Visas & Residency in Portugal

The first question: EU or non-EU?

Everything about this topic begins with one split. If you are a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland, you have the right to live and work in Portugal — you need neither a visa nor a residence permit. There is just one administrative formality, which I explain right below.

If you are from outside that circle, the path is different: you apply for a visa at the Portuguese consulate in your country, you enter with that visa, and once in Portugal you convert it into a residence permit issued by AIMA. These are two distinct pieces — the visa opens the door, the permit is what keeps you inside.

EU citizens: the only formality

When people ask me "which visa do I need?" and the person is, say, German or Italian, the answer is liberating: none. You enter with your national ID card or passport and can look for housing and work, and open a bank account. You can stay up to three months without doing anything.

The moment you intend to stay more than three months, there is one step to take: request the Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (EU citizen registration certificate). According to AIMA, the request is made at the Câmara Municipal (town hall) of your area of residence, within the 30 days after completing those three months. It is a simple, inexpensive document, and it formalises your right of residence. Keep it — you will be asked for it in several places.

Non-EU family members of an EU citizen have their own regime, more favourable than that of the ordinary D visas. If that is your case, it is worth mentioning it to AIMA, because the path is different.

The D visas: the entry doors for non-EU citizens

For those coming from outside the EU, the main long-stay national visas are identified by a letter D. Each one answers a life situation. Here is the quick read:

The two most sought-after, by far, are the D7 and the D8, and they are easily confused. The line that separates them is the nature of your money. If you live on income that does not depend on continuing to work — a pension, rents, dividends — it is the D7. If the money comes in because you keep working remotely for clients or an employer outside Portugal, it is the D8.

How much you need to prove

The inevitable question is "how much money do I have to show?". The official reference is the guaranteed minimum monthly wage, which in 2026 is €920 (Decree-Law 139/2025). The Portal dos Vistos (Visa Portal) sets out how it is counted for a household:

• First adult: 100% (€920/month, the reference value, net of Segurança Social (social security) contributions).
• Each additional adult: 50%.
• Each minor under 18: 30%.

This is the reference minimum, not a guarantee of approval. In practice, consulates want to see some slack and savings in the bank, and each visa type has its own documentation requirements. Do not treat this figure as a ceiling; treat it as the floor.

Golden Visa (ARI): what changed

The Golden Visa — officially the Autorização de Residência para Investimento (ARI), the residence permit for investment — is a case apart. It is not a consular visa: it is a residence permit obtained by investing in Portugal, with the advantage of not requiring an entry visa and demanding very little physical presence in the country (7 days in the first year and 14 days for each two-year renewal period).

The change everyone needs to know: the real-estate route has ended. Since October 2023, buying a house no longer counts towards the ARI, and the plain transfer of capital is out too. If you saw advertising promising a "Golden Visa by buying a flat", it is out of date.

According to AIMA's current information, the routes that still count are, essentially:

• Qualifying investment funds, non-real-estate: €500k (minimum maturity of 5 years, 60% in companies headquartered in Portugal).
• Job creation: at least 10 jobs.
• Scientific research: €500k in research activities within the national scientific system.
• Cultural heritage: €250k supporting artistic production or heritage restoration.
• Commercial company: €500k to set up or strengthen a company headquartered in Portugal, with job creation.

The initial permit is valid for two years and is renewable; the regime allows family reunification and, later, permanent residence and the citizenship application. The amounts and details are technical and change frequently — if you are considering this route, read the dedicated Golden Visa guide and confirm everything on the official AIMA page before moving any money.

The process, from start to finish

For those coming from outside the EU with a D visa, the journey has a predictable shape. Knowing it in advance saves you surprises.

1. 1
   Get your NIF (and usually a bank account)
   The tax number underpins almost everything that follows. Many people sort it before applying.
2. 2
   Apply for the visa at the Portuguese consulate
   In your country of residence. You submit proof of income, accommodation, insurance, criminal record and the visa-specific documents.
3. 3
   Enter Portugal with the residence visa
   The residence visa is typically valid four months and already carries a scheduled AIMA appointment.
4. 4
   Convert it into an AIMA residence permit
   At the appointment you collect biometrics and receive the residence card. This is the document that lets you stay.
5. 5
   Renew on schedule
   The first permit is temporary. You renew it periodically, keeping your means of subsistence and tax situation in order.

An honest warning about timing: AIMA inherited a huge backlog from the old SEF and, in 2026, appointments and renewals can still take far longer than would be reasonable. There are exceptional regularisation mechanisms and extended validity periods precisely because of this. Count on patience and keep everything in writing.

Permanent residence and citizenship

After a few years with a temporary residence permit, the door opens to two bigger steps: permanent residence and, later, Portuguese citizenship.

Here I have to be direct: the timelines are changing. The Nationality Law was amended in 2026 and the residence period required for naturalisation increased from the five years that applied before. Because the rules — and even the way the time is counted — are still settling, I will not pin down a number here that could be wrong in a few months. The general path stays the same — reside legally, keep your situation in order, and then apply — but for the specific years, follow the nationality timeline guide and the legislation published in the Diário da República.

Permanent residence is usually the intermediate step: it gives you stability without requiring citizenship, and it has its own requirements of time and integration. There is a dedicated guide below.

If you are still deciding where to start, the find-the-right-visa tool helps narrow the options with a few questions. And do not forget: what is written here is a map, not a guarantee. Before any step with consequences, confirm with the official source.