Portugal is a popular place for vacations because of its climate, cuisine, and access to the ocean. A visa is enough for this purpose, but if you need to spend more than three months in the country, a residence permit might be your choice. In this article, you will find out how to get a residence permit in Portugal, what the requirements are, and when you should go for a visa instead.
Residence Permit vs. Visa
If you are not planning to live in the country and have a time-defined purpose to stay in Portugal, you can get a temporary or long-term visa. They allow living in the country for up to a year during your work, study, or other activities. For that, you’ll need to provide proof that you have a place to live, a source of income sufficient to sustain yourself, and a reason for your stay.
If you are aiming at staying in the country for a long time to reunite with your family, find work, or start a business, getting a residence permit is a better option. For the latest goal, Portugal’s residence permit by investment is the best option. Getting a temporary residence permit is also the first step to becoming a Portuguese citizen.
How to Get a Residence Permit in Portugal
The process starts with receiving an entry visa to Portugal. Non-EU citizens and people from countries out of the European Economic Zone need to enter the country to apply for residency. Under Portugal’s residence permit requirements, you will need the next documents to do so:
- Valid passport
- Valid 3-4 months visa
- Application form
- Proof of sufficient funds for living
- Proof of accommodation
- Health insurance
- Criminal report
- An employment contract or university acceptance letter
After presenting the discussed documents to the SEF, if your application is accepted, you get a temporary residence permit in Portugal.
How to Get a Temporary Residence Permit in Portugal Through Investment
Under Portugal’s golden residence permit program, wealthy investors can get a residence permit for themselves and their families with less harsh conditions. According to Victor Esik, an expert from Immigrant Invest, there are seven qualifying types of investment for this program:
- A minimum of €280,000 real estate investment.
- €500,000 purchase of investment fund units.
- €500,000 investment in research.
- €1,500,000 capital investment.
- Investing €500,000.
- Opening a company that creates at least 10 work openings.
Portugal’s residence permit by investment doesn’t require passing a language mastery test or permanently living in the country. It also grants certain tax exemptions for 10 years after getting a permit.
Portugal Temporary Residence Permit Benefits
Both golden visa and regular permit holders can travel to the EU countries without a visa and stay there for 90 days. A temporary residence permit allows working in Portugal and getting unemployment assistance. Residents get access to highly-ranked Portuguese healthcare and education systems. After five years of living in the country under a temporary residence permit, a person can apply for either a permanent permit or citizenship.
Golden visa holders in addition to this can apply for special status that allows the 10-year exception from global income tax. To be able to prolong the permit, they are required to spend at least seven days a year in Portugal.
Takeaways
Now, you know how to get a Portugal residence permit both with and without investment. A permit grants many benefits, which include visa-free access to the Schengen zone and becoming a citizen. If you want to know more about investment residence in other countries, we suggest reading an article about the Turkish golden visa program by Immigrant Invest – https://immigrantinvest.com/turkish-citizenship-en/.