|Home| Info| Community| Business| Beaches| What to do?| Rentals| News| Forum| Blogs| Finance| History| FAQ| Contact|
residency
Consular Section
British Embassy
Lisbon
Residence Permits for EU Nationals
Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements in that information caused by negligence or otherwise.
Under EU directives and in compliance with Portuguese law, all European Community nationals who wish to settle in Portugal (i.e. whether they are wage earners or the providers of a service, or whether they benefit from the right of establishment in any other capacity), no longer require a residence visa prior to travel. However, on arrival, an application should be made for a residence permit from the nearest office of the Portuguese Immigration Service – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF). The details are as follows:
Wage earners who come to Portugal to work for a period not exceeding three months, will not require a residence permit.
Seasonal workers whose work duration does not exceed eight months, will not require a residence permit.
Wage earners whose work will last more than three but less than 12 months, will require a temporary residence permit, valid for a period equal to the duration of the contract. If the contract is extended, but the cumulative period does not exceed one year, the residence card will be extended for a period equal to the work extension. If the cumulative period exceeds one year, the renewed residence permit will automatically carry a 5 year validity.
Wage earners whose work will last for a period equal to or over one year or for an indeterminate period, will require a residence permit valid for 5 years, renewable for 10 years.
Providers of services will be issued with a temporary residence permit valid for the expected duration of their work, renewable, upon application for extension, for a period equal to the expected duration of the extended work.
Self-employed people will be issued with a residence permit valid for five years, renewable for 10 years.
Persons of independent means (including retired persons) will be required to produce evidence that they have sufficient income to support themselves and their dependants without recourse to state assistance. They also have to prove that they have health cover (state-funded or private). A British passport holder in receipt of a UK state retirement pension is entitled to state health care and should register on arrival with the local health centre. The health centre will take the necessary steps to obtain an E121 from the British authorities. If not in receipt of a state pension, evidence of private medical insurance cover will have to be shown. Their residence permit will be valid for a period of two years, renewable for five years.
The first four categories above, i.e. wage earners, will not require a work permit, nor to register their employment with the Portuguese Ministry of Labour. They will be treated on a par with Portuguese nationals but must ensure that they have a formal work contract.
The spouse of an EC national working in Portugal, who is also an EC national, will also require a residence permit, which will be given the same validity as that of the main applicant.
Non-EC spouses and dependants will still require a residence visa from the Portuguese consular authorities in their country of residence. Their residence permits will be valid for the same period as that of the main applicant.
Anyone aged 14 and over must apply for their own residence permit. Children who are under 14 years of age, may have their names endorsed on one, or both, of their parents’ residence permits if one or both are full residents of this country.
All applications should be made direct to the nearest office of the Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF).
British Embassy
Lisbon
Residence Permits for EU Nationals
Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements in that information caused by negligence or otherwise.
Under EU directives and in compliance with Portuguese law, all European Community nationals who wish to settle in Portugal (i.e. whether they are wage earners or the providers of a service, or whether they benefit from the right of establishment in any other capacity), no longer require a residence visa prior to travel. However, on arrival, an application should be made for a residence permit from the nearest office of the Portuguese Immigration Service – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF). The details are as follows:
Wage earners who come to Portugal to work for a period not exceeding three months, will not require a residence permit.
Seasonal workers whose work duration does not exceed eight months, will not require a residence permit.
Wage earners whose work will last more than three but less than 12 months, will require a temporary residence permit, valid for a period equal to the duration of the contract. If the contract is extended, but the cumulative period does not exceed one year, the residence card will be extended for a period equal to the work extension. If the cumulative period exceeds one year, the renewed residence permit will automatically carry a 5 year validity.
Wage earners whose work will last for a period equal to or over one year or for an indeterminate period, will require a residence permit valid for 5 years, renewable for 10 years.
Providers of services will be issued with a temporary residence permit valid for the expected duration of their work, renewable, upon application for extension, for a period equal to the expected duration of the extended work.
Self-employed people will be issued with a residence permit valid for five years, renewable for 10 years.
Persons of independent means (including retired persons) will be required to produce evidence that they have sufficient income to support themselves and their dependants without recourse to state assistance. They also have to prove that they have health cover (state-funded or private). A British passport holder in receipt of a UK state retirement pension is entitled to state health care and should register on arrival with the local health centre. The health centre will take the necessary steps to obtain an E121 from the British authorities. If not in receipt of a state pension, evidence of private medical insurance cover will have to be shown. Their residence permit will be valid for a period of two years, renewable for five years.
The first four categories above, i.e. wage earners, will not require a work permit, nor to register their employment with the Portuguese Ministry of Labour. They will be treated on a par with Portuguese nationals but must ensure that they have a formal work contract.
The spouse of an EC national working in Portugal, who is also an EC national, will also require a residence permit, which will be given the same validity as that of the main applicant.
Non-EC spouses and dependants will still require a residence visa from the Portuguese consular authorities in their country of residence. Their residence permits will be valid for the same period as that of the main applicant.
Anyone aged 14 and over must apply for their own residence permit. Children who are under 14 years of age, may have their names endorsed on one, or both, of their parents’ residence permits if one or both are full residents of this country.
All applications should be made direct to the nearest office of the Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF).
The only real benefit I can think of is healthcare. You must get your residence permit before you can apply for a medical card.
With regard to the suggestion:
“…….one can pay less for all sorts of things …………. in some cases fines?”
If you mean motoring offences, I would have thought you’d have more luck posing as a tourist
With regard to the suggestion:
“…….one can pay less for all sorts of things …………. in some cases fines?”
If you mean motoring offences, I would have thought you’d have more luck posing as a tourist
-
Guest
-
Guest
Basically you have no choice.......more than 6 Months you must by law resgister......and prove you have enough income to support yourself and have medical Insurance...and put your Tax return in..even if you make Zilch money from Portugal and you pay Tax in the UK..still have to do it.....From July all Banks in Europe Must by law advise all banks where you now live of all transactions Interest rcvd etc etc.........Big brother is here from July......Yes you can bring in one car per resident without paying a huge Illegal Tax.....complete Ripoff......but Portugal and most other european countries do not follow the Law.....one can even have bent Bannanas here.....terrible aint it..
Sorry to be a bimbo but please can you explainAnonymous wrote:Basically you have no choice.......From July all Banks in Europe Must by law advise all banks where you now live of all transactions Interest rcvd etc etc.........Big brother is here from July...... ..
ANd the tax aspect. If my business is in the UK and I pay UK taxes..am I right in understanding I will have to fill out a Portuguese tax return?
Perplexed Piglet
-
Guest
Simply put.......If you live here for more than 183 days in any one year..you are a Tax resident and should put a Tax return into Portuguese government...but you can still continue to pay TAX in UK.....
Ref Bank Interest......you must declare any Bank interest and pay Tax on it......Most people traditionaly just dont declare Interest from Offshore accountsl ( Onshore will be deducted at source anyway).....and nobody really knows...but from July all Banks in the EEC are essentially transparent and will advise the Bank where you are resident of the interest you have rcvd.....There are options like witholding tax etc--......but in a nutshell after this July you'd better own up on the interest you rcv........OR..Stick it ina Bond offshore and take 5% per year Tax free for 20 years..and they aint transparent.............PLS take official advise ..I'm just layman....( Brickie)
Ref Bank Interest......you must declare any Bank interest and pay Tax on it......Most people traditionaly just dont declare Interest from Offshore accountsl ( Onshore will be deducted at source anyway).....and nobody really knows...but from July all Banks in the EEC are essentially transparent and will advise the Bank where you are resident of the interest you have rcvd.....There are options like witholding tax etc--......but in a nutshell after this July you'd better own up on the interest you rcv........OR..Stick it ina Bond offshore and take 5% per year Tax free for 20 years..and they aint transparent.............PLS take official advise ..I'm just layman....( Brickie)
-
Guest
-
Jake
jake
1.like all these things in pt, there is a charge, and its just pocket money
2.couple/six months (these people are on a “go-slow” most of the time). On application, you will be given a slip of paper – proof of application – which is as good as the resi-permit itself…ie. when applying for a medical card, show this slip and you ought to be given a card straight away.
1.like all these things in pt, there is a charge, and its just pocket money
2.couple/six months (these people are on a “go-slow” most of the time). On application, you will be given a slip of paper – proof of application – which is as good as the resi-permit itself…ie. when applying for a medical card, show this slip and you ought to be given a card straight away.
just a remark...
the 183 days rule applies not only in "good ld europe" but in most of the so called western countries (usa, singapore,etc)
and if you miss to apply for residency in the place where you intend to stay one day more it mught happen that you pay taxes double... (happened to a couple of people in usa and european countries already)
so : its not aportuguese but a general problem
and transparency is becoming a worldwide "advantage"...
good luck!
and if you miss to apply for residency in the place where you intend to stay one day more it mught happen that you pay taxes double... (happened to a couple of people in usa and european countries already)
so : its not aportuguese but a general problem
and transparency is becoming a worldwide "advantage"...
good luck!
-
Guest
I am applying for residency and I am told I must buy Medical Insurance. As I'm retired and it costs about Two Thousand pounds a year.......This is expensive.
I'm confused because some people tell me that we can use the government scheme here once we get Residenciao.......but cannot get that until we get Insurance..can somebody clarify pls.
I'm confused because some people tell me that we can use the government scheme here once we get Residenciao.......but cannot get that until we get Insurance..can somebody clarify pls.
-
Guest