To enter Portugal as a worker for a period of less than a year, you must have a valid Seasonal Work Visa or a Temporary stay visa for seasonal work for a duration of over 90 days (see seasonal worker profile).
For longer periods, you must obtain a residence visa. The residence visa does not automatically grant you a right of residence. Once in Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit.
Where and how to apply | In general, it is recommended that your family member files the application for temporary residence at the Slovak embassy in the country of his/her citizenship or country of his/her residence. In specific cases stipulated by law (e.g. if he/she is not subject to visa requirements, if he/she already holds a valid residence permit in the country/in another Member State), he/she may submit the application for residence at the competent Foreign Police Department in Slovakia. The application for residence must be submitted in person. If a third-country national cannot submit the application for residence in person due to being bed-bound, his/her family member with whom he/she applies for family reunification can do so instead. The fee for applying for temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification is EUR 132.50 (if the application is submitted at the Foreign Police Department) or EUR 135 (if the application is submitted at the Slovak embassy). Children younger than 18 years of age are exempt from paying the fee. |
Documents required | To obtain a temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification, the following documents must be submitted:
Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. Consular fees at Slovak embassies are paid in cash or via bank transfers. It is recommended to verify the possible means of payment with the specific embassy. |
Further requirements | All documents issued by official authorities abroad must be officially translated into Slovak by a certified translator and properly authenticated (apostille or superlegalisation). It is possible to submit documents issued or verified by the official authorities of the Czech Republic in Czech language. The documents must not be older than 90 days at the time of submitting the application (does not apply to registry documents). You must enter the territory of the Slovak Republic within 180 days from being granted the residence. You must report the beginning of your residence at the Foreign Police Department within three working days from your arrival to Slovakia. Within three working days from collecting the residence document, you must get a health insurance. Within 30 days from collecting the residence document, you must submit at the Foreign Police a document on health insurance. Within 30 days from collecting the residence document in Slovakia, you must submit at the Foreign Police a medical report not older than 30 days confirming that you do not suffer from a disease that constitutes a threat to public health (this can be prolonged by 60 days if requested). Submitting an application for temporary residence does not entitle you to reside in Slovakia. Until you obtain the temporary residence, you are entitled to stay in Slovakia only on the basis of a valid visa, another residence permit, or within the visa-free regime. You must reside in the territory of Slovakia for more than half of the length of the granted temporary residence in a calendar year. |
Duration of validity of permits | Temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification shall be granted until the end of the validity of residence of a non-EU national with whom you apply for the right to family reunification, however, for a maximum of five years. |
Conditions for renewal | Temporary residence may be renewed repeatedly. Temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification may be renewed for a maximum period of five years. If you want to apply for renewal of temporary residence, you must do so in person at the competent Foreign Police Department no later than the last day of validity of the temporary residence. The temporary residence is considered legal in the territory of Slovakia until the decision on its renewal. It is required that the purpose for which the temporary residence was granted still lasts. In the case of a foreign national who may not submit the application in person due to being bed-bound, the application is submitted by the foreign national with whom he/she applies for family reunification. The application for renewal of temporary residence must be accompanied by a valid passport, otherwise the Foreign Police will not accept the application. The application must be submitted together with:
Administrative fees at the Foreign Police are paid in form of electronic fee stamps (eKolok), which may be bought directly at the Foreign Police Department through a vending machine, or at a post office. |
Appeals | You can file an administrative appeal to the Directorate of Foreign Police/Directorate of Border and Foreign Police. You can file a judicial appeal to the Regional Court. |
Further information | More on visasSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on residence permitsSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on working in SlovakiaSearch for available translations of the preceding link Overview of all necessary information (including family reunification)Search for available translations of the preceding link |
Access to employment | A family member with a temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification can work or undertake a business (does not apply to parents and children older than 18 years of age). However, he/she needs to obtain a work permit in the period of up to 12 months from being granted temporary residence. After the period of 12 months, he/she may work without further permits. |
Change of employment | If you work during the first 12 months from obtaining your temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification based on a work permit and wish to change your employment, you or your new employer must apply for a new work permit at the competent Labour Office. A work permit is always tied to a particular employer, position and place of work. The new employer also has to report the vacancy to the competent Labour Office at least 10 working days prior to applying for the work permit. If you have held your temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification for more than 12 months, you are entitled to work without a work permit. In this case, you may change employment without obtaining any further permits. |
Access to education | If you and/or your children hold a temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification, you have access to education and may study without the need of further permits. |
Change of status | If you wish to change your status, i.e. change the type or purpose of your residence (e.g. from family reunion to employment), you must submit a new application for residence at the Foreign Police Department, no later than the last day of validity of your current residence. If the purpose for which the residence was granted ceases to exist, i.e. if your status changes (e.g. due to a divorce), you must inform the Foreign Police Department within three working days. |
Long-term residence | Your family member may apply for long-term residence, after he/she has legally resided in Slovakia for at least five consecutive years directly prior to the submission of his/her application. The application must be submitted at the competent Foreign Police Department according to his/her place of residence. To obtain long-term residence, family members must prove fixed and regular income and health insurance. |
No information available