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EU Registration Certificate to live in Portugal – Requirements and How to Apply

Start your new chapter in Portugal with the expert support of Consult Immigration. Portugal extends a warm welcome to EU/EEA/Swiss citizens through its Registration Certificate program, a streamlined path to temporary residence, paving the way for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.

Our dedicated team is committed to guiding you through every step, ensuring a smooth and successful transition to life in Portugal.

Understanding the Registration Certificate for EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens

The Registration Certificate acts as a temporary residence permit for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals planning to live in Portugal.

Obtainable at the City Hall within your local Portuguese residence area, this certificate underscores your intent to integrate into the Portuguese community.

With a validity of five years, it serves as your gateway to applying for permanent residency and, eventually, Portuguese nationality.

The Process and Timeframe

Typically, the certificate is issued on the same day of your appointment at the town hall. Yet, acquiring the essential documentation for application submission can take up to three months.

Our role is to streamline this process, ensuring you navigate these steps with ease and efficiency.

Eligibility for the Registration Certificate

This opportunity is exclusively available to EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. For family members from non-EU countries, Portugal offers a path through Family Reunification, ensuring your loved ones can also enjoy life in Portugal with you.

Benefits of Holding a Temporary Residence

Holders of the Registration Certificate can enjoy a plethora of benefits in Portugal, including:

  • The right to live and work in Portugal.
  • Eligibility to request temporary residence for immediate family members.
  • Opportunities to start a business or incorporate a company.
  • Full access to the Portuguese public education and health systems.
  • Freedom to travel across the Schengen Area.

Benefits from the Portuguese Social Security system.

Additional Requirements for the Registration Certificate

To apply, you’ll need to:

  • Appoint a tax representative in Portugal to handle your tax affairs.
  • Obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and open a local bank account.
  • Secure travel and health insurance valid in Portugal.
  • Maintain a clean criminal record.
  • Provide proof of a Portuguese address, either owned or rented.

How We Can Help

At Consult Immigration, we offer comprehensive assistance for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and their families, covering all immigration, legal, and tax-related matters in Portugal.

Our services are designed to make your move as seamless as possible:

  • Collection and preparation of all required documentation.
  • Securing a tax representative and obtaining a Portuguese tax number (NIF).
  • Assistance with opening a bank account in Portugal.
  • Scheduling and accompanying clients to appointments with relevant Portuguese authorities.
  • Support in acquiring or renting property in Portugal.

Contact Us and Begin Your Path to Residency in Portugal

With Consult Immigration, navigating the path to obtaining the EU Citizen and Family Member Permits in Portugal is straightforward. Fill out the contact form below to initiate your journey.

Our dedicated team of Qualified Attorneys and Legal Advisors is ready to provide you with expert, tailored guidance and support throughout each stage of your Portuguese Citizenship application.

What our Consult Clients have to say

I can´t tell you how much we appreciate Pina & David of Consult Immigration and how they picked up the pieces and helped us to get our visas for Spain.

They were able to correct the errors of the previous law firm and move us forward as quickly as possible. We really appreciate all they has done for us hand walking us through the steps and keep us calm.

I highly recommend using Consult Immigration from to help with your immigration to Spain.

Eric PrattTexas, USA

I was hesitant to take this big step and apply for citizenship through descent, but I took the plunge and paid for an appointment with Consult Immigration. I am so happy I did this. David and Ines answered all my questions and were extremely helpful with their extensive knowledge of the process and they asked questions for me that opened my mind to many other possibilities that would lead me to my new destination. I really liked both of them and I felt they truly earned my trust. Great service. I got so much more out of our meeting than I expected. Nice surprise!

Shannon RossCalifornia, USA

I received outstanding professional service from Consult Immigration attorney Pina Espinoza. I selected this firm because it is based in Spain and specializes in immigration services only for Spain and Portugal. Moving to Spain from the U.S., I figured they knew more about Spain than a U.S. firm would, and they speak English.

After an informative online meeting with Pina, I realized how valuable their services would be. I found Pina to be gracious, warm, and knowledgeable throughout the process. She was very accessible, and I always dealt directly with her, so I was never passed off to an assistant.

As a CPA, I’m good at following instructions and have studied the Non-Lucrative Visa requirements on the L.A. Consulate’s website. However, having gone through the process to obtain my resident card, I realize I would not have done it correctly without their firm’s services.

I found their fees reasonable for the services rendered, and they relieved me of hours of frustration if I had attempted it on my own. I highly recommend Consult Immigration.

Linda MArizona, USA

Pina is great! I highly recommend her, especially if you’re wanting someone who can give more than just what is needed. Pina has intangible insights into the process, which greatly helps in navigating it. The visa application process is daunting and frustrating, but working with Pina has made all the difference!

Carly MonzaPennsylvania, USA

Dear David, thank you so much for the assistance and professional service I received from you during my immigration process to Portugal. If it was not for your sound advice, I could have made a disastrous choice as to which country to relocate to, given the technical nature of immigration laws and how they are applied to foreigners. The support I received from you while dealing with the local officials was also very beneficial. Thanks for going the extra mile!

Schalk BadenhorstGeorge, South Africa

David, Pina and his team at Consult assisted me in my residency permit application for Mallorca, Spain through their tireless efforts in SA and Spain, from initial interest through to making appointments with the relevant authorities in Palma and were highly knowledgeable and patient throughout the process. Highly recommended!

Maira KoutsoudakisCEO LIFE Group of Companies

We would like to thank you once again for your very professional assistance in making this move possible. Your support during the process in South Africa was invaluable and your associates here in Portugal were very professional in dealing with the local procedures. This would be a daunting process without professional help and we can strongly recommend your services to anybody interested in relocating to Portugal.

Pieter Steyn & Márcia Camargo

I have had the pleasure of dealing with David at Consult and have been highly impressed with his professionalism. Pina, his partner in Spain, has also been extremely helpful and prompt to reply. I would highly recommend their immigration services to anyone looking to have the bureaucracy streamlined.

Simone BishopJohannesburg, South Africa

Consult Immigration assisted my husband and I with our residency application for Spain last year, and I can honestly say that I don't know how we would have achieved it without their assistance. There was always clear communication and we were kept up to speed on where we were in the application process, right through to our appointments in Spain and the approval of our residency. I highly recommend Consult Immigration.

Kristin ShawDurban, South Africa

Pina is fantastic! I had an especially complicated visa situation. There is ZERO chance I could have done this on my own due to all of the additional paperwork requests, Apostille, and translation. Pina is an A+++++ immigration lawyer.

Nick JordanSeattle, USA

I have recently experienced the efficient service delivered by Consult Immigration as part of my residency application to Spain. I found David very open, enthusiastic to help and give advice, and knowledgeable. It was a pleasure working with him and I strongly recommend.

Hugh TurpinPalma de Mallorca, Spain

I highly recommend Pina, David, and their team. Their expert advice helped us through a difficult situation, and we are very grateful to them.

Emma MerryUnited Kingdom