Article 122, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph p) – For those who have been granted a residence permit (AR) for higher education under article 91, or a residence permit for research in accordance with art. 91º-B and completed the studies or research respectively, and wish to benefit from the maximum period of one year to look for work or to set up a company compatible with their qualifications

Documents Required

The application shall be delivered personally, on a standard form signed by the applicant or by his/her legal representative, if the applicant is a minor or legally disabled, and can be submitted in any SEF directorate or regional delegation, which may send it, after proceedings and decision, to the directorate or regional delegation of the applicant’s area of residence.

• Two recent, identical photographs, in colour with blank background, and easily identifiable (only for appointments at Odivelas, Aveiro or Braga SEF bureau)
• Passport or any other valid travel document
• Evidence of sufficient means of subsistence, as per the provisions of Order number 1563/2007, of 11/12
• Evidence that the applicant has adequate accommodation
• Permission for SEF to check portuguese criminal record
• Extract from the criminal records of the country of origin (unless the application is submitted in the immediate time following the date of expiry of the Temporary Stay Visa and is proved that the applicant has not been away from Portugal

Specific Documents

• Supporting evidence of having finished the study programme at the 2nd or 3rd higher education grades level, or
• Supporting evidence of having finished the research project
• Declaration of the applicant wishing to benefit from the maximum period of one year to seek work, or create a company in Portugal, compatible with his/her qualifications
• Also the specific documents provided in articles 88, 89 or 90 for granting the temporary AR (n.º 3 of article 122 of REPSAE) should be submitted, as appropriate

 Notes

• Residence Permit with visa waiver is only granted to applicants who have not been the object of custodial sentence (s) that individually or jointly exceed one year of imprisonment, even if, in case of sentencing for felonious set out in this legal framework, for crime of terrorism, for highly violent or highly organized crime, the enforcement of the sentence has been suspended.

• Pursuant to article 122, n.º1, subparagraph p) of the Aliens Act, a residence permit makes it possible for the student or investor to benefit from the maximum period of one year to find a job or to create a company in the national territory compatible with their qualifications, in which the residence permit is granted for such period. Because this is a special legal provision, the amendment introduced to article 75 of the Aliens Act, by article 192 of Act n.º 75-B/2020 of 31 december – State Budget to 2021 in force since 01/01/2021 and to 2021 does not apply. However, it should be renewed for three-year periods (in view of this amendment), whenever the applicant has found a job or has created a company compatible with its qualifications.

 Fees

Standard Forms

Legal Framework

ARTICLE 122, PARAGRAPH 1, SUBPARAGRAPH P) OF THE REPSAE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARTICLE 61, PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 18 OF THE RD 84/2007 AS AMENDED

ORDER NUMBER 1563/2007, OF 11/12

 Scheduling appointment by telephone