Chapter VI · Residence in national territory · Section I · General provisions

Article 87 Foreign nationals exempt from the residence permit requirement

Artigo 87.º · Estrangeiros dispensados de autorização de residência

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 residence permit is not required of diplomatic and consular agents accredited in Portugal, of administrative and domestic staff or equivalent who come to serve in the diplomatic missions or consular posts of their respective States, of officials of international organisations headquartered in Portugal, or of members of their families.

1 - A autorização de residência não é exigida aos agentes diplomáticos e consulares acreditados em Portugal, ao pessoal administrativo e doméstico ou equiparado que venha prestar serviço nas missões diplomáticas ou postos consulares dos respectivos Estados, aos funcionários das organizações internacionais com sede em Portugal, nem aos membros das suas famílias.

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2. The persons referred to in the preceding paragraph are provided with an identification document issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after consulting the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).

2 - As pessoas mencionadas no número anterior são habilitadas com documento de identificação emitido pelo Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, ouvida a AIMA, I. P.

What we checked in this article

Check the categories of exempt persons in paragraph 1 and that the identification document is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after consulting AIMA.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 87 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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