Before choosing a specific visa, every future resident needs the basics: how long you can stay as a visitor, which visa type covers a move, what it costs and which authority issues your residence permit. This quiz covers the rules in force in October 2026, including the 2025 Foreigners Law reform and the new EU border system.
Portugal is in the Schengen Area, so visa-exempt visitors can stay up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Days spent in other Schengen countries count towards the same limit.
Source: European Commission EES go-live (via Erickson Immigration Group)
Stays over 90 days require a national long-stay visa (Type D), such as the D7, D8 or D3, issued by a Portuguese consulate or visa centre before you travel.
Source: Portal das Comunidades / Vistos — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official)
The national visa fee is €110 per applicant in 2026, up from €90 before early 2025. Visa centres such as VFS may add their own service fee, and children under six are exempt.
A residence visa is an entry document: it is valid for about four months with two entries, and during that time you attend AIMA in Portugal to obtain your residence permit card.
AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) issues and renews residence permits. It replaced the former SEF for these administrative functions in 2023.
Source: AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (official)
The manifestação de interesse route has been abolished. Under the reformed Foreigners Law, people must obtain the appropriate residence visa before travelling instead of regularising after arrival as a visitor.
The EU Entry/Exit System began rolling out on 12 October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It records non-EU short-stay travellers digitally with biometrics instead of stamping passports.
Source: European Commission EES go-live (via Erickson Immigration Group)
ETIAS is not yet operating and no applications are being accepted as of October 2026. The EU has dropped its "last quarter of 2026" target and will announce a launch date several months ahead.
Since Lei 61/2025 took effect on 23 October 2025, the CPLP residence permit is limited to people who already hold a residence visa, ending the option of applying after a visa-free entry.
Source: Lei 61/2025 — US Library of Congress, Global Legal Monitor
Applicants typically need private health insurance valid in Portugal with at least €30,000 of coverage until they can access the national health service (SNS).
The legal decision deadline for a national visa is 60 days. Once issued, a residence visa is generally valid for about four months (120 days) with two entries.
Source: D4 student visa 2026 (MovingTo)
Most first temporary residence permits are valid for two years and then renewed for three-year periods. After five years you can apply for permanent residency.
Source: Permanent residency at the 5-year mark (Portugalist)
Renewals are requested online on AIMA's Renewals Portal between 90 and 30 days before the card expires. A card expired for more than six months cannot be renewed.
Source: Renewing your Portugal residence permit with AIMA (Europe Simple)
Criminal record certificates usually must have been issued within 90 days, and they need an apostille or consular legalisation plus a certified translation.
Source: Portugal visa document checklist 2026 (Crown Portugal)
This quiz is general information based on Portuguese rules in force on the review date above, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds change every January with the minimum wage, and laws change often. Confirm your case with a lawyer before applying.