Request the recognition of the informal caregiver status

People who provide permanent or regular care to other people (family members) who are in a situation of dependency (cared-for person) can apply for informal caregiver status.

The recognition of the status allows the informal caregiver to benefit from various support measures, such as access to training, psychosocial support and counseling, among others.

Service channels

Learn where you can carry out the service and what are the advantages of each channel

Who can request the recognition of the informal caregiver status?

  • People who regularly or permanently care for other people who are in a situation of dependency.

    The informal caregiver can be:

    • informal caregiver who is not the main caregiver, if he or she is regularly but not permanently accompanying the cared for person, he or she may receive remuneration for work or for the care he or she provides.
    • main informal caregiver, if he or she is permanently accompanying the cared for person, lives in the same house and does not receive remuneration for work or for the care he or she provides.

    The informal caregiver may be entitled to a support allowance for the informal caregiver.

What are the documents and requirements to request the recognition of the informal caregiver status?

  • Requirements for the informal caregiver

    The informal caregiver has to fulfil all the following conditions:

    • be legally resident in the national territory
    • be over 18 years of age
    • have appropriate health conditions to the care to be provided to the person cared for and be willing to provide it
    • to be a spouse or cohabitant, to be a relative or relative up to the 4th degree of the straight line or collateral line of the person being cared for (e.g. children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, parents, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents or cousins)
    • not be an absolute invalidity or disability pensioner under the special invalidity protection scheme and not receive dependency benefits.

    In addition to the above conditions, the informal primary caregiver must also cumulatively meet the following conditions:

    • reside with the person cared for in the same household
    • providing care on a permanent basis, even if the person being cared for attends an educational institution, special education institution or social responses of non-residential nature, in situations where the Specific Intervention Plan determines the need to thus complement the care provided by the informal caregiver
    • no paid professional activity or other type of activity incompatible with the provision of permanent care to the person being cared for
    • not receiving unemployment benefits
    • not receiving remuneration for the care they provide to the person being cared for.

    Requirements for the person cared for

    The person cared for must meet all of the following conditions:

    • be in a situation of dependence on other person(s) and in need of permanent care
    • not living in a home or social support establishment, whether public or private
    • receive one of the following social benefits:

    Necessary documents

    To obtain recognition of status, the main or non-main informal caregiver and the person cared for must present the following documents:

    • Identification document (Citizen Card, Identity Card or Passport)
    • Certificate of registration of the right of residence in Portugal (issued by the Municipality of your area of residence, if you have foreign citizenship)
    • Proof of residence in Portugal for at least one year
    • Proof of refugee status, if applicable
    • Individuals Identification Form (Mod. RV 1017-DGSS), if you are not registered with Social Security.

    To find out more about the recognition of the Informal Caregiver Status, visit the Social Security website.

     

How request the recognition of the informal caregiver status?

Online

  1. Log in to Segurança Social Direta with the Digital Mobile Key (CMD), Citizen Card or NISS (Social Security number) and password
  2. Under "Família" select "Estatuto do cuidador informal" and select the option "Pedir novo estatuto do cuidador informal"
  3. Follow the steps to complete the process.  

On the location

You must submit the application for recognition of Informal Caregiver Status:

By mail

Send the application for recognition of Informal Caregiver Status to the address of one of the Social Security service desks.

Informal Caregiver Identification Card

After recognition as an informal caregiver, an Informal Caregiver Identification Card will be issued.

The card can be obtained from Segurança Social Direta (on the documents tab) and from the Social Security offices.

The card is valid for 12 months. When it expires, you have the option to renew it for another 12 months on Segurança Social Direta.

Additional information

For more information about the recognition of the informal caregiver status, see the Social Security portal.

What is the support legislation?

Practical guides

Informal caregiver