Portugal Living Magazine/Summer 2022

Is knowing Portuguese a requirement to obtain “permanent” residency in Portugal?

Yes. According to Regulatory Decree No. 84/2007, Article 64 deals with application for granting a permanent residence permit: The application for granting a residence permit submitted by a holder of a temporary residence permit for at least five years must be accompanied by the following documents: (a) Passport or other valid travel document; (b) Proof of means of subsistence; (c) Proof that you have accommodation; (d) Request for consultation of the Portuguese criminal record by the SEF; (e) Certificate of qualifications issued by a Portuguese official or private or cooperative educational establishment recognized in the legal terms, a certificate of achievement in the basic Portuguese course issued by the IEFP or by an official educational establishment or a legally recognized private or cooperative education institution or, also, certificate of knowledge of basic Portuguese, by taking a test in an assessment center for Portuguese as a foreign language, recognized by the Ministry of Education.

Regarding the documents mentioned in subparagraph (e) above, in the case of a person who has attended an official or private or cooperative education establishment recognized under the law in a country where Portuguese is the official language, knowledge of basic Portuguese can be evidenced by a qualification certificate issued by that educational institution.

Note: Brits arriving in Portugal now will have to meet the language requirement. https://data.dre.pt/eli/decregul/84/2007/p/ cons/20181231/pt/html Have a question? Contact us at info@ portugallivingmagazine.com and we’ll get the answer(s)!

10 Portugal Living Magazine