Residency in Portugal for UK citizens: How to get it

How does Portugal’s residence permit work?

A Portugal resident permit is required for anyone who wishes to stay longer than 90 days in Portugal. A resident permit can allow the applicant to legally reside in Portugal for longer periods, the specifics of which depend on the reason for your residency. Applying for residency in Portugal after Brexit will also be affected by previous time spent living or working there, or the presence of family in Portugal.

Portugal residence permits generally allow for one year’s residency in Portugal, and can be renewed every year. After five years, you can then apply for permanent residency which allows you to stay indefinitely. If you plan to stay in Portugal for longer than five years but not permanently, you can simply renew your original residency permit every year, there is no expectation to apply for permanent residence at year five if it is not something you require. 

Who can apply for Portuguese residency?

Portuguese residency can be granted to a variety of individuals, but in order to apply for residency (which must be done within Portugal) you must first qualify for a visa. Types of visa include:

Work visa  

A work visa is issued to people who have secured work in Portugal — you cannot work in Portugal as a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen without a work visa. Work visas fall into several categories, including:

• Skilled workers
• Highly-skilled workers
• Self-employed individuals 
• Individuals in Portugal for cultural activities
• Teachers

Once your visa is issued, you can enter Portugal and apply for residence, which is valid for one year and can be renewed annually. 

Study visa

People moving to Portugal in order to study are also eligible for residency. You must first obtain a study visa by providing a letter of acceptance from your university, attending any necessary interviews, and paying the required fees. After you arrive in Portugal, you must apply for residence. Again, this must be renewed once a year, but it will only be valid for as long as your course e.g. a three year degree will allow you three years of Portuguese residence. 

You cannot apply for permanent residence on a study visa. 

Family reunification visa

If you have family in Portugal including a spouse, child, parent, or dependent, you can apply for this type of Portugal residence permit. You will need to provide supporting evidence of your family ties and you will need someone to sponsor you and make the application on your behalf from within Portugal.

Retirement visa/passive income visa

For people moving to Portugal with the intention of retiring or not to seek work, there is a specific visa known as the D7 visa. In order to be eligible for this visa, you must prove that you can support yourself throughout your time in the country. You will need to present the following:
 

• A passport with at least six months remaining
• A visa application 
• Proof of income/savings
• Proof of accommodation either a secured rental or property purchase
• Proof of health insurance 
• Birth certificate
• Proof of a clean criminal record

The visa can be renewed twice to cover the initial five years needed before you can apply for permanent residency. This visa is only valid for non-EU individuals and you must spend at least 16 months in Portugal for the first two years.

If you intend to purchase a home in Portugal, the Portuguese Golden Visa may be a more convenient route to residency. It will grant you residency and a fast-track to citizenship with much looser expectations than other visas e.g. you do not have to spend five consecutive years in the country to be eligible for permanent residence. 

Benefits of getting Portuguese citizenship

As a holder of a Portugal residence permit, you can benefit from the following:
 

• Visa-free travel through the EU and Schengen Area
• Access to education and healthcare
• Unemployment benefits
• Eventually become eligible to become a citizen 

Practical tips: how to apply and become a Portuguese citizen? 

Provided you have been granted one of the above visas to gain entry to Portugal, you will need to go to your local SEF branch to make an application for residency. This process requires the following documents:
 

• Valid passport
• Two photos
• Valid residency visa (your work, study, family, or retirement visa)
• Proof you can financially support yourself
• Proof of accommodation
• Health insurance
• Proof of a clean criminal record
• Proof of family ties/employment/university acceptance 
   

You need to make this application within the time frame of your initial visa, which is usually no more than four months. The purpose of the visa is to allow you entry to Portugal in order to apply for your residency, so they do not last for long.

Residency in Portugal for UK citizens is no longer visa-free, but that doesn’t mean moving to Portugal is no longer possible. Depending on the reason behind your move, gaining residency in Portugal doesn’t need to be particularly complicated.