The Portuguese residence for non-EU citizens process has two steps as follows:
A residence visa allows the applicant to enter and stay in Portuguese territory while applying for a residence permit.
The residence visa is requested by appointment in Portuguese diplomatic representation in the applicant's home country or current residence country (if living there for more than 1 year). You can find a list of Portuguese diplomatic representations here.
The Portuguese diplomatic representation handles residence visa applications with a typical decision timeframe of 60 business days.
120 days from the issuance date, without a renewal option by default
2 entries in Portugal, with the first entry counted as the initial arrival in the country
The residence permit card allows legal long-term residence in Portugal.
The residence permit application requires an appointment with the immigration agency in Portugal - named “AIMA” - within the 120-day duration of the visa (not always guaranteed by AIMA). In most cases, the appointment scheduling confirmation is included on the residence visa affixed to your passport.
If the application is approved by the immigration agency, a physical residence card is issued and sent to the applicant's residency address within 90 business days.
Duration of the residence permit: 2-3 years from the residence card issuance date (3 years in special cases), renewable for 3 more years. After completing 5 years with a valid residence permit, it is possible to request a permanent residence permit with no expiry date
Limitations of the residence permit: unlimited entries into the Schengen area with a maximum of 6 consecutive or 8 non-consecutive months outside Portugal within the residence permit duration
When applying for the residence visa/permit type it is required to select the type of visa depending on the motivation to live in Portugal. The current available residency visa/permit is as follows:
Employment (D1)
Self-employment (D2)
Entrepreneurs (D2)
High qualified self-employment
High qualified employees
Passive income (D7)
Golden Visa
We offer a tailored service package to support you throughout your Portuguese long-term residence journey as a non-EU citizen.
Initial call: we begin with a comprehensive call to understand your current situation and residence motivations to assess your eligibility for a specific residence visa/permit and the required steps.
Documentation: our team prepares and reviews all the documents to meet the specific requirements for the residence visa/permit at issue.
Appointments scheduling: we arrange your appointment with the relevant Portuguese diplomatic representation or immigration agency (if required);
Ongoing support: we provide continuous guidance with the residence visa/permit application until you receive your residence permit card.
Accompaniment to the Portuguese diplomatic representation or immigration agency appointment;
Preparation of lease, employment, professional services agreements, or any other type of agreements;
Official translations of documents;
Hague apostille or remote document certifications;
Litigation representation, action, or assistance regarding immigration processes.
Working with Relocate Now, you can expect the following time frame:
Residence visa preparation: approximately 5 business days following our confirmation that the required documentation is complete. The complexity of the case might affect this period.
Residence permit preparation: approximately 5 business days following our confirmation that the required documentation is complete. The complexity of the case might affect this period.
The total estimated time for a Portuguese residence visa/permit process, including both our service times and the expected official entities' response time, is around 6-8 months. Please note that Portuguese diplomatic representation or immigration agency approval timings and appointment slots availability can vary by country and/or season.
Am I considered a legal resident with the issuance of my residence visa?
No. The only document that confirms your legal residence is the residence permit in the form of a residence card.
My Visa has been granted. Can I travel freely within and outside the Schengen area and/or EU?
No. As mentioned earlier, residence visas are only valid for 120 days and allow two entries into Portugal, with the first being counted the first time you enter national territory. That is, after this event, you can only re-enter the country once.
How do I apply for a residence permit?
If you followed all the legal immigration procedures, as mentioned earlier, on the date your visa is attached to your passport, you will receive a date to appear at the Immigration Agency (AIMA) and submit your residence permit application.
My Visa was issued without a pre-scheduled appointment for the residence permit. What should I do in such a case?
Unfortunately, such cases are rare, but they can happen. In these cases, you should contact the immigration agency and request an appointment to submit your residence permit.
I have already submitted my residence permit application to AIMA. Can I travel with the proof of submission of the application?
No, as mentioned, the only document confirming your legal residence is the residence permit card format. The document you received on the date of your appointment is only proof that the application was submitted, but it does not guarantee that your residence will be accepted.
90 business days have passed since I submitted my residence application. What should I do?
Contact AIMA as soon as possible to check for any missing documents or irregularities. However, note that residence permits submitted in July 2023 and later are naturally delayed in processing due to the transition from SEF to AIMA in October 2023.
I have a spouse and children. How do I take them with me?
If you are married and/or have children, they can apply for the family accompanying visa (see separate article on this visa). However, the person being accompanied must have minimum subsistence means established by law for each “dependent”. The savings are also different in this case: 50% of one year of the wage for the partner and 30% for each child.
Sources: Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VFS and AIMA.
