Chapter VI · Residence in national territory · Section II · Residence permit · Subsection VII · Residence permit: EU Blue Card

Article 121-L Short-term mobility of EU Blue Card holders

Artigo 121.º-L · Mobilidade de curto prazo dos titulares de 'cartão azul UE'

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. A third-country national holding an EU Blue Card granted by another Member State that applies the Schengen acquis in full is authorised to carry out a professional activity in national territory for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and that national and their family members are authorised to enter and stay on the basis of the residence permit granted by that Member State, without any further formalities, provided that they are not entered in the SIS for the purposes of refusal of entry and stay.

1 - O nacional de Estado terceiro, titular de 'cartão azul UE' concedido por outro Estado-Membro que aplique integralmente o acervo Schengen, está autorizado a exercer atividade profissional em território nacional, até 90 dias em qualquer período de 180 dias, sendo autorizada a sua entrada e permanência, bem como aos membros da sua família, com base na autorização de residência concedida por esse Estado-Membro, com dispensa de quaisquer outras formalidades, desde que não estejam inseridos no SIS para efeitos de recusa de entrada e permanência.

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2. The preceding paragraph applies to holders of an EU Blue Card granted by a Member State that does not apply the Schengen acquis in full, and to their family members, provided that they hold valid passports.

2 - O disposto no número anterior é aplicável a titulares de 'cartão azul UE' concedido por Estado-Membro que não aplique integralmente o acervo Schengen, bem como aos membros da sua família, desde que sejam titulares de passaportes válidos.

What we checked in this article

Check the 90-days-in-any-180-days limit, the full/partial Schengen distinction between paragraphs 1 and 2, the SIS proviso and the valid-passport condition.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 121-L may decide what you can apply for.

We map the visa and residence route that fits your activity, prepare the company side (contracts, payroll, registrations) and coordinate with immigration lawyers for the application itself. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Visas and residence in Portugal, planned together with the company

The permit depends on what you will do here: employment, your own company, remote work for a foreign employer or investment. Tell us the plan, and we will set out which route the Act gives you and what the company needs to have in place.

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