Rights and Duties of a Legal Resident in Portugal. Clarify doubts such as “How long can I be absent from Portugal?”

Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal gives the immigrant the right to reside legally in the country, with benefits and responsibilities established by Portuguese law.

Rights of Legal Residents in Portugal

1. Right to Health: Legal residents have access to the National Health Service (SNS) under similar conditions to Portuguese citizens, and can enjoy medical and hospital care.
2. Right to Education: Children and young people living in Portugal have the right to attend the public education system, from primary to higher education, under the same conditions as Portuguese citizens.
3. Right to Work: Holders of a residence permit (without restriction for professional activity) have the right to carry out a subordinate or independent professional activity, provided they meet the legal requirements for each type.
4. Right to Social Security: Legal residents can register with the social security system.
5. Right to Family Reunification: Family reunification of spouses, children and other family members is permitted, as provided for in immigration law.
6. Right to Justice and Legal Protection: Resident immigrants have access to Portuguese courts and can resort to legal aid in cases involving legal issues.

Duties of Legal Residents in Portugal

1. Comply with Portuguese Legislation: Legal residents are obliged to comply with all laws and regulations in force in the country.
2. Updating your address: Residents must notify AIMA within 60 days of the date on which the change occurs of their marital status or domicile.
3. Renewal of the residence permit: The residence permit must be renewed within the indicated deadlines, to avoid the loss of rights and possible legal sanctions.
4. Social Security Contribution: Residents who work in Portugal must contribute to the social security system.
5. Minimum stay in Portuguese territory: “How long can I be absent from Portugal?”

• If you hold a temporary residence permit and, during its period of validity (note: period of validity of residence; not calendar year), you intend to leave Portugal for a period of more than six consecutive months or eight interpolated months, you must inform ALMA of this fact before the period expires.

• If you hold a permanent residence permit and intend to leave Portugal for a period of more than twenty-four consecutive months or, in a period of three years, thirty interpolated months, you must notify AIMA of this fact before exceeding the time limit.

• If you hold long-term resident status, and under penalty of losing this status, you may not leave the territory of the European Union for a period of 12 consecutive months or more, nor the national territory for a period of six consecutive years or more

6. Informing Relevant Changes: Changes in marital status, birth of children, among other changes, must be communicated to AIMA in order to update residence data.

Final considerations

Being a legal resident in Portugal brings significant benefits, but it also imposes responsibilities that must be strictly complied with. Compliance with rights and duties is fundamental to guaranteeing harmonious and safe integration into Portuguese territory.

Maintaining legal residency and respecting local rules are essential for the full enjoyment of guaranteed rights and for the stability of the immigration process in Portugal. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in the cancellation/revocation of your right to reside in Portugal or even to renew your residence in the future.