Migration questions Portugal

Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal occurs after entry into the country and depends on the purpose of your stay. Upon arrival in Portugal, you need to schedule an appointment with the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum to obtain a residence permit.

 

For applying for a temporary residence permit, the following documents are required:

 

- Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months.

 

- Residence visa: the three-to-four-month visa with which you entered Portugal.

 

- Application form: filled and submitted to the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum.

 

- Proof of accommodation: rental agreement or other document confirming accommodation.

 

- Proof of financial stability: evidence of funds for living (e.g., bank statements, employment contract, etc.).

 

- Medical insurance: either private or public.

 

- Photographs: two colored photographs of 35mm x 45mm.

 

- Criminal record certificate: not required to be submitted independently, the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum automatically checks your details.

 

- Additional documents depending on the basis (employment contract; letter of admission to study; documents proving family ties).

 

Waiting times may vary from 15 days to several months depending on the agency's workload.

 

Renewal and Permanent Residency

 

Residence permit renewal: the initial residence permit is usually issued for 1 year, then extended for 2 years.

 

Permanent residency and citizenship: After 5 years of continuous residence, you can apply for permanent residency or citizenship.

 

Important Recommendations

 

Check for up-to-date information: immigration laws may change, so it is recommended to refer to official sources: Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (http://aima.gov.pt).

 

Consultation with professionals: for complex cases or investments, it is recommended to contact immigration lawyers or licensed agents.

Obtaining an entry visa: Before submitting documents for a residence permit, it is necessary to obtain an entry visa. You can apply for a visa at the Portuguese consulate in your country; this process usually takes about 60 days.

 

Types of entry visas

 

Work visa (Visa D1): for individuals with a job offer from a Portuguese employer.

 

Visa for highly qualified professionals (Visa D3): for specialists with higher education or equivalent experience.

 

Visa D7 (for individuals with passive income): for retirees and individuals with regular passive income.

 

Golden Visa: for investors investing in the Portuguese economy.

 

Student visa (Visa D4): for students enrolled in Portuguese educational institutions.

 

Family reunification (Visa D6): for family members of citizens or residents of Portugal.

 

Submitting a residence permit application in Portugal

 

Upon arrival in Portugal, you need to contact the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum to submit a residence permit application. It is important to do this before your entry visa expires (usually valid for 4 months). To do this, you need to book an appointment in advance through the AIMA website (http://aima.gov.pt) or local authorities.

 

For obtaining a residence permit in Portugal, fees must be paid. It is important to note that amounts may vary depending on the specific situation and type of visa, so it is recommended to verify information on official Portuguese immigration portals.

 

It is recommended to consult with immigration services or lawyers for up-to-date information on specific issues of obtaining a residence permit.

Stay up to 3 months: During the first three months of staying in Portugal, EU/EEA citizens are not required to register if they have a valid passport or national ID card. You can freely work and travel during this period.

 

Stay over three months: For staying longer than three months, you must register with the local municipal administration and obtain a Certificate of Registration for EU citizens. This document confirms your right to reside. Registration must be completed within 30 days after the first three months of residence in the country.

 

Required documents for registration:

 

- A valid passport or national ID card.

 

- Proof of residence (e.g., rental agreement or utility bill).

 

- An affidavit confirming the availability of financial means or an employment contract proving that you are employed or engaged in entrepreneurial activity.

 

 

 

Employment: Citizens of the EU and EEA do not need a separate work permit. You can freely take up employment or self-employment by presenting a document that confirms your right of residence.

 

Permanent residence: After five years of continuous residence in Portugal, you automatically obtain the right to permanent residence. You must apply for a Permanent Residence Certificate, which can also be obtained from the municipal administration. It is valid for 10 years and can be renewed automatically.

 

For family members who are not EU citizens: If your spouse or children are not EU citizens, they can also apply for a residence permit in Portugal. This must be done within 30 days after the first three months of their stay in the country.

 

Failure to comply with registration rules may result in fines ranging from 400 to 1500 euros.

For citizens of non-EU countries, staying and working in Portugal requires obtaining an appropriate visa and residence permit.

 

 

 

Permanent residence: After five years of having a temporary residence permit, one can apply for a permanent residence permit or Portuguese citizenship.

 

 

 

Thus, living and working in Portugal for citizens of non-EU countries involves certain bureaucracy, but the country offers various paths to obtain a residence permit, including work, entrepreneurial, and passive income visas.

When to apply

 

The extension of a residence permit should be initiated 30 days before the expiration of the current document. It is important that if your residence permit expired less than 6 months ago, you can still apply for an extension, but delays may result in fines.

 

 

 

Methods of application

 

Automatic extension: You can extend the residence permit through the AIMA portal, if your permit category supports this function. To do this, log into your account on the AIMA portal and select the automatic extension option. After paying the fee, the updated document will be sent to your postal address.

 

 

In-person visit: If automatic extension is not available, you need to schedule an appointment through the SIGA platform (siga.marcacaodeatendimento.pt - a platform for appointing various governmental services, including residence permit extensions); or visit the local office of the Institute of Registries and Notary Services for an in-person extension (irn.justica.gov.pt — the official site where you can find information on registration and extension of residence permits and other documents).

 

 

 

Documents required to extend a residence permit:

 

- A valid passport.

 

- A valid or recently expired (less than 6 months) residence permit.

 

- Proof of housing (e.g., rental agreement or ownership document).

 

- Proof of financial solvency (income statements, employment contract).

 

- Proof of tax and social security payments in Portugal.

 

 

 

Processing time

 

Automatic extension usually takes several weeks, but in-person applications through the IRN office may take longer due to system load. It is important to regularly check the status of your application on the AIMA portal.

To obtain a residence permit in Portugal, it is necessary to arrange for health insurance that meets the requirements of the immigration authorities. For the initial arrangement of a residence permit, private insurance is required. After obtaining a residence permit, you can apply for public health insurance.

 

 

 

Private health insurance: Suitable for all categories of applicants; covers outpatient and inpatient treatment; the cost depends on age, health status, and level of coverage (usually from 200 to 800 euros per year).

 

 

 

Main Insurance Requirements

 

 

 

Minimum coverage amount: 30,000 euros (preferably 50,000 euros).

 

Valid in Portugal (and ideally in other Schengen countries).

 

Coverage for urgent and emergency medical care, including hospitalization.

 

Long-term insurance (for the entire period of residence permit application, minimum 6-12 months).

 

 

 

Most popular insurance companies in Portugal: Médis; Multicare Fidelidade; Allianz Care; AdvanceCare; Cigna Global; AXA Schengen.

 

 

 

How to Use Insurance

 

When applying for a residence permit, you need to provide a copy of the insurance policy. The document should be translated into Portuguese or English. In some cases, a certificate confirming coverage may be required.

Citizenship through Naturalization

 

To obtain citizenship through naturalization, you must legally reside in Portugal for at least 5 years. During this time, you must maintain residency and not leave the country for more than 6 consecutive months or 8 months in total. Key requirements:

 

- Possession of a residence permit.

 

- Knowledge of the Portuguese language at level A2.

 

- Clean criminal record certificate.

 

- Documents proving your financial status and integration into Portuguese society.

 

 

 

Citizenship through Marriage

 

If you are married to a Portuguese citizen for at least 3 years, you can apply for citizenship. You will need to prove a connection with the Portuguese community, which may include living together, command of the Portuguese language, and other evidences.

 

 

 

Citizenship through Descent

 

If you have Portuguese parents or grandparents, you can obtain citizenship by descent. In the case of grandparents, you also need to prove knowledge of the Portuguese language and connection to Portugal's culture.

 

 

 

Citizenship through Investment (Golden Visa)

 

The program allows you to obtain residency, and after 5 years — citizenship, provided you invest in Portugal. The minimum investment is 250,000 euros for cultural projects or 500,000 euros for scientific research or business. Residence in the country can be minimal — only 7 days per year.

 

 

 

The process of obtaining citizenship generally takes 1-2 years after application submission.

Citizens with a temporary residence permit in Portugal can leave and return to the country, but there are certain restrictions on the duration of absence.

 

 

 

Maximum Duration of Absence

 

Holders of a temporary residence permit can leave Portugal for no more than six consecutive months or eight months with breaks during the entire validity of the permit. If these limits are exceeded, the residence permit may be annulled unless sufficient reasons are presented.

 

 

 

Justification of a Long Absence

 

If you need to be absent from Portugal for longer than the specified time, you can submit a request to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum asking to retain your residence permit, explaining the reasons for your absence. This may relate to professional, cultural, or social activities outside the country.

 

 

 

Special Circumstances

 

If your absence was due to acceptable reasons, such as work, business, or study, you can apply for residence retention even after returning, if you did not have the opportunity to do so in advance.

In case of a residence permit denial in Portugal, it's important to know that you have several options for further action.

 

 

 

Filing an Appeal

 

After a denial, you have the right to file an appeal within 15 days of receiving the denial notification. The appeal is submitted to the same authority that made the decision to refuse. It is important to provide additional evidence, correct errors specified in the refusal, and justify your right to obtain the permit.

 

 

 

Administrative Appeal

 

You can also file a complaint in an administrative court if you believe the refusal was unlawful. It is important to have the support of a lawyer who will help you properly prepare documents and present arguments.

 

 

Making Corrections to the Application

 

If the refusal was due to a lack of documents or insufficient information, you can review your application and resubmit it, addressing all shortcomings.

 

 

Legal Assistance

 

It is important to consult immigration lawyers or legal specialists who can assist in the appeal process. They can properly prepare the appeal and defend your rights in court or other instances.

Yes, if the documents you are submitting for immigration or other official procedures are in a language other than Portuguese, they will need to be translated. The translation must be certified, meaning it should be performed by a professional translator and notarized by an authorized organization (such as a notary or lawyer).

 

 

Where to find translators?

 

 

Official translation agencies: In Portugal, certified translations can be ordered through agencies that specialize in translating official documents.

 

 

Notarial services: Translations can be notarized by notaries or lawyers, which adds official status to the documents. This is a mandatory step for most immigration procedures.

 

 

How to choose a translator?

 

 

It is important to ensure that the translator has experience working with official documents and is accredited by relevant organizations. It is also necessary to check whether your translation needs to be notarized for a specific procedure related to a visa or residence permit.