Since November 4, applicants seeking their first permanent residence permit can submit a request through AIMA’s (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) contact form, which now includes a dedicated option for this service. The agency hopes this will make it easier to schedule appointments and reduce the workload on its staff.
Applications must still be submitted in person, by appointment, at an AIMA office. Existing residence cards must continue to be renewed through the renewals portal, as before.
Portuguese immigration law requires applicants to meet all the eligibility criteria: at least five years of temporary residence, sufficient means of subsistence, accommodation and a basic knowledge of Portuguese. During those five years, applicants must not have received prison sentences of more than one year, whether for a single offence or cumulatively.
Permanent residence status has no expiry date, but the physical residence card must be renewed every five years. The status can be revoked if the holder stays outside Portugal without a valid reason for 24 consecutive months or for a total of 30 months over a three-year period.
Although the language requirement is not mentioned in news reports about the new application form, failure to meet it can still result in a refusal. It is therefore worth preparing proof of Portuguese language proficiency in advance.