Lots of people want to move to Portugal for its sunny weather, endless beaches, and friendly and welcoming people. But like most countries, Portugal puts limits on who can move there, how long they can stay, and what they can do once they move there.

For people already living in the European Union, the requirements are relatively simple. All that’s needed is an application for a registration certificate if they want to remain in Portugal for longer than three months. For those from the US, the UK, Canada, and other non-EU countries, the requirements become a little more complicated.

Non-EU Requirements

To become a resident of Portugal for longer than a year, you need a national (long-term) visa. Furthermore, to stay longer than three months, you need a residence permit, which can be obtained at the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service. If you are from the US, you will need to provide your social security number.

Portugal puts limits on who can stay in the country longer than three months. While the immigration laws are complicated, a simplified version would be that the country generally will allow three-month-plus stays for students, for people moving there for work, if you are joining a family member who already lives in Portugal, or if you want to retire there permanently.

BRINT Portugal

The bad news is the application process can be cumbersome and you probably will need both legal and financial help. For example, Portugal may require you to have a bank account in the country if you want to live there.

The good news is BRINT Portugal can help you navigate the process and streamline your application so you can achieve your goal of living in Portugal without the complications or problems other applicants often experience. Our team of experienced, professional immigration experts live and work in Portugal already and have access to all the resources you need.