Title III · Stay in national territory · Chapter III · Residence permit and EU Blue Card · Section VI · The residence card

Article 70 Nature and conditions of validity

Artigo 70.º · Natureza e condições de validade

Decreto Regulamentar n.º 84/2007, de 5 de novembro · regulation of Law No. 23/2007 · consolidated text, as amended by Regulatory Decree No. 1/2024, checked 26 October 2026

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1. The residence card is personal and is the only identity document capable of proving legal resident status in Portuguese territory.

1 - O título de residência é individual e é o único documento de identificação apto a comprovar a qualidade de residente legal em território português.

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2. The rules on civil identification shall apply to the residence card, with the necessary adaptations.

2 - Ao título de residência são aplicáveis, com as devidas adaptações, as normas relativas à identificação civil.

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3. The residence card is valid only if it bears its holder’s signature, unless the issuing authority states in the space provided that the holder does not know how to sign or is unable to sign.

3 - O título de residência só é válido se nele constar a assinatura do seu titular, salvo se no local indicado a entidade emitente fizer menção de que o mesmo não sabe ou não pode assinar.

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4. The residence card shall be issued in accordance with the uniform format and the other conditions laid down in the Community regulations in force.

4 - A emissão do título de residência obedece ao disposto no modelo uniforme e demais condições fixadas nos regulamentos comunitários em vigor.

What we checked in this article

Check that the residence card is the only identity document proving legal residence, the signature condition and its exception, and the reference to EU uniform-format rules.

Preparing a visa or residence application? Article 70 lists what the authorities will check.

We prepare the company side of the file (employment contracts, payroll, tax and social security registrations, proof of activity) and coordinate with immigration lawyers on the application. 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

Visa and residence files, with the company side in order

Most refusals come from a missing document or an inconsistency between the contract, the payroll and the tax records. Tell us the route you are applying for, and we will check the company documents the Regulation requires.

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