EU Citizens
EU citizens have the right to reside for up to 3 months without any formalities, except possesion of a valid ID document.
Before the 3 months run out, you are obliged to register with the local authorities.
Step 1: Visit Junta de Fregusia with ID doc and proof of address (property documents, rental agreement or such). If you have no property or rental document, take 2 people who are registered residents of Monsanto with you to testify to your address. Ask for “Atestado de residencia” and pay 1 euro when you get it.
Step 2: Visit the Camara in Idanha-a-Nova with the above documents as well as proof of income or means to support yourself (and family where applicable), and you’ll obtain a residence document valid for 5 years.
After 5 years, you need to apply to AIMA (formerly SEF) for the long-term residence card.
More details on
ePortugal.gov.pt
Third country nationals
AIMA, the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo is the port of call for non-EU citizens seeking residency in Portugal.
Unfortunately, the information on their website is not structured to be kind to the uninitiated with limited Portuguese, and I haven’t yet found a site that offers accurate info in a more accessible way.
If you have a resource that should be listed here, please share! Or maybe you are even willing to write up a summary of the topic for this site, to help other people get started?