If you’re moving to Portugal — or already living here — understanding the legal requirements to formalize your residency status is crucial. While visas are the first step, many foreign nationals also need to complete other administrative procedures to stay in Portugal legally.
This page outlines the key immigration and legalization services beyond visa applications, including assistance for EU citizens, their family members, and those facing delays with AIMA appointments.
If you’re an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and plan to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, you must register your residence by applying for the Certificate of Registration of EU Citizens (CRUE).
The CRUE is an official document issued by your local City Hall (Câmara Municipal), confirming your right to reside in Portugal under EU law (Law no. 37/2006, Article 14). It’s a mandatory step that must be completed within 90 days of arrival.
Flow Legal offers full assistance with document preparation, appointment scheduling, and optional in-person support to help you obtain your CRUE without complications.
If you’re a non-EU national and are a spouse, partner, or dependent of an EU citizen living in Portugal, you can apply for residency under Article 15 of Law no. 37/2006. This process is handled by AIMA (Agency for Migration and Asylum), formerly known as SEF.
Who qualifies?
Required Documents:
Incorrect or incomplete documentation may cause delays or denial. Professional legal support helps avoid common pitfalls and ensure a smooth application.
With a backlog of over 400,000 pending cases, securing an AIMA appointment has become one of the biggest immigration challenges in Portugal. Whether you’re applying for residency, renewing your permit, or completing biometrics, proper preparation is key.
FLOW Legal offers:
In extreme cases, we can file an administrative lawsuit (Ação de Intimação) to compel AIMA to act within the legal deadlines.
In addition to visas and residency permits, many foreigners require ongoing support with bureaucratic procedures in Portugal. At FLOW Legal, we also help with:
If you’re opening a business in Portugal, we can assess whether it’s better to create a new entity or a branch (sucursal) of an existing company (especially from within the EU). This decision has fiscal and operational implications that should be reviewed by a lawyer and accountant.
We work with investors and entrepreneurs to identify the most tax-efficient and legally compliant structure for your business.
We’re an immigration-focused law firm dedicated to simplifying your relocation to Portugal. Our international legal team supports you every step of the way — from visa strategy to full legal integration.
What we offer:
Experienced immigration lawyers, no guesswork.
Real humans, real solutions. No bots.
We assist clients in English, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish
Contact FLOW Legal today for a customized immigration strategy and legal guidance tailored to your case.
We’re immigrants helping immigrants — and we know what matters.
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We’ll never spam you or share your information. This is just our way of staying connected and offering the right support for your journey. If you want to know more about how we handle your data, feel free to check our Privacy Policy .
Just fill in your details below and get instant access to our exclusive free content made for immigrants like you.
We’ll never spam you or share your information. This is just our way of staying connected and offering the right support for your journey. If you want to know more about how we handle your data, feel free to check our Privacy Policy .
Just fill in your details below and get instant access to our exclusive free content made for immigrants like you.
We’ll never spam you or share your information. This is just our way of staying connected and offering the right support for your journey. If you want to know more about how we handle your data, feel free to check our Privacy Policy .
Just fill in your details below and get instant access to our exclusive free content made for immigrants like you.
We’ll never spam you or share your information. This is just our way of staying connected and offering the right support for your journey. If you want to know more about how we handle your data, feel free to check our Privacy Policy .