Implementing Decree no. 9/2018, of 11 September

The present diploma has entered into force in 01 October 2018 and corresponds to the fourth amendment to the Decree no. 84/2008, of 05 November, that regulates the Law no. 23/2007, of 04 July, which approves the legal framework of entry, stay, exit and expulsion of foreigners from the national territory.

The amendments are addressed to the foreigners, coming from third-countries, intending to apply for a residence visa or a resident permit.

The main amendments are as follows:

1. Priority of the resource to the electronic way and, in some cases, dismissal of the physical attendance from the applicant; 

2. Reuse of all documentation previously submitted by the applicant;

3. An application for renewal the resident permit and for granting it should be submitted through the electronic system;

4. For the expatriates that entered in an irregular way in national territory but have all the requirements to obtain the resident visa and that are working in national territory for more than a year, may now make a request, because exists a derogatory regime based on humanitarian reasons to obtain the resident permit;

5. The entrepreneurs, students and applicants highly qualified will benefit from an analysis with emergency nature from the respective dossier. Everyone that comes from a Portuguese third-country and that request the visa or resident permit will benefit from this regime (will be dismissed from the interview and the presentation of subsistence proof);

6. Regarding the owners who benefit from the resident permit to study, that wants to perform a professional activity as self-employed or dependent employed, may apply to this change before SEF;

7. In cases with favorable opinion for resident visa purposes, becomes possible communicate to SEF at the day of the travel to Portugal, to schedule a meeting with SEF in advance;

8. Will be designed appropriate places to provide specialized information to the investors;

9. The investors whom be attributed resident permit will have a 5 years card without minimum periods of stay in national territory;

10. Considering the Resident Permit for Investment purposes (ARI), who has made a transfer equal or superior than 1.000.000,00 Euros, may renewal the resident permit based on any other type of investment legally required, since that has the same value.