In Portugal, residence permits can be: (1) temporary stay for less than 1 year (2) residence for more than 1 year. In both cases, it is possible to renew the residence permit.

1 – Temporary stay of less than 1 year

This type of residence permit is used in the following cases:

• Work
• Study
• Professional training, internship or volunteering
• Young people on international exchange
• Health reasons (foreigners wishing to receive medical treatment in Portugal)
• Retired
• People living on their own income

2 – Permanent residence for more than 1 year

This type of residence permit is used in the following cases:

• Work
• Study
• Research (usually associated with universities and research centers)
• Professional training, internship or volunteering
• Family reunion
• Establishment of residence (retirees, investors, people with own income)

In both residence permits, the foreign citizen must prove with legal documents the reason for his stay in Portugal, as well as, he will have to prove that he has the necessary income to live in Portugal. Minimum subsistence income is the value of the Portuguese minimum wage, determined annually by the Portuguese Government.

Regarding to family reunion, the foreign citizen who has a residence permit in Portugal is entitled to meet in Portugal with family members who are abroad.

The following are considered family members:

• husband/wife or person living together for more than 2 years;
• Minor or disabled children in the care of the couple or only one member of the couple;
• Adopted minors, provided that the adoption is recognized by Portugal;
• Children over 18 years of age, in charge of parents, who are single and are studying;
• The parents/grandparents/in-laws in the direct line of the foreign citizen legally living in Portugal, provided that they are in their charge;
• Brothers/sisters under the age of 18, provided that they are under the guardianship of a foreign citizen legally residing in Portugal, provided that such guardianship is recognized by Portugal.

Although Portuguese law provides that temporary stays must be decided within 30 days and permanent residences within 60 days, requests are taking much longer due to the high number of requests submitted daily and also due to the difficulties arising from measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.