CPLP Visa

A CPLP is a national long stay visa (a temporary residence permit) issued by competent country under Mobility Agreement (visa regime) issued by Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP),

All citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe, including economic citizenship holders can apply for a CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) Visa.

CPLP Residence Visa

CPLP is a special regime resulting from the Mobility Agreement between the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). CPLP citizens who want a Temporary Stay and Residence Visa can benefit from this regime.To benefit from the agreement, you must follow a specific checklist for the applicable visa category.Proof of means of subsistence may be exceptionally waived upon presentation of a term of responsibility issued by a Portuguese citizen or resident, with a notarized signature in Portugal, who can provide such means in accordance with current legislation.

Member Countries

The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) is composed of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.

Portugal

A new visa regime for citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) was approved by the Portuguese parliament on 20 December.  With this new regime, citizens of these countries will have easier access to Portugal.

Timorese and Brazilians will be able to enter Portugal as tourists and then apply for a residence permit. Other CPLP citizens will be required to present visas upon entering the country and then apply for residence permits. 

Exemptions

CPLP citizens are exempt from presenting means of subsistence upon presentation of: 

  • Proof of means of subsistence can be made by submitting a term of responsibility signed by the host entity for interns or workers, as well as by the organization responsible for student exchange or volunteer programs; or,
  • Term of responsibility with a recognized signature, signed by a Portuguese citizen or qualified foreign citizen, with a residence document in Portugal, which guarantees food and accommodation for the visa applicant, as well as the replacement of removal costs, in case of irregular stay, accompanied by:
    • Subscriber’s Income Tax Declaration (last year); and
    • Subscriber’s bank statement (last 3 months).
  • Applicants admitted to a higher education institution are not required to present means of subsistence.

Residence Visas

  1. Residence Visa for subordinate professional activity – This visa is intended for applicants whose employment contract is valid for a period of more than 9 months under a subordinate regime, that is, the worker must be a member of the contracting company’s staff regardless of the area in which he will work.
  2. Residence Visa for independent professional activity or for entrepreneurial emigrants and Start up visas
    1. Independent professional activity – This visa is intended for applicants whose employment contract is valid for a period of more than 9 months under as services providers, that is, the worker will not belong to the staff of a contracting company thus performing an independent professional activity.
    2. Entrepreneurial emigrants and Start up visas – This visa is intended for entrepreneurial immigrants, with the aim of providing residence permits to foreigners who have carried out investment operations in Portugal. The granting or rejection of the visa application will consider the economic and social relevance of the investment made or proposed. The fact of having opened a company in Portugal is not, in itself, a guarantee that the visa will be granted.
  3. Residence Visa for teaching activity, highly qualified or cultural activity and highly qualified activity performed by subordinate worker
    1. teaching activityThis visa is intended for foreigners who will be teaching in Portugal for a period of more than 9 months.
    2. highly qualified or cultural activityThis visa is intended for foreigners who will practice highly qualified activity like executive positions of large corporations or cultural activities for a period longer than 9 months.
  4. Consular fee payment exempted. All other fees will be applied regularly.highly qualified activity by subordinate workerThis visa is intended for highly qualified applicants whose employment contract is valid for a period of more than one year under a subordinated regime, that is, the employee must belong to the staff of the contracting company. Usually, the visa includes workers in the technology sector, and may include other areas.Consular fee payment exempted. All other fees will be applied regularly.
  5. Residence Visa for research, exchange of secondary school students, internship and volunteering
    1. research, studyThis visa is intended for applicants who will research and/or study for periods longer than 1 year..
    2. exchange of secondary school studentsThis visa is intended for applicants who will exchange secondary education for periods longer than 1 year.
    3. internship and volunteeringThis visa is intended for applicants who will do internships / volunteering activities for periods longer than 1 year.
  6. Residence Visa for family reunification purposes – This visa is intended for family members (spouse, children up to 24 years old, legal dependents, etc.) of holders of a residence visa in Portugal. To apply for this visa it is necessary to have the “notification of approved family reunification” issued by the SEF in Portugal.
  7. Residence Visa for the establishment of residence for retired people, religious and people living on income
    1. retiredThis visa is intended for retirees who intend to live in Portugal with their benefits / pensions as means of subsistence.
    2. people living on incomeThis visa is intended for foreigners who intend to live in Portugal having their income from non-work activities as investments, financial investments, etc. as a means of subsistence.
    3. religiousThis visa is intended for foreigners who intend to live in Portugal for the practice of religious activity.
  8. Residency Visa for accompanying family member applying for a residence visa – This visa is intended for family members (spouses, minor children, legal dependents, etc.) of residency visa applicants.
  9. Residency Visa for the exercise of a professional activity done remotely – “digital nomads” – This visa is intended for digital nomads with a remote work contract from any country except Portugal lasting more than 1 (one) year.

Temporary stay visa

  1. Temporary stay visa for medical treatmentThis visa is intended for applicants who are going to Portugal for medical treatment for less than 12 months.
  2. Temporary stay visa to accompany a family member subject to medical treatmentThis visa is intended for applicants who are going to Portugal to accompany a family member for medical treatment for a period of less than 12 months.
  3. Temporary Stay Visa for transfers of nationals of Member States of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in the context of the provision of services or professional trainingThis visa is intended for applicants who will be transferred for the provision of services or professional training, and who have worked for at least one year in an establishment located in another WTO Member State, which can be include in one of the following categories: a) those who, having managerial powers, work as senior management of the company and manage an establishment; b) those who, having specific technical knowledge essential to the activity, research equipment, techniques or management of the company; c) those who must receive professional training in the establishment located in national territory.
  4. Temporary Stay Visa for the practice of an independent professional activityThis visa is intended for applicants who will carry out independent professional activity within the scope of service provision for a period of less than 12 months.
  5. Temporary Stay Visa for carrying out a scientific research activity; teaching activity in a higher education institution or highly qualified activity for less than 1 yearThis visa is intended for applicants who will perform a scientific research activity to collaborate in a research center recognized by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, provision of services for the exercise of teaching activities in a higher education institution or highly qualified activity for up to 12 months.
  6. Temporary Stay Visa for the exercise of an amateur sports activityThis visa is intended for applicants who will perform an amateur sports activity duly registered with the respective Portuguese federation.
  7. Temporary Stay Visa for stays longer than 3 months; frequency in study programs, student exchange, unpaid professional internship, volunteeringThis visa is intended for applicants who will take courses, exchanges, unpaid professional internships and volunteer for less than 12 months.
  8. Temporary Stay Visa for seasonal work for a period of more than 90 days (and a maximum of 270 days)This visa is intended for applicants who will perform paid work for a period of more than 90 days and a maximum of 270 days in the areas of agriculture; animal production; hunting; forestry and fishing; hospitality; food, beverage and tobacco industries; wholesale and retail trade; construction; transport.
  9. Frequency in a course in an educational or vocational training establishmentThis visa is intended for applicants who will undertake a period of study at an educational or vocational training institution for a period of less than 12 months.
  10. Temporary Stay Visa for accompanying family member holding temporary stay visaThis visa is intended for family members (spouses, minor children, legal dependents, etc.) of temporary stay visa applicants.
  11. Temporary Stay Visa for the exercise of a professional activity done remotely – “digital nomads”This visa is intended for digital nomads with a remote work contract from any country except Portugal with a duration of less than 1 (one) year.
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