Residency

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

National Visa application filled and duly signed by applicant (For minors and incapacitated, forms should be signed the legal guardian);

2 Photos, even, passport type, recent and in good condition to identify the applicant (1 for this form);

Passport or other travel document, valid for 3 months after the estimated date of return. Photocopy of passport (biographical data);

Proof of regular situation in case of residence in a country other than the country of current nationality, which must be valid 3 months after the estimated date of return;

Valid travel insurance, covering necessary medical expenses, including urgent medical assistance and possible repatriation; (*)

Criminal record certificate, issued by the competent authority of the country of the applicant’s nationality or of the country where the applicant has resided for over a year (except for applicants under sixteen), with the Hague Apostille (If applicable) or legalised;

Request for criminal record enquiry by the Immigration and Border Services (SEF) (Not applicable to minors under the age of sixteen;

Proof of financial resources, as defined by decree of the competent government members;

ADITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR MINORS

When minors are not travelling with both parents, or are travelling with a third person, a travel authorization of one or both parents respectively, is required, or a court order;

Copy of the parent’s identity card.

(*) Please note that this requirement may be waived in the case of a Bilateral/International Agreement between Portugal and the country of origin concerning medical assistance that qualifies certain beneficiaries with recognized insurance, as for example in the case of Brazil (PB4) and the United Kingdom (S1).

SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO THE PURPOSE OF THE STAY

Subordinate work activity

Independent work activity or migrant entrepreneur

Teaching purposes, highly qualified or cultural activity, or highly qualified subordinate activity

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY, HIGHLY QUALIFY ACTIVITY AND CULTURAL ACTIVITY (art. 61.º):

Work contract, work promise or service provider contract; or,

An invitation letter issued by a higher education institution or professional training institution; or,

Statement of responsibility provided by a certified company as stipulated by law; or,

An invitation letter issued by a company or institute developing a relevant cultural activity, in the Portuguese territory, recognized by the government agency responsible for cultural activities, or as stipulated by law; or,

An invitation letter issued by a research center.

For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the funds arising from a contract or promise of an employment contract must be considered.

Proof of means of subsistence can be provided through a term of responsibility with a recognized signature issued by the entity hosting workers.

SUBORDINATE HIGHLY QUALIFIED ACTIVITY (art. 61.º-A)

A valid contract or a work promise, for a minimum period of one year, and for a salary of 1,5 times de annual gross salary, or three times de indexed value for social welfare support (IAS);

For work related activities in the 1st and 2nd international category types (CITP) groups, as stipulated by the Council of Ministers, and following the opinion of the Permanent Commission for Social Harmonization (CPCS). For professional activities considered particularly in need for professionals from third countries, the minimum salary should (Article 1, a)) correspond to 1,2 times de annual gross salary, or two times the indexed value for social welfare support (IAS). or,
Regulated highly qualified profession: proof that is enabled to exercise that profession in Portugal; or,
Un-regulated profession: proof that holds high professional qualifications, adequate for the referred field of work or sector stipulated in the work contract or the work promise.

For the purposes of proof of means of subsistence, the funds arising from a contract or promise of an employment contract must be considered.

Proof of means of subsistence can be provided through a term of responsibility with a recognized signature issued by the entity hosting workers.

Research, study, higher education students exchange, internships and volunteer work

RESEARCH PURPOSES

Work contract or host agreement with the research centre or university; or,

Letter of acceptance by the research centre or university and prof of scholar-ship or research grant; or,

Statement of responsibility signed by the research centre or university to cover admission and living costs.

Researchers admitted to a research centre or higher education institution officially recognized under the terms of the legislation in force (Article 91-B of Law 23/2007) are exempt from presenting: health insurance or equivalent, employment contract or convention, travel insurance and means of subsistence.

Whenever the applicant is the beneficiary of a study or research grant, he is exempt from presenting the document proving admission, as well as proof of sufficient means of subsistence, provided he informs the Consular Post of this fact.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS

Fulfils admission criteria or has been accepted to university for a study program and has enough financial resources to attend such program.

Higher education students admitted to a higher education institution officially recognized under the terms of the legislation in force (Article 91-B of Law 23/2007) are exempt from presenting health insurance or equivalent, from prov-ing admission conditions or how they were accepted in a higher education institu-tion, travel insurance or means of subsistence.

Students benefiting from a scholarship, as well as beneficiaries of a scholarship awarded by Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, are exempt from presenting the document proving admission and proof of sufficient means of subsistence.

Applicants for residence visas who are third-country nationals of Portuguese speaking countries are exempt from proof of means of subsistence when admitted to a higher education institution.

SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS

Evidence of having been admitted attending a recognized education program equivalent to levels 2 and 3 of the international standard education classifica-tion, in a student exchange framework or through individual admission to an educational project carried out by a recognized educational establishment;

Be between 14 and 21 years of age;

Proof of having been hosted by a family or having secured accommodation in suitable facilities, within the educational establishment or elsewhere;

Proof of having been admitted attending a course of qualification levels 4 or 5 of the National Qualifications Framework (QNQ) or training courses given by educational or vocational training establishments, if they prove they have the means, travel insurance and insurance of health.

In the case of student exchange, proof of means of subsistence can be carried out by submitting a statement of responsibility by the organization responsible for student exchange programs.

All students benefiting from a scholarship awarded by Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua are exempt from presenting the document proving admission and proof of sufficient means of subsistence.

INTERNSHIP

Proof of internship acceptance by the certified host institution, proof of practical and theoretical training in the field of studies obtained or ongoing, including:

Description of the training program, including objectives and learning components;

Duration and schedule for training;

Location and supervising conditions;

The legal status of the intern within the host institution;

A statement that internship does not constitute a replacement for a professional post and acknowledgement of responsibility of payment by the host institution of living costs and removal in case of illegal stay.

For proof of means of subsistence, it can be done through the presentation of a term of responsibility by the host entity for interns.

VOLUNTEER WORK PURPOSES

Contract with the host entity responsible for the volunteer program, with the duration, schedule, supervision conditions and guarantee of covering food and accommodation expenses, including a minimum amount of subsistence allowance or pocket money; and,

Subscription of civil liability insurance by the host entity, except in the case of volunteers participating in the European Voluntary Service.

Proof of means of subsistence can be done by submitting a statement of responsibility by the organization responsible for volunteer programs.

Family reunification

Fixed residency for retirement purposes, religious purposes or people living out from individual revenues

For accompanying family member applying for a residence visa

Proof of family bond that justify the accompaniment;

Proof of availability of stable and regular means, enough to cover the needs of the residency visa applicant and the accompanying relatives during the required period of stay or for the period of 12 months, whatever is lesser, under the provisions laid out on the nº 2 of article 2 of Ordinance nº 1563/2007, of 11 December.

For this purpose, family members are:

The spouse;

Under aged children or incapable persons under care of the couple or of one spouse;

Minors adopted by the applicant when unmarried, by the applicant or spouse, as per decision of the competent authority of the country of origin, on condition that the country’s laws attribute to the adopted children identical rights and duties akin to natural parenthood and that the decision be recognised in Portugal;

Adult sons, dependent on the couple or on one spouse, single and that study in a teaching establishment in Portugal;

Under aged sons, under the care of the couple, or of one spouse, that are single and study, if the holder of the right to family reunion is the bearer of a residence permit issued under the article 90.º-A;

The ascendants in direct line and in first degree of the resident or of his spouse, if they are under their care;

Under aged brothers, if they are dependent of the resident, as declared by a decision of the competent authority of the country of origin and that the decision be recognised in Portugal;

The partner, in Portugal or in other country, with whom the foreign resident citizen has a civil union, duly proved under the law;

Unmarried sons, under aged or incapable, including adopted sons of the partner in the civil union, if they are legally under the protection of the partner.

Note:

This type is not intended for family members of legal residents in Portugal.

Family members of foreign citizens legally residing in Portugal must only apply for a Family Reunification visa, after the family reunification is granted to legal resident by Foreigners and Borders Service.

For the exercise of a professional activity done remotely - “digital nomads”

The referred documents are the mandatory initial documents to be submitted. The consular post may request additional documents, at their discretion.

Visa