Portugal: Nationals of Portuguese-Speaking Countries Eligible for New Online Residence Permit

Citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) are now eligible for a new residence permit that they can apply for on the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) website that allows a stay of up to one year, with the possibility of renewal in two-year increments. Eligible applicants must not be in the Serviço de Informações de Segurança (SIS) system for purposes of an entry ban; must obtain criminal record certificates in countries that they have resided in for more than one year showing that they have not been convicted of a crime punishable by one year or more in prison; and must prove that they have a means of subsistence in Portugal. The residence permit will be issued in 72 hours. This streamlined process coincides with visa mobility initiatives for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries implemented in Portugal in 2022.