Where to start: choose your situation
The paperwork depends on two things: your nationality and what you will do in Portugal. Pick the situation closest to yours.
Each route lists the usual steps in the usual order, with a link to our guide where one exists and to the official source otherwise. Tick off steps as you go — your progress stays in this browser.
A route is a starting point, not a legal assessment. If your situation is unusual — a refused application, family members with different nationalities, a business or property abroad — talk to a registered lawyer or certified accountant.
Guides by situation
Official sources
We check our guides against these official pages. If something has changed, the official source wins.
- gov.pt — public services portal gov.pt
- AIMA — Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum aima.gov.pt
- Portuguese Visa Portal vistos.mne.gov.pt