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CPLP Residence Permit Portugal 2026: How to Apply
The CPLP residence permit (autorização de residência CPLP, often just called CPLP residence) is a system created under the CPLP Mobility Agreement, signed in Luanda on 17 July 2021. It is for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries and makes some requirements simpler than in the general system.
If you are from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan or another non-CPLP country, this permit does not apply to you — see Portugal visa types instead.
Who can apply for the CPLP residence permit?
Citizens of the CPLP states that signed the Mobility Agreement (besides Portugal):
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Angola | Brazil |
| Cape Verde | Guinea-Bissau |
| Equatorial Guinea | Mozambique |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Timor-Leste |
How it works in practice depends on each country and consulate: check with the Portuguese consulate whether the CPLP visa is available for your nationality.
How does it work today?
The system has gone through several phases. In 2023 you could apply for the CPLP permit online from inside Portugal, even without a visa. That model is no longer the rule:
- AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) states that granting the CPLP permit currently requires a consular visa obtained specifically for that purpose.
- Lei n.º 61/2025 changed art. 87-A of the Foreigners Law: CPLP citizens holding a residence visa can apply in Portugal, at AIMA, for the CPLP residence permit.
In other words: first the visa at the consulate, then the permit at AIMA.
How to apply: step by step
- Apply for the visa at the Portuguese consulate in your country (or the external service provider), stating the CPLP system. National visa fee: €110.
- Hand in the MNE documents (list below).
- Check the AIMA appointment date — according to AIMA, it is shown in the remarks field of the visa.
- Enter Portugal and go to AIMA on the set date.
- If the visa has no appointment date, contact AIMA through the form at contactenos.aima.gov.pt, giving your passport and visa numbers.
- Pay the current fees. According to the AIMA fee table, CPLP nationals (except Timor-Leste) do not pay the grant fee and only pay for receiving and analysing the application and for the card; amounts are updated on 1 March each year.
- Receive the card, valid for two years.
What documents do you need?
At the consulate (MNE — Ministry of Foreign Affairs):
- Application on the official form
- Two passport-style photos
- Proof of legal status, if you are not a national of the country where you apply
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin or of residence for more than one year (not needed for under-16s), with a Hague Apostille or legalised
- Means of subsistence — or one of the CPLP exemptions:
- statement of responsibility (termo de responsabilidade) from the host organisation (employer, internship, volunteering); or
- statement of responsibility from a Portuguese citizen or foreign resident, with a certified signature, together with the IRS tax return and bank statements for the last 3 months of the person who signs;
- students admitted to higher education are exempt.
At AIMA:
- Valid passport
- Application and check of the Portuguese criminal record
- Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or of residence for more than one year
- Proof of means of subsistence (IRS tax return, employment contract, service contract) or Statement of Responsibility (Modelo 4) with a certified signature
- For minors: proof that they are accompanied by the person with parental responsibility
What about renewing the CPLP card?
AIMA has its own FAQ section on renewing CPLP cards. In practice, follow our renewal guide.
CPLP permit or work visa?
| CPLP residence | “Normal” work visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | CPLP nationals only | Any third-country national |
| Means of subsistence | Can use a statement of responsibility | Contract or contract promise |
| Card | 2 years | 2 years |
Many Brazilians with a job contract can choose either route; see the Portugal work visa and the map of visa types.
What can I do with the CPLP card?
The CPLP card is a temporary residence permit in the standard EU model, like the others. It lets you live and work in Portugal and, like any valid residence card, travel in the Schengen Area for short stays. Time with a CPLP permit counts towards permanent residence, which you can apply for after five years of temporary residence.
Common mistakes
- Entering as a tourist and relying on the old CPLP system. Today you need a visa first.
- Statement of responsibility without a certified signature (by a notary, lawyer or solicitor) or without the IRS return and statements of the person signing.
- Criminal record without an apostille.
- Not checking the appointment date printed on the visa.
- Thinking CPLP gives you citizenship. It is a residence permit; citizenship has its own rules (see Portuguese citizenship).
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter Portugal as a tourist and apply for the CPLP residence permit?
According to AIMA, the CPLP residence permit currently requires a consular visa obtained for that purpose. Lei n.º 61/2025 refers to holders of a residence visa.
How much does the CPLP residence permit cost?
The fees are in the AIMA fee table (Portaria n.º 307/2023), updated on 1 March each year. According to that table, nationals of CPLP countries (except Timor-Leste) do not pay the grant fee and only pay the charges for receiving and analysing the application and for the card. Check the current amount on the AIMA website.
How long is the CPLP card valid?
Two years. The card is the same as other temporary permits, in the standard EU model.
Which countries are part of the CPLP?
Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste.
Do I need to prove means of subsistence?
Yes, but CPLP citizens can replace it with a statement of responsibility (from an employer, host organisation or a resident in Portugal). Students admitted to higher education are exempt.