In order to enjoy your new life to the full, whether that be just for part of the year, or permanently, you may need to know how the Portuguese systems for motoring, health, finance, and education work, as well as having a good idea of what to do when dealing with the law, and tax issues.

One of the best sources of up-to-date information on these aspects is AFPOP (Association of Foreign Property Owners of Portugal), who regularly publish info bulletins and update magazines. They can be contacted at: AFPOP, Apartado 728, 8501-917 Portimão, Algarve, Portugal/Tel: 282-458-509/Email: afpop@ip.ptGuidance and information sheets are also available from the Portuguese Consulates in the UK. You should always check with them on major aspects of your move to Portugal, for the latest advice, as laws, and especially EU directives, are a fluid commodity.

Applying For Residence

One of the first things you will need to do is to apply for a residence card (residência), which gives you the right to live in Portugal for specific lengths of time. EU citizens no longer need a residence visa before they travel to Portugal, so everything can be done once you are there. The Portuguese Immigration Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras – SEF) are the people who deal with this. They have offices in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Faro, Portimão, Ponta Delgada and Funchal (Madeira).

The table on the next page is an overview of what type of permit is required by different people:

N.B. Wage earners no longer require a work permit in Portugal; they are treated as equals with their Portuguese counterparts, but they must have a formal work contract as proof of their work.

Rules governing non-EU members are slightly different, as they will require a residence visa issued by the Portuguese consulate in their own country.

When you go to apply for your permit, have with you as much information and documentation as possible to start with, including proof of income, or work contracts. You will be required to fill in various forms (this is where your love-affair with Portuguese bureaucracy really begins!),

Working in Portugal for no longer than 3 months.	No permit required.	n/a
Seasonal worker – work period no longer than 8 months.	No permit required.	n/a
Working for more than three, but less than 12 months.	Temporary residence permit.	Valid for duration of work contract/can be extended beyond one year and new permit will be valid for 5 years.
Working for more than one year.	Residence permit.	5 years, renewable for 10 years.
Providing a service, with set duration of work.	Temporary permit.	Can be renewed on application, if work extended.
Self-employed people.	Residence permit.	5 years, renewable for 10.
Persons of independent means, including the retired.	Residence permit, granted if: they can show they have sufficient income to support themselves and families without state assistance/they have health cover (see later) – if not in receipt of state pension, must have private medical insurance.	Two years in the first instance, renewable for five years.
Spouse of someone working.	Residence permit granted.	Same as main applicant.
Children under 14.	Residence granted and endorsed on parents’ permit, provided one of parents has been granted full residence.	Same as parents.

and may be asked for specific pieces of documentation. Make sure you have a number of copies of vital pieces of paper before you get out there, so that you speed up the process, and you keep a check on where your documentation is. It is probably worth starting to build up a relevant file before you leave. You could include copies of:

• passport pages
• bank statements
• medical notes
• pet notes
• work contract/ letter
• pension details
• insurance
• motoring info (see next section)
• letters of introduction from any Portuguese people/companies
• any relevant documents in translation
• birth/marriage certificates
• salary receipts/proof of own business
• school registration documents for children
• multiple passport-type photos of each member of the family.