Right of Free Movement

Law number 37/2006, 9 August

Right of free circulation and residence of European Union citizens and members of their families

Citizens of the European Union, countries of the European Economic Area and Switzerland:

• May enter the Portuguese territory presenting a valid identity card or passport and can reside in Portugal for a period of 3 months. No other conditions or formalities are necessary.
• For more than three months, a registration must be made at the Town-Hall of the residential area in order to formalize the right to reside during a period 30 days after the three months of entrance in the national territory.

Family Members of Citizens of the European Union, countries of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, who are nationals of third countries:

• Family members are considered under the following effects: spouse of a European Union citizen; partner with whom the citizen lives in companionate marriage, according to the law, or with whom the EU citizen maintains a permanent relationship duly certified; the direct descendant with less than 21 years old or that is dependent of a EU citizen, and the descendant of the spouse or partner; the direct ascendant dependent from a EU citizen; and also the ascendant of the spouse or partner.
• Can enter Portuguese territory by presenting a valid passport, and are subordinated to the obligation of acquiring a visa of short duration in those cases that their nationality obliges (see List of countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Portugal).
• Family members of European Union citizens that due to their nationality are subject to the obligation of an entrance visa may enter without visa when they have a valid residential card.
• For stays longer than three months an emission of a residential card must be requested at the national direction or delegation of the Aliens and Borders Service of the residential area.