugal if you meet the requirements of the immigration law and prove it with documentation.

What are the requirements for the applicant?

You can apply for a Portuguese residence permit if you:

• have a long-term national D visa on the same basis for which you are applying for a residence permit;
• you can support yourself by receiving legal income in the amount not lower than the minimum wage in the country;
• have a place to live in the country (e.g., a rented apartment or relatives to stay with);
• you are not categorized as an undesirable person according to the Portuguese and Schengen information systems;
• have a health insurance policy;
• have not been convicted of a crime in any country.

Required documents

To request Portuguese residency status on any of the grounds you need to provide:

• 2 color personal photos of 35 x 45 mm size;
• valid passport;
• visa of D category;
• proof of regular income (e.g., employment contract);
• proof of a place to live in the country (e.g., a rental agreement);
• health insurance or proof that you are covered by the National Health Service;
• a receipt for the government fee to process the request;
• proof of grounds (e.g., investment certificate or contract with a Portuguese organization);
• taxpayer identification number (NIF) and social security number (NISS).

What are the options for obtaining a Portuguese residence permit?

Portugal's migration policy is quite loyal. The country offers many ways to obtain residency, from professional activities to family and humanitarian reasons. You can't buy a residence permit, but you can become an investor and get a residence permit with special benefits.

Investing in the economy

Portugal has a residency for investment program known as the Golden Visa. To request a residence permit, you must fulfill one of the conditions below:

• Invest from 250 thousand EUR in the field of artistic production, restoration or preservation of the national cultural heritage;
• to spend half a million EUR on opening or expanding a Portuguese commercial company with the creation of at least 5 new jobs for employees;
• invest 500,000 EUR or more in shares of collective investment organizations;
• contribute from 500 000 EUR to the development of research organizations of the Republic;
• organize at least 10 new full-time jobs for Portuguese citizens.

An investor residence permit gives you more benefits compared to other types. You can enter the country without a visa and live there with family members. Also, you do not have to reside permanently in the Republic: you only need to stay in Portugal for a week in a 12-month period to keep the document valid. According to the new rules in force in 2024, investment residence permit is not granted when buying real estate.

Employment

If you are officially employed in the Republic, you have the right to apply for a Portuguese residence permit. In this case, you will be issued a residence card for up to 2 years, but not longer than the duration of the employment contract. So-called digital nomads can also become residents - those who work freelance in a company from the IT sector and receive from four minimum wages in the country (about 3300 EUR per month).

Employees of international organizations who are sent on a long business trip to the Portuguese office can also count on relocation. It is important that in this case you have already worked in the company from three months to a year, depending on the position held. The right to immigration also appears in the case of intra-corporate transfer under similar conditions. Also, the residence permit can be issued to scientific employees of local specialized organizations.

If you belong to the category of professionals with high qualifications and are hired by a Portuguese employer to perform tasks in the profile for a period of six months or more, you can count on a special residence permit - EU Blue Card or Cartão Azul UE. An important condition is that the income must be 120-150% of the average salary in the country in the relevant industry (the percentage depends on the profession).

It is important to prove your work experience and provide a university degree as proof of qualification. Cartão Azul UE gives you special preferences, the main ones being the possibility to immigrate to Portugal with your spouse and children and the right to work in the European Union.

Admission to a university

If you are enrolled in a Portuguese university or are coming to study under an EU academic mobility program, you can obtain a temporary resident card. This will require payment of tuition fees or documentation of a scholarship, including from the State or through the Camões Institute (if you participate in its programs).

A residence permit is issued when you already have a certificate of enrollment in your studies in hand. For students who are under 18 years of age, it is mandatory to provide permission from parents or guardians to move. Residence permits are also granted to those who participate in cross-national student exchange programs.

Starting a business/self-employment

It is possible to obtain a residence permit in Portugal as a founder of a company or an IE (individual entrepreneur). Foreigners are not restricted in the choice of the field of activity, the amount of start-up capital to open a business, the form of ownership. If you plan as a self-employed to provide services in a regulated profession (for example, as a medical worker), it is necessary to confirm your qualifications by passing the nostrification of the diploma or receiving approval from the specialized state association. When registering a company, the relevant certificate must be provided.

Starting an innovative company

If you have an idea for a promising startup that may be of economic interest to Portugal, it is possible to obtain a residence permit. You submit the business plan to the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation for study. The authority renders a verdict, including taking into account your experience as an entrepreneur and your education in the field. It is not enough to get approval: you must also have your project sponsored by a licensed business incubator.

Reuniting with relatives

If a member of your family lives in Portugal with an immigration type residence permit or on the basis of a permanent residence permit, you can expect to move in with them. Reunification is approved for husbands and wives, resident mothers and fathers, minor children under the age of 18. As an exception, for example, an adult child or parents who need care or are supported by the host country may participate in the program.

The host family member must have a stable income to support each of the invitees. To understand, in 2024 at least 820 EUR per month is required for the first adult, 410 EUR for the second and subsequent adults, and about 275 EUR for children under 18 years of age. Also, the inviting person is obliged to provide family members with a place to stay, for example, a room in their own or rented apartment.

Humanitarian reasons

Temporary residence in Portugal is available if you get into one of the categories:

• are recognized as a refugee and cannot stay in your home country due to threats to your life and safety;
• are a victim of crime, such as sexual exploitation or other crimes;
• are in need of additional protection.

The Republic also issues a residence permit on an exceptional basis if you have no other reason to stay here, but you need it badly. All of the above situations are studied by the authorized bodies individually.

Financial independence

The D7 visa with the right to reside is granted to those who live on their own income, such as freelancers, pensioners, landlords and other financially independent persons. The important condition is to have a regular passive income that exceeds the minimum wage in Portugal, which is 820 EUR per month as of 2024. The residence permit is granted without the right to work for 2 years and the possibility of renewal for the next 3 years.

Residence permit of a non-immigration type

Some types of temporary resident cards in Portugal are issued for a limited period of time and do not entitle you to obtain permanent residence or citizenship in the future. For example, you can come to the country for volunteering, internship or long-term medical treatment. The need to stay in the state should be confirmed by an appropriate document.

It is quite easy for EU citizens to move to Portugal - they do not need to go through bureaucratic procedures and fulfill a number of requirements. In some EU countries there are simplified programs for obtaining a passport, about which Immigrantinlaw migration specialists will tell you at the consultation.

Step-by-step procedure for obtaining a Portuguese residence permit

1. Decide which basis for immigration is suitable for you.
   You study the options for obtaining a residence permit, compare the conditions for each and prepare documents in accordance with the requirements.
2. Obtain a D visa.
   Having made an appointment at the Portuguese Embassy/Consulate in your place of residence, on the appointed day you visit the state body and submit the documents for a visa. Your request will be studied on average in about a month and after approval, you will return your passport with the visa pasted on it.
3. Move to Portugal and visit the migration office.
   The D visa is valid for 4 months. During this time, you need to cross the Portuguese border, make an address registration, contact the authorities to obtain the accompanying documents for the residence permit (e.g., tax and social numbers).
4. Apply for a residence permit.
   Before your visa expires, you pre-register and go to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) on the appointed day. You will need to submit your residence permit documents and pay an administrative fee.
5. Obtain a residence permit.
   Once your request is approved, you will be issued a temporary resident card, which can be used within the country and within the European Union.

Cost and terms

By law, requests for a Portuguese residence permit are considered for up to 60 days. There is no deadline for visa decisions, but in practice you have to wait 1-1.5 months. You will also need time to collect documents, their notarization, waiting for reception by electronic queue. In total, according to immigrants' feedback, the whole procedure of registration of residence is delayed for about 3-4 months. The table below shows the actual size of state fees. If necessary, you will have to pay for additional legal assistance, the cost of which is calculated depending on your situation.

How long the Portuguese residence permit is valid and how to extend it

In most cases, the Portuguese residence permit is valid for a maximum of 12 months. Work, investment and entrepreneurial residence permits are valid for a longer period of 2 years. Renewal of the document is possible for 24 or 36 months, depending on the basis. Residency can be renewed remotely, through the online service AIMA, or by personal visit to the relevant authority. It will be necessary to resubmit the documents and pay an administrative fee. The residence permit is extended if you still have a legitimate reason to live in the country.

Refusal to issue a residence permit and revocation of status

The most common reasons for refusal of a Portuguese residence permit are mistakes. For example, if you submit an incomplete file, or if it is not translated or certified correctly. Your request will be rejected if you do not meet any of the requirements - for example, you are not well off or have a criminal record. You will also be refused if you are recognized as an undesirable person for entry into the Republic, for example, because of violation of visa rules of Portugal or Schengen zone.

The issued Portuguese residence permit may be revoked if it turns out that you have indicated false information about yourself. The document is canceled and in the case of a crime - this will lead to further expulsion from the country. You can also lose the right to reside if you leave Portugal for a period of more than 6 consecutive months or 8 months in total for the entire period of validity of the residence permit.

Immigrantinlaw's specialized lawyers can help you avoid mistakes when immigrating to Portugal. Step-by-step support of the EU citizenship process by experienced specialists is your guarantee of confidence and positive result.

How to become a permanent resident or citizen

You will be able to apply for a Portuguese permanent residence 5 years after obtaining a residence permit. During this time, you must live in the country legally and continuously. To obtain permanent residency status, you will need to pass a national language test (A2 level), prove compliance with tax and social security obligations. You must also have health insurance, a place to live in the country and a certificate of income or its equivalent.

Portuguese citizenship, as well as permanent residency, can be obtained after 5 years from the date of moving to the country. The requirements coincide with the requirements for permanent resident status. However, there are faster ways to acquire all the rights that Portuguese citizens have. You can become an EU passport holder in up to 12 months, without major costs or effort. Find out more by booking a free consultation with an Immigrantinlaw lawyer.

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About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.