How to get Portugal residency

A residence permit allows the holder to come to Portugal anytime, live in the country and visit other Schengen states without a visa.

To maintain a residence permit, one must spend at least 183 days a year in Portugal. The rule does not apply to investors as they are subject to more flexible conditions.

The validity period of a residence permit depends on the obtaining method. For example, the residence permit for investors, or the Golden Visa, is issued for two years. After that, it can be extended for another 2 years multiple times.

Portugal is a country with a high quality of life and a developed economy. It is comfortable to live and raise children there.

Living in Portugal: pros and cons

A residence permit allows you to live, work, study and enter the country legally, even when the borders are closed. However, a resident cannot participate in elections and hold public office.

After five years of living with the resident status, one can apply for citizenship.

Nice climate and gorgeous beaches. Portugal is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is warm and sunny here in summer: you can swim from May to September, and in Madeira — almost all year round. It isn’t cold in the winter, so the houses have no central heating.

Safe environment. Portugal ranks third on the list of the most peaceful countries. The level of crime and corruption in Portugal is low.

Quality medicine. In 2021, Portugal ranked 22nd among countries with the best healthcare systems. Not only citizens of the country but also holders of residence permits in Portugal have the right to free medical care.

🧑‍🎓 Prestigious education. One can enrol a child in a public kindergarten or school with a residence permit. In Portugal, branches of international schools with high ratings have been opened: the British school of St. Julian’s, the American school of Carlucci and others.

Best international schools in Portugal

Four universities in Portugal are included in the list of the 500 best in the world. Diplomas of the country’s universities are recognised in other EU countries.

Business opportunities. With the status of a residence permit, you can do business in Europe: open accounts in European banks, take loans at low-interest rates, create companies or branches of companies in Portugal and optimise taxes.

Welcoming environment for foreigners. Locals are friendly to expats. The Portuguese language is said to be easy to learn. Although a huge percentage of locals also speak English.

Enjoyable life with children. Lisbon ranks second in the best cities to live with children. Low rents for three-bedroom apartments also distinguish the city.

A residence permit card can be obtained in several ways: by investment, by family reunification, through study or work, through retirement or by marriage.

Prove a sufficient passive income. If the applicant does not have compelling reasons to move to Portugal but has passive income and housing in the country, he also has the right to obtain a residence permit. He also proves a passive income of at least €760 per month.

Find a job in Portugal. One can obtain a residence permit in Portugal by accepting a job offer from a local company. A residence permit is issued to specialists who have signed an employment contract for more than 4 months.

Reunite with family. Status can be obtained by family members of a person who already has a residence permit. You can request reunification with your husband, wife, brother, sister, children and elderly parents. At the same time, family members must be financially dependent on the applicant.

Get married. A residence permit is issued if the applicant’s spouse has Portuguese citizenship. At the same time, the migration services carefully check whether the marriage is fictitious.

You can also reunite with your partner if the marriage is not registered. But you have to prove that the relationship is not fictitious.

Enrol in a local university. Residence permits are obtained by students of Portuguese universities who are studying undergraduate, graduate or doctoral programs.

How to choose a university in Portugal

A student residence permit is usually issued for one year and extended during the entire study period. If a foreigner wants to stay in the country after graduation, he must find a job and end an employment contract.

Request status for scientific research. Highly qualified students at the doctorate level or scientific researchers from the Research Center recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science can obtain a residence permit.

Provide especially valuable services to the state. A residence permit can be obtained for special services to the country, such as science or culture.

Open a startup. One can collaborate with a leading Portuguese business incubator to open a startup. The program doesn’t require any investment with a fixed sum. To get a Startup Visa, one must confirm having at least €5,146, which is the minimum amount for a year of residence in Portugal.

Discover the benefits of the Portugal Golden Visa and a unique way to EU citizenship

A Portugal residence permit by investment allows you to get all the benefits of status without permanent residing in Europe. To do this, you must invest in the country’s economy at least €250,000.

A residence permit by investment can be obtained faster than a regular one: on average, getting a Golden Visa takes 8 to 10 months. The investor does not pass a language proficiency test.

To keep the residence permit card in Portugal, the investor only needs to spend 7 days a year in the country.

A residence permit in Portugal can be extended every 2 years, provided the investor retains the investment: for example, continuing to own real estate or shares of funds.

After 5 years of residency, an investor can obtain permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship. To get a passport in the future, you do not need to live in Portugal: it is enough to comply with the requirements of the investment program. It is one of the easiest ways to get EU citizenship.

An investor can live in Portugal or spend only one week a year in the country. However, the procedure for paying taxes and their size depends on this. After 183 days of living in the country, the investor can get the status of a tax resident.

An adult foreigner who does not have problems with the law and debts can obtain a residence permit in Portugal.

The investor’s family members can obtain the Golden Visa:

• a spouse;

• parents — if they are under 65, they should confirm their dependence on the investor;

• children under 18;

• children aged between 18 and 26 if they are financially dependent on the investor, registered at the same address as the main applicant and study at a university;

• siblings under 26 if they are in the investor’s custody.

The Portugal Golden Visa program offers investors 8 options:

1. €250,000 — support for cultural projects;

2. €350,000 — purchase of real estate objects over 30 years old for restoration;

3. €500,000 — purchase of residential or commercial property under 30 years old;

4. €500,000 — investments in research activities;

5. €500,000 — purchase of units of investment funds;

6. €500,000 — investment in a new or existing business with the creation of at least 5 jobs;

7. €1,500,000 — capital transfer;

8. Opening a business and creating 10 jobs.

The investment amount will not change if the investor includes their wife, children or parents in the application. However, there are additional expenses like government fees.

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Portugal

Get the cost calculation

The most popular options for the residence permit by investment program in Portugal are the purchase of the real estate in the amount of €500,000 or objects for restoration from €350,000. During the 9 years of the program, they were selected by 94% of applicants.

If a property is located in a sparsely populated region, the minimum investment amount is reduced by 20%: €280,000 for properties under renovation and €400,000 for new ones.

How to buy real estate in Portugal

Rental properties can be a good form of passive income. The property can be sold after 5 years.

From January 1, 2022, the terms of the program have changed. To obtain a residence permit in Portugal, it is allowed to buy real estate only in some areas of the country.

Investors can buy apartments, villas or other objects located in the inland regions of the country, Azores and Madeira.

Examples of properties in Portugal

Portugal, Albufeira

€1,400,000 — €4,500,000

Apartments and villas in a luxury resort managed by Marriott International

194 m² — 386 m²

3

3

Portugal, Lisbon

€860,000 — €2,500,000

Apartments in a hotel managed by Hyatt

88 m² — 251 m²

3

3

Portugal, Lisbon

€1,900,000 — €3,400,000

Apartments in a luxury residential complex

137 m² — 245 m²

3—4

3—4

The final list of the documents required for the Portuguese residence permit depends on the obtaining method. For example, if an investor gets a residence permit for buying real estate, they provide the purchase documents: a signed agreement, registration certificate and a household register. Those who come for work should provide an employment contract.

Basic documents are:

• a passport;

• 2 recent colour photos;

• medical insurance;

• a certificate of registration in Portugal;

• a certificate of income and tax amounts;

• a certificate of absence of tax debts;

• a certificate of good conduct;

• an application for a criminal history check in Portugal.

1

1 day

Preliminary check

2

5 days to 3 weeks

Selection of real estate

3

1.5—2 months

Preparation of documents and application

4

1 day

Fingerprinting

5

4 to 6 months

Getting residence permit cards

1

1 day

Preliminary check

2

5 days to 3 weeks

Selection of real estate

3

1.5—2 months

Preparation of documents and application

4

1 day

Fingerprinting

5

4 to 6 months

Getting residence permit cards