Non-EU citizens must obtain a visa from their country of origin to travel to Portugal.

A visa will grant entrance to Portugal. There’s a separate process for obtaining a permit to work.

Portugal does not require a visa for citizens of many countries, including among others EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Andorra and Brazil do not need a visa to to travel to Portugal. Citizens from any of those countries, who intend to reside in Portugal for more than three months, must request a registration certificate from the municipal council of their area of residence in Portugal within thirty days after the first three months of living in Portugal.
Five consecutive years after obtaining that registration certificate, the foreign national must obtain a permanent residence certificate which is issued by the Foreigners and Asylum Office.

WHEN IS A VISA REQUIRED?

To travel to Portuguese territory, citizens of non-EU countries must have a valid visa and a valid travel document and cannot be flagged in any way by SEA or the Schengen Information System.
Citizens of non-EU countries who wish to live in Portugal must obtain a residence visa at a Portuguese embassy in their country of residence. A residence visa is a long-term visa that allows its holders to travel to and stay in Portugal for four months and to apply for a permanent residence permit issued by SEA. There are several sub-types of residence visas, such as:

  • To exercise a professional activity under an employment contract;
  • To start a new business or exercise an independent professional activity;
  • To teach or perform other highly qualified or cultural activity;
  • To do research and/or study for exchange of higher education and secondary education students,
    internships or volunteering;
  • Family reunification reasons.

GOLDEN VISA
The Residence Permit for Investment Activity also known as Portugal Golden Visa allows any investor to freely circulate and work in Europe (Schengen Area), without any restrictions.

  1. Capital transfer of a minimum amount of €1.500.000;
  2. Creating a company and at least ten job positions;
  3. Acquiring real estate at least €500.000 worth*;
  4. Acquiring and renovating 30-year-old buildings, or older, or of buildings located in an area of
    urban renovation, at least €350.000 worth;
  5. Carrying out a transfer of €500.000 destined to research studies in public or private scientific
    research institutions, integrated in the national scientific and technological system;
  6. Conducting a cash transfer of €250.000 to support artistic productions or the recovery of
    national cultural heritage;
  7. Carrying out a cash transfer of €500.000 for the acquisition of shares in investment funds or
    venture capital funds for the capitalisation of companies;
  8. Conducting a cash transfer of €500.000 to invest in the creation of a company or giving an equal
    contribution to an existing company plus the creation of at least five job positions.

*Note that residential properties in Lisbon, Porto, and coastal towns of the mainland don’t qualify investors for a Portuguese Golden Visa. However, you can choose a commercial property in these locations and still qualify.

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