The Foreign and Borders Service (SEF) and the UK Embassy on Monday launched a campaign to get British citizens living in Portugal or wishing to do so by the end of the year, to register as residents.
The campaign comes as part of the Brexit process.
British citizens already living in the country and wishing to continue living after the end of the year, as well as those who arrive in Portugal by 31 December and wish to reside here, must apply for their Certificate of Registration at the town hall in their area of residence.
SEF explains that registration as a resident must be done so that British citizens can demonstrate that they are covered by the Exit Agreement between the EU and the UK, thus guaranteeing their rights, including the right to work, health, education and tax benefits, after the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.
Residence documents for UK citizens who have already registered will continue to be accepted after the end of the transition period.
In the same note, the SEF also states that more information will soon be available on the replacement of these documents by new residence documents demonstrating that the person is protected by the Exit Agreement.
According to the latest Immigration, Borders and Asylum Report published by SEF in June 2020 and covering 2019, the UK represents the third largest foreign nationality in Portugal.
The report indicates that there are 34,358 Britons living in Portugal.
