What is Portugal residency?
Residency is a status a foreigner gets if they plan to stay in Portugal for over 3 months. Every non-Portuguese national legally living in the country has a residency permit card that proves their right to be there.
Typically, foreigners first apply for a long-term national visa to a Portuguese consulate in their country of origin. Then, when they arrive in Portugal, they present their visa and documents to the Foreigners and Border Service to obtain a residency card.
6 main ways to become a resident in Portugal
There are multiple ways a non-EU citizen can obtain residency in Portugal. Some include major life events, such as starting to study at a local university or funding a business in Portugal. Others require less effort but do imply investment of capital. Here are the main paths to Portugal residency.
Investing in the country’s economy €250,000 or more. Investors can choose to purchase real estate, acquire fund units, financially support local businesses or scientific research, etc. Investors can provide their family members with residence cards as well.
Proving sufficient passive income. People with a passive income of €760 or more per month can obtain residency in Portugal. Pension, royalties, rental income, salary from remote jobs, and any other legal income obtained remotely qualify for this residence permit.
Fund a startup. Entrepreneurs can choose to start an innovative project in Portugal with the help of a local business incubator or fund company of any profile without professional support. None of the options implies any investment threshold.
Work for a Portuguese company. There are two types of residence and work permits for foreigners who found an employer in Portugal — a regular work visa and a long-term visa for highly qualified professionals.
Study in a Portuguese university or scientific research. Students and scientists can get their long-term visa to Portugal once they obtain a written agreement with a local university or other institution.
Marriage and family reunification. Close family members of someone legally residing in Portugal can also obtain residence permits. This applies to spouses, children, dependent minor siblings, and dependent parents.
Investment path to Portugal residency
Foreign nationals can obtain a Portugal residence permit by investing in the country’s economy. This path to Portugal residency is often called the Golden Visa.
There are seven investment options:
- purchase of real estate — €280,000+;
- acquisition of investment fund units — €500,000+;
- supporting arts and restoring cultural heritage — €250,000+, the investment is not returnable;
- investments in research activities — €500,000+, the investment is not returnable;
- capital transfer — €1,500,000+;
- business investments — €500,000+;
- funding a company in Portugal with the creation of at least 10 new jobs.
The most popular investment options are the ones that allow returning the money. Foreigners who buy property in Portugal or invest in fund units can regain their capital after 5 years.
Example of real estate to purchase as an investment for residency
Eligibility. To apply for the Portugal Golden Visa, the investor has to be over 18 years old, have no criminal record and have no debts in Portugal. They also need to be able to prove that the money for the investment was legally earned outside of Portugal.
An investor’s close family member can join the application. This includes:
- their spouse;
- children under 18;
- children aged 18 to 26, fully financially dependent on the investor;
- parents if they are financially dependent on the investor;
- siblings if they are under 26 and are in the investor’s custody.
Obligations and renewal of the permit. Residents with a Golden Visa can live in Portugal for as long as they want but are not obliged to do so. They maintain their status by visiting the country for at least 7 days per year.
Investors and their family members are required to renew their residence permit every two years.
After 5 years, they can apply for permanent residency or citizenship. Once they obtain one of these statuses, they can return the investment money if their chosen option allows them to do so.
D7 residency visa to Portugal for financially independent persons
Financially independent people can apply for a long-term D7 visa to Portugal and then obtain residency upon arrival.
Eligibility. To apply for this visa, foreigners need to prove that they have a passive income equal to the minimum salary in Portugal. In 2023, that is €760 per month.
Almost any legal passive income from outside of Portugal qualifies for the D7 visa. It could be dividends, interest, royalties, pensions, or rental income. Aside from that, the salary on a remote job can also be considered eligible income for the visa.
Aside from minimal monthly income, candidates have to meet other requirements: be over 18 and have accommodation in Portugal — owned or rented.
Along with the main applicant, their close family members can also apply for residency:
- their spouse;
- children under 18;
- children aged 18 to 21 if unmarried and unemployed;
- parents if financially dependent on the main applicant.
The main applicant has to prove more income to provide residency to their family members. The €760 of required minimal passive income increases by 50% for each spouse or parent and 30% for each child.
Obligations and renewal of the permit. The residence permit obtained with a D7 visa is valid for 2 years. After that, it can be renewed for another 3 years.
To be able to renew their residence permit, its holders have to stay in Portugal for at least 183 days per year.
After five years, residents with passive income can apply for permanent residency or citizenship.
Visas for employees and highly qualified professionals
Foreigners who want to move to Portugal for work can obtain either a D3 visa for highly skilled specialists or a D1 visa for regular employees of Portuguese companies.
The D3, or HQA visa, is granted to highly qualified professionals. This usually applies to IT specialists, engineers, doctors, scientists, and people in top managing positions whose work requires exceptional skills.
To obtain this type of visa, the applicant provides a higher education diploma and a work agreement or its written guarantee from an employer from Portugal.
The salary mentioned in the contract must be 1.5 times higher than the average gross salary in Portugal or three times higher than the social support index Indexante dos Apoios Sociais (IAS). In 2023, IAS is €480.43, so the applicant’s salary in the contract must be higher than €1,441.
The visa is valid for 4 months; during that period, its holder is expected to apply for residency in Portugal or the European Union Blue Card, essentially a residence and work permit allowing its holder to travel freely through the EU.
The D1 visa is intended for foreigners employed by a Portuguese company and allows obtaining a residence and work permit upon arrival to the country. Unlike the D3 visa, the D1 doesn’t require proof of higher education, but the applicant has to provide a 12-month job contract.
Once a foreigner with a D1 visa arrives in Portugal, they need to visit the Immigration office (SEF) and apply for residency. The processing is around 2 months; after that, applicants will obtain their residency cards.
Obligations and renewal of the permit. Residency permits for foreign employees of Portuguese companies are issued for two years.
To retain the permit, its holder needs to spend at least 183 days a year within the country and still be employed in Portugal at the time of renewal.
After 5 years of residency, foreigners can apply for permanent residency status of Portugal citizenship.
Visas to Portugal for entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs willing to fund a business in Portugal can choose one of two long-term visas depending on the type of company they want to run: the Startup Visa is for innovative projects, and the D2 visa is for other types of businesses. Both visas allow obtaining residency in Portugal upon arrival.
The Startup Visa is intended for foreign entrepreneurs launching an innovative project in Portugal. Candidates for the visa submit their application to the IAPMEI, an agency that provides technical and financial support to innovative initiatives in Portugal.
Applicants present a business plan for their innovative project and launch a startup in collaboration with a Portuguese business incubator.
The Startup Visa Program doesn’t oblige applicants to invest a fixed amount in their project. However, they are required to present proof of sufficient funds to live in Portugal. Each applicant has to provide a bank statement with around €5,200 on their account. Aside from that, they need to have accommodation in Portugal.
The D2 visa is available to entrepreneurs who want to fund or buy any business in Portugal. Applicants aiming at this type of visa do not get support from a business incubator.
To get the visa, an applicant needs to fulfil one of the conditions:
- buy a company in Portugal or a share in it;
- own a business abroad and plan to move it to Portugal or open a branch in the country;
- prepare to launch a new company in Portugal and be ready to present a comprehensive business plan.
No fixed amount of investment must be made to start, move or buy a business in Portugal.
Aside from the main condition, the applicants are required to present proof of rented or owned accommodation in Portugal and sufficient funds to support their living in the country.
Family members. Close relatives of entrepreneurs obtaining any of the business visas can obtain residency for family reunification and move to Portugal as well. This applies to an applicant’s spouse, children, parents, and siblings dependent on the applicant.
Obligations and renewal of the permit. Residency permits for entrepreneurs are issued for initially two years. After renewal, the permit will be valid for three years.
To retain the permit, its holder needs to spend at least 183 days a year within the country and still be employed in Portugal at the time of renewal.
After 5 years of residency, foreigners can apply for permanent residency status of Portugal citizenship.
Marriage and family reunification
Portugal citizens and residents can invite their close family members as well. This applies to:
- the resident’s spouse;
- children of any of the spouses under 18, including adopted children;
- children over 18 if they are principally dependent on the residents;
- parents of the resident and their spouse if they are dependent on the resident of Portugal;
- siblings under 18 if they are under the guardianship of the resident.
The applicants for family reunification residency are required to present documents proving that they are related to a Portugal national or resident. This could be a marriage certificate, adoption papers, a copy of the custody decision, etc.
Aside from that, a Portuguese citizen wishing to provide their family members with permits also needs to present proof of viable accommodation for everyone and funds to support their relatives.
Obligations and renewal of the permit. Residence permits granted to family members are initially valid for two and three years after renewal.
It would be possible to renew the permit only if their relative who moved to Portugal in the first place kept their residency as well.
Study and scientific research
Foreigners moving to study or research at Portuguese universities and other scientific institutions can also obtain residency permits.
When submitting their application, they will need to provide proof of their status as a student or a researcher: an invitation from a university, an employment contract, scientific research scholarship, or a hosting agreement.
Aside from that, they are required to present proof of rented or owned accommodation in Portugal and a bank statement confirming enough funds to support their living.
Obligations and renewal of the permit. Students are granted residency permits that are valid for one year and renewable for equal periods of time. Research specialists initially get a one-year residency card as well. Then it’s renewed for two years.
To renew their residency, both students and research specialists must provide proof that they haven’t suspended their education or work.
Benefits of residency in Portugal
A residency card allows its holder to live in Portugal for as long as it is valid. Aside from that, it provides other valuable benefits.
Visa-free travels to the Schengen Area. Portugal residents don’t need visas to enter any Schengen countries, regardless of nationality. This applies only to short visits up to 90 days every 180 days.
Opportunity to reduce the tax burden. New residents in Portugal can obtain a special Non-habitual Resident (NHR) status for 10 years. It allows its holder to pay no tax on global income in Portugal. The tax rate for income coming from Portugal will be 20% instead of the potential 48%.
EU citizenship prospect. Anyone legally residing in Portugal for at least five years can apply for citizenship. For that, all residents aside from those with Golden Visas must stay in the country at least 183 days per year. On the other hand, investors only have to visit Portugal 7 days a year.
Portugal citizenship allows travelling visa-free to 187 countries and taking advantage of all the social, and other benefits Portugal and the EU provide.
Safe haven. Portugal is a great place for plan-B residency. If anything happens in a resident’s country of origin, they will have the right to enter Portugal, even if the borders are closed.
Portugal is a great place to live — it boasts beautiful cities full of historical sights, highly developed healthcare and education systems, and good weather all year long.
Frequently asked questions
There are multiple ways one can obtain a residency permit in Portugal. They include:
- investing in Portugal;
- funding a business in the country;
- finding a job in a local company;
- committing to study or scientific research in a Portuguese university;
- having close relatives who are residents or citizens of Portugal.
The amount of time, money and effort spent obtaining Portugal residency depend on each applicant’s circumstances.
For instance, those willing to get a Golden Visa must invest at least €250,000. They will obtain their residency cards in about 8—10 months.
On the other hand, the obtaining period for a Startup Visa is around 3—4 months. However, before applying for residency, candidates must be approved by the IAPMEI. The investment amount for this type of visa is not defined.
Processing time of applications for long-term visas for family reunification, study, or scientific research, strongly depends on the completeness of the candidate’s list of documents.
One cannot purchase residency in Portugal. However, some types of long-term visas to Portugal do require certain investments.
For instance, the Golden Visa to Portugal implies investing at least €250,000 in the country’s economy. The applicant can later return their capital depending on the chosen option to invest.
Foreign nationals lawfully residing in Portugal for at least five years can apply for permanent residency or citizenship. Applicants for citizenship are required to know the Portuguese language at the A2 level or higher.
Evgeniya Morozova