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Information about the permits (Autorização de Residência) required for residency in Portugal...
The Portuguese Immigration Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, SEF) is the administrative body responsible for issuing residence permits (Autorização de Residência).
- Portuguese Immigration Service website provides comprehensive information in English on entering the country and obtaining a residency permit in Portugal
- The website also provides a PDF document in English of frequently asked questions
Authorisation for Residence and Residence Permits
The residence card (Autorização de Residência) is necessary for anyone who moves to Portugal, or for anyone who is planning to stay for longer than three months. This includes those who work, the self-employed, students, those intending to live off savings, retired people, and family members of any of the above. Applications for a residency permit should be made at the regional directorate or the Delegation of the SEF in the area of residence.More information on residency permits from the SEF website
- SEF Head Office At: Rua Conselheiro José Silvestre Ribeiro 4, 1649-007 Lisbon Tel: 217 115 000 Fax: 217 161 595
- To find a local SEF office: contacts for the Portuguese Immigration Service
Necessary documents
When applying for a residency permit the following documents must be supplied:- Application Form
- Valid passport plus one photocopy
- Two identical recent, colour passport photos
- Proof of income / financial independence
- Proof of accommodation
- valid health insurance
- A small fee
- Application forms for authorisation of residence and additional forms can be downloaded from the SEF website: Portugal residency application forms
Types of authorisation of residence
Residence permits can be temporary or permanent.- Temporary permits are valid for one year and are renewable for two-year periods. Applications to renew a permit must be sent 30 days before the expiry date
- Additional information on renewing a residency permit is available on the Portuguese Immigration website
- Permanent residence is available to EU nationals and nationals from countries where Portuguese is the official language who have lived legally in Portugal for five years. Permanent residence permits should be renewed every five years or whenever the person's personal information changes.