Portugal processes permanent residency under Brexit

Portugal processes permanent residency under Brexit - Portugal Business News

Brexit News - Portugal is currently processing permanent residency cards under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

Andrew Gentile, a British expat in Portugal, has prepared an Analysis of AIMA Permanent Residency Appointments for UK Nationals Under the Withdrawal Agreement during the beginning of the process on May 4th to May 7th. The report was sent to the British Embassy in Portugal to be part of a written report for the European Commission about the PR process for Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries in countries across Europe.

The report analyzed 43 documented appointment experiences from British citizens attending AIMA offices across Portugal to apply for permanent residency biometric cards under Article 15 of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. The appointments represented the first four days of a newly implemented process following sustained advocacy efforts by British citizens in Portugal. Key statistics identified a 95.3% success rate across 14 different AIMA office locations in Portugal.

What are the main documents required to obtain permanent residency in Portugal under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement?

Expats who had successful Brexit appointments for permanent residency in Portugal cited that the main documents presented were their passport, temporary residence card, tax returns, proof of address and 5-year bank statements.

What are the main documents required for children to obtain permanent residency in Portugal under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement?

For processing children under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, some AIMA offices allowed parents to bring children to the same appointment by attaching records to parent documents. Required documents for children included their passport, temporary residence card, a letter from school, and a household certificate (agregado familiar) that can be obtained from the municipality or proof of dependency on the parent's tax return.  

What are the main legal barriers that prevent obtaining permanent residency in Portugal under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement?

According to the report’s key findings following the beginning of the Brexit permanent residency process in Portugal, there is a lack of standardization and a training gap across AIMA offices. A systemic issue emerged regarding AIMA's treatment of third-country national family members of UK nationals that appeared to violate Article 10 of the Withdrawal Agreement that protects family members of UK nationals and guarantees their rights to residence, as well as Article 18(4) of the Withdrawal Agreement that states that the residence document is declaratory of the residence status and of rights that already exist.

The report on the beginning of the Brexit permanent residency process in Portugal concludes by requesting the UK Embassy and the European Commission to communicate with Portugal’s immigration office, AIMA, in order to establish a clear mechanism for applicants to reschedule appointments, to standardize staff training and public communication, to correct the Withdrawal Agreement breach regarding third-country nationals and to provide clear guidance on how parents can proceed with permanent residency applications for children who are homeschooled.