How to Get Portuguese Residency: Updated Guide 2026

What is Portuguese residency?

Portuguese residency means you have the legal right to work, study, and live in Portugal. This is a legal status for foreign nationals that allows them to stay in the country for longer than 90 days. In Portugal, residency permits can be temporary or permanent.

A temporary residence permit in Portugal is for non-EU/EEA nationals. It is usually valid for two years and can be renewed for successive three-year periods, according to Portuguese law. After being a legal resident for five years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Permanent residency (PR) is a long-term legal status that you can renew every five years. Residency in Portugal provides access to public healthcare, the Schengen Area, and the right to work or study. However, a PR is different than Portuguese citizenship.

A PR could be revoked and requires you to maintain physical presence in the country to stay valid. A citizenship cannot be revoked, provides a Portuguese passport, and allows you to vote in national elections and live anywhere in the European Union.

Who can get Portuguese residency?

Obtaining residency in Portugal depends on your home country. Portugal has a separate system for EU, non-EU nationals, and families or dependents.

EU / EEA / Swiss nationals

If you are wondering how to get residency in Portugal for EU citizens, the process is relatively simple.

EU nationals can apply for temporary residency in Portugal without a visa. You can stay in Portugal for up to three months (90-day rule) with just a valid ID or passport.

If you are staying longer than that, you just apply for a registration certificate (Certificado de Registo) at your local city hall (Câmara Municipal).

Non-EU nationals

So, how to get Portuguese residency for UK citizens? If you are outside the EU, you first need a temporary residence permit. This affects applicants from various countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, or India.

Residency in Portugal for non-EU citizens begins with choosing an immigration pathway. You can obtain residency through a work, investment, or retirement visa. You can read more about Portugal immigration policies in our ultimate guide.

Families & dependents

If you have family members who are already residents in Portugal, such as a spouse, minor children, or dependent relatives, you could get Portuguese residency through a family reunification visa.

Ways to Get Portuguese Residency

Wondering how to get Portuguese residency? There are multiple pathways for a residence permit:

Residency through investment

You can obtain Portuguese residency by making a qualifying investment. Portugal has the Golden Visa Program, which is a residency-by-investment program. You can support artistic or cultural projects, research activities, or venture capital funds. The financial requirements vary by category.

Residency through passive income

The Portugal D7 Visa, also known as a passive income or retirement visa, is for people with stable passive income from outside the country. If you earn at least €920 per month, you can qualify for a residence permit in Portugal.

Residency through work or business

If you plan on working in Portugal, you will need a work visa or residence permit. With a Portuguese job offer, you can qualify for an employment visa (D1 or D3) and residency. For business owners, the entrepreneur visa (D2) can lead to Portuguese residency.

Residency through remote work

Remote workers who earn more than €3,680 per month can obtain a residency visa (D8). This visa type is designed for digital nomads with well-paid remote jobs.

Residency through study

Foreign students at accredited Portuguese institutions can obtain a student visa (D4), which grants a residence permit valid for the duration of their studies. If a student needs additional mobility, for example, to transfer to another higher education institution in the EU, they can apply for the D5 Visa.

Residency through family reunification

Foreign nationals with a valid residency permit can reunite with their family members who live outside the country. The following are considered family members of a residing foreign national: a spouse, minor children, parents, and minor siblings.

Portuguese Residency Visa Options

Let’s take a look at the Portugal immigration process based on the different visa options.

Golden Visa – residency by investment

The Portugal Golden Visa program is one of the most straightforward ways to obtain residency. It is best for non-EU investors who don’t want to live in Portugal full-time. Instead, they only need to spend a minimum of seven days per year in the country to maintain their residency status.

To qualify for a residence permit in Portugal, the main applicant can choose from:

• Investment funds: You invest at least €500,000 in venture capital funds or private equity.
• Cultural or artistic projects: You can invest €250,000 in high-density areas or €200,000 in Portugal’s low-density areas.
• Scientific research: You can donate €500,000 (or €400,000 in low-density areas) to public or private research institutions in major cities.
• Business investment: You can invest €500,000 in a new company or increase the capital of an existing one. The goal is to create at least five full-time jobs.
• Job creation: Create at least 10 full-time jobs in a new or existing Portuguese business. This employment requirement is reduced to eight jobs in low-density areas.

Note: As of 2023, buying property in Portugal no longer qualifies for the Golden Visa.

D7 Visa – passive income & retirement

The Portugal D7 Visa is one of the most accessible and popular ways to get Portuguese residency. It is for non-EU citizens with a stable income and retirees from outside Portugal.

To meet the requirements for a Portuguese residence permit through the D7 Visa:

• You must own or rent property in Portugal that can accommodate you and your dependent family members.
• Have a minimum passive income of €920 per month, based on the 2026 Portuguese minimum wage.
• The income can come from different sources outside the country, such as pensions, interests, dividends, royalties, and property rentals.
• Upon obtaining residency, you must stay in Portugal. While your residence card is still valid, you cannot leave the country for more than six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months in total.

Digital Nomad Visa (D8)

The Portugal Digital Nomad (D8 Visa) is for remote workers who are non-EU or EEA citizens. It has two options: a one-year temporary stay visa that allows multiple entries but no residency permit, and a four-month visa that lets you enter twice and apply for a two-year residence permit.

The D8 Visa is best for those who earn a consistent income from remote work or business ownership.

To qualify for the Portugal temporary residence permit requirements, you will need:

• A total income of at least €3,680 per month (as of 2026)
• An employment contract or a freelance agreement
• Minimum savings of at least €11,040 for a single applicant
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal

Work visas & highly qualified activities (D1 / D3)

Portugal has two main work visas for non-EU citizens: D1 for standard employment and D3 for highly qualified professionals.

The D1 is for foreign nationals with a job offer from a Portuguese employer. The D3 is for advanced skills or qualifications in high-demand fields. Some of the most popular options include IT, engineering, healthcare, and science.

To qualify for the work visa and residence permit in Portugal, you need:

• Employment contract in Portugal
• Employer sponsorship
• Proof of job qualifications
• Proof of accommodation
• Work history or reference letters
• Proof of funds for initial stay

Portugal residency through business (D2)

The D2 Visa in Portugal is best for entrepreneurs, business owners, and freelancers who want to obtain residency by starting a business. You can set up a company or freelance independently in Portugal.

If you’re a “liberal professional” (like a consultant, designer, engineer, lawyer, or other self-employed specialist) and get hired by a Portuguese company or client, you can use this visa to get temporary residency in Portugal.

Check our ultimate guide for more information on starting a business in Portugal as a foreigner.

To qualify for the D2 residence permit, you will need:

• A viable business plan (or proof of activity for liberal professionals)
• Company registration
• A place to live in Portugal
• Proof of financial means

Student residency in Portugal

The student visa is for non-EU/EEA nationals living in Portugal while pursuing their studies. The initial visa lasts for one year, but can be renewed to cover the rest of your course.

While studying, you have the right to work up to 20 hours per week and full-time during the holidays. After graduating, students can apply for a work visa, like D1, D7, or D2, which can eventually lead to a Portugal permanent residency.

To maintain a temporary residence permit as a student, you will need:

• Provide a Certificate of Enrollment
• To remain a successful student
• Provide proof of enough credits (ECTS) each year to renew the student permit
• Proof of financial means

Family reunification & marriage

If you are a foreign national with a valid residency permit, you can apply to bring your family members who live abroad.

In 2025, Portugal changed its immigration law and made family reunification stricter. Most residents now need two years of legal residence before they can bring family members.

Before your family can apply for a residency permit, you must first ask AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum) to approve their reunification. Once AIMA gives a positive decision, your family members can apply for a visa to live with you.

Family members who can qualify for Portugal residence permit via reunification are minor children, spouse, minor siblings, or first-degree lineal ascendants.

Step-by-Step Process – How to Get Portuguese Residency

Don’t know how to apply for residency in Portugal? You will need to collect the documents, apply at your local Portuguese consulate, enter Portugal with a four-month visa, and get a residence permit from AIMA. For most visa types, the process takes 4 to 8 months.

Here is a step-by-step guide to the entire residency application process for non-EU nationals:

1. Preliminary due diligence: Consult with our partners at Global Citizen Solutions, our residency and citizenship division. They will check your compliance and reduce the risk of rejection.
2. Apply at a Portuguese consulate or embassy in your home country: Book an appointment with immigration authorities in advance, since wait times can take two to three months. Submit your paperwork and pay an entry visa fee of €110.
3. Get your residence permit: Enter Portugal and schedule an appointment with the AIMA. Submit biometric data and pay for a residence permit application fee (often about €160 – €170).
4. Renew the permit: You must renew the temporary residence permit, often every two years.
5. Apply for permanent residence: After five years of legal residence and proof of Portuguese language (A2) level, you can become a permanent resident.

Costs & Fees for Portuguese Residency

The cost of residency depends on the Portugal visas you choose. Here are the average government fees per person for D7, D8, and D2 Visas:

• Consular visa fee: €110
• VFS global service fee: €40
• AIMA residence permit fee: €155 – €170
• Renewal fee for temporary permit: €90 – €110

The Portugal Golden Visa is the most expensive route, with high government processing fees and required investment. Here are the average costs for fixed government fees for the Portugal Golden Visa program per person:

• Application processing fee: €618.60
• AIMA residence permit fee: €6,179.40
• Renewal fee: €3,090.40

If you want to compare the prices of the Golden Visa with those of other countries, check our guide on Greece vs Portugal Golden Visa.

Additional administrative expenses

There are additional costs to consider, such as:

• Legal fees: For standard visas, you can spend between €1,500 and €3,000. For Golden Visas, legal application fees can reach €7,000 to €8,000.
• Document processing: Certified translations and notarizations can add an extra €1,500 to €2,500
• NIF (tax number) representative: If you are a non-EU resident and hire a fiscal representative to get your NIF in Portugal, their services can cost about €100 to €300.

Benefits of Portuguese Residency

Residency in Portugal can come with many advantages, such as:

• Great business environment: The Portuguese economy is stable and growing. According to Eurostat, the gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to increase from 1.9 percent in 2025 to 2.2 percent in 2026, before edging down to 2.1 percent in 2027.
• Access to universal healthcare: As a legal resident, you can enjoy affordable public healthcare through the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde). Most medical services are free, with small copays.
• Visa-free travel in Schengen countries: A Portugal residence permit allows you to enter Schengen countries without applying for a visa if you stay for 90 days during a 180-day period.
• Citizenship in five years: After becoming a legal resident and holding your permit, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship. To be eligible, you need to know Portuguese at an A2 level. When obtaining citizenship, you don’t need to renounce your previous nationality. You can read more about Portugal dual citizenship in our ultimate guide.
• Affordable way of life: The cost of living in Portugal is quite manageable compared to many Western European countries. For example, a single person spends about €670 on monthly expenses, while a family of four needs roughly €2,426 without including rent.

Speak With a Trusted Advisor

If you are considering moving to Portugal, knowing which Portuguese visa is the right one for your circumstances can be challenging. We recommend speaking with Goldcrest’s second residency and citizenship division, Global Citizen Solutions, who can answer any questions you may have concerning which visa program and path to residency is right for you.

To fulfill your proof of accommodation requirement for your residency application, chat to us at Goldcrest. As property experts, we can help take the stress out of finding a place to buy or rent when relocating to Portugal.

You can also check out our article for a rundown on moving to Portugal from USA, securing accommodation, and understanding visa timelines.