Portugal CRUE: How to Apply for Residency as an EU Citizen

CRUE is the European citizen certificate, a residency permit (or official authorization) for a citizen of any European Union country to live and work in Portugal for more than 90 days.

The temporary residency permit is valid for five years and can be renewed or converted to permanent residency if you meet certain requirements.

All EU countries have similar permits but under different names. For example, in Germany, it is called Anmeldebescheinigung für EU-Bürger while in France it is called Attestation d’Enregistrement pour Citoyens de l’Union Européenne.

EU/EEA citizens can apply for a CRUE 90 days after arriving in Portugal and have 30 days to do so.

Unlike non-EU citizens who arrive in Portugal through an uncontrolled border (like driving from Spain to Portugal), they don’t have to report their presence in the territory.

Any EU citizen has the right to live in Portugal for more than 90 days, provided they comply with at least one of the following conditions:

• They are employed or self-employed in Portuguese territory
• They have sufficient resources for themselves and for members of their family. While the requirement is around €9,000, some application centers accept a declaration that simply states you have enough funds – whether in a Portuguese bank account or abroad.
• They are enrolled at an officially accredited private or public teaching establishment and have sufficient resources for themselves and/or their family members

If they are from an EU nation where Portuguese citizens must have health insurance, they must also have health insurance in Portugal.

Required documents

As with any visa or permit application, several documents must be presented. While visas are handled by Portugal’s Agency for Immigration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), CRUE applications are submitted to the local city council.

The required documents for the Portugal Residency Certificate for EU Citizens are:

• Valid ID card or passport
• Declaration, under oath, that you carry out a subordinate or independent professional activity in Portugal
• or that you have sufficient resources for yourself and family members through bank statements
• or you are enrolled in an officially recognized public or private educational establishment
• If traveling with an EU citizen family member, a document proving the family relationship or the status of the partner
• A document proving a direct ascendant who is a national of a European Union country, as well as that of the spouse or partner (for example, a parent)

EU citizens who have been in Portugal for three months must register at their local city council (Câmara Municipal) within 30 days to get a CRUE. This can also be done at a citizen shop (Loja Cidadão).

• Once you have taken a ticket for the European Citizen (Cidadão Europeu) line and reached the front, ask the attendant for a Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia application form.
• Carefully fill in the details, ensuring that all information is correct, and note down the correct reason for your application.
• Hand over your documents along with your application. In some cases, you might be required to show proof of accommodation in Portugal or provide bank statements.
• The attendant will check that everything is in order and then generate an invoice. The fee for a CRUE is €16 for adults and €7.50 for children under the age of six.
• Take the invoice and pay the required amount at the payments desk. You’ll be issued a receipt, so ensure you keep it safe.
• Go back to the attendant and hand them your proof of payment. They will then print out your Portugal CRUE, which you must sign.

The same rules don’t apply to family members who don’t have EU citizenship. In this case, the family member must apply for a residency card to live in Portugal for more than three months with the EU citizen.

Provided that they have long-term residency in another EU nation, they must apply for Portuguese residency through Portugal’s Agency for Immigration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). The granting of the residency visa falls under Article 116 of Portugal law.

Alternatively, the family member can apply for a Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6), also through AIMA. It is one of the only visa applications that can be done online.

The required documents that must be submitted include:

• The residence permit or CRUE of the citizen who is residing in Portugal
• Valid passport or other valid travel document
• Proof of legal entry into Portugal
• Duly authenticated evidence of the family ties invoked
• Supporting evidence, such as bank statements or ID card.

After the CRUE holder has lived in Portugal for five consecutive years, they can apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship.

Applications are made through AIMA and are considered citizenship by naturalization. To apply for Portuguese citizenship, you need to submit several documents, including:

• Criminal: Obtain a certificate confirming you don’t have significant criminal convictions.
• Medical: Provide a health certificate indicating that you are in good health and do not have any serious or communicable diseases.
• Residency: If applying through the naturalization route, submit evidence of your legal residency in Portugal. This includes documentation such as a residence permit, utility bills, rental agreements, or other official records demonstrating that you have lived in Portugal for the required period, as stated above.
• Language: Show proof of Portuguese proficiency by passing the CIPLE (Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira) test or providing equivalent evidence.

You’ll also need to present a completed Portugal citizenship application form, a valid passport (proof of identification), and proof of payment for the application processing fee.