Chapter II · Entry into and exit from national territory · Section IV · Travel documents · Subsection I · Travel documents issued by the Portuguese authorities to foreign nationals

Article 19 Refugee travel document

Artigo 19.º · Título de viagem para refugiados

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 nationals residing in the country as refugees under the law governing the right of asylum, and refugees covered by paragraph 11 of the Schedule to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, adopted at Geneva on 28 July 1951, may obtain a travel document in a form to be approved by order (portaria) of the member of the Government responsible for migration.

1 - Os cidadãos estrangeiros residentes no País na qualidade de refugiados, nos termos da lei reguladora do direito de asilo, bem como os refugiados abrangidos pelo disposto no § 11.º do anexo à Convenção Relativa ao Estatuto dos Refugiados, adotada em Genebra em 28 de julho de 1951, podem obter um título de viagem de modelo a aprovar por portaria do membro do Governo responsável pela área das migrações.

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2. The refugee travel document is valid for a period of five years, subject to renewals linked to any renewal of the residence card.

2 - O título de viagem para refugiados é válido por um período de cinco anos, sujeito a renovações associadas à eventual renovação do título de residência.

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3. The refugee travel document allows its holder to enter and leave national territory and the territory of other States that recognise it for that purpose.

3 - O título de viagem para refugiados permite ao seu titular a entrada e saída do território nacional, bem como do território de outros Estados que o reconheçam para esse efeito.

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4. (Repealed.)

4 - (Revogado.)

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5. The refugee travel document may cover a single person only, or the holder together with their children or adopted children under 10 years of age.

5 - O título de viagem para refugiados pode incluir uma única pessoa ou titular e filhos ou adoptados menores de 10 anos.

What we checked in this article

Check who is eligible (including paragraph 11 of the Schedule to the 1951 Geneva Convention), the five-year validity linked to residence card renewal, that paragraph 4 is repealed, and the age limit of 10 years for children included.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 19 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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