PortugalPermanent residence permit

Permanent residence permit in Portugal

An open-ended residence status for foreign nationals who have lived in Portugal for a long time on a temporary residence permit and want to settle. The applicant pays taxes and social insurance contributions, evidences accommodation and has a basic command of Portuguese. The application is considered by the migration service AIMA. Those who obtained their residence permit through investment, and their families, are subject to their own rules and a different rate.

Source: AIMA — Autorização de Residência Permanente (art. 80.º)

Who obtains permanent status, and how

AIMA considers such applications under two different scenarios, depending on the grounds on which the person already lives in Portugal.

Holders of a temporary residence permit

Have lived in Portugal continuously on a temporary residence permit for a sufficiently long period
Evidence a basic command of Portuguese and income to live on
Arrange the status under the general procedure and at the general AIMA rate

Investors and their family members (ARI holders)

Already hold a residence permit for investment activity (ARI)
Meet the same conditions under article 80 — language, no criminal record, income, accommodation
Obtain investor permanent status at a separate, higher rate

When the programme is not a fit

You have not yet built up the required period of continuous residence on a temporary residence permit

Keep renewing the temporary residence permit until the required period of residence in the country has built up

You need a status recognised under European Union rules that makes moving to another EU country easier

Arranging EU long-term resident status (ERLD, art. 125) — a separate AIMA programme with its own conditions

Over the recent years of residence in Portugal there is a conviction with a sentence exceeding, in total, the threshold set by law

Wait until the conviction is spent, or resolve the matter another way before filing — with an unspent conviction at that level the status is not granted

What it costs

Arranging the permanent residence permit (in person, at an AIMA office)	351,1 EUR
Renewing the permanent residence permit (in person, at an AIMA office)	61,9 EUR
Arranging the permanent residence permit through AIMA's digital serviceA discount for filing the application through AIMA's online channel instead of attending in person	263,4 EUR
Renewing the permanent residence permit through AIMA's digital serviceA discount for renewing through AIMA's online channel instead of attending in person	46,3 EUR
Arranging permanent status for holders of the investment residence permit (ARI) and their family membersA separate, considerably higher rate for holders of the residence permit for investment activity and their families	+11 786,7 EUR
Renewing permanent status for holders of the investment residence permit (ARI) and their family membersA separate renewal rate for the same category of applicant	+5 894,1 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Arranging permanent status for holders of the investment residence permit (ARI) and their family members” adds 11 786,7 EUR; “Renewing permanent status for holders of the investment residence permit (ARI) and their family members” adds 5 894,1 EUR; the “Arranging the permanent residence permit through AIMA's digital service” branch replaces the “Arranging the permanent residence permit (in person, at an AIMA office)” line — 325,3 EUR; the “Renewing the permanent residence permit through AIMA's digital service” branch replaces the “Renewing the permanent residence permit (in person, at an AIMA office)” line — 397,4 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	413–18 093,8 EUR

Paid separately

Translation and certification of documents — Paid separately to a notary, a consulate or a translator — not included in the state fee
A Portuguese language course or exam — Preparing for and sitting the language test are paid for separately from the AIMA fee
Medical insurance and income certificates — The cost depends on the insurance company and is not part of the state fee

Documents to gather

The full pack is filed in person at an AIMA office (Loja AIMA) by appointment, together with the signed application form.

A valid passport or other travel document
Evidence of means of subsistence
A declaration on personal responsibility of the place of residence, stating the basis on which the accommodation is occupied (ownership, tenancy, sub-tenancy and so on)
If living in your own home — an extract from the property register or access to its electronic code
If renting — a declaration from the landlord or the host on the legal basis for using the accommodation
Evidence of payment of taxes and social insurance contributions
Evidence of holding a temporary residence permit for the required number of consecutive years
Evidence of a basic knowledge of Portuguese — one of several acceptable certificates (a school certificate from an educational institution, an IEFP certificate, a CAPLE test result or a certificate from the Português Língua de Acolhimento course at level A2 or above)

How the process runs

The procedure is the same for all applicants and goes through any AIMA office.

1
Booking an appointment at an AIMA office
The application for a permanent residence permit is filed only by appointment (agendamento) — you can book at any Loja AIMA.
2
Filing the application and documents in person
The applicant or their legal representative brings the signed standard form (Modelo 1) and the full pack of documents to the chosen AIMA office in person.
3
Review of the case and referral by place of residence
AIMA prepares the case and, where necessary, passes it to the unit responsible for the applicant's district of residence for the final decision.
4
AIMA's decision and the granting of the status
as a general rule under the law, decisions on residence permits are taken within a few months
Once the conditions have been checked (period of residence, no serious criminal record, income, accommodation, knowledge of the language), AIMA takes a decision and arranges the permanent residence permit for five years on the card — the status itself being open-ended.

Who you can bring with you

A permanent residence permit does not remove the right of the resident's family members to reunification — that is arranged through a separate AIMA procedure (arts. 98-100, 107).

Spouse

Obtains a residence permit for a period matching that of the main resident, once the marriage has been evidenced

Minor children, or children unable to work, of the couple or of one of the spouses

Including adopted children — reunification is evidenced by a birth certificate or an adoption decision

Adult unmarried dependent children studying in Portugal

Economic dependence on the parent and the fact of studying at a local educational institution have to be evidenced

First-degree direct ascendant relatives of the resident or of their spouse

Evidence that they are dependants of the resident is required

Partner in a civil union (união de facto)

Reunification is possible where the relationship is documented as having lasted more than two years

Trips, renewal and the grace period

5 years on a temporary residence permit are required. Over the last 5 years of residence in the country there must be no sentences which, individually or together, exceed 1 year of imprisonment.

Permanent resident status itself is open-ended, but the card evidencing it is updated every few years, or sooner if the holder's personal details have changed. Renewal costs less than the initial arrangement and is available both by attending an AIMA office in person and through its digital service.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Citizenship follows a separate route — naturalisation under article 6.º of the Nationality Act.

Frequently asked questions about Permanent residence permit

How long do I have to have lived in Portugal on a temporary residence permit to qualify for permanent status?

The law requires continuous holding of a temporary residence permit for the set long period, together with meeting a number of other conditions at the same time: no serious criminal record over the recent years of residence, means of subsistence, evidenced accommodation and a basic knowledge of Portuguese.

What document can be used to evidence a knowledge of Portuguese?

One of several options will do: a school certificate from a Portuguese educational institution, a course certificate from the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP), a test result from a CAPLE centre, or a certificate of completing the Português Língua de Acolhimento course at level A2 or above.

How long is the permanent residence permit valid, and does it have to be renewed?

The status itself is granted with no limit on its validity, but the card evidencing it has to be replaced every five years, and at any time if the holder's personal details change.

How does the permanent residence permit differ from EU long-term resident status?

These are two different AIMA regimes. The permanent residence permit under article 80 is a national Portuguese status with no limit on its validity. EU long-term resident status (ERLD, art. 125) is arranged through a separate procedure and gives a single EU-model residence permit with its own conditions and a minimum card validity of several years.

What happens if the applicant has a criminal record?

A criminal record does not always lead to a refusal, but the law expressly requires that over the recent years of residence in Portugal the applicant has not been sentenced to a term which, in total, exceeds the set threshold of imprisonment, save for particular exceptions provided for by law involving suspended sentences for certain categories of serious offence.

Can the application be filed online, and does that work out cheaper?

Yes, AIMA has a digital filing channel alongside attending an office in person, and under the current fee table filing through the online service costs noticeably less than filing the same application in person.

Other ways to move to Portugal

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Portugal.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.