Guide: Secondary school residence permit 🇵🇹

🔥The guidelines are correct, but details regarding changes to SEF in AIMA will be provided later when more clarification becomes available.⏱Addresses within Portugal are also becoming outdated; we will update them accordingly
  • 🎓Who can obtain: non-Portuguese children between the ages of 12 and 18 who are enrolled in public or private schools.
  • 💡 Additionally: students taking qualification courses at secondary schools
  • 👪 Parents: after your child gets a residence permit you can apply for family reunification and receive one as well after a few months.
  • Means of subsistence: When reuniting with a child, savings and stable income must be shown
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About visa

According to the law, high school students (grades 10-12) are eligible for this type of residency permit. Worth mentioning that there have been uncommon cases where a permit has been issued to students as young as 7th grade in a Portuguese school.

The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed annually if the child continues their studies. Although it provides full residency rights, it does not allow the child to work in Portugal. However, the parents will be able to work once they are reunited with their child.

Check-list of documents for the SEF application

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • Certificate of no criminal record (for applicants over 16 years)
  • Proof of livelihood
  • Proof of housing
  • SEF authorization to review the Portuguese criminal record (except for children under 16 years of age)
  • Proof of enrollment in an educational institution;
  • Proof of tuition fees required by the educational institution
  • Health insurance
  • Applications submitted without a resident visa must provide proof of legal entry and stay in Portugal.

Do you still have questions? Feel free to ask us.

What does a typical process looks like:

1

Come as a tourist and enroll your child into a school

Rent a place for a long-term stay. Obtain NIF's and a certificate from Junta. Afterwards enroll your child in a selected school.

2

Make an appointment

Make an appointment with the AIMA under Section 92.3. You can call 217 115 000.

3

Apply to AIMA

Gather all the necessary documents and apply on a designated date.

4

Get a residence permit card.

After your AIMA appointment, you will receive your child's residence permit card in the mail within 2-12 weeks.

Step-by-step guide

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Migrun is the greatest service for relocation – I have received my residence permit in Spain as a digital nomad in less than 1.5 months – from initiation to approval. The best thing about Migrun – they have many affordable solutions combined with lots of free guides, so you get the best value for your money. Plus you never feel pressured to pay more than you really need. Which is truly the mission of the company – to make relocation affordable, transparent and easy. Special thanks to Irina Degtyareva for helping with my case and questions! Looking forward to work with the Migrun team further. Many thanks!

Date of experience: August 02, 2023

Alex Ovechkin

🇪🇸 ES

Immigration service with emphatic and fair approach

My immigration to Portugal wouldn't happen if not for Migrun. First, they have a LOT of free guides of how to collect documents for different visas and residency types + a great chat with a lot of immigrants sharing their experience. A year ago it was a very simple website and a chat of a couple thousands - now an extensive platform and a family of useful chats on Portugal the largest being 10K people. I have collected all documents for D7 visa with their help for free.Later I changed my mind and decided to apply for residency as highly-qualified professional from inside of Portugal and did so with a great help of Migrun. Today I have received my residency card.Business with emphatic approach - unlike many other immigration services who just try to rip you off using your lack of knowledge.All people in Migrun have always been friendly, honest and trying to do their best.

Date of experience: July 31, 2023

Daria Gakova

🇵🇹 PT

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