Moving to Portugal as a non-EU citizen entails applying for a national visa, typically valid for more than a year, which leads to residency in Portugal.
Additionally, to legally stay in the country for more than three months, you must obtain a residence permit from the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) and register your social security number at a registration office.
There are several ways to move to Portugal for a period longer than three months:
Moving to Portugal in Work Purpose:
Obtain a work visa from the nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate, while your employer in Portugal applies for a Work Permit on your behalf. After arriving, you must apply for a residence permit, register for social security, and obtain a tax number.
Moving to Portugal for Study Purpose:
Apply for a student visa after being accepted into a Portuguese higher education institution. Once in Portugal, apply for a residence permit and renew it annually during your studies.
Moving for Family Reunification:
Apply for a family visa if your family members are residence permit holders or Portuguese citizens. Your sponsor must apply first on your behalf, and upon entering Portugal, you must register as a resident and obtain a long-term residence permit.
Moving to retire in Portugal:
Apply for a retirement visa, which allows you to live in Portugal without working while financially supporting yourself through pensions, savings, etc. Apply for a residence permit upon arrival, with a validity period of one year, renewable twice for two years each. Once five years have elapsed, you have the opportunity to submit an application for permanent residency.
Alternatively, you can opt for the Digital Nomad Visa if you can meet optimum monthly salary requirements. You can apply for the temporary stay visa which has 4 months duration or you can apply for a residence permit. The initial validity of the residence permit is one year, which can be renewed for an additional two years. Following this period, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Check out other articles on living in Portugal here.
