Residence and formalities for students in Europe

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – for the first 3 months you can live in Portugal without any formalities. After that, you have 30 days to register your residence and get a registration certificate for EU citizens (Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia). You apply at the town hall (câmara municipal).

As a student, you'll need, among other things:

• your ID card or passport,
• proof of address,
• a certificate from your university,
• a declaration that you have enough money to support yourself,
• proof of health insurance – your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is enough.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence visa for study, which you apply for at the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel – the procedure can take a few months. After arriving, you book an appointment with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) to get a residence permit (autorização de residência) for your studies. You will need, among other things, a valid passport, proof of enrolment and of tuition payment, a criminal record certificate, proof of accommodation, health insurance and proof of sufficient means of subsistence – the rules are set by Ordinance (Portaria) no. 1563/2007, and the consulate will tell you what exactly it accepts.