Portugal Sets Criminal History Condition for Residency

The Portuguese government has announced a key condition for foreign nationals seeking permanent residence permits under Article 80 of the country's immigration legislation, effective in 2026. The requirement, published by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, mandates that applicants must have lived legally in Portugal for five continuous years.

A significant aspect of this condition pertains to the applicant's criminal history. Specifically, individuals who have accumulated convictions resulting in sentences that exceed one year of imprisonment within the last five years will be disqualified from obtaining permanent residence.

This applies even if the execution of the sentence has been suspended. The disqualifying convictions include intentional crimes related to immigration, terrorism offences, violent crimes, and highly organized crimes.

The guidance clarifies that any conviction crossing the one-year threshold during the five years blocks the application, regardless of whether the individual served time in prison.