Portugal Residency requirements
If you are planning to move to Portugal and have the nationality of Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland or if you are a citizen of a European Union country and you plan to stay more than 3 months in Portugal, you must apply to the City Council in the area where you reside. This registration will serve as a legal document to reside in Portugal.
After 5 consecutive years of having applied for your Certificate of Registration you could request your Certificate of Permanent Registration from the Service of Foreigners and Borders. To know in greater detail the requirements for your application you should contact the Foreigners and Borders Service.
If the previous one is not your case and you are a citizen of another State but wish to reside in Portugal, you will need a residence visa for your stay. With this visa you can enter Portugal to request a residence permit from the Foreigners and Borders Service.
The temporary residence permit that you will receive will be valid for one year from the date of issuance of the document. This permit may be renewed for periods of two years in succession. After completing 5 years of temporary residence, you can apply for your permanent residence permit.
To make your requests in the Service of Foreigners and Borders, you must previously request an appointment, which you can make through the website or by phone.