Immigration
EU free movement plus residence permits and a well-known investment route
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals move freely. Others rely on the Foreigners Act, which offers work, study, family and entrepreneurial residence permits, together with a residence-by-investment scheme now refocused away from real estate.
Key rules
- Most residence permits require a valid residence visa obtained before entry.
- Residence permits are renewable and can lead to permanent residence after five years.
- The investment residence route no longer accepts residential property acquisition as a qualifying investment.
Governing law
- Act 23/2007 on entry, stay and removal of foreigners
- Nationality Act (Lei da Nacionalidade)
In practice
Immigration functions transferred from SEF to AIMA, so verify which body handles a given application and expect appointment backlogs.