PortugalResidence

Portugal permanent residence and EU long-term resident status

Permanent residence permit (art. 80) and EU long-term resident status (art. 125)

In short

After holding a temporary residence permit for at least five years, you can apply to AIMA for a permanent residence permit if you prove basic Portuguese (A2), means of subsistence, accommodation and compliance with tax and Social Security obligations, with no prison sentences over one year in the last five years. Alternatively, five years of legal and uninterrupted residence lead to EU long-term resident status, valid at least five years and renewable.

Apply on AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Validity
Permanent; the EU long-term resident card is valid at least five years and renewable
Fee
€351.10Permanent permit: EUR 133.00 analysis plus EUR 351.10 grant (in person, fee table 26.02.2026); EU long-term status: EUR 169.20 analysis plus EUR 160.50 for the card; 25% less online
Funds required
€920 per monthMeans of subsistence under Portaria 1563/2007, indexed to the minimum wage (EUR 920 a month in 2026)
Work
Yes
Path to permanent residence
This is the permanent stage; naturalisation is governed separately by the Nationality Law
Where to apply
In Portugal at any AIMA office by appointment

EU long-term resident status (art. 125)

As an alternative, you can apply for EU long-term resident status after five years of legal and uninterrupted residence immediately before the request. You show stable and regular resources for yourself and your family, accommodation, health insurance or NHS coverage, basic Portuguese where applicable, compliance with tax and Social Security obligations and, where relevant, proof that absences were due to work postings. The status is permanent and documented by an EU long-term residence card valid at least five years. EU Blue Card holders can qualify under article 121-I.

Permanent residence permit (art. 80)

You must have held a temporary residence permit for at least five years, prove basic Portuguese, means of subsistence and accommodation, and show that you meet your tax and Social Security obligations. It is a condition that in the last five years of residence you were not sentenced to prison terms exceeding one year in total, even if suspended in the case of certain serious crimes.

Proving basic Portuguese

AIMA accepts any of: a qualification certificate from a Portuguese public or recognised school; a certificate from a school in a Portuguese-speaking country; a certificate of a basic Portuguese course from IEFP or a recognised school; a basic Portuguese test certificate from a CAPLE assessment centre; or a certificate of level A2 or higher from a Português Língua de Acolhimento course run by public schools, IEFP centres or Centros Qualifica.

Required documents

Identity

  • Valid passport or travel document
  • Temporary residence permit held for at least 5 years

Money

  • Proof of means of subsistence

Study

  • Proof of basic Portuguese (A2 certificate, CAPLE test, IEFP course, or school certificate)

Other

  • Sworn address declaration with land registry certificate or landlord declaration
  • Proof of compliance with tax and Social Security obligations

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Insurance

  • EU long-term status: health insurance or NHS coverage

Fees

Permanent permit: EUR 133.00 to receive and analyse plus EUR 351.10 to grant; EUR 61.90 to renew or change the card. EU long-term resident status: EUR 169.20 to receive and analyse plus EUR 160.50 to issue the card, the same to renew it; free for beneficiaries of international protection. All in-person rates from the fee table updated 26 February 2026, 25% less through digital channels.

Golden visa holders

ARI holders and their families who meet article 80 receive a permanent residence permit for investment activity, and the general rule that cancels the right after long absences from Portugal does not apply to them.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Count five years from the issue of your first temporary permit and keep your permits renewed without gaps.
  2. Obtain an A2 Portuguese certificate (for example a Português Língua de Acolhimento course or a CAPLE test).
  3. Collect tax and Social Security compliance certificates and address documents.
  4. Choose between the national permanent permit and EU long-term resident status.
  5. Book an AIMA appointment and submit the request in person with Modelo 1.
  6. Pay the fees and collect your card; renew the card document when due.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

How many years do I need for permanent residence in Portugal?

At least five years as holder of a temporary residence permit (art. 80), or five years of legal and uninterrupted residence for EU long-term resident status (art. 125).

What level of Portuguese is required?

Basic Portuguese; AIMA accepts, among others, an A2 certificate from a Português Língua de Acolhimento course or a CAPLE test certificate.

Is permanent residence the same as citizenship?

No. Permanent residence is a residence status under the Foreigners Law; naturalisation is a separate procedure under the Nationality Law.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Portugal

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months, two entries, to apply for the permit; temporary stay visa: the programme, under one year
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to apply for the AIMA permit; temporary stay visa: under one year
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to obtain the permit; temporary stay visa: the programme, over 3 months and under one year

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months, to apply for the AIMA permit
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months; a temporary stay visa covers highly qualified work under one year
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to apply for the card
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: ICT permit: up to 3 years in total for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainee employees
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Short stay: up to 90 days; temporary stay: more than 90 days and up to 270 days (9 months)
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Temporary stay visa: under one year, multiple entries; residence visa: two entries, 4 months to apply for the permit

Family

  • Family reunification visa Maximum stay: D6 residence visa: two entries, 4 months; must be applied for within 90 days of the AIMA approval
  • Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: Temporary stay visa for family of Portuguese citizens: stays over 3 months, under one year

Residence

  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months, to apply for the AIMA permit
  • Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: Temporary ARI permit valid 2 years from issue, then renewable while the investment is maintained
  • Residence permit Validity: 2 years from issue, renewable for successive 3-year periods (unless a specific rule sets other periods)

Faster processing

Protection

Portugal visa guide