Can I move to Portugal with a criminal record?
If you have a criminal record for serious crimes that can lead to 12 months or more prison time in Portugal, it’s unlikely your visa application will be approved. In addition to this, it’s worth noting that some countries restrict people traveling when they have serious criminal histories.
Portugal requires the "absence of conviction for a crime that in Portugal is punishable by deprivation of liberty for more than one year"
As part of your application, you need to request a criminal record certificate. If this doesn’t come back with a conviction, you should be fine. However, if you do have a conviction, it depends on the crime and how it would be treated in Portugal. If it is punishable under Portuguese law, it can cause issues with your application.
If you have a criminal record, we recommend speaking with a Portugal-based solicitor Before applying for a Portuguese visa.
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