Permanent Residence In Portugal: Expats Guide

Longing for sunsets over the sea and a taste of vinho verde?

Look no further, as Portugal might just be your paradise.

Unpacking the mystique of gaining permanent residency in this Iberian haven, this guide will be your compass.

What Is Permanent Residency In Portugal?

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People often confuse it because a temporary Residency permit differs from a permanent one. If you have a permanent residency permit, you don’t need to renew it every two years.

Sometimes you have to renew it every year, depending on the country you live in. But even if you have a permanent residency permit for Portugal, you must update the permanent residence card every five years.

If you get this Residency in Portugal, you will have the same rights while living in the country that any other Portuguese citizen will enjoy. 

However, the rules and regulations applicable to political rights will be different for you. When you get a permanent residence card, you will still not get the right to participate in an election and hold a public office while living in Portugal as a permanent resident.

Furthermore, you cannot get all the opportunities for travelling and when you have to relocate to another country.

Requirements For Getting A Portuguese Permanent Residency Permit

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If you want to get a permanent residency permit for Portugal, then, first of all, you need to get a temporary one. You need to keep your temporary permit and keep living in the country for at least five years, and then you will be able to get a permanent one.

You can use different methods to apply for a permanent residency or temporary Residency permit in Portugal. 

The methods that you can use to apply for residency in Portugal are mentioned below:

  • By Study
  • By Employment
  • By marriage to a person living in Portugal
  • My family reunification

Note: It is only possible for you to romanticise this status if you have a source of passive income and a place to reside in Portugal. It can also be under the state Investment Program, and you must have housing somewhere in Portugal to maintain this status.

Period For Portuguese Permanent Residency

It does not take long to get a Portuguese permanent residency card once you have maintained your status for five years by living in the country. If you are getting a residence permit by investment, it will take anywhere around 5 or 6 months.

If you are an investor, this process will be a lot less complicated for you than another resident applying on the base of any other reason, such as marriage or study.

Benefits Of Getting A Permanent Residency Permit In Portugal

Living in Portugal has multiple perks, and you can benefit from a permanent residency permit. Let’s take a look at the benefits that you are going to get below.

Accommodation

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Once you get a permanent residency permit, you can enter the country whenever you want, which will be legal. Even if the borders are closed, you will still be allowed to get inside the country.

There are many benefits for investors because they can start living in Portugal and spend their holidays in the country.

No Visa Requirement

The second most crucial perk you will get after getting the permanent residency permit in Portugal is that you can travel without a visa. The Schengen Countries will allow you to enter their country without having a visa.

You don’t need a visa and can easily spend a maximum of 90 days in 6 months in these countries.

Medical And Healthcare Facilities

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The medical facilities available in Portugal are high quality, and you can benefit from that after getting a permanent residency permit. According to a survey, the average lifespan of a Portuguese resident is almost 81 years.

If you can get a permanent residency, you will get complete health care in Portugal. However, if you want this benefit, you must register with the National Health Service.

All you need to do is to get a user card and then present the document at the hospital or a Pharmacy whenever you need a medical or Healthcare facility. Remember that when you get your user card, bring your permanent residency card.

Even if you are a foreign citizen, medicine will be free for you in the country, and the same goes for permanent residents.

If you are someone who contributes to the social security fund, then this is a benefit that you are going to get. You will have to pay for getting any further diagnosis.

Free Education For Children

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This is a significant benefit if you have permanent residency in Portugal. You can roll your child in kindergarten or school for free, and you don’t have to pay any money.

If you are living in Portugal, then you can also apply to Portuguese Universities, and the best part is that their diploma is also valid in other European countries.

Higher education is also free, and you don’t have to pay any money, but it will be on a competitive ground.

Tax Incentives

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When you get a permanent residency in Portugal, you will get a special tax status of a nonhabitual residence. This will give you a benefit that you will not have to pay income tax you will receive outside of the country.

If it were paid to you in another country, you would not have to pay any tax. There is also an option available that will reduce the tax rate you have to pay on income from any professional activity you will perform in Portugal.

This percentage is going to reduce to 20%. However, if you don’t have the NHR status, the income tax rate will be around 48%.

If you stay in the country 18 days per year, you can get this status and get tax benefits as a tax resident in Portugal.

European Bank Account

The next benefit you will get is that you will be able to open a bank account in a European Bank. It will benefit you in the long run because you can keep all your savings in that account in actual currency.

You will not have to keep your money in the form of cryptocurrency because it can lose value over time if the cryptocurrency falls.

Chance to get European citizenship

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This is the biggest benefit you can get after obtaining permanent residency in Portugal. You will get an opportunity to become a European citizen officially.

It is because Portugal is a member of the European Union, and you can live anywhere in Europe if you have a passport. You can also work in any other country in the European Union if you have a Portuguese passport.

If you get temporary or permanent residency, you can travel to 1807 countries, Australia and Japan, without a visa. The permanent residency will be a cherry on top because you can get permanent citizenship after five years.

It is beneficial for you to get this citizenship if you are from our country, where it is not allowed to have a second citizenship.

Conditions For Getting A Residence Visa In Portugal

Other Types Of Residence PermitResidence Permit By Investment
Duration Of Living In Portugal183 Days/ Year7 Days/ Year
Involvement Of FamilyNoYes
Knows Portuguese YesNo
Permanent Residency For CitizenshipYesNo

Who Can Apply For Portuguese Residency?

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If you are not a European citizen, then, first of all, you need to get a resident visa to work or study in the country and then apply for Portuguese Residency. The type of visa you will get will depend on why you want to go there and stay in Portugal.

The resident visa will be a handy document for you because it will give you the capacity to enter Portugal to work and live. The first step you need to do is to get a residency permit, and then you have to stay in the country for five years.

After that, you will be able to obtain permanent residency in Portugal. Once you are in the country, then you have to visit SEF. This is where you will get your residence permit which is different from a residence visa.

If you are eligible, they will tell you to register with the Portuguese tax authorities. You also have to register with your local city hall, and then you are good to go.

How To Get A Portuguese Residency

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Portugal has the highest success rate when it comes to getting a Residency by investment in Europe. The golden visa program is a terminology used for this scheme in Portugal.

You can use many ways to obtain the golden visa investment, and you can do this through real estate property. The requirements will differ for every investor, but you must invest at least 500 thousand euros.

Following are the Minimum requirements of the investment you have to make to obtain the golden visa investment in Portugal:

  • € 250,000 in arts
  • € 350,000 in the science field
  • € 250,000 in a small business
  • € 500,000 in SME

If you don’t wish to stay in Portugal for a long time and want to get a permanent residency, then this is the best option.

This way, you will not be bound to stay in Portugal permanently because you can run a business there and still get the golden visa. This VISA will make you applicable to travel to other European companies without a visa.

Portuguese Permanent Residency By Work

The second method to get a permanent Portuguese Residency is on a work visa. If you have a bilateral agreement with Portugal and you are not a European citizen, you can get an employment visa.

This is eligible for you if you are from the following countries:

  • Israel
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Australia
  • USA
  • Canada

Permanently Portuguese Residency Card Through Family Reunification

According to Portuguese law, you can join your immediate family members if you have a residence permit. The family member with a residence permit to live in Portugal will apply for SEF and get family reunification so the other family member can enter the country.

Documents Required For SEF

When you want to get a Portuguese permanent residency by family reunification, there are certain documents you must present to SEF. Let’s take a look at the documents below:

  • Documents that prove that the residence permit holder is the immediate family of the person
  • Identification documents of the family members
  • Proof of income and accommodation
  • Criminal record certificate from the country of origin

Portuguese Permanent Residency By Study Visa

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You can get a study visa in Portugal, but it will be a temporary solution. It cannot be more than six months, so you will have to get a part-time job or invest in making it long-lasting.

This way, you can stay for at least five years and obtain your permanent residency permit.

Portuguese Residency Through Retirement

If you plan to retire in Portugal, you can get up Portuguese residency at that stage. However, you have to apply for this visa when you are in your country of origin.

You will need some documents to apply for Portuguese Residency through retirement. Let’s take a look at the documents you need below.

  • ID and Passport
  • Proof of income
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Criminal background check

Duration

The duration of this process is at least 30 days, and then you also have to present your proof of income which should be at least €1000.

If you get this visa, you will not have to pay any tax on any foreign payment that you will receive in the form of income or pension for the next decade.

Conclusion

From delectable cuisine to welcoming locals, Portugal is an expat’s dream. With permanent residence in hand, it’s your turn to write a Portuguese chapter in your life’s story.

Prepare for the journey, because Portugal awaits!

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