The three most common routes to Portuguese citizenship for expats are outlined below.
1. Portuguese Passport By means of Marriage:
After three years of marriage to a Portuguese citizen, one can acquire Portuguese citizenship through marriage. In addition, there is no minimum time requirement for prior residency in the country.
However, you must provide evidence of your relationship and affiliation with the Portuguese community.
Even if you divorce or separate in the future, you will not lose your Portuguese citizenship.
2. Portuguese Citizen By Descent:
Those who acquire citizenship through descent or birth are considered Portuguese descendants if,
A parent of yours was born in Portugal.
Your parents are Portuguese government servants.
You were born abroad to foreign parents, but at least one of your parents has a Portuguese birth registration.
3. Portugal Passport By Investment:
The Portugal Golden Visa program, designed to attract foreign investment, is another path to obtaining a Portugal passport. This visa program expedites the process for foreigners and non-EU/EFTA citizens who wish to invest in Portugal and obtain a residence permit and citizenship.
Through this program, the Portuguese passport is granted to investors in Portugal. This process is referred to as naturalization.
Portuguese Passport Processing Time
Normal processing time for a Portuguese passport is five business days after submitting all required documents and meeting residency requirements.
In emergency situations and genuine appeals, the processing time is reduced to two to three business days. In this instance, you may be charged an additional fee.
Dual Nationality Status in Portugal:
The Portuguese government permits foreigners to acquire Portuguese citizenship without relinquishing their original citizenship.
If you have dual citizenship and are looking for a new country to call home, Portugal is an excellent option. However, you must confirm with your home country whether dual citizenship is permitted. If so, you may retain both. If not, you must choose between the two options.
Portuguese Passport Eligibility:
You can apply for citizenship after a minimum of five years of living with a Portuguese investment visa. To do so, you’re required to take a Portuguese test. You may take the examination at any time before your application has been processed.
A Portuguese Passport Renewal:
The Portugal passport has a five-year validity period and can be renewed. Consequently, if your passport will expire within the next six months, you can submit an application for a replacement.
Note that once your passport has expired, it cannot be renewed. In addition, you will be required to repeat the entire passport application process.
In addition, the renewal of a Portuguese passport costs €100. Note, however, that regardless of the reason for your early renewal application (a stolen or lost passport), you will be required to pay an additional fee.
Passport Expenses:
The citizenship application fee ranges from €175 to €250, depending on the applicant’s category. For example, children who are eligible for citizenship through descent may apply for a free Portuguese passport.
In a different scenario, the cost of obtaining a passport is approximately €100 if you are applying for Portuguese citizenship abroad. However, a typical application will cost just €65, though this varies based on your location and personal circumstances.
Permanent residence is distinguished from temporary residence in that it is granted indefinitely. It is not required to be renewed every year or two. However, you must renew your permanent residence card every five years, as is the case in Portugal.
Validity of the Portuguese permanent residence card: 5 years
With the exception of political rights, permanent residence in Portugal nearly confers the same rights as citizenship. With a permanent residence card, you are ineligible to vote and hold public office.
Permanent residents of Portugal cannot take advantage of all the travel and relocation options available to citizens of the nation. A Portuguese passport, for instance, allows visa-free entry to 187 countries, and a permanent residence card to 26 Schengen zone countries.
The article “Five Questions About Residence Permit and Permanent Residency” explains how an investor can obtain permanent residence in European countries and what benefits this status confers.
Portuguese permanent residency requirements
To obtain a permanent residence card in Portugal, you must first acquire a temporary residence permit. After maintaining your status for five years, you can apply for permanent residency.
Residence permits in Portugal are obtained through study, employment, or marriage to a Portuguese national for the purpose of family reunion. In addition, this status can be obtained if there is a passive income and a residence in the country, as well as through the state investment program.
Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal through investment takes between four and six months. The requirements for investors are less stringent than those for other types of residence permit applicants.
Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal by investment takes 4 to 6 months. Conditions for investors are simpler than for applicants for a residence permit on other grounds.
Conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Portugal
| Other types of residence permits | A residence permit by investment | |
| How long to live in the country | 183 days a year | 7 days a year |
| Participation of family members | No | Yes |
| Knowledge of the Portuguese language | Yes | No |
| Permanent residing in the country for citizenship | Yes | No |
Applicants invest from €250,000 in the economy of Portugal to get a residence permit card of the country. The residence permit program in Portugal offers investors seven options.
The most popular option among investors is to acquire real estate in the country for at least €280 000. Real estate prices in Portugal are increasing by an annual average of 3-5%. The investment can be returned with a profit after five years if the property is rented out and sold.
The second most popular choice among investors is to invest €500,000 in units of investment funds. Other alternatives include investments in culture and art, scientific projects and business in the country, capital transfer, and the establishment of a business in Portugal.
Options and conditions of the residence permit by investment program in Portugal
| Option | Condition |
| Purchase of real estate | From €280,000. Investors buy real estate, new or under restoration. The object can be sold after 5 years and the investment returned. |
| Purchase of investment fund units | From €500,000. Suitable funds that invest most of the capital in companies headquartered in Portugal. The money can be returned after 5 years |
| Investments in culture and art | From €250,000. The money should be used to support art and the reconstruction of national heritage sites through authorities, state institutions, public or private funds |
| Investments in science | From €500,000. Research projects must be approved by the government |
| Investment in business | From €500,000. You can either invest in an existing business or open your own. At the same time, it is necessary to create 5 new jobs |
| Capital transfer | From €1,500,000. The option involves the purchase of securities or the transfer of money to a Portuguese bank accountOpening a company The option does not require a certain amount of investment, but the investor must create at least 10 jobs |
To maintain a residence permit in Portugal, the investor must maintain the investment and spend a minimum of seven days per year in the country. The renewal of the residence permit card occurs every two years.
In order to maintain permanent residence in Portugal, it is sufficient to spend at least six months in the country within three years of obtaining the status.
Possibilities afforded by a Portuguese residence permit and permanent residency
Lodging options in Portugal. A Portuguese residence permit allows legal entry into the country, even when the borders are closed. Investors are permitted to reside permanently or vacation in the country.
It is possible to travel without a visa. Portuguese citizens may enter Schengen countries without a visa. There is a limit of 90 days per half-year.
Visa-free countries with permanent residence in Portugal
| Austria | Hungary | Norway |
| Belgium | Iceland | Poland |
| Czech Republic | Italy | Slovakia |
| Denmark | Latvia | Slovenia |
| Estonia | Liechtenstein | Spain |
| Finland | Lithuania | Sweden |
| France | Luxembourg | Switzerland |
| Germany | Malta | |
| Greece | Netherlands |
Free education for children. A residence permit and permanent residence in Portugal allow you to enroll a child in a kindergarten or school for free.
Residents may enroll in universities in Portugal, and their degrees will be recognized in other EU nations. Free higher education is available to residents on a competitive basis.
Effective medicine. Portugal has a high standard of medical care. This verifies the average life expectancy: 82 years for the country’s citizens. This is greater than the length in Belgium, Denmark, the Czech Republic, or Croatia. In Europe, the average life expectancy is 78 years.
Cartão de Utente
To receive comprehensive health care in Portugal, you must enroll with the National Health Service (NHS). To do this, you need to get a user card — Cartão de Utente. The document must be presented at the hospital and pharmacy on each occasion.
You can obtain an NHS user card at your local Portuguese polyclinic. You must carry a valid residence permit or permanent residence card.
If they contribute to the Social Security Fund, Portuguese citizens and foreigners with a valid residence permit or permanent residency are eligible for free medicine. Additional diagnostic studies are funded by all parties.
Fiscal incentives Residents of Portugal are eligible for the non-habitual resident tax status (NHR). It exempts from taxation income earned outside of Portugal and paid in another country. In addition, the status reduces the tax rate on income earned in Portugal from professional activities to 20%. Without NHR status, the tax rate on income is 48%.
How to acquire a favorable tax status in Portugal
To become a tax resident of Portugal and obtain NHR status, you must spend more than 183 days per year in the country.
A European financial institution account. A residence permit or permanent residency in Portugal enables you to open an account in a European bank, keep your savings in hard currency, and avoid losing money on foreign transfer fees by keeping your savings in hard currency.
A chance to acquire EU citizenship. Those with a valid residence permit and permanent residence card in Portugal are eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
Since Portugal is a member of the European Union, its citizens are able to live and work in any other member state. In addition, Portuguese citizens can enter 187 countries visa-free, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia.
On the path to Portuguese citizenship, permanent residency is an optional step. After five years of holding a residence permit, you are eligible to apply for citizenship. The status of permanent residence in Portugal is advantageous for citizens of nations where dual citizenship is prohibited, such as Kazakhstan.
What makes Portugal desirable for relocation?
Portugal has a well-developed education and medical system, a favorable climate and ecology, a secure environment, affordable lodging, and high-quality food and wine.
The climate in Portugal varies by region: in the north, it is cool and wet, whereas in the south, it is warm and sunny. The climate along the border with Spain is continental, with warm summers and cool winters and low precipitation.
In the north of Portugal, summers are sunny and warm, but not oppressively so. The winters are wet, particularly in the Porto metropolitan area and further north. Snowfall is uncommon in Portugal. Snow is most prevalent in the Serra da Estrela.
In the central region of Portugal, which includes Lisbon and the Silver Coast, winters are mild and summers are hot and dry. In the coastal, central, and southern regions, summer heat is more bearable due to the cooling effect of the sea breeze.
Southern Portugal and the Algarve are among the sunniest regions in Europe. The sun remains even during winter. Consequently, the southern region of Portugal is a popular tourist destination.
Lisbon’s average annual temperature
Portugal has one of the lowest living costs in Europe. The cost of living in Lisbon is 37% less than in Paris and 20% less than in Berlin, according to Numbeo.com. In comparison to Madrid, prices are 6% less expensive.
Basic expenses for a month of living in Portugal
| Rental housing | |
| Renting a three-room apartment in the city center | €1,125 |
| Utility bills for a three-room apartment of 85 m² | €121 |
| Products | |
| Milk, 1l | €0.65 |
| Baguette | €1.15 |
| Eggs, 12 pcs | €1.80 |
| Local cheese, 1kg | €6.75 |
| Rice, 1kg | €1 |
| Chicken breast, 1kg | €5 |
| Lettuce | €0.95 |
| Apples, 1kg | €1.56 |
| Entertainment | |
| Three-course dinner for two in a restaurant | €40 |
Safety:
In 2021, Portugal was ranked fourth out of 163 in the Global Peace Index. The country has a low crime rate, no internal conflicts, and the risk of terrorism is minimal. Portugal does not participate in international political conflicts and wars.
Safety. Portugal ranked fourth out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index in 2021. The nation has a low crime rate, no internal conflicts, and a low terrorism risk. Portugal does not engage in international political wars and conflicts.
Good ecology. The Blue Flag was awarded to 352 Portuguese beaches. This award is given to beaches with safe, high-quality swimming conditions. Therefore, Portugal’s beaches attract tourists from around the world.
The country prohibits the development of coastlines so as not to harm the environment. Portugal generates 79.5% of its electricity from renewable natural energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power plants.
Portugal plans to achieve carbon neutrality and electrify all public transportation by 2050.
Entertainment. Portugal has something for everyone, including picturesque beaches, water sports, hiking, sightseeing tours, and medieval architecture to explore.
Active time can be spent in the country’s entertainment and educational leisure centers for children and adults. The Lisbon Zoo and Aquarium, the Santo Andre Safari Park, the Evora Museum City, and the Surf Reserve are some examples.
Victor Esik, the head of Immigrant Invest’s Portuguese office, moved to Portugal, obtained citizenship, and described life in the country. Read about his experience in the article titled “How to Obtain Portuguese Citizenship After Obtaining the Golden Visa.”
Through this program, the Portuguese passport is granted to investors in Portugal. This process is referred to as naturalization.
Portuguese Passport Processing Time:
Normal processing time for a Portuguese passport is five business days after submitting all required documents and meeting residency requirements.
In emergency situations and genuine appeals, the processing time is reduced to two to three business days. In this instance, you may be charged an additional fee.
Dual Nationality Status in Portugal
The Portuguese government permits foreigners to acquire Portuguese citizenship without relinquishing their original citizenship.
If you have dual citizenship and are looking for a new country to call home, Portugal is an excellent option. However, you must confirm with your home country whether dual citizenship is permitted. If so, you may retain both. If not, you must choose between the two options.
Portuguese Passport Eligibility
You can apply for citizenship after a minimum of five years of living with a Portuguese investment visa. To do so, you’re required to take a Portuguese test. You may take the examination at any time before your application has been processed.
Since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, British citizens have been seeking permanent residence in Portugal.
A Portuguese Passport Renewal
The Portugal passport has a five-year validity period and can be renewed. Consequently, if your passport will expire within the next six months, you can submit an application for a replacement.
Note that once your passport has expired, it cannot be renewed. In addition, you will be required to repeat the entire passport application process.
In addition, the renewal of a Portuguese passport costs €100. Note, however, that regardless of the reason for your early renewal application (a stolen or lost passport), you will be required to pay an additional fee.
Passport Expenses
The citizenship application fee ranges from €175 to €250, depending on the applicant’s category. For example, children who are eligible for citizenship through descent may apply for a free Portuguese passport.
In a different scenario, the cost of obtaining a passport is approximately €100 if you are applying for Portuguese citizenship abroad. However, a typical application will cost just €65, though this varies based on your location and personal circumstances.
WHO CAN REQUEST THE PORTUGUESE ELECTRONIC PASSPORT?
- Any Portuguese citizen.
WHERE CAN YOU REQUEST THE PORTUGUESE ELECTRONIC PASSPORT?
- At the Passport Bureaus in the Airport of Lisbon and Airport of Porto
- At the Governments of the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira
- At the IRN’s desks which provide this service
- At the Portuguese consulate of your residence area.
WHAT IS THE PRICE TO REQUEST THE PORTUGUESE ELECTRONIC PASSPORT?
The passport’s price depends on the delivery term and on the location where you submit the request.
| WHERE IS THE REQUEST SUBMITTED? | DELIVERY TERM | PRICE | TO RECEIVE IT AT HOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal (mainland), island of Madeira, São Miguel and Terceira | Normal (5 business days) | €65 | + €10 |
| Express (2 business days)Urgent (1 business day)Urgent at the Airport of Lisbon (1 business day) | €100 | – | |
| Porto Santo, Faial, Pico and Santa Maria | Normal (5 business days) | €65 | + €10 |
| Express (3 business days)Urgent (2 business days) | €95 | – | |
| Graciosa, Corvo, São Jorge and Flores | Normal (6 business days) | €65 | + €10 |
| Express (5 business days)Urgent (4 business days) | €95 | – | |
| Europe | Normal (5 business days) | €75 | + €30 |
| Express (2 business days)Urgent (1 business days) | €120 | – | |
| Angola, Cyprus and Iraq | Normal (6 business days) | €75 | + €30 |
| Express (5 business days)Urgent (4 business days) | €120 | – | |
| East Timor | Normal (10 business days) | €75 | + €30 |
| Express (9 business days)Urgent (8 business days) | €120 | – | |
| USA | Normal (up to 30 days) | €75 | + €30 |
| Argelia, Argentina, Chile, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tunisia and Venezuela | Normal (no estimated delivery date: sent through diplomatic bag) | €75 | Not available |
| Rest of the world | Normal (5 business days) | €75 | + €30 |
| Express (4 business days)Urgent (3 business days) | €120 | – |
You may pay in cash or with multibanco.
HOW CAN YOU REQUEST THE PORTUGUESE ELECTRONIC PASSPORT?
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