- Blog Post
- Immigration, Live in Portugal
Family Members of EU Citizens: How to Live in Portugal
🇪🇺 Who Is This For?
This regime applies to non-EU family members of:
- EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in Portugal
- Portuguese citizens — Portuguese law extends these rules to the family members of its own nationals
It’s governed by Law 37/2006, which transposes the EU free movement directive — not by the general Immigration Law. That’s why the 2025 changes to family reunification, such as the two-year waiting period, don’t apply in the same way.
👪 Which Family Members Qualify?
- Spouse
- Partner in a registered partnership or a de facto union (generally with proof of at least two years of living together)
- Children under 21, or older if dependent — of the EU citizen or of their spouse/partner
- Dependent parents and grandparents — of the EU citizen or of their spouse/partner
Other relatives who are dependent on the EU citizen or live in their household, or who need their care for serious health reasons, may also have their entry and residence facilitated.
✈️ Entering Portugal
- If your nationality needs a visa for Schengen, you may need a short-stay visa to enter. Visas for family members of EU citizens should be issued free of charge and through a facilitated procedure.
- If you already hold a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen issued by another EU country, it generally allows you to enter without a visa.
- If you entered Portugal through another Schengen country, you may need to make an entry declaration (declaração de entrada).
🪪 The Residence Card for Family Members
If you’ll stay more than three months, you need to apply for a residence card for family members of EU citizens (cartão de residência de familiar de cidadão da União) at AIMA.
- When: generally within 30 days after the first three months of your stay
- Where: at AIMA, with a prior appointment
- First step for the EU citizen: if they’re not Portuguese, they must first register their own residence and get their CRUE at the Câmara Municipal
- Validity: usually five years (or the EU citizen’s planned period of residence, if shorter)
- Fees: low — usually under €20, with reductions for children
📋 Documents You'll Usually Need
From the family member:
- Valid passport
- Two recent photos and the application form
- Proof of the family relationship — marriage certificate, partnership proof, birth certificate (apostilled and translated where necessary)
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
- Proof of dependency, for adult children or parents
From the EU citizen:
- ID card or passport
- CRUE (for non-Portuguese EU citizens) or proof of Portuguese nationality
- Proof of their situation in Portugal — work contract, self-employment, sufficient means, studies
- In some cases, a declaration of responsibility (termo de responsabilidade)
✅ What Rights Do You Get?
- Live in Portugal legally
- Work as an employee or self-employed, without a separate work permit
- Access the national health service, education and social security
- Travel within the Schengen area
🏠 After Five Years
After five years of legal and continuous residence, you can request a permanent residence card for family members of EU citizens.
💔 What If the Relationship Ends?
In some situations — such as divorce, the death of the EU citizen or their departure from Portugal — family members may keep their right of residence, especially if they’ve lived in Portugal for some time, have children in school or are working. Each case is assessed individually, so get advice early.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for a regular residence visa when the family member regime would be simpler and faster
- Forgetting the EU citizen’s own registration (CRUE) before the family member’s application
- Missing apostilles or translations on marriage and birth certificates
- Not proving dependency for adult children or parents
🚀 Final Considerations
Being the family member of an EU or Portuguese citizen is one of the most favourable ways to live in Portugal — with simpler rules, the right to work from day one and a direct path to permanent residence. The key is having the right documents and following the correct order.
📢 Expert Advice: Make sure the EU citizen’s own residence is registered first. Most delays happen when the family member applies before the EU citizen has their CRUE.
Is your partner or parent an EU citizen? Step Inside Portugal can handle the residence card application for you and your family — find out more about our immigration services here. ✨
This article is for general information only and doesn’t constitute legal advice. It reflects the rules as of October 2026; requirements can vary, so confirm the details that apply to your case.
Save PDF version for later
Share it with friends
Want to learn more? Explore our other resources...
- Blog Post
- Immigration, Live in Portugal
- Blog Post
- Immigration, Live in Portugal
- Blog Post
- Immigration, Live in Portugal
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.