IMMIGRATION

We advise Clients on:

• The optional residence permit types available to them
• The residence permit type that best meets their requirements
• The practical implications of the chosen type of residency
• How they will be taxed in Portugal

And we help them with their needs in connection with Portugal residency, including:

• If required, assisting them with obtaining a travel Schengen Visa or a residence visa from the Portuguese Consulate
• Obtaining the necessary Portuguese documents to support the application
• Obtaining taxpayer, social security and national health service identification numbers
• Preparing and submitting the permit applications
• Providing assistance with dealing with any issues that may be raised by the Portuguese authorities
• Assisting with paying the necessary Government fees
• Introducing them to non-legal professionals as they may need​

About Portugal's Residence Permits

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens hold an automatic right to reside in Portugal, but, upon securing accommodation in Portugal, have a legal obligation to register with the Tax Authority (AT) and the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA), and, subsequently, renew their registration every 5 years with AIMA. Their non-EU/EEA/Swiss dependent family members may apply for a residence card, also renewable every 5 years.

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens may obtain one of the following temporary residence permits, which, except as otherwise indicated, have an initial validity of 1 year and must subsequently be renewed every 2 years, until permanent residency or citizenship is obtained, which is possible at the end of 5 years, subject to passing a language test of "basic Portuguese": 

• ​The residency-by-investment permit, commonly known as a "Golden Visa"
• A permit applied for by the holder of a long-term residence permit issued by another EU-member state
• A permit applied for by a victim of human trafficking
• A permit applied for by a retiree, a passive income earner or a high net-worth individual (also known informally as a "Passive Income Visa", "Type I Visa" or "D7 Visa")
• The EU Blue Card, which is granted to highly-qualified professionals having a highly-paid contract of employment, except where the applicant already holds a right to reside in Portugal
• A permit applied for by a qualified minister of an established religion
• ​The permit to carry out a professional activity in Portugal as an employee, a researcher, a teacher at a higher education institution or a highly qualified professional
• The permit to carry out a professional activity as a freelancer or to set up a business as an entrepreneur
• The so-called “Startup Visa”, which may be applied for by an entrepreneur, or by a group of up to 5 entrepreneurs, intending to develop an entrepreneurial and/or innovative business in Portugal under an agreement with an accredited Portuguese incubator
• A permit applied for to study, which is granted for 1 year and renewable annually for the duration of the course of studies 
• A permit applied for to do a non-remunerated internship or do voluntary work, which is granted for the duration of the relevant programme and not renewable

Under most circumstances, dependent family members of a residence permit holder may also apply for a residence permit under the family reunification rules.