Guides
41 practical guides, in the order you are likely to need them. Each one shows its last review date and its official sources.
Start here
- VisasThe national visas for living in Portugal, what each category asks for, how and where to apply, the fee and decision deadlines, and the qualified job-seeker visa.
- CPLPHow CPLP mobility works for citizens of Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste. CPLP visa, residence title and renewal.
- Residence & AIMAWhat AIMA handles, how to apply for a residence permit with a visa, the decision deadlines in the law, how to renew on the Renewals Portal, what to do about missing documents and where to find support.
- NIFHow to request a NIF in Portugal or from abroad, when a tax representative is needed, how to get your Portal das Finanças password and report your address once you become a tax resident.
- Bring your familyHow to bring your spouse, children and other relatives to Portugal. Who qualifies, the two-year requirement introduced by Law no. 61/2025, the exceptions and the documents.
- CitizenshipWhat Organic Law no. 1/2026 changed in the Nationality Law, the requirements for naturalisation, how years of legal residence are added up, which regime applies to pending applications and how to submit one.
Arrive
Visas, CPLP mobility, and what to do before and right after you land.
- First steps to immigrate to Portugal UpdatedA checklist of what to do before you travel and in your first weeks in Portugal. Visa, NIF, address, Social Security, SNS, bank account and AIMA, in the right order.5 min read
- Visas for Portugal: types and requirements UpdatedThe national visas for living in Portugal, what each category asks for, how and where to apply, the fee and decision deadlines, and the qualified job-seeker visa.8 min read
- CPLP residence permit UpdatedHow CPLP mobility works for citizens of Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste. CPLP visa, residence title and renewal.5 min read
- Documents to sort out before leaving BrazilHow the Hague Apostille works in Brazil, which Brazilian documents consulates and schools ask for, the Federal Police criminal record certificate, the PB4 (CDAM), school documents and documents for minors, with the validity periods official sources give.5 min read
- Bringing your dog or cat from Brazil to PortugalWhat DGAV requires for dogs and cats entering from Brazil. Microchip, rabies vaccination, antibody test and 90-day wait, health certificate, prior notice to the point of entry, fee and SIAC registration.6 min read
- Loose ends in Brazil: voter card, tax authority and accountsWhat is left to deal with in Brazil after moving to Portugal. Voting obligations, the Definitive Exit Notice and Declaration (CSDP and DSDP), INSS and reais accounts held by non-residents.5 min read
- Angolan documents for use in Portugal UpdatedHow to legalise Angolan documents for Portugal (Angola does not use the Hague Apostille), step by step in Luanda, translation, the criminal record certificate you can request in Lisbon, and consular contacts.6 min read
- Cabo Verde documents for use in Portugal UpdatedHow to prepare Cabo Verdean documents for Portugal with the Hague Apostille (in force for Cabo Verde since 2010), online requests on the Consular Portal, prices, certificate validity and consular contacts.5 min read
Get legal
AIMA, residence, family and citizenship.
- AIMA and the residence permit UpdatedWhat AIMA handles, how to apply for a residence permit with a visa, the decision deadlines in the law, how to renew on the Renewals Portal, what to do about missing documents and where to find support.10 min read
- Family reunification UpdatedHow to bring your spouse, children and other relatives to Portugal. Who qualifies, the two-year requirement introduced by Law no. 61/2025, the exceptions and the documents.7 min read
- Portuguese citizenshipWhat Organic Law no. 1/2026 changed in the Nationality Law, the requirements for naturalisation, how years of legal residence are added up, which regime applies to pending applications and how to submit one.9 min read
- Equality Statute for BraziliansWhat the Estatuto de Igualdade de Direitos e Deveres of the Treaty of Porto Seguro is, who can apply, which documents AIMA asks for, what it gives and does not give, and how it leads to the Cartão de Cidadão.7 min read
- Family member of an EU citizenHow the Law no. 37/2006 regime works for EU citizens and their non-EU family members, including Brazilians. Who counts as family, entry, the registration certificate at the Câmara Municipal and the residence card at AIMA.6 min read
- Renewing your residence permit at AIMA UpdatedWhen and where to apply for renewal, how the Renewals Portal, services.aima.gov.pt and the CPLP channel differ, the DUC and payment, your address, biometrics and what to do if the case stalls.7 min read
- Means of subsistence for a residence permit UpdatedWhat Portaria 1563/2007 means by means of subsistence, the reference amount in 2026, how it is worked out for a family, how long you need to have the means and which documents AIMA and the Consular Portal accept as proof.6 min read
- AIMA forms and templates, what each one is for UpdatedA guide to AIMA's official forms (Modelo 1 to 7, the Termo de Responsabilidade, the Equality Statute forms) and its declaration templates, grouped by situation, with when each is asked for and a link to the official PDF.5 min read
- Permanent residence and long-term resident status UpdatedThe two routes out of a temporary permit, the permanent residence permit (article 80) and long-term resident status (article 125 onwards), with the years required, language, means, documents, how to apply and how the card is renewed.7 min read
- Children of foreign parents born in Portugal UpdatedHow to register the birth, apply for the residence permit of a child born in Portugal (article 122(1)(a) to (d)), the parents' permit (paragraph 4 and point (k)) and the minors' registration credential, with documents and the link to nationality.7 min read
- Remote work and digital nomads: visa and residence permit UpdatedHow to live in Portugal while working remotely for an employer or clients abroad, which visa applies, the income required, the documents AIMA asks for, how long the permit lasts and what to do about tax residence.6 min read
- Qualified work: EU Blue Card, Tech Visa, teaching and after your studies UpdatedThe routes to working in Portugal with high qualifications, EU Blue Card, highly qualified activity, teaching, cultural activity, Tech Visa and the permit for people who finished their studies in Portugal, with requirements, documents and validity.9 min read
- Residence by investment (ARI, the "golden visa") UpdatedWhat the ARI is, which investments count today under the Foreigners Law after the 2023 reform, how many days you must spend in Portugal, how renewal works, family reunification and the route to permanent residence.8 min read
- International protection in Portugal (asylum and temporary protection) UpdatedHow to ask for asylum or subsidiary protection in Portugal under Law 27/2008, what happens to your application, which rights you have while you wait, how to challenge a decision and what temporary protection is.8 min read
- Notice to leave Portugal and voluntary return UpdatedWhat the voluntary departure notice (NAV) and the duty to leave the national territory are, how long you have to leave, what happens if you do not, how to challenge the decision, where to get help and how voluntary return works.9 min read
Documents
NIF, Social Security, SNS, bank and driving licence.
- NIF, the Portuguese tax numberHow to request a NIF in Portugal or from abroad, when a tax representative is needed, how to get your Portal das Finanças password and report your address once you become a tax resident.7 min read
- NISS and Social SecurityWho requests the NISS (you or your employer), which documents Social Security asks foreign citizens for, how to activate Segurança Social Direta and what contributions and the agreement with Brazil mean.7 min read
- The SNS and your health user numberHow the National Health Service user number is assigned, what is needed for the SNS to cover costs, how to register at a health centre, use the SNS 24 line and ask for an exemption from user fees.5 min read
- Opening a bank account in PortugalWhat a bank must collect to identify you, what the law says about proving those details, the right to a basic bank account (serviços mínimos bancários), the price cap, what a bank may not require and how to complain to the Banco de Portugal.8 min read
- Using a foreign driving licence in PortugalWhen you can keep driving on a Brazilian or other CPLP or OECD licence after getting residence, when exchange is required, how to request the exchange at the IMT, which documents are asked for and what it costs.5 min read
Live
Home, work, taxes, studies and degrees.
- Renting a home in PortugalWhat the Civil Code says about urban leases, deposits and rent in advance, terms and notice, reporting the lease to the Tax Authority, the rent receipt, the income tax deduction and the parish council's certificate of residence.9 min read
- Working in PortugalEmployment contracts, trial periods, the 2026 minimum wage, holidays and allowances, ending a contract, self-employment, registering with the IEFP and who to turn to when your rights are not respected.9 min read
- Taxes and IRS for immigrantsWhen you are a tax resident, who files an IRS return and when, deductions with invoices, IRS Jovem, the IFICI regime that followed the NHR, and double taxation with Brazil, with the year each figure applies to.7 min read
- Studying in PortugalEnrolling children at school, recognition of foreign school qualifications, access to higher education through the special competition for international students, a residence permit for study and Portuguese courses for adults.8 min read
- Degree recognitionHow to have a foreign higher-education degree or diploma recognised in Portugal under Decree-Law 66/2018. The three types of recognition, who decides, documents, translation, deadlines, fees, grade conversion, NARIC Information and regulated professions.8 min read
- Electricity, gas, water and internet: setting up your utilitiesHow to contract electricity, gas, water and communications services in Portugal according to ERSE, ERSAR and ANACOM. The contract sheet, switching supplier, lock-in periods, meter readings, the social tariff, cancelling contracts and complaints.10 min read
- Everyday life in Portugal: emergencies, holidays, shopping, public services and transportWhat official sources say about everyday situations in Portugal. The 112 emergency number and SNS 24, mandatory public holidays, invoices with a NIF, product warranties, the complaints book, the Chave Móvel Digital, Lojas de Cidadão and transport passes in Lisbon and Porto.7 min read
- Child benefit for children and young peopleConditions for child benefit (abono de família) in Portugal, including residence for foreign nationals, 2026 brackets and amounts, how to apply on the Social Security portal, deadlines, prenatal benefit and duties of recipients.8 min read
- Starting a business in PortugalThe official steps for working for yourself in Portugal, as a self-employed worker or through a company. Start of activity, VAT, Social Security, Empresa na Hora, Empresa Online and what foreigners are asked for.7 min read
- Your children's school in Portugal UpdatedHow to enrol a child or young person in public school, which school years and deadlines apply, how to request equivalence of foreign qualifications and what Portuguese as a Non-Native Language is.7 min read
- Learning Portuguese in Portugal UpdatedHow the Portuguese as a Host Language (PLA) courses work, who can attend, which levels they certify, how many hours they take, where to enrol and what the certificate is used for.8 min read
- Pensions and retirement between Portugal and Brazil UpdatedHow the old-age pension works for people who worked in Portugal and Brazil, the totalisation of insurance periods, where and how to apply, who pays which part and which other CPLP countries have an agreement with Portugal.7 min read
- Buying a home in Portugal UpdatedThe steps of a home purchase, from the promissory contract to the deed and the land registry, IMT, stamp duty and IMI according to the Tax Authority, and mortgage rules according to the Banco de Portugal, including the FINE and the 2026 limits.9 min read