Chapter VI · Residence in national territory · Section II · Residence permit · Subsection VIII · Residence permit in special situations

Article 124 Foreign minors

Artigo 124.º · Menores estrangeiros

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. Foreign minors born in Portuguese territory enjoy a resident status identical to that granted to either of their parents.

1 - Os menores estrangeiros nascidos em território português beneficiam de estatuto de residente idêntico ao concedido a qualquer dos seus progenitores.

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2. For the purposes of issuing the residence card, either parent must submit the relevant application within six months following the registration of the minor’s birth.

2 - Para efeitos de emissão do título de residência, deve qualquer dos progenitores apresentar o respectivo pedido nos seis meses seguintes ao registo de nascimento do menor.

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3. Once the time limit laid down in the preceding paragraph has elapsed, any citizen may still ask the curator of minors (curador de menores) to act in place of the parents and apply for the status to be granted to the minors.

3 - Decorrido o prazo previsto no número anterior, pode ainda qualquer cidadão solicitar ao curador de menores que se substitua aos progenitores e requeira a concessão do estatuto para os menores.

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4. (Repealed.)

4 - (Revogado.)

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5. Foreign minors not born in Portuguese territory but present there enjoy a resident status identical to that granted to the persons who effectively exercise parental responsibilities over them, for the purposes, in particular, of the award of child benefit (abono de família) and of a social security number (NISS).

5 - Os menores estrangeiros não nascidos em território português, mas que nele se encontrem, beneficiam de estatuto de residente idêntico ao concedido àquelas pessoas que sobre eles exerçam efetivamente as responsabilidades parentais, para efeitos, nomeadamente, de atribuição da prestação de abono de família e do número de identificação de segurança social.

What we checked in this article

Check the six-month time limit from birth registration, the role of the curator of minors after that time limit, and the purposes listed in paragraph 5 (child benefit and NISS).

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 124 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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