Eligibility Quiz
Are you a national of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, or East Timor?
Application Process
The CPLP Mobility pathway is a simplified immigration route for citizens of Portuguese-speaking nations. Following the 2025 reforms, the process has transitioned from a digital certificate to a physical, plastic residence card in the EU uniform format, which now allows you to travel freely within the Schengen Area.
Route A: For Brazilians and Timorese Nationals
If you are from Brazil or East Timor, you are exempt from needing a visa to enter Portugal for short stays.
- Enter Portugal: You may enter as a tourist for up to 90 days. Ensure your passport is stamped upon entry.
- Obtain a NIF: Visit a Finanças (Tax Office) or use an online service to get your Número de Identificação Fiscal (Tax Identification Number).
- Register on the AIMA Portal: Create an account on the AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) digital portal to start your application.
- Schedule Biometrics: Use the portal to book an in-person appointment at an AIMA office.
- Attend Appointment: Present your documents and provide your fingerprints and photo. This is mandatory for the physical residence card.
Route B: For Other CPLP Nationalities
If you are a national of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, or São Tomé and Príncipe, you must generally start the process in your home country.
- Apply for a CPLP Consular Visa: Submit your application at a Portuguese Consulate or a VFS Global center in your country. Under the CPLP regime, you do not need travel insurance, and you can substitute proof of funds with a Termo de Responsabilidade (Term of Responsibility) signed by a legal resident in Portugal.
- Travel to Portugal: Once your visa is issued (usually within 30 to 45 days), travel to Portugal.
- AIMA Appointment: Follow the same steps as Route A to register on the AIMA portal and attend a biometric appointment to exchange your visa for a residence card.
Fees
The CPLP pathway offers reduced government fees compared to standard residency tracks. While the previous digital certificates were cheaper, the new physical cards involve administrative costs for production and security.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| CPLP Consular Visa | €75 - €90 (Varies by consulate) |
| Residence Permit Issuance (AIMA) | €70 - €100 |
| NIF (Tax Number) | Free (at office) to €10 |
Total Estimated Cost: €145 – €200
Note: This total does not include costs for apostilling/legalizing your criminal record in your home country, professional translation services (if required), or travel expenses to the consulate or AIMA offices.
Processing Time
The CPLP regime is designed to be faster than standard immigration categories, though administrative backlogs in Portugal can still cause delays.
- Consular Visa Processing: 30 to 45 days for long-stay CPLP visas. Short-stay visas are typically processed in 5 to 15 days.
- AIMA Appointment Waiting Time: This varies significantly by region. You may wait 3 to 6 months for an available biometric slot depending on the local office workload.
- Card Production: Once biometrics are collected, your physical residence card is usually mailed to your Portuguese address within 30 to 60 days.
- Document Validity: Your initial CPLP residence card is valid for 2 years. You can renew it later for successive periods of 3 years.
- Criminal Record Validity: Your criminal record certificate from your home country is typically considered valid for 3 to 6 months from the date of issuance for the purpose of the application; ensure it is recently issued and apostilled before your appointment.