I own a property in Lisbon and am a UK resident. I have a domestic violence record from 2015 in the UK. I was fined and on probation for one year (no jail term). Would I be eligible for residency in Portugal?
In accordance to Portuguese Law, a necessary requirement to obtain a temporary residence permit (Golden Visa being one of them) is not having been convicted for a crime punished in Portugal with prison for more than one year. Domestic violence is a crime punishable in Portugal with imprisonment of up to five years. However, there is the possibility to request local authorities for the removal of the criminal information from the record due to the time that passed since the criminal event.
Owning a house in Portugal is indeed a benefit but it does not simplify the Portuguese visa process for residence. To apply for a residence visa, you cannot have been convicted of a crime (in any country) when that crime in Portugal is punished with a sentence of more than 1 year in prison, even if the sentence is served in freedom, as is the case of probation. In Portugal, domestic violence is punished with a prison sentence of between 1 and 10 years and is one of the crimes that is currently most prevented and condemned. Therefore, the criminal record you claim to have would effectively be an obstacle to obtaining a residence permit in Portugal.
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