Worldway Group has learned that the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Administration recently issued a document announcing that foreign citizens applying for the renewal or replacement of their residence permits at the Portuguese Immigration Bureau are exempt from submitting a criminal record certificate issued in Portugal. This means that, from now on, applicants no longer need to wait in long lines at courts or citizen service centers to obtain a separate criminal record certificate, although they are still required to provide a criminal record certificate issued by their country of nationality.
This decision by the Portuguese government stems primarily from a public opinion survey conducted in Portugal this past July, which interviewed over 600 people waiting in line before the opening of the Loja de Cidadão das Laranjeiras citizen service center. According to the survey, 65% of those in the long queues were foreigners, and over 44% of the respondents were there to obtain a criminal record certificate. Among these 44%, 39.7% were doing so for the purpose of renewing or replacing their residence permits.
The Loja de Cidadão das Laranjeiras citizen service center is a highly representative location in Portugal. Last year, it provided services to over 1.14 million people, accounting for 12% of the 9.5 million visits recorded nationwide in Portugal. Overcrowding and long queues have become the norm, posing a significant challenge to service efficiency. Consequently, the Loja de Cidadão das Laranjeiras center proposed exempting foreign residents from the requirement of providing a criminal record certificate when applying for residence permit renewal or replacement at the immigration office.
The reason for such long queues is closely related to the need for foreign citizens living in Portugal to apply for criminal record certificates. According to data from the Directorate-General for Justice Administration, a total of 168,459 people applied for criminal record certificates in 2018, and 118,004 applications were received in the first half of 2019 alone. With the surge in European immigration and the development of the Portuguese national economy, more and more people are choosing to relocate to Portugal.
Currently, through the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program, investors only need to purchase property starting from 350,000 Euros to apply for and quickly obtain Portuguese Golden Residence status for three generations of their family. This allows them to enjoy Portugal's generous benefits in education, healthcare, and retirement, as well as travel freely within the Schengen Area. Furthermore, after holding the Portuguese Golden Residence status for 5 years and passing the A2 level Portuguese language exam, they are eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship, obtain a Portuguese EU passport, and enjoy the generous benefits of EU citizenship.
According to the latest Global Passport Index, the Portuguese passport ranks fifth in the world, tied with Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, offering visa-free access to 184 countries and regions. Holding a Portuguese EU passport allows for free movement, work, and residence across 32 European countries, including the 28 EU member states (including the UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Finland, etc.), the 3 member states of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and Switzerland. 1=32!!!
As a top 500 Asian brand and a leading investment immigration institution, Worldway Group, as a pioneer in European investment immigration projects, has always been at the forefront of the industry regarding Portuguese investment immigration. In April 2013, Worldway Group partnered with the Embassy of Portugal in China to introduce the Portuguese "Golden Residence Permit Program" to China, marking the beginning of a wonderful journey for Portuguese investment immigration. As one of the earliest immigration agencies to promote the Portuguese "Golden Residence Permit Program" in China, Worldway Group has maintained a strong relationship with the Portuguese government for many years, helping investors easily realize their dreams of immigrating to Portugal.
Purchase property starting from just 350,000 Euros to immigrate to Portugal with three generations of your family. Property + Status, reap multiple rewards! For detailed inquiries, please call: 400-138-2929.