How can I apply for permanent residency in Portugal as a residency certificate holder?

In order to apply for a permanent residence in Portugal, the following requisites are needed: holding a temporary residence permit for at least 5 years, which is attested by your residence certificate; during the five years of residence in Portugal, one cannot be convicted in a penalty or penalties that, isolated or cumulatively, overpass a year of prison even if the respective execution was suspended; having economical means of subsistence; having a physical residence in Portugal; have knowledge of basic Portuguese (an A2 level certificate is required). Once these requirements are fulfilled, one can apply for a permanent residence in Portugal. The application for a permanent residence permit may be submitted by the applicant or his/her legal representatives, and can be extended to minors depending on the applicant. Usually, the request must be submitted to SEF of the area of residence of the applicant.

You can obtain the permanent residence card that has no validity limit and is not linked to a specific purpose, which means that the holder can carry out any legal activity. It is also necessary that the applicant, among other requirements, holds a temporary residence permit for at least five years.

Although the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union as of Jan. 31, 2020, with the entry in force of the Withdrawal Agreement on Feb. 1, 2020, the EU legislation on the free movement of EU citizens is still applicable during a transitional period until Dec. 31, 2020. Regarding the right of free movement and residency, every right shall be maintained until the end of 2020 as if the United Kingdom were still a member of the European Union. This means that the citizens of the United Kingdom may perform the same right of free movement and residence until December of this year. Therefore, the nationals of the United Kingdom must be legally living in Portugal until the end of the transitional period and continuing living there. The Withdrawal Agreement does not require physical attendance of the host Member State at the end of the transitional period. The temporary absences (less than six consecutive months) do not compromise the right of permanent residency. Since Portugal has opted by non-demanding the change of the residence status to the United Kingdom nationals and their relatives, so far, the proceeding of issuing the documents of residence is kept unchanged. British citizens continuing living in Portugal under the Withdrawal Agreement will be issued new residence documents.