CPLP special regime
General information only; not legal advice. Rules change.
Last updated 2026-06-21
What happens next. General information only; not legal advice. Rules change.
The CPLP Special Regime benefits citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste. CPLP residence authorisations come with preferential conditions, notably waiving the requirement for a prior employment contract and the IEFP labour market test.
Important — fundamental change under Law 61/2025: CPLP citizens can no longer apply for a residence permit in Portugal if they entered without the appropriate consular visa. The correct process is: obtain the CPLP residence visa at a Portuguese consulate in your country of origin before travelling; then, upon arrival in Portugal, book an AIMA appointment to formalise the residence authorisation. Since Law 9/2025, CPLP authorisations are issued as European biometric cards (identical format to other residence permits), valid initially for 2 years (renewable for 3 years) and including Schengen travel rights.
The naturalisation period for CPLP citizens is now 7 years (Organic Law 1/2026), increased from the previous 5 years. Applications submitted to the IRN by 18 May 2026 follow the 5-year regime.
Entry rules for CPLP citizens changed significantly in 2025. Confirm which route applies to your passport before travelling.
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