This Bulletin only has information about Residência (Residency) for UK citizens who lived in Portugal before Brexit and who are residents in Portugal under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. If that is not your case, you must see the Bulletin P03 – Residência non-EU citizens.

Residência under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
UK citizens who were residents in Portugal before Brexit were obliged to change their original Residency document (paper certificate or cardboard card) into a new biometric Residency card. Portugal started changing those Residencies in 2022. If you presented a paper certificate (Certificado de Registo do Cidadão da União Europeia – CRUE) which is a temporary Residency, you were given a new temporary Residency card with 5 years validity counting from the date of your appointment for the card change. If you presented a carboard card (Cartão de Residência) which is a permanent Residency, you were given a permanent Residency with 10 years validity on the new card.

The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
You can find the Withdrawal Agreement and further information covering UK´s withdrawal from the EU here: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/relations-united-kingdom/eu-uk-withdrawal-agreement_en

Application for permanent Residency
UK nationals or family members of UK nationals, beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, who are holders of a temporary Residency (generally all with an expiry date in 2027) and who have already been residing as residents for more than 5 years consecutive in Portugal, can already start the application for a permanent Residency if they wish, regardless of the expiry date.

The application process for a permanent Residency begins online on the AIMA contact form, basically applying for an appointment with AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo): https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form

In the section “Tipo de Assunto” choose: BREXIT
In the section “Subtipo de Assunto” choose: Pedido Agendamento para transição de Residência Temporária para Permanente – Art. 50 do TUE

Insert your email and request the code, which will be sent to you by email. Once you have entered the code, the form will expand and you will need to fill in all the details requested and attach the documents that refer to your situation (min 4 attachments and max 9, all in PDF and in a size less than 1MB each). You must choose the Portuguese version of the form to submit the application because the English version has technical issues and often presents errors.

The documents to attach are documents that will prove that you have been living here in Portugal for 5 years. You may submit a combination of the following documents, depending on your situation:

A valid passport; (always necessary)
Bank statements showing financial transactions within Portugal during the relevant period of legal residency (5 years) OR
An employment contract or contract for the provision of employment entered into with a Portuguese company OR
If the employer is a foreign entity, it must declare under which arrangements the citizen performs their duties, namely whether the role performed by the citizen is compatible with a teleworking arrangement and whether it can be carried out remotely from Portugal OR
Personal Income Tax (IRS) returns for each year of residency OR
Income Tax (IRS) Assessment Notices for each year of residency OR
Certificate of income assessment, for each year of residency OR
Pension direct debit with a tax address within national territory OR
Proof of enrolment and attendance, at any level of education, at a public or private educational institution within national territory.

Additional notes from AIMA:
Notwithstanding the list set out above, please note that proof of compliance with the legal requirements may be provided by any means of evidence admissible in law. Accordingly, the list is provided for guidance only. All requirements must be met for the appointment to be confirmed. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, based on the documents submitted.
AIMA may request additional documents following the review of your application.
On the day of your appointment, you must bring the original copies of the documents you submitted online. The processing of the administrative procedure involves fees, which must be paid at the time of your appointment.

Documents to bring for the appointment:
There is no specific list from AIMA available, but we suggest bringing the following:

The documents that were attached to the AIMA contact form (proof of living in Portugal 5 years)
Passport and a copy
Portuguese Fiscal Card/Number and a copy
Residency Card
Proof of address (deeds, Certidão Predial Permanente, Certidão Domicilio Fiscal from Portal das Finanças, rental contract) and a copy
Proof of income (employment contract, proof of pension or other income, bank statements, Portuguese IRS declarations) and a copy
Segurança Social (Social Security) number if you have it, and a copy
Cartão/Nº de Utente (State health card) number and a copy
There will be a payment necessary for the application for permanent Residency

We recommend bringing copies just to be on the safe side.

Changes in details on your Residência card
Changes to your Residência Card must be done through the AIMA contact form https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form?sfnsn=wa which can be used for requests such as change of address, change of passport number, change of nationality, change of name, change of civil status, add/change NISS or NIF, apply for family reunification, apply for a new Residência card due to loss/theft and further options. Always use the Portuguese version of the AIMA contact form because the English version has technical issues and will often show errors.

P02-AE Residência UK citizens

Content available for members only.

Articles

Community News

Discounts

Events

afpop expo

Alliance Partners

Associate Partners