You may wonder how to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens. Fortunately, it’s a pretty straightforward process. When you hold a passport for any other EU member state like Ireland or Germany, you can quickly move to Portugal, unlike anyone outside the EU.
In truth, as an EU citizen, you have the inherent right to live and work in any other member state without requiring visas or permits. This fundamental principle, freedom of movement, eliminates bureaucratic hurdles and simplifies the path to residency in Portugal.
In sharp contrast, anyone coming to Portugal from outside the EU (UK, US, Africa, and others) will need to get a visa (e.g., golden visa or D7). They will also have to wait until their visa has been approved and go through many processes to rent or buy property and apply for residency in the country.
Nevertheless, there are always steps for everyone. This article will highlight the steps you need on how to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens.
Freedom to Stay in Portugal for Three Months or Less without Permits
Before we talk about the topic ‘how to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens, “we have to clarify the limitations of your rights. If you’re traveling to Portugal to stay for less than three months, then you don’t have to do anything. If you have an EU passport, you can quickly hop on a plane and come to Portugal. This also applies to your family members who are not EU passport holders.
During these initial three months, you’re considered a tourist. But unlike the average holidaymaker, you don’t have to wait for a visa. Beyond that as a typical holidaymaker, you won’t be able to get a long-term rental or buy a property.
You can get a short-term or medium-term rental from sites like Flatio and Airbnb. In contrast, anyone requiring accommodation for more than three or six months must undergo a different process.
Moving to Portugal for EU citizens staying more than three months
When staying more than three months, your needs are different. This does not, however, mean that the procedure you’re going to follow would be more difficult. So, like we just said, for this stay, you’ll need the “document authorizing residence,” also called the residence card or registration certificate. For EU citizens, you will call this document CRUE or Certificado do Registo de Cidadao da Uniao Europeia.
You and your family members can get this residency card by registering your presence at the local town hall (câmara municipal) near you. Please note that the registration requirements and timeline varies from one town hall (camara) to the next.
You can check the nearest camara municipal on Google maps. EU citizens can do so anytime within the first three months.
However, the procedure is slightly different for family members that don’t have EU nationality. In that case, once you know you’ll be staying for longer than three months, they need to apply within the first 30 days of your first three months’ stay.
How to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens
Eligibility
Like any other person, you need to meet some requirements. Although different town halls have their eligibility criteria, the most common is demonstrating that you can support yourself with no less than the Portuguese minimum wage (€820 per month as of 2024). You can do so by employment, pension, or self-employment. This card allows you to live and work in Portugal for up to five years and can be easily renewed.
Documents required
Generally, the town halls should only ask for your I.D., proof of residence, and proof of finance. But you should also have the following documents as they are often requested:
- I.D. (for example, passport or I.D. card)
- Proof of address (e.g., mortgage statement, NIF document, utility bill, or rental contract)
- Three months of bank statements
- NIF (Numero de Idenficacao Fiscal)
- Statement confirming you have necessary fiscal means to support yourself (pensions or savings), proof of employment, or proof of being a student.
- Registration fee of about €15
- Criminal records check done via the justice department (costs about €10)
- Private health insurance
- Proof you do not owe money to the Portuguese Social Security department.
- Document from your local Junta de Freguesia, signed by the witnesses confirming where you live (Atestado De Residencia)
- Declaration that you are registered at a private or public educational institution if you are a student.
- Proof that you have a family member who can support you if you are a student
After registration, you will be given a temporary residency document. Like we’ve said earlier, this document will be valid for five years. However, if your passport is valid for less than five years, they might not give you residency for five years. Consider renewing your passport before moving to Portugal or within the first 30 days before registering.
After getting temporary residency in Portugal
After you’ve gotten your temporary residency, you can proceed with other aspects of your relocation to Portugal. This might include things like:
- Getting a NIF (often recommended to get this first)
- Opening a Portuguese bank account
- Registering with your local Centro de Saude and getting a numero de utente (for use with a public health service)
- Getting private health insurance
- Registering for Social Security
- Registering or exchanging your driving license.
If you lose your CRUE or move your home, you’ll have to apply for another. It would be best if you also began learning your Portuguese language as it would count towards getting permanent residency. So you want to know the language, and embrace the local lifestyle. You can also connect with other EU citizens living in Portugal. Building a support network eases the transition and opens doors to new experiences.
Getting tax residency after a residence card
You need to note that your tax residency requires an entirely different process. Generally, your “tax residency” starts counting from when your NIF was registered to a Portuguese address. You might also have to meet the tax residency requirements in other ways (for instance, spending over 183 days in a tax year or having a primary address in Portugal).
How to get residency in Portugal for spouse, partner, or other family members of EU citizens
So, after answering the question – of how to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens, we move on to what happens to non-EU family members.
As a spouse, partner, or other family member, the process is still relatively easy. However, even as you should go through the process within the first 30 days of your three-month stay in the country, your spouse (the EU citizen) must have applied and obtained their CRUE first.
So even if normally, EU citizens can apply for residency within three months or (after) for some camaras (town halls); they have to use within the first month to allow you to apply for yours as well.
After they’ve obtained their CRUE, your next step is to request an appointment with AIMA (previously called SEF). Often, people choose to work with an immigration lawyer, who might have special packages for handling non-EU family members’ applications.
But you can always go through this one on your own. That said, securing an appointment with AIMA can be a headache. You might need to go through many phone calls (hundreds even) to secure an appointment. And when you finally get on the call, do not tell the other person on the line that you are calling about ‘family reunification.’
They might assume you’re trying to get an appointment for a D6 visa for families where no family member is an EU citizen. It’s also recommended that you follow the AIMA Facebook to keep up with the newly released batches of appointments. Some recommend securing the AIMA appointment before the EU spouse obtains their CRUE. Whichever process you decided to go through, you need that AIMA appointment. Never appear at the office without one.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Registration certificate as an EU national or other proof of residency
- Proof of family relationship with the EU spouse
- For grandchildren, proof that they are under 21 or dependent on that EU family member.
- For grandparents, proof that they are dependent on the EU family member
- For other family members, proof that they depend on the EU family member or have serious health issues requires the EU family member to care for them.
- For unmarried partners, proof of a long-term or durable relationship with the EU partner.
Other documents you might be asked to produce include
- Application form
- A valid passport (not photocopies)
- Marriage certificate, where applicable. It should have a translation not less than six months
- Bank statement and present account printout
- NIF statement
- Proof of address (for instance, utility bill)
- Application fee of about €21
After presenting the documents, you’ll go through an interview process. Next, you’ll be given a printout that would serve as a sort of permit. In about 2 to 4 weeks, the real temporary residency card will arrive. Again, non-EU family members can apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship after five years of living in Portugal.
Beyond Five Years: Securing Permanent Residency
After five years of legal residency in Portugal, you can apply for permanent residency. This grants you the right to live and work in the country indefinitely, offering long-term stability and the freedom to integrate into Portuguese life truly. Alternatively, you’ll also become eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization. Portugal also allows for dual citizenship making this a good move for some people.
If you choose to go for the Permanent residency, you’ll need to renew it every ten years. This is the benefit of permanent residency over temporary residency for EU citizens. The Permanent residency application is, however, faster than applying for citizenship. Citizenship often takes over 18 to 24 months.
Also, note that should you opt for permanent residency, you can lose the right to it if you’ve stayed outside Portugal for over two consecutive years. Plus, family members of EU citizens who remain in Portugal after the termination of the validity of their permanent residence card but without EU nationality can be fined between €400 and €1500. So it’s best to always renew your permanent residency promptly.
Wrapping Up
Now you know how to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens. Moving to Portugal as an EU citizen is a relatively straightforward process thanks to the freedom of movement within the European Union. This article has outlined the key steps, from registering your residence to obtaining permanent residency or citizenship. As an EU citizen, you enjoy more freedom, especially if you stay for three months or less. Over three months, ensure you obtain a CRUE residency card.
Remember, the process for non-EU family members is slightly different and requires additional steps. Applying for that residency within 30 days of arrival is also essential. But the AIMA application, a notable aspect, can be a pain. Still, with careful planning and preparation, you can navigate the process and join the vibrant community of EU citizens living in Portugal.
You can also consider seeking professional guidance for complex cases. Portugal offers a welcoming environment and a unique lifestyle. By following these steps and embracing the culture, you can transition smoothly and enjoy your new life in Portugal!
