Frequently asked questions about immigration to Portugal

The starting point is defining the reason for the move: working, starting a business, studying, living on your own income or joining a family member. That is what determines the visa, the documents and the steps. At our firm we always begin with this assessment, because gathering documents without it is the most common mistake we see.

No. A visa authorises entry into Portugal for a specific purpose. A residence visa is, as a rule, used to enter the country and then apply for the residence permit, which is what allows you to live in Portugal legally while it is valid.

The offer or contract can support the application, depending on the type of visa and its requirements. In our analysis we also check your personal documents, the terms of employment and, if your profession requires it, your qualification to practise it.

Yes, the D2, for entrepreneurs and independent professionals. You must show the business project or activity and meet the documentary and financial requirements. We always warn our clients: opening a company does not, on its own, guarantee the visa.

The D7 is usually the route for retirees and people living on their own income. The analysis weighs the source, regularity and availability of that income, as well as the other requirements.

Yes, through the remote work visa, the D8, for people who provide services to individuals or companies outside Portugal. You will need to prove the employment relationship or the services provided, the required income and the other requirements.

No. Enrolment or admission is only part of the documentation. The application also depends on the status of the institution and the course, means of subsistence, accommodation and the other requirements.

The law now provides for a visa to look for qualified work. Don’t assume the old model still works the same way: before any application, we confirm the regulations and whether the consulate is accepting this type of visa.

There is no single amount. It depends on the type of visa, how many people are coming with you and the criteria in force. And having the money is not enough: you need to show where it comes from and that it is available. We work this out case by case.

It varies with the type of visa, where you apply and whether additional documents are needed. In our quotes we separate official fees, document costs and legal fees, so you know exactly what you are paying for. No serious law firm, however, can guarantee an approval timeframe.

Having entered as a tourist does not, in itself, give you a right to residence. Our job is to check whether there is any legal route in your case that allows you to apply from within Portugal, including transitional rules.

No. These documents show your tax, social security or employment situation, but they do not replace a visa, a residence permit or another valid basis for staying.

Not as a general route. The expression of interest was revoked in June 2024. Earlier applications and situations covered by the transitional rules require a specific analysis, which we can carry out for you.

It may, when assessing whether you fall under the transitional regime. We analyse your situation on that date, your documents and whether the legal deadline was met. Contributions alone do not guarantee the right.

No. Time spent in the country does not, on its own, replace the requirements for the permit. We assess your immigration history, your family and professional ties and the legal routes available.

Contact us as soon as possible: the grounds of the notice and the deadline to respond are decisive. Keep the full document and proof of the date you received it. The possible measures depend on your case.

It is a residence permit for citizens of the countries covered by the Mobility Agreement of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), provided they meet the legal requirements.

No. Brazilian nationality makes you eligible under the agreement, but it does not exempt you from the requirements for the permit to be granted.

We don’t recommend counting on it. For new applications, the current rule requires a prior residence visa. Older or transitional situations need their own analysis.

No. The visa is obtained at the consulate. The residence permit is applied for in Portugal, with AIMA. Having the visa does not remove the steps needed to issue the residence card.

Yes, on the terms that apply to residents. If your profession is regulated, you may need recognition of your qualifications or registration with the professional body.

No. The CPLP is a residence permit. Portuguese nationality has its own procedure and requirements.

Yes. A procedure was created to renew and replace the CPLP certificate with a residence permit in the uniform card format.

It is not automatic. The procedure involves validating your details, paying the fee where applicable, submitting documents and attending an appointment to collect your biometrics.

Check AIMA’s official procedure and the notification sent for your case. AIMA has made the “Renovar AR CPLP” option available on its services platform for this application.

The procedure requires an in-person appointment for biometrics. We can follow and prepare the whole process, but that does not replace your attendance when it is required.

Follow the list in your notification and bring everything up to date. Check your identification, the previous certificate and the requested supporting documents carefully. If you prefer, we can review the documents with you before the appointment.

First check your spam folder and the details linked to your case. If the email address is wrong or inaccessible, use the official procedure to update it. Keep proof of every attempt and request.

No. The replacement changes the document, not the basis of your residence. Changing the basis is a separate matter, with its own assessment and procedure.

Before it expires, without leaving it to the last minute. Check your passport’s validity, organise your documents and keep track of when the procedure for your permit opens.

No. The channel varies with the type of permit and the status of the document. The CPLP, for example, has its own procedure.

There is no single answer. We need to check the expiry date, the applicable rules and whether a renewal application has been filed. Don’t assume that old extensions still apply to your case.

It proves the application and has the effects provided for in the applicable regime while it is valid. But it is not equivalent to the card for every purpose, especially for international travel.

The key issue becomes how to show means of subsistence and meet the other requirements. We assess your type of residence, the resources available and your personal circumstances.

It may. Your tax and social security situation is relevant to the application. We advise checking any outstanding debts and settling them, or showing a valid payment agreement.

Yes, through the appropriate procedure. Out-of-date details can affect notifications, the document review and the delivery of your card.

By identifying exactly which stage it is at: appointment, review, missing documents, decision or card issuance. Gather the case number, proof of submission and payment and every communication from AIMA. With that, we can map out the next step.

Yes: we identify the right channel, prepare formal requests and assess administrative or legal action. We are transparent, though: hiring us does not guarantee an immediate slot or waive the application requirements.

There may be grounds, depending on AIMA’s duty to act, the applicable deadline and the history of your case. We assess which measure fits your specific situation.

No. The urgent summons for the protection of rights, freedoms and guarantees (intimação para proteção de direitos, liberdades e garantias) has specific requirements. Delay alone does not make a case eligible for this urgent procedure.

Documents proving concrete harm: risk of losing your job, health issues, serious impact on family life. The evidence must show the link between AIMA’s failure to act and the right affected.

Not necessarily. The ruling may order AIMA to take an action or decide on the application, which does not, in itself, amount to granting residence.

Check whether a decision has been made, whether any requirement is pending and whether your address is correct. Payment and biometrics do not, on their own, prove approval. With your history organised, we can assess a request for information or another suitable measure.

There may be a route as accompanying family members or through family reunification, depending on your permit and your family’s situation. We check family ties, ages, where your family members are and the residence, accommodation and subsistence requirements.

A de facto union can be considered for family reunification if it meets the requirements and is well documented. We review the Brazilian document for its content, formalities and adequacy as evidence.

There are legal routes, but the family relationship alone may not be enough. Financial dependency, age, studies and other conditions are often decisive.

It depends on where the family member is, how they entered, their age and the date of the application. The rules for applications from within the country have changed, and not every family member can use the same route.

Before travelling, check which documents you need to leave, make connections and return to Portugal. An appointment or application receipt should not be considered sufficient for boarding or re-entry. If in doubt, ask us before buying your ticket.

Not automatically. Short trips and moving your residence are different situations, and moving follows the rules of the destination country.

Passport, visa or residence permit, proof of entry, notifications, case number, payments and communications with AIMA. Depending on the case, professional, family and accommodation documents. A simple timeline with the key dates helps our team identify the problem and the options available.