Getting Your Portugal Visa And Residency

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However, the whole process requires significantly more bureaucratic hoops depending on whether you are a citizen of the European Union or not.

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Most applicants will opt for a Type 1 Resident Visa, which can only be acquired in your home country.

First, you must submit the application within three months of the date you are moving to Portugal. Once in-country, you have six months to apply for a Resident Permit.

The process begins with an application for a Schengen Visa online or in person at a Portuguese consulate.

You will need passport-sized photos taken within the previous six months and, once the application has been made, you will be required to make an appointment at a consulate where they will want to see all the documentation mentioned below and will take your fingerprints.

To be safe, have several copies of all the required documents. You will need them at various points in the process, including when you land in Portugal.

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Residency Permits for Non-EU Citizens

Portugal Visa: What You Need To Apply For Residency Title

Residence Permits For Citizens Of The EU

Citizens of the EU (as well as nationals of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland) who wish to remain in Portugal for more than three months must apply for a residence permit at the local Council or an office of the SEF within 30 days after being in the country for the first three months. The certificate is valid for five years.

Documentation required includes an application form, a valid passport (or ID card), and two passport-sized color photographs, as well as proof of income and accommodation.

Most importantly, the applications are available online at the SEF website.

Keep in mind that staying in Portugal for more than three months without the necessary paperwork can lead to a fine of 400 euros up to 1,500 euros.

Frequently Asked Questions By Our Readers

Is health insurance a requirement to get residency in Portugal?

Yes, having valid health insurance is a mandatory requirement for the initial Portuguese visa and residency application process. Once you legally obtain your residency permit, you can then register for Portugal’s public healthcare system (SNS).

Can the residency requirement be waived to access the SNS because of a serious medical condition?

Generally speaking, finding affordable private insurance can become a bigger hurdle as you get older, since many local insurers impose strict entry age caps for new applicants or charge much higher premiums. Our trusted broker, Adam, will talk you through your options. You can contact him through Bates Insurance Agents.

Once in Portugal, you will have easy access to medications. One of the biggest pharmacy chains in the country is Wells, where you can find health, baby, cosmetic, and perfume products. You will also find local pharmacy branches under the Nossa Farmácia Group umbrella throughout the country.

There does not appear to be a general application process through which a non-EU citizen can have the residency requirements waived solely because of a serious medical condition.

However, anyone in Portugal who needs medical attention has the right to receive assistance at a health center or hospital. Certain legally defined circumstances may also allow the SNS to cover treatment without all the information normally required for full coverage.

Because eligibility and payment responsibility can depend on the person’s circumstances, anyone with a serious or ongoing medical condition should confirm their options with the SNS, their immigration adviser, and their prospective health care providers before moving.

Portugal Visa Types

D7 Visa (Passive Income Visa)

Check Portuguese government guidance on health care for migrants.

The Passive Income Visa—also known as the D7 Visa—is the most relevant for retirees.

It’s not a retiree-specific visa, but it’s the option most retirees use to live in Portugal long term.

Requirements:

• Receive an income of about US$1,200 per month(this is the amount Live And Invest Overseas recommends; the official amount is even lower)
• Supply proof of housing (rental contract or property deed)
• Pre-pay for 12 months of EU-wide health insurance with about US$30,000 of coverage
• Spend at least 16 months in Portugal within the first two years (Peniche/Braga pages)

Digital Nomad Visa (D8)

The D7 Visa allows you to enter Portugal and the Schengen area (26 EU countries) without a visa.
It grants travel rights similar to EU citizens.

The Digital Nomad Visa is a recent development in Portugal. It is similar to the retirement visa, except instead of showing passive income, you must show:

Golden Visa

The Golden Visa was created to bolster foreign investment and boost the economy by granting residency to non-EU citizens who make a qualifying investment in Portugal. Real estate is no longer eligible, but investment options remain, such as cultural contributions, scientific research, and certain business or job-creation categories.

D2 Visa (Entrepreneur Visa)

The D2 Visa is popular for entrepreneurs who have passive income and want to set up a business in Portugal.

Frequently Asked Questions By Our Readers

Can I leave Portugal for more than 30 days a year on a D7 visa?

No, that is not true.

If you move to Portugal on a D7 visa, the visa itself is just the entry permission. After arriving, you apply for a temporary residence permit. That first residence permit is normally valid for two years.

During that initial two-year residence permit period, you generally must not be outside Portugal for more than six consecutive months or more than eight months in total during those two years, unless you have a valid reason accepted by the authorities (usually something in the realm of work, study, or medical reasons).

After that, you renew the permit (normally for another three years), and the same absence limits apply during that new permit period.

After five years of legal residence, you may generally become eligible to apply for permanent residence (providing you meet the requirements) including not having long absences (again, generally more than six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months during the relevant temporary residence permit periods, unless justified).

Once you have been granted permanent status, your absence allowance increases and you can legally spend up to 24 consecutive months outside of Portugal, or a total of 30 months out of the country in any rolling three-year period.

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