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Portugal FAQs

How long can I stay in Portugal without applying for a residence permit?

If you are a non-EU citizen, you will need to apply for a residence permit if your stay will exceed 90 days. 

Do I need to apply for a residence permit if I am an EU citizen?

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you will not need to apply for a residence permit, but you will need to request a Registration Certificate for population registration purposes. This certificate is valid for five years, after which you can request a permanent residence certificate.

How long do I need to be in Portugal to apply for permanent residence?

You will need to spend an uninterrupted period of at least five years living in Portugal directly before applying for permanent residency.

How do I apply for permanent Portuguese residency?

You will need to apply for permanent residency through the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service. Requirements include proof of identification, sufficient finances, health insurance, basic proficiency in the Portuguese language and uninterrupted residence in Portugal for the preceding five years.

How do I apply for Portuguese citizenship?

Foreign residents are eligible to apply for citizenship after six years of residence, however this length is greatly reduced if married to a Portuguese citizen, or if one has a parent with Portuguese citizenship.

More questions? Feel free to contact us.

What our Consult Clients have to say

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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
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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 Badenhorst
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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
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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
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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
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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 Bishop
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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 Shaw
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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 Turpin