The Portugeasy Immigration Guide

A complete overview of the Portuguese immigration journey — the main routes, the organisations you'll deal with, the documents you'll need, and which guide to read next.

A plain-language walkthrough to identify the immigration route that best matches your circumstances before you prepare any documents.

The documents most applicants eventually need — why they matter and when to start preparing them, so nothing expires or delays you at the counter.

What AIMA is, what it does and — just as importantly — what it doesn't, so you contact the right organisation and avoid weeks of unnecessary frustration.

The two terms are constantly confused. Here's the plain difference — and why getting it straight makes the rest of your immigration journey much easier.

How long you now need to live in Portugal before applying for nationality — the new 7- or 10-year rule, when the clock starts, the transitional provisions, and how it differs from permanent residence.

The standard employment route: a non-EU national with a Portuguese job gets a residence visa for subordinate work, then a residence permit at AIMA under Article 88(1).

Enter Portugal to look for employed work when you don't yet have a job, then move to a residence permit under Article 88(7) once you sign a contract.

The D8 route for non-EU nationals who work remotely and earn from outside Portugal — the temporary-stay version and the residence version that leads to a 2-year residence permit.