# Moving to Portugal right after pre-approval **URL:** \ **Category:** Portugal Golden Visa\ **Created:** [July 1, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642 "2022-07-01T18:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/21 "2022-09-19T19:44:39Z")
Just to report that the Atestado de Residencia has been obtained very easily as my local Junta de Freguesia. Thanks again to @mborcherding for the tip! ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/22 "2022-09-19T19:58:23Z")
You are most welcome. ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/23 "2022-09-19T20:17:36Z")
I realized recently that when I made my plane reservations months ago to return to the US for a short teaching assignment, I hadn’t considered how long SEF would take to set a date for my biometric appointment. My flights to the US and return flight to Portugal transited through Amsterdam or Paris, and of course I have overstayed the Schengen 90 day tourist limit… Had to cancel and re-book both flights to avoid transiting a Schengen country and having to go through passport control. One of the downsides to moving to Portugal after a GV pre-approval . ---
**Author:** ![heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/heide.blunt/32/10156_2.png) [@heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/heide.blunt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 12:25am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/24 "2022-11-04T00:25:37Z")
Maxine- did you get in and out ok in the end? ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/25 "2022-11-04T01:25:52Z")
I got out- Remains to be seen if I get back in. I fly on the 16th. ---
**Author:** ![heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/heide.blunt/32/10156_2.png) [@heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/heide.blunt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/26 "2022-11-04T02:38:08Z")
Thanks. Would be great to know how you go in a few weeks if you have to time to come back to update us. I’m guessing you still don’t have a biometric appointment? I’ll be in the same position in January… incredibly stressful so good luck. ---
**Author:** ![heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/heide.blunt/32/10156_2.png) [@heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/heide.blunt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/27 "2022-11-17T23:48:37Z")
Hi!! Did you make it ok? 😊 ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 12:47am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/28 "2022-11-18T00:47:58Z")
Breezes right through passport control He barely looked at my passport- just stamped it and I left to get my bags ---
**Author:** ![heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/heide.blunt/32/10156_2.png) [@heide.blunt](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/heide.blunt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/29 "2022-11-18T03:14:37Z")
Oh that’s the best news I’ve heard for ages!! Well done you, (and get booking some flights me!) ---
**Author:** ![Vidor](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/vidor/32/6345_2.png) [@Vidor](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Vidor)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/30 "2022-11-18T21:05:14Z")
How long did you over stay in Portugal? Was you out of Portugal long enough to “gain” any days back for re-entry? ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 9:47am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/31 "2022-11-23T09:47:09Z")
@mborcherding and All - can you please remind me what official document (despacho?) permits the entry and stay in PT with pre-approval papers only? ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/32 "2022-11-23T11:56:14Z")
I moved to Portugal on March 15 and stayed in the States 3 weeks before returning to Portugal. As a golden visa applicant I only need to be in country 7 days a year, but I do live here perminantly. However, since I have overstayed my Schengen 90 day visa I can’t travel to any Schengen country until I get my residence card, and who knows how long that will take. Been waiting for my SEF appointment for more than 14 months. ---
**Author:** ![Vidor](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/vidor/32/6345_2.png) [@Vidor](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/Vidor)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/33 "2022-11-28T17:18:54Z")
Thanks for replying! Did you have to show any documentation , proof of SEF application etc… on re-entry into Portugal? ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/34 "2022-11-28T22:14:35Z")
> [@tommigun](#): > > @mborcherding and All - can you please remind me what official document (despacho?) permits the entry and stay in PT with pre-approval papers only? Looks like I have found the answer to my own question 😁 [https://dre.pt/dre/detalhe/despacho/12870-c-2021-176908200](https://dre.pt/dre/detalhe/despacho/12870-c-2021-176908200) I believe this is the latest ‘despacho’ on this subject, dated 31 Dec 2021. ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/35 "2022-11-29T14:27:34Z")
Barely showed my passport. He stamped it in a hurry, no questions, and I was on my way. Frankly, I was shocked. ---
**Author:** ![orangeblossom](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/71e660/32.png) [@orangeblossom](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/orangeblossom)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/36 "2023-01-21T12:32:12Z")
Tommy - Thanks for this link. I’ve read it a couple of times, but I’m struggling to interpret it, tbh. So - somewhere within this content, is it saying that it is “legal” to start living in Portugal, after Pre-approval of GV has been confirmed? I’m unclear at exactly what stage of the GV application process an individual is able to start going to Portugal and overstaying the 90/180 rule. I have only just been pre-approved, so am expecting many many months of waiting to even be invited for a biometrics appointment… let alone attend one! Obtaining my card realistically isn’t going to happen at least, and at best, until 2024. I’d like to ascertain now though, when I can legally go to Portugal and remain beyond 90 days? I think my lawyer has said this will not be until I have the residence card literally in my hand. But based on submissions on this thread, I’m not sure if this is correct, and maybe I can challenge my lawyer on this point? Any insights/ advice/ thoughts on this topic will really be most gratefully received!! ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/37 "2023-01-21T16:18:53Z")
I personally have not tested this ‘Despacho’ as I have not yet overstayed. Everyone I showed it to though seemed very surprised and impressed 😄 Including my lawyer, my customs broker, my local Financas office… You should look for the quote which talks about ‘pending processes with SEF’ or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/38 "2023-01-21T16:22:00Z")
There you go, I have found it: “ considera-se ser regular a sua permanência em território nacional, com processos pendentes no Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF)” I definitely have a “pending process with SEF”, I even have the ‘process number’ - that’s the one showing on your SEF ARI portal if you look it up. ---
**Author:** ![PCERoman](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@PCERoman](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/PCERoman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/39 "2023-01-21T23:41:10Z")
Tommy, Where did you find this quote? Would you please share the source (unless, of course, it is strictly confidential)? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642/40 "2023-01-21T23:42:59Z")
This quote is from the document I shared in my post above in Nov’22 😁 [Previous page](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/moving-to-portugal-right-after-pre-approval/50642.md?page=3)