Portugal Residence Permit

Residency Visa

The Portugal Residency Visa is a type of visa that allows Indian citizens to reside in Portugal for up to four months. Within this four months, it is vital that an application is submitted for a Residence Permit.

The Residency Visa is designed to allow individuals to access the Residence Permit, so it must not be used for any other reason.

The documents required for the Residency Visa (as well as the standard documents listed above) are:

• Proof of Residence Permit application
• Evidence of residence in India
• Signature of legal representative (for minors or legally disabled people)

As well as submitting the above documents, all applicants must pay a fee of €90 (the Embassy fee) before the application can be finalised.

Special Residence

Certain individuals are eligible to apply for a Special Residence Permit in Portugal, which offers unique benefits compared to the standard Residence Permits.

This permit can be granted to people from India for the following reasons:

• The applicant is a minor who was born in national territory to foreign Residence Permit holders
• The applicant was born to Residence Permit holders and has remained in the national territory for the majority of their life from the age of 10 (they must now have reached the age of majority)
• The birthplace of the applicant is in national territory, and the applicant has never left this area (or they have remained in Portgual since they were 10 years old)
• The candidate has completed military service in the Portuguese Armed Forces
• There is evidence of health conditions requiring prolonged medical care

There is no guarantee that applicants who meet the above criteria will be offered a Special Residence Permit. It is at the discretion of the SEF.

If an Indian candidate is approved for special residence, they must fill out an online application with SEF and include the following documents:

• Extract from Indian criminal record
• Signature of applicant (and their legal representative, if applicable)
• Proof of military service in Portuguese Armed Forces (if applicable)

Work Residence

There are different types of Work Residence Permits for Indian nationals with an existing job offer in Portugal:

• ‘Tech’ Visa
• Skilled Worker Visa
• Self-Employment Work Visa
• Cultural Activities Work Visa
• Highly-Skilled Worker Visa
• Teaching Work Visa

In order to obtain a Work Residence Permit, it is necessary to apply for a job that has been vacant and unfilled for at least one month. The prospective employer must then apply for the permit on behalf of the Indian candidate.

Work Residence Permits in Portugal last one full year, and they can be renewed for a further year by applying for an extension to SEF.

Each Work Residence Permit application must include:

• Company’s social security number
• Company’s tax statements
• Candidate’s details, including proof of a valid passport and accommodation
• Evidence that the role was unfilled for at least 30 days before the job offer was made
• Employment contract

The candidate must then apply for a Work Visa, attaching both the employment contract and the following supporting documents:

• Evidence of health insurance
• Indian criminal record
• Completed visa application form
• Proof of legal entry into Portugal (if already in Portugal)

Study Residence

Indian students with a place at a Portuguese educational institution are eligible to apply for a Study Residence Permit. They must provide the following documents in their application

• Valid Residence Visa
• Proof of acceptance into an educational institution
• Evidence of tuition fee payment

Study Residence Permits last one year. People with this permit are entitled to renew the permit annually if they are still studying in Portugal. When a candidate finds a job in the country, they may be able to switch to a Work Residence Permit.

Study Residence Permit holders are not restricted to studying in Portugal. It is permitted to work for up to 20 hours a week in term time, and full-time when teaching is not taking place (e.g., in the summer).

Retirement Residence

This permit is for Indians of retirement age who wish to live in Portugal long-term after obtaining a Residence Visa. It is possible to renew this permit twice, and each time a period of two-years can be added to the validity. In total, candidates can add five years to their permit, which would then make them eligible for permanent residence.

The documents requested for Retirement Residence applications are:

• Travel medical insurance
• Bank documents from Portguese bank (stamped and authenticated by a Portuguese lawyer)
• Document certifying retirement amount
• National Application Form
• Certificate from religious institution (if applicable)
• Lease agreement
• Proof of revenue from assets (if applicable)

Family Residence

When an Indian citizen obtains a Portuguese Residence Permit, they are entitled to invite family members to join them in Portugal. For people with a Student Permit (or people undertaking voluntary service/unpaid traineeships), it is permitted to apply for a spouse or children to come to Portugal.

For all other individuals, the following relatives may be invited:

• First-degree family members who are dependent on the candidate
• Children under the care of the applicant
• School-age dependent children who have been accepted into a Portuguese educational institution
• Married or registered partners
• Minor siblings of whom the candidate has legal custody
• Minor children (including adopted children)

Before a loved one can be welcomed into Portugal, the first applicant must locate the following documents and include them in the application:

• Evidence of genuine family relationships
• Extract from Indian judicial record (only for over-16s)
• Proof of entitlement to Family Reunification given to the Residence Permit holder
• Authenticated copies of the relatives’ identification documents

Investment Residence (Golden Visa)

The Investment Residence Permit is commonly known as the Golden Visa Scheme. It is a way for individuals to qualify for Portuguese residence through investment.

The minimum investment required for the Golden Visa is €280,000. This can be achieved through:

• Company investment
• Fund subscription
• Donation

It is also currently possible to qualify for the Golden Visa via capital transfer and real estate acquisition. However, this is expected to change very soon.

The following documents must be provided by Investment Residence applicants:

• Health insurance confirmation
• Printed payment receipt from ARI portal
• Indian criminal records (or certificate confirming the absence of a criminal record)
• Sworn Statement to maintain investment for at least five years
• Proof of deposit from the bank (if there has been a capital transfer of at least €1 million, a creation of ten or more new jobs, or an investment in the arts/research)
• Declaration of investment (from a scientific research institution or the Portuguese Strategy, Planning and Cultural Assessment Office)
• Proof that property investment is in a regeneration area (if applicable)
• Proof of assets being transferred to a Portuguese financial institution, Acquired Property Deed, and Land Register Certificate (for individuals who have purchased real estate property)
• Employment contracts and extracts from the register of companies (if ten or more jobs have been created)

Unlike other Residence Permits, the Golden Visa does not come with a requirement of residing in Portugal the majority of the time. Indian visa holders are only expected to spend at least seven days per year (on average) in the country.

Permanent Residence

People who have been living in Portugal for five continuous years may apply for Portugal Permanent Residence.

This allows non-Portuguese citizens to enjoy the benefits of residing in Portugal for 10 years, without needing to renew the permit in this time. Unlike Portuguese citizenship, this permit does not allow people to vote, obtain a Portuguese passport, or hold public office in Portugal.

A range of supporting documents must be submitted as part of the Permanent Residence application. These are:

• Proof of compliance of tax and social security obligations
• Supporting evidence of basic knowledge of Portuguese (certificate of eligibility from a Portuguese teaching establishment, certificate of completion of an IEFP course or another legally-recognised course, certificate of Basic Portuguese from a CAPLE, or certificate of the Course on Portuguese as a Host Language with a level of A2 or higher)