Residency in Portugal

Entering Portugal

All foreign nationals entering Portugal must have a travel document that is valid for three months beyond the length of intended stay, a visa if applicable, sufficient financial means and not be included on the national list of non-admissible persons.

• To find out which documents are necessary for entering Portugal: Click here

Visa requirements for Portugal

EU citizens and residents of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Portugal (however they must hold passports that are valid for three months longer than their length of stay): Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela.

Visas should be obtained before the foreign national leaves for Portugal, from the local Portuguese embassy or consulate.

• To find out which nationalities need a visa to enter Portugal: Click here

Residency Permits (Autorização de Residência)

The Portuguese Immigration Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, SEF) is the administrative body responsible for issuing residence permits. 

• It provides comprehensive information in English on entering the country and taking up residency: Click here
• An FAQ (frequently asked questions) section deals with all relevant topics: Click here

Authorisation for Residence and Residence Permits

The residence card (Autorização de Residência) is necessary for anyone who moves to Portugal, or for anyone who is planning to stay for longer than six months. This includes those who work, the self-employed, students, those intending to live off savings, retired people and family members of any of the above.

Applications for a residency permit should be made at the regional directorate or the Delegation of the SEF in the area of residence.

• SEF Head Office
  At: Rua Conselheiro José Silvestre Ribeiro 4, 1649-007 Lisbon
  Tel: 217 115 000
  Fax: 217 161 595
• To find a local SEF office: Click here

Necessary Documents

When applying for a residency permit the following documents must be supplied:

• Application Form
• Valid passport plus one photocopy
• Two recent identical passport photos
• Proof of income / financial independence
• Consular certificate
• Proof of accommodation
• A small fee

Other documents may be necessary depending on the person's particular situation, for example a student will need proof of registration at a Portuguese institution.

• Application forms for an authorisation of residence can be downloaded from the SEF website: Click here

The residence permit takes a few weeks to process and once issued bears the person's photograph and signature. Once the residency card has been issued it must be carried at all times for possible inspection. Holders of a residency permit can apply for an identity card (Bilhete de Identidad) at the local District Council (Junta de Freguesia).

Types of authorisation of residence

Residence permits can be temporary or permanent. 

• Temporary permits are valid for two years and are renewable for three-year periods. Applications to renew a permit must be sent 30 days before the expiry date. 
• Permanent residence is available to nationals from countries where Portuguese is the official language who have lived legally in Portugal for five years, and citizens from other countries who have lived legally in Portugal for at least eight years. Permanent residence permits should be renewed every five years or whenever the person's personal information changes.

Leaving Portugal

If the holder of a residency card decides to leave Portugal permanently, then the residence card (Autorização de Residência) should be handed in at the local police station.

Fiscal Number (NIF)

Anyone moving to Portugal must apply for the Número de Indentificação Fiscal, which is the foreigner's tax number. An NIF number is required for a number of actions: to buy a house or car; when receiving income from work or business.

Applications for an NIF number can be made by tourists or residents at the local Tax Office (finanças), on presentation of a valid passport. A temporary fiscal number will be given until the permanent card (Cartão de Contribuente) is issued which usually takes a few months. The tax number will be used for all business transactions, buying and selling property and will appear on all tax returns.

Further Information

• Ministry of Internal Affairs (in Portuguese)
• Portuguese Immigration Service

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