The legalisation of foreigners in Portugal is the responsibility of the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) but with an experienced team of lawyers in Nationality and Residence you can have the legal support you need.

Want to know more about the legalisation of foreigners and how an immigration lawyer can help you? This article by Catarina S.G. Gomes – Lawyers in Braga will clear up all your doubts and here you can find lawyers who will assist you throughout this process.

Legalisation of foreigners

All the Non-EU citizens they must report their arrival in national territory., within three working days, should they do so via a controlled border, as the legal entry and stay of these citizens is subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, such as, for example, having a valid visa appropriate to the purpose of their stay.

Immigration lawyers provide various legal services, such as:

• Legal advice;
• Document research at the District and Central Archives;
• Searching for documents at the Civil Registry Offices;
• Assistance with the administrative process for a residence permit extension request.;
• Support in obtaining a Tax Identification Number (NIF) and Social Security Identification Number (NISS);
• Assistance in the management and processing of the entire administrative procedure for obtaining a residence permit from the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF):
  • Obtaining a Golden Visa;
  • Startup Visa application;
  • Obtaining a residence permit for the exercise of professional activity;
  • Obtaining a residence permit for research, study, professional internship, or volunteering;
  • Obtaining a residence permit for family reunification.;
  • Obtaining a residence permit for a holder of long-term resident status in another Member State of the European Union.;
  • Obtaining an EU Blue Card residence permit.

Immigration by country of origin

In 2021, the Immigration, Borders and Asylum Report there has been an increase in the foreign resident population in Portugal, totalling 698,887 holders of residence permits. Brazilian nationality continues to be the largest foreign community present in Portugal, but there are various nationalities present in Portugal, the main ones being:

• Brazil;
• United Kingdom;
• Cabo Verde;
• Italy;
• India;
• Romania;
• Ukraine;
• France;
• Angola;
• China;
• Pakistan.

 

Right of residence

Three types of residence can be assigned:

• Residence for up to three months;
• Residence for more than three months;
• Permanent residence.

 

Residence up to three months

All citizens of the European Union can reside in Portugal for three months without any conditions. Family members of these citizens who do not have European nationality, but who accompany them, can reside in Portugal for up to three months if they have a valid passport.

 

Residency for more than three months

To reside in Portugal for more than three months, you need a registration certificate or residence card. EU citizens can reside for more than three months if:

• To work for others or be self-employed in Portuguese territory;
• You have sufficient resources for yourself and your family, and health insurance, if this is required in the Member State of your nationality for Portuguese citizens

• Whether you are enrolled in a public or private educational institution, and if you have sufficient resources for yourself and your family, and have health insurance, should this be required by the Member State of your nationality for its citizens.

Family members of these citizens who do not have European nationality, but who accompany them, may reside in Portugal for up to three months if they meet at least one of the previous conditions.

 

Permanent residence

To reside in Portugal permanently, you need a registration certificate or residence card. In this case, EU citizens can reside in Portugal permanently as long as they have done so legally for five consecutive years.

Your relatives who do not have European nationality have the right to permanent residence, provided that they have resided legally with the EU citizen of whom they are relatives, in national territory for five consecutive years.

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Immigration lawyer

The processes of Legalisation of foreigners and acquisition of Portuguese nationality can be complex, especially for those who do not have knowledge of the laws and legal regime of Portugal. Thus, an immigration lawyer plays a very important role for foreign citizens.

An immigration lawyer provides various services, such as:

• Clarification of existing doubts regarding legalisation procedures;
• Assistance with gathering the necessary documentation;
• Schedule an appointment at the SEF counter.;
  
• Monitoring of the entire legalisation procedure up to obtaining the residence permit, residence card, among others.

 

At Catarina S. Gomes – Lawyers in Braga, we have an experienced team of immigration lawyers!

Lawyers for the SEF

The lawyers for the SEF assist you with aspects such as obtaining residency visas, residency permits, obtaining long-term resident status, acquiring Portuguese citizenship, among other services that can be very useful if you are a foreigner in Portugal.

 

O que é o SEF?

O Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) É o órgão que controla a legalização de estrangeiros em Portugal.

Visit to SEF

The best way to deal with matters relating to the legalisation of foreigners and their documentation in Portugal is to seek the assistance of an experienced lawyer to handle your visits to the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) service points.

There are service points throughout the country, namely:

• CNAIM do Porto;
• SEF Office, Loja do Cidadão, Braga;
• Regional Delegation of Braga;
• Regional Delegation of Vila Real;
• Regional Delegation of Viana do Castelo;
• Bragança Regional Delegation;
• SEF Service Point, Coimbra Citizen Shop;
• SEF Store at the University of Coimbra/House of Lusophony;
• SEF Service Point, Aveiro Citizen's Shop;
• Regional Delegation of Castelo Branco;
• Regional Delegation of Guarda;
• Regional Delegation of Espinho;
• Regional Delegation of Leiria;
• SEF service point at the Viseu Delegation.;
• Regional Delegation of Figueira da Foz;
• Regional Delegation of Lisbon; Tagus Valley and Alentejo;
• Decentralised service point in Alverca;
• Decentralised service point of the Agualva-Cacém Citizen's Shop;
• Odivelas Loja do Cidadão, satellite office;
• Decentralised Post – CNAIM Lisbon;
• SEF Service Point – Study in Lisbon Lounge;
• Regional Delegation of Beja;
• Regional Delegation of Cascais;
• Regional Delegation of Évora;
• Regional Delegation of Portalegre;
• Regional Delegation of Santarém;
• Setúbal Regional Delegation;
• Regional Delegation of Tavira;
• Regional Delegation of Albufeira;
• Regional Delegation of Portimão;
• SEF Office, Loja do Cidadão, Faro;
• Regional Delegation of Porto Santo;
• SEF Post Funchal Citizen's Shop;
• Regional Delegation of the Azores;
• Regional Delegation of Angra do Heroísmo;
• Regional Delegation of Horta;
• Regional Delegation of Pico.

You can make a prior appointment through just one call or online, eliminating queues and waiting times so you can resolve your problem more quickly.

How much does an immigration lawyer cost in Portugal?

The price of an immigration lawyer in Portugal depends on the services you intend to hire. It can be said that there is no fixed price for hiring an immigration lawyer; everything depends on the process and your needs.