Immigration & Residency – Portugal FAQs for Expats

Question 1

What is AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum)

Accepted Answer

The AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo—Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) is Portugal's immigration authority responsible for managing residence permits, visa processing, asylum, and immigrant integration.
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History: AIMA replaced the dissolved SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) on October 29, 2023, following a 2021 Assembly decision. SEF's dissolution was motivated by reform needs, administrative inefficiencies, and a 2020 scandal involving a Ukrainian national's death in custody. SEF's responsibilities were redistributed: security functions to PSP/GNR/PJ, and administrative immigration matters to AIMA and IRN.
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Expat Interface: Expats contact AIMA for residence permit applications and renewals (D7 passive income, D8 digital nomad, Golden Visa), family reunification, asylum requests, and visa extensions. AIMA operates 34 service counters nationwide, requires complete document submission (mandatory since April 2025), and processes cases that typically take 6-18 months. The agency inherited 300,000+ pending cases from SEF, with government funding allocated to clear backlogs.

Question 2

What is the Golden Visa?

Accepted Answer

The Golden Visa (*Autorização de Residência para Investimento*, ARI) is Portugal's residence-by-investment program, created in 2012, granting non-EU nationals a residency permit in exchange for qualifying investments.

Since October 2023, direct residential real estate purchases no longer qualify — a reform aimed at easing housing market pressure. Eligible investment routes now include capital transfers (€500,000+), investment fund subscriptions, job creation, and contributions to scientific research or cultural heritage. Minimum amounts and conditions vary by category.

A Golden Visa provides Schengen travel rights, requires minimal physical presence in Portugal (7 days per year), and offers a pathway to permanent residency after five years and citizenship after six. The program has been politically controversial, with ongoing debate about its impact on housing prices and its value as an economic stimulus.

Applicants must deal with AIMA for residency processing, which has experienced significant backlogs.

Question 3

How does residence permit renewal work in Portugal?

Accepted Answer

Residence permit renewal in Portugal is managed by AIMA (*Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo*), which replaced the former SEF. Holders of temporary residence permits (*autorização de residência*) must apply for renewal before expiry, typically every one to two years depending on the permit type.

The renewal process requires proof of continued eligibility — such as employment, tax compliance, social security contributions, and accommodation. Applications are submitted through AIMA's online portal or in person at AIMA offices, though significant backlogs have led to long waiting times.

While a renewal application is pending, the applicant's existing permit (or proof of the renewal request) is generally accepted as legal authorization to remain in Portugal. Residents should apply well in advance of expiry and keep confirmation of their application as proof of legal status.

Question 4

What is Portugal's return law?

Accepted Answer

Portugal's return law governs the procedures for removing third-country nationals who are in the country irregularly, implementing the EU's Return Directive (2008/115/EC). It sets out the rules for deportation orders, voluntary departure periods, entry bans, and detention of irregular migrants pending removal.

Changes to the return law have been a recurring point of political debate, particularly around the balance between enforcement and rights protections. Amendments can affect the length of voluntary departure periods, the grounds for detention, and the procedural safeguards available to those subject to removal orders.

The law is administered by AIMA (*Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo*), which replaced the former SEF in handling immigration enforcement and integration services.

Question 5

What is a biometric passport?

Accepted Answer

A biometric passport is a travel document that contains an electronic chip storing the holder’s personal data and a digital version of their photo—and often fingerprints—so identity can be checked electronically at borders. Brazilians living abroad should keep their biometric passports valid and can renew them at their consulate to avoid travel or legal problems.

Question 6

What is a branded residence?

Accepted Answer

A branded residence is a private apartment or villa sold under the name of a hotel or luxury brand that comes with hotel-style services, management and a brand identity. In Portugal, these developments—often found in Lisbon and the Algarve—appeal to international buyers seeking managed properties and potential rental income, but they usually carry higher purchase prices and ongoing service or management fees.

Question 7

What is a notice to voluntarily leave?

Accepted Answer

A notice to voluntarily leave (*notificação de saída voluntária*) is an administrative order given to an irregular migrant requiring them to leave Portugal within a short deadline, often around 30 days, without formal deportation. Accepting it can avoid immediate removal and some entry bans, but ignoring it can lead to detention, deportation and future restrictions, so those affected should seek legal advice.

Question 8

What is a residence permit for investment?

Accepted Answer

A residence permit for investment (Autorização de Residência para Investimento or *ARI*) is a visa that grants non‑EU citizens temporary residency in Portugal in exchange for qualifying investments such as real estate purchases, capital transfers, or job creation. It allows holders to live in Portugal and travel within the Schengen area for short stays, and as of January 2026 AIMA began allowing digital renewals of these permits.

Question 9

What is a safe third country?

Accepted Answer

A safe third country is a country outside the state where an asylum claim is lodged that is deemed to offer protection and respect the principle of non‑refoulement, so an applicant can be returned there instead of being allowed to claim asylum. EU rules use this concept to decide admissibility of claims; recent EU clarifications make it clearer when member states can rely on a third country to receive returned applicants.

Question 10

What is a student visa for Portugal and why should students who work pay attention to it now?

Accepted Answer

A student visa is the consular authorisation non‑EU nationals need to enter Portugal to study; after arrival students must register and usually apply for a residence permit to cover the course period. Because work rights and administrative steps differ from a simple study permit, students who plan to work should follow the new AIMA guidance or check with Portuguese authorities about permitted hours and documentation.

Question 11

What is emigrant voting?

Accepted Answer

Emigrant voting lets Portuguese citizens living abroad cast ballots in national elections, usually by mail or at consulates. With several hundred thousand registered overseas voters, their turnout and geographic distribution can be decisive in close presidential contests, so candidates often campaign to win votes in key emigrant communities.

Question 12

What is Encceja Abroad?

Accepted Answer

Encceja Abroad is the Brazilian government's exam for adults living overseas to get primary or secondary education certification; its full name is Exame Nacional para Certificação de Competências de Jovens e Adultos (*ENCCEJA*). Brazilians in Portugal can take the test to certify school-level qualifications, and the story notes free preparatory courses are available in Lisbon to help candidates prepare.

Question 13

What is expulsion?

Accepted Answer

Expulsion (*expulsão*) is an administrative measure ordering a foreign national to leave Portugal, typically accompanied by a temporary or permanent ban on re-entry. It can result from immigration violations or criminal convictions and is enforced by police and immigration authorities, so it directly affects migrants referenced in the news item.

Question 14

What is family reunification?

Accepted Answer

Family reunification (*reagrupamento familiar*) is an immigration procedure that allows a legal resident in Portugal to bring eligible family members—commonly a spouse, minor children and dependent parents—to live with them. Applications typically require proof of relationship, sufficient income and adequate housing, and processing times vary by case and the responsible immigration office.

Question 15

What is immigrant regularisation?

Accepted Answer

Immigrant regularisation is the legal process that allows undocumented migrants to obtain residency and work permits so they can join the formal labour market and pay social-security contributions. Delays or barriers to regularisation reduce the number of people contributing to Portugal’s Social Security and, as the economist warned, could slow projected collection rates in 2026.

Question 16

What is irregular stay?

Accepted Answer

Irregular stay (*permanência irregular*) means being in Portugal without a valid visa or residency permit, or remaining after a permit has expired. Police can detain people for irregular stay and they may face fines, administrative removal (deportation) and bans on re-entry; recent reports describe large police operations detaining over 1,300 people for this reason. Anyone at risk should keep documents up to date, register with immigration services and seek legal advice promptly.

Question 17

What is Law No. 61/2025?

Accepted Answer

Law No. 61/2025 is the statute that amended Portugal's Immigration Law and was published on October 22, 2025 after almost a year and a half of debate and a prior rejection by the Constitutional Court. It reorganises administrative responsibilities and adds new control measures, so visa holders and applicants should check official guidance to see how procedures, deadlines and application rules have changed.

Question 18

What is statelessness (*apatridia*) and why would parliament discuss it?

Accepted Answer

Statelessness (*apatridia*) means a person is not considered a national by any country under its laws, leaving them without a passport or an automatic right to reside. That status often prevents access to education, healthcare, employment and social services, so parliamentary discussion can lead to laws or procedures to identify stateless people and give them legal protection or a pathway to residency.

Question 19

What is temporary residence in Portugal and how does the new AIMA form affect students who work?

Accepted Answer

Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (*AIMA*) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.

Question 20

What is the 'green light' for hiring immigrants?

Accepted Answer

The 'green light' is a cooperation protocol for regulated labour migration that formalises how employers recruit foreign workers under a specific regime. It is meant to speed legal hiring for sectors with labour shortages—especially hospitality—but industry groups say the current protocol does not meet demand and are urging the government to revise the rules, so employers and prospective migrant workers should watch for policy changes.

Question 21

What is the border-control system and why does a temporary suspension at Lisbon Airport matter?

Accepted Answer

The border-control system is the set of checks and databases used to process non-EU travellers at entry points — passport and visa checks, biometric data capture and automated database searches such as the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the Entry/Exit System (EES). A temporary suspension of automated checks at Lisbon Airport means those arrivals may be processed differently (more manual checks or national procedures), which can change wait times, administrative workload and how security checks are carried out for non‑EU citizens.

Question 22

What is the EES?

Accepted Answer

The Entry/Exit System (*Sistema de Entrada/Saída* or EES) is an automated IT system for registering travelers from non-EU countries, both short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travelers, each time they cross an EU external border. It replaces the manual stamping of passports and is designed to improve security and identify overstayers within the Schengen Area.

Question 23

What is the emigrant vote and why did it matter in the recent presidential second round where André Ventura led abroad?

Accepted Answer

The emigrant vote refers to ballots cast by Portuguese citizens living overseas, which are organised through consulates or by mail and counted in separate abroad constituencies. In the recent second round, André Ventura received 50.81% of the votes cast abroad, making him the most voted candidate among expatriates and showing that overseas voters can influence close national races.

Question 24

What is the Entry-Exit System and how will it affect non-EU travellers at Schengen borders?

Accepted Answer

The Entry-Exit System (*Sistema de Entrada e Saída*) is an EU border-register that records biometric data (fingerprints and a facial image) and travel details for short-stay non‑EU travellers, replacing passport stamping and creating a searchable entry/exit record. According to recent reporting, the new rules now require over a third of non‑EU nationals entering Schengen to provide this extra data at the border; the aim is to improve security and migration tracking, but travellers should be prepared to submit biometrics at kiosks or border control and ensure their travel documents are valid. For expats and visitors this usually means slightly longer checks on arrival/departure and more robust digital records of your travel history.

Question 25

What is the estatuto de apátrida and why do the proposed measures for stateless people matter?

Accepted Answer

Statelessness status (*estatuto de apátrida*) is the legal recognition that a person has no nationality, which grants specific protections and access to rights under Portuguese law and international conventions. Securing that status is important because it affects eligibility for residence, education, healthcare and identity documents for people who otherwise lack citizenship.

Question 26

What is the European list of safe countries of origin?

Accepted Answer

The European list of safe countries of origin is a roster of states the EU considers generally safe for people seeking asylum, meaning claims from those countries can be processed through accelerated procedures. The list is used to speed up decisions and reject applications judged manifestly unfounded; the European Parliament recently approved a revision and clarification that also relates to how 'safe third country' rules are applied, which can affect asylum flows and returns.

Question 27

What is the European Pact on Migration and Asylum?

Accepted Answer

The European Pact on Migration and Asylum (*Pacto Europeu sobre Migração e Asilo*) is a set of EU regulations designed to standardize how member states manage border security, asylum applications, and the relocation of migrants. It aims to create a more uniform process across the bloc, ensuring that countries share responsibility for processing arrivals and handling returns of individuals who do not qualify for asylum.

Question 28

What is the Immigration Law?

Accepted Answer

The Immigration Law is Portugal’s legal framework that governs entry, residency, asylum and deportation of non-nationals. It was amended by Law No. 61/2025 on October 22, 2025, after parts of an earlier draft were rejected by the Constitutional Court; the changes reorganise administrative responsibilities and introduce stricter control measures that affect visas, residency and family reunification processes.

Question 29

What is the Law of Nationality and how does it affect residents applying for citizenship?

Accepted Answer

The Law of Nationality (*Lei da Nacionalidade*) is Portugal’s legal framework for acquiring Portuguese citizenship, covering citizenship by descent, cases of birth in Portugal under specified conditions, marriage, and naturalisation. It typically requires a period of legal residence and basic Portuguese language knowledge for naturalisation, so petitions from Brazilian residents in Portugal usually seek changes or clarifications about those residency, documentation or language requirements that affect their ability to apply.

Question 30

What is the Nationality Law?

Accepted Answer

The Nationality Law (*Lei da Nacionalidade*) sets the rules for who can be a Portuguese citizen, covering birth, descent, naturalisation, marriage and long-term residence. Its approval alongside the 2026 State Budget means changes to those eligibility rules will be implemented as part of the government's 2026 policy package, which the prime minister said will affect the country's stability and competitiveness.

Question 31

What is the PLA and why is it important for immigrants?

Accepted Answer

The Portuguese as a Language of Reception (*Português Língua de Acolhimento* or *PLA*) is a mandatory language training program for foreign residents in Portugal. Completion of this course is often a requirement for those seeking to obtain permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.

Question 32

What is the reconstruction "pathway"?

Accepted Answer

The reconstruction "pathway" refers to a special channel the government may open to bring extra labour and resources for rebuilding areas hit by the Kristin depression. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said such a pathway could involve targeted hiring schemes, temporary work permits or public works programmes to speed reconstruction, so residents in affected zones should expect specific labour measures.

Question 33

What is the regulated migration protocol?

Accepted Answer

The regulated migration protocol is a system that allows business associations to request work visas for foreign citizens to fill specific labor shortages. In its first year, the program processed 1,163 visas, focusing on sectors where companies struggle to find local workers. Those seeking to move to Portugal for work should be aware that this mechanism provides a direct path through employer-backed applications.

Question 34

What is the residence certificate used for in nationality applications?

Accepted Answer

A residence certificate (*certificado de residência*) is an official document issued by local authorities that proves your registered address or legal residence in Portugal. In nationality procedures, authorities often use the certificate's issue date to measure waiting periods or deadlines; the petitions in this story ask that those deadlines be counted from the application date instead because IT-system delays can make the certificate arrive late and shorten an applicant's effective waiting time. If you're applying for citizenship, keep your application receipts and consider contacting an immigration lawyer or the civil registry if system delays affect your paperwork.

Question 35

What is the US visa processing suspension?

Accepted Answer

The US announced it will suspend entry visas for citizens of 75 countries from 21 January indefinitely while the State Department reassesses visa processing; Brazil, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan are among those named. This pause is intended to tighten controls and will cause immediate delays or refusals for affected travellers — anyone planning travel or visa applications should check the US embassy or consulate website for updates and prepare for possible disruptions.

Question 36

What is voluntary return?

Accepted Answer

Voluntary return (*retorno voluntário*) is a programme that helps migrants choose to go back to their country of origin with assistance such as travel costs, counselling or small financial support, instead of being forcibly removed. Portuguese reports say voluntary returns of undocumented migrants rose about fourfold in 2025, reflecting increased use of these programmes by authorities and NGOs.

Question 37

As an expat, what should I do if a Portuguese friend or family member goes missing while abroad?

Accepted Answer

Report the disappearance to local police immediately and ask for a written report, then contact the nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate so consular staff can assist and register the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ("*Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros*"). Keep copies of ID and travel documents, provide recent photos and itinerary details to authorities, and stay reachable for consular liaison and any requests from local investigators.

Question 38

What did 'voluntary abandonment' mean in Portugal’s return system and why was it changed?

Accepted Answer

'Voluntary abandonment' was the previous wording used to describe when a third‑country national left Portugal following a removal decision without forcible measures, implying a departure undertaken by the person. The term was changed to 'duty to abandon' to remove ambiguity and better reflect EU standards, which affects how authorities document obligations and apply safeguards or time limits in return procedures.