First steps to immigrate to Portugal

Moving to Portugal involves several bodies, and each asks for things from the others. That is why order matters. This guide proposes a sequence in three moments: decide the legal route, prepare the paperwork before you travel and deal with the essentials in the first weeks. Where there is an official rule, it names the source. Where the detail depends on your case or changes often, it points to the dedicated guide.

1. Decide the legal route first

The starting question is on what basis you will reside: work, study, your own income, remote work, family or, if you come from a Portuguese-speaking country, CPLP mobility. The Foreign Ministry’s Consular Portal groups national visas into temporary-stay visas (stays of less than a year) and residence visas, and within the latter by work, study and research, training or volunteering, family and settlement (retirees and people living on their income). There is also a separate type for qualified job-seeking.

Three points of law help set the frame:

• In June 2024, Decreto-Lei n.º 37-A/2024 of 3 June repealed the residence procedures based on expressions of interest (manifestações de interesse); it does not apply to procedures begun before it came into force. Treat old advice about “entering as a tourist and regularising later” with suspicion.
• For CPLP countries, the Foreigners Act (article 87-A) provides a CPLP residence permit for nationals who hold a residence visa. See the CPLP guide.
• Since 11 September 2026, Lei n.º 62/2026 provides in article 82 that the grant of a residence permit be decided within 90 days, extendable by 30 in exceptional circumstances. Family reunification has its own nine-month period. Neither is a promise of real waiting times: they are deadlines the law imposes on AIMA.

The visas guide details each type and the Path tool helps you choose. If you are joining a relative who already lives in Portugal, see the family reunification guide.

2. Before you travel

The visa

According to the Consular Portal, the residence visa is valid for four months, with two entries, and the holder must request the residence title from AIMA within that period. Apply at the consulate or visa centre in your country. Required documents vary by visa type, and this guide does not list them all, so confirm the list on the Consular Portal before booking.

The NIF from abroad

Anyone can request a NIF, even outside Portugal. The Tax Authority describes two routes: online, through the Finance Portal’s e-Balcão, or in person, by appointment, at a tax office or Citizen Shop.

Online, the request is made by a legal representative with a power of attorney (a different figure from the tax representative), with copies of your passport, of a document showing your address abroad and of the representative’s ID. The Tax Authority says powers of attorney issued to a lawyer or solicitor do not need a certified signature, and that when a NIF is assigned to a non-resident, appointing a tax representative is not mandatory. Later, once you become tax resident, you must request the change of address. If you apply in person, the Tax Authority notes that a third-country national’s passport should carry the entry visa, with the exceptions it lists. The NIF guide has the step-by-step.

Documents and copies

Gather certificates, criminal records and diplomas before leaving your country of origin, because that is where they are obtained. AIMA, for example, requires documents issued abroad to be apostilled or authenticated in family reunification, and birth certificates there are valid for one year. Scan everything as PDFs with short names and no accents or special characters (for example passaporte.pdf), as AIMA recommends for uploads to its platforms. The guides to documents from Brazil, Angola and Cabo Verde explain what to obtain in each country.

3. In the first weeks

Address

According to AIMA’s March 2026 FAQs, you attach a sworn declaration of your address, on AIMA’s template, and:

• if you own or hold usufruct: the access code to the permanent land registry certificate, or the current paper certificate;
• if you rent: the lease in your name and the previous month’s rent receipt;
• if you live under a free-use agreement (comodato): the agreement and the permanent land registry certificate.

Parish council certificates are not accepted. Students have their own rules. See the renting a home guide. This guide does not estimate rent or deposit figures, so confirm them before you decide.

NIF, NISS and SNS

Once you have an address, update it on the NIF, request the NISS and register at the health centre for the SNS user number. Each step has its own guide, with sources: NIF, NISS and SNS. Keep the same address everywhere: AIMA recommends that people living in Portugal keep their address and contacts up to date with AIMA, Social Security and the Tax Authority, because it simplifies the processes.

Bank account

The Tax Authority notes that the NIF is a condition for many everyday acts, including opening bank accounts. See the bank account guide for what banks usually ask.

The residence permit

With the visa, the permit application goes to AIMA. In the CPLP case, AIMA says the appointment is in person, by appointment, for biometric data and handing in documents; check the agency’s website for how it works in your case. Keep the receipt, which carries the file number: you need it to send missing documents through the Contact Form, where each file can be up to 10 MB and you send between 3 and 5 files. If AIMA asks for your passport, the check is in person. The AIMA guide explains everything, and Where to be served helps you find counters.

Checklist

• A valid passport and the visa, when required.
• NIF, NISS and SNS user number.
• Proof of accommodation in the form AIMA accepts.
• An employment contract, enrolment statement or proof of income, as applicable.
• Certificates apostilled or authenticated where the procedure demands.
• Digital copies with simple names.

If something goes wrong

If a document is missing, do not wait: check the type of process, use the channel in the notification and keep proof of sending. The site’s message templates help you write to AIMA or other services, and the glossary explains terms such as apostille and residence title. AIMA’s contact centre is +351 217 115 000, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.