The Residence Card for family members of European Union (EU) nationals, which formalizes the right of residence in Portugal, must be requested if the family member from a third country remains in Portugal for a period exceeding 3 months and up to 5 years.
Family members of third-country nationals who are outside of Portugal are admitted to the country upon presentation of a valid passport and are subject to entry visa requirements in accordance with current EU regulations.
The right of entry, stay and residence in Portugal covers nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Andorra and Switzerland, as well as their family members.
Regulation and Residency Rights
Article 15 of Law No. 37/2006 regulates the right of residence and movement of citizens of the European Union and their families in Portuguese territory. This article transposes Directive No. 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council into Portuguese law.
The residency rights of family members of EU citizens are not affected by:
- Temporary absences of up to 6 consecutive months per year or 8 intermittent months ;
- Longer absences due to military obligations, pregnancy, serious illness, studies, vocational training, or professional secondment .
The residency rights of family members of EU citizens cover the entire national territory.
How to Apply
To obtain a residence permit, you need:
- Schedule a visit at the AIMA Store;
- Submit the necessary documents;
- Pay the card issuance fee.
Costs and Deadlines
- Processing fee: €15;
- Processing time: Approximately 90 business days;
- The procedure involves a single application step with AIMA.
The residence permit is valid for five years from the date of issue.
If you have any questions about the application process for a Residence Permit, please contact us for more information!
