How Golden Visa Holders Can Apply for Portugal Permanent Residency Card in 2025
Portugal has become one of the most attractive destinations for global residents, investors, remote workers, and families who seek safety, stability, European lifestyle, and long-term residency rights. One of the most important milestones for anyone living in Portugal is obtaining the Permanent Residency (PR) Card, also known as Autorização de Residência Permanente. This card allows foreign nationals to live in Portugal indefinitely, enjoy equal rights as Portuguese residents, and eventually apply for Portuguese citizenship. To apply for Portugal PR, you must already hold a temporary residence permit (D7, Golden Visa, Work Visa, Student Visa, etc.) for 5 consecutive years. You can read our latest article to understand how to enter Portugal temporarily and what visa choices are available.
This comprehensive guide explains everything Golden Visa holders need to know about applying for the Portugal Permanent Residency Card in 2025 including eligibility criteria, application steps, required documents, benefits, language requirements, costs, processing timelines, and the key differences between permanent residency and citizenship. If you are planning to settle in Portugal long-term, this article will help you understand the complete pathway from temporary residency to permanent residency.
Understanding Portugal Permanent Residency
Permanent residency in Portugal is a legal status granted to foreign nationals who have legally lived in the country for at least five consecutive years under a valid temporary residence permit. It provides long term resident status and allows them to stay in the country without restrictions, with a permanent residence card that is renewable every five years. Unlike temporary residency, it does not require maintaining a specific visa type, investment, or employment contract. Golden Visa holders must reside in Portugal for at least 7 days per year or 14 days every two years after receiving their first temporary residence card, and this requirement continues for every subsequent renewal.
Please note that Portugal’s Parliament approved a new Citizenship Law on October 28, 2025, establishing a 10‑year legal residence requirement for most non‑EU nationals and 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals; but on November 14, 2025, the Socialist Party (PS) filed a rare “preventive constitutional review,” freezing the law while the Constitutional Court examines it.
The PR card is issued by the Portuguese immigration authority AIMA (formerly SEF). It allows you to stay in Portugal indefinitely, travel freely within the Schengen area, and enjoy many rights similar to Portuguese nationals.
Who Is Eligible for Portugal Permanent Residency?
For Golden Visa holders, the 5-year residency period is counted from the date the application was submitted, not from the date it was approved. To apply for PR, you must meet the following core requirements:
Five years of legal residency (currently, but this may change in the future).
You must hold a valid temporary residence permit for 5 continuous years. Please note that the five-year period must be uninterrupted, although short absences are allowed. This applies to:
Clean Criminal Record
You must have a clean criminal record both in Portugal and your home country.
Proof of Financial Stability
Applicants must demonstrate they can support themselves through income, savings, work contracts, pensions, or other financial means.
Legal Stay in Portugal at the Time of Application
Your temporary residence permit must be valid when you apply for PR.
Step-by-Step Process to Apply for Portugal PR Card
Once you complete 5 years of legal residency, Once you complete 5 years of legal residency, follow these steps :
Step 1: Gather all required documents
Keep everything updated and ready. (A detailed list is available in Section 6.)
Step 2: Book an appointment with AIMA
Appointments can be booked:
Through the AIMA website
By phone
Through email
Through your lawyer or authorized representative
Step 3: Attend the biometric appointment
At the appointment, you will:
Submit your documents
Provide fingerprints
Have your photo taken
Sign your application
Step 4: Pay the application fee
Payment is made directly at the AIMA office.
Step 5: Application review and approval
AIMA reviews your documents and background checks.
Step 6: Receive your permanent residency card
Once approved, the PR card is mailed to your registered address.
Please note that the PR card is valid for five years and can be renewed indefinitely without restrictions.
Required Documents for Portugal PR Application
Prepare the following documents for your application:
Cost of Portugal Permanent Residency
The process requires submitting an application to AIMA, including proof of residence, income, and basic Portuguese knowledge (A2 level).
After submitting your Permanent Residency application, the processing time is usually 30 to 90 days following your appointment. In some cases, it may take longer depending on AIMA’s workload and document verification.
To keep your Portugal Permanent Residency (PR), you need to renew your card every 5 years and not stay outside Portugal for too long. PR lets you live in Portugal forever, but you cannot vote or get a passport. Citizenship is different it gives a Portuguese passport, voting rights, and freedom to live anywhere in the EU. Applications can be delayed if documents are missing, income proof is wrong, or you haven’t passed the A2 language test. To make things easier, start preparing early, take your language test on time, keep your papers safe, and get help from a lawyer if needed. Portugal PR is simple and a great step toward living in Portugal permanently.
Family Inclusion in PR Application
When applying for Portugal PR, you can include your immediate family members, making the process easier for families who plan to settle together, you can include your,
Each family member included in a Portugal PR application must meet basic requirements such as proving their relationship to the main applicant, having valid health insurance, and showing that the family has enough financial means to live in Portugal. Fees may also vary for each person minors, adults, spouses, and parents may have different charges, and in some cases, younger dependents under 18 may pay reduced fees or no fee at all. you should submit Documents needed as below listed:
Healthcare and Social Benefits for PR Holders
Once you obtain Portugal PR, you gain access to several healthcare and social benefits, almost on par with Portuguese citizens.
Social benefits are,
Access to healthcare and social benefits requires registration with Segurança Social and sometimes proof of employment or contributions.
Benefits of Portugal Permanent Residency (PR)
Final Thoughts
تُعد الإقامة الدائمة في البرتغال من أكثر المسارات ترحيبًا وسهولة في أوروبا. فمع متطلبات معقولة، وقوانين مناسبة للعائلات، ومسار واضح للحصول على الجنسية بعد خمس سنوات، توفر هذه الإقامة أمانًا طويل الأمد وجودة حياة أفضل لأي شخص يخطط للاستقرار في الاتحاد الأوروبي. ومع الإعداد الصحيح، وتقديم المستندات المطلوبة، وفهم خطوات العملية، يصبح الحصول على الإقامة الدائمة في البرتغال خطوة سلسة ومجزية نحو بناء مستقبل في واحدة من أكثر دول أوروبا أمانًا وجمالًا.
