Portugal EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Portugal without a visa. Stays over 3 months require a registration certificate from the municipal council (Câmara Municipal), requested within 30 days after the first 3 months. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland can live in Portugal without a visa or residence permit. ^{1 8}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid passport or national ID card. ^{1 3}
• After 3 months, work, self-employment, study, or sufficient resources with health insurance is needed. ^{3 9}
• Sufficient resources means income not below the level at which Portugal grants social support to nationals, adjusted to family situation. ⁹
• Registration needs a valid ID or passport plus proof of work, study, or resources and insurance. ²
• Carry a valid identification document: ID card, passport, or residence certificate or card. ⁹
• EU citizens need not report their presence after arrival. ⁹
• Request the registration certificate at the Câmara Municipal of your area of residence within 30 days after the first 3 months. ⁹
• The certificate costs EUR 15 (≈ $17) (EUR 7.50 (≈ $8) under age 6) and is valid for 5 years or the intended stay if shorter. ⁹
• Staying over 3 months without the certificate can bring a fine of EUR 400 (≈ $450) to 1,500. ⁹
• Permanent residence is acquired automatically after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. ⁴
• Request the permanent residence registration certificate from AIMA by appointment before the 5-year certificate expires; it costs EUR 15 (≈ $17) and is valid 10 years. ⁹

Stay

• No time limit; request the registration certificate from the Câmara Municipal within 30 days after the first 3 months in Portugal.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance; registration of residence.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

Citizens may work as employees or self-employed persons in Portugal without a work permit; posts involving public authority powers may be reserved for nationals.

Family

Spouse or de facto partner, descendants under 21 or dependent, and dependent ascendants may join; non-EU family members request a residence card from AIMA within 30 days after the first 3 months.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Work permits · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North · European Parliament · checked 2026-10-10
9. Residir em Portugal (Residing in Portugal: EU citizens) · gov.pt, Government of Portugal · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-09-15