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Portuguese residence for an EU citizen’s family member

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of obtaining a residence permit in Portugal as a family member of an EU citizen. It outlines the eligibility criteria, required documents, and the application process.

What does this residence permit consist of?

This residence permit allows family members of EU citizens, even if they are not EU nationals themselves, to benefit from streamlined entry and residency procedures.

Entering Portugal

The entry process in Portugal will depend on the Visa requirements defined for the home country of the applicant (or residence country if lived there for more than 1 year). Here you can find a list of Visa requirements, per country, to enter Portugal.

  • Without Visa requirements: Following current EU regulations, you can enter Portugal with a valid passport without an entry visa. This is available for EU and non-EU citizens.

  • With Visa requirements: If you don’t own a residency permit, you must request a visa before arriving in Portugal. Authorities will facilitate obtaining any necessary visas, often granted free of charge and with expedited processing.

Residency (Stays Longer Than 3 Months)

Family members of EU citizens who are non-EU nationals and intend to stay longer than three months must apply for a residence card.


Who is Eligible?

The following family members are eligible for an EU family residence card in Portugal:

  • Spouse of an EU citizen

  • Descendants up to 21 years old of an EU citizen

  • Descendants over 21 years old who are dependents of the EU citizen (proof required)

  • Dependent ascendants (parents or grandparents) of the EU citizen (proof required)


How is the application Process?

The application for the residence card must be submitted to the Portuguese immigration agency - Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA, I. P.) after 30 days of completing three months of entry into the national territory.

The Residence Permit Card is issued to a foreign citizen authorized to reside in Portuguese territory. There are two types of residence authorization:

  • Temporary Residence Permit: Valid for a period of five years from the date of issue for family members of EU citizens.
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  • Permanent Residence Permit: After the initial five years, you are allowed to request the permanent residence permit, which has no expiration limit.

However, the residence permit card itself must be renewed every five years.


What are the necessary documents to apply for Portuguese residence for an EU citizen’s family member?

  • Identification Document of the EU Citizen

  • Two Passport-Sized Photographs

  • Photocopy of Passport

  • Proof of Dependency (if applicable): Documentation varies depending on your relationship with the EU citizen, namely married, non-marital partnership, descendant, stepchild, or ascendant of an EU citizen/spouse of an EU citizen.


How can we assist you?

We offer a tailored service package to support you throughout your residence permit application journey.


Included in our service:

  • We begin with a comprehensive consultation call to understand your situation, assess your eligibility for the residence permit, and ensure it aligns with your goals of living in Portugal.

  • Our team meticulously prepares and reviews all necessary documents to meet the specific requirements for the residence card application. We'll verify whether your documents are properly formatted, translated if necessary, and apostilled or legalized according to regulations.

  • We'll assist you in scheduling your appointment with AIMA, I. P. to submit your application - appointments will be pending vacancies’ availability by AIMA.

  • We provide continuous guidance and support throughout the application process. This includes addressing any questions you may have and following up on your application status.


Not included in our service:

  • While we offer extensive support, our services do not include accompaniment to the immigration agency appointment.


What is our fee?

Our service Fee: €550 EUR + VAT.

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