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.

While EU/EEA citizens don’t have to report their presence in Portugal when they initially arrive, you must apply for a CRUE after being in Portugal for 90 or more days – and you have a 30-day window to do so.

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

01/ Employed or self-employed

You are employed or self-employed in Portugal. That can seem a bit ambiguous, but under EU Free Movement Law, it means “economic activity carried out under the host’s jurisdiction.”

Essentially, you can qualify under this point if you have an employment contract with a Portuguese employer, you are registered as self-employed with the Portuguese tax authority, and the activity is genuine and effective.

02/ Sufficient income and health insurance

As with almost all visas in Portugal, you must be able to show that you have enough money to support yourself and any family members who travel with you. The Portuguese government’s information isn’t clear on the amount, but it’s essentially tied to Portugal’s minimum wage.

So, in other words, you must prove that your income is at least €920.00 per month, which automatically disqualifies you from seeking Portuguese social security assistance. Acceptable income can range from self-employment, employment, and pensions, to investments and savings.

Also, if you are from an EU nation where Portuguese citizens must have health insurance, you must also have health insurance in Portugal.

03/ Enrolled in education

If you are not employed or retired, you must show that you are actively enrolled at an officially accredited private or public teaching establishment and have sufficient resources for yourself and/or your family members. You must also have health insurance if you are from an EU country where Portuguese citizens are required to have it.

As with any visa or permit application, several documents must be presented. While temporary and permanent residency permits are handled by Portugal’s Agency for Immigration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), CRUE applications are submitted to your nearest local city council (Câmara Municipal).

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

• Valid ID card or passport
• Completion of the CRUE registration form at the Câmara Municipal

Then, depending on which one of the conditions you fulfill:

• Proof that you have sufficient resources for yourself and your family members
• Proof that you are employed or independently employed in Portugal. If you qualify under this category, you do not need to prove sufficient money.
• Proof that you are enrolled in an officially recognized public or private educational establishment
• You must also have health insurance if you are from a country that requires Portuguese citizens to have health insurance

In some cases, you might be asked to provide proof of accommodation in Portugal and bank statements, so it’s always a good idea to keep those handy.

If you are traveling with a family member who is also an EU citizen, they must apply for their own CRUE.

EU citizens who have been in Portugal for three months must register with their local city council 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 payment 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.

Officially, there isn’t a CRUE for family members who don’t have EU citizenship – and this is where things can get a bit confusing. While most people think that they should apply for the Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6), that might not legally be the case.

If you are an EU citizen, move to Portugal, and your spouse has non-EU citizenship (such as American or British), your spouse applies for the Residence Card as Family Member of EU Citizen through AIMA. Your spouse can only apply if they intend to stay in Portugal for more than three months, they have entered Portugal legally (like through a Schengen visa), and they must apply within 90 days of arrival.

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
• You must present documents proving the relationship or the partner’s status, such as a marriage certificate or a birth certificate, in cases of traveling with your parents.
• Supporting evidence, such as bank statements or an ID card.

According to AIMA’s information, before entering Portugal, your spouse or family member must visit the Portuguese consular post or mission abroad to verify the requirements and register in advance on the AIMA website to schedule a face-to-face appointment.

For clarity, non-EU citizens must apply for the Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6) if their partner or family member is a Portuguese national. While being a Portuguese citizen makes them an EU citizen as well, there is a legal distinction between the two. The D6 Visa falls under Portuguese national immigration law, while the EU Family Residence Card for non-Portuguese but citizens of another EU country falls under EU Free Movement Law (Directive 2004/38/EC).

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.