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How CRUE Assistance works

A clear process for turning your CRUE question into a prepared municipal registration case.

Step 1: Free pre-check

You complete the Free CRUE Pre-Check form or send a quick question. We identify the municipality, status and main risk points.

Step 2: Scope and price confirmation

If the case fits the standard service, we confirm the 500 EUR CRUE Assistance package and explain what is included and excluded.

Step 3: Document checklist

We give you a checklist tailored to your municipality and your status: employee, self-employed, student, retired, self-sufficient or family case.

Step 4: Document review

We review what you have and identify gaps before the municipal step.

Step 5: Municipal process support

Depending on the municipality, we help with appointment route, online pre-submission, preparation for presencial attendance or practical communication.

Step 6: Appointment and follow-up

Where needed, we support the municipal appointment and help handle reasonable follow-up requests from the municipality.

Start the process

Send the free pre-check and we will tell you the next practical step.

Get a Free CRUE Check Ask a Quick Question

Browse the full CRUE Portugal knowledge base by documents, municipality, family situation, costs and next steps.

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Legal Framework

AIMA, Certificado de Registo para Nacionais UE.
Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia - certificado.
Câmara Municipal do Porto, Certificado de Registo do Cidadão da União Europeia.
Câmara Municipal de Cascais, Registo de cidadão comunitário.
Câmara Municipal da Maia, Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da UE.

Frequently asked questions

What we check before you move forward

Before we confirm whether the standard CRUE Assistance package fits your case, we review the main factors that affect how straightforward or complex your situation is.

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Nationality and eligibility. CRUE applies to EU, EEA, Swiss and Andorran citizens. Non-EU family members follow a different route and are not covered by the standard service.

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Municipality. Your Câmara Municipal determines the appointment process, document format requirements and practical timelines. We check the specific requirements for your area.

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Proof of address. This is the most common point of friction. We identify which address documents you have, whether they are likely to be accepted and what alternatives exist if they are not.

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Basis of residence. Employee, self-employed, student, retiree, self-sufficient resident and family cases each require different supporting documents.

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Family situation. If you are applying with a spouse, partner or children, the documents required for each person are part of the review.

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Missing documents. We identify gaps early so preparation can happen before the appointment is booked, not after it is missed.

This review is part of the Free CRUE Pre-Check and takes a few minutes to complete.

What we do not do

Being clear about what the service does not include helps avoid misunderstandings.

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We do not create or source fake addresses. Address proof must reflect where you actually live. This is a firm rule without exceptions.

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We do not guarantee municipal acceptance. The decision to accept or reject a CRUE application is made by the municipality. We work to give your case the best practical preparation, not to promise a specific outcome.

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We do not replace official municipal decisions. If a municipality requests additional documents or refuses an application, we help you respond, but we cannot override their decision.

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We do not treat CRUE as a visa or citizenship route. CRUE is a registration certificate. It is not a visa, a permanent residence card or a citizenship application.

How long does it take?

Timing varies and we do not give fixed guarantees. The main factors are: how quickly your municipality schedules appointments, how complete your documents are at the start, and whether the municipality requests any follow-up.

In practice, the preparation phase takes days to a few weeks depending on your document situation. Municipal appointments in larger cities can have waiting times. Having well-prepared documents reduces the chance of a rejected appointment or a second visit.

If you have a specific date pressure, mention it in the Free CRUE Pre-Check so we can flag potential bottlenecks early.

Municipality-specific process guides

The assistance steps are the same across Portugal, but the practical requirements at each Câmara Municipal differ. These guides cover the municipalities where we see the most cases.

CRUE in Lisbon

Appointment process, document requirements and practical guidance for Lisbon.

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CRUE in Porto

How the Porto municipality handles CRUE and what to prepare.

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CRUE in Faro

CRUE process guidance for residents in Faro and the Algarve region.

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Useful next pages

Free CRUE Check

Start here: check your situation before committing to the full service.

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CRUE pricing

Official municipal fees and what the private assistance package costs.

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CRUE documents

Full overview of the document categories required for a CRUE application.

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Proof of address for CRUE

Which address evidence is accepted and how to choose the right option.

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CRUE appointment preparation

What to expect when attending the Câmara Municipal for your appointment.

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What is CRUE?

The practical explanation of what CRUE is, who it applies to and what it is not.

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More process guides

These pages explain related timing, application and cost questions that often come up before a CRUE appointment.

How to apply for CRUE

A practical overview of the application preparation path.

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When to apply for CRUE

Understand why timing can matter and why appointment availability may vary.

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CRUE cost in Portugal

A cost-focused guide connected to pricing, official fees and private assistance.

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Ready to check your situation?

The Free CRUE Pre-Check takes a few minutes. It covers your municipality, citizenship, arrival date and address situation. We will let you know whether the assistance service fits and what the likely next steps are.

Start Free CRUE Check →