🪪 Living here legally

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work in Portugal. After three months you should register with your Câmara Municipal (town hall).

For everyone else, residence permits are handled by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). Citizens of Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries such as Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste may have a specific route.

Immigration rules change often. Always check AIMA directly or ask a free CLAIM help centre, and be careful with anyone charging to 'speed up' a process.

Official links

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More from the guide

🧭 First steps in Lisbon 🧾 NIF: your tax number 🛡️ Social Security (NISS)🏥 Health ☕ Finding work quickly ⚖️ Your rights at work 🎓 Towards a job that fits your skills 🏠 Finding a room safely

General information to help you get started, written in October 2026. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so always check the official links.