With the debate on increasingly present immigrant rights, doubts arise about access to social support in Portugal. One of the frequent issues is if pregnant newly bursts to the country can receive prenatal allowance even without ever working.
According to Decree-Law No. 308-A/2007, the right to prenatal allowance arises from the 13th week of pregnancy, provided that there is legal residence, as defined in Decree-Law No. 176/2003.
This legislative combination allows access to benefit even without any contributory history.
Legal residence: the essential requirement
The legal residence may result from a valid title, such as a residence authorization, temporary protection or other equivalent document.
According to the diploma governing family benefits, these situations equal to pregnant women with a national resident, provided that the usual domicile is in Portuguese territory.
The Practical Guide to Social Security, reviewed in May 2025, confirms that the criteria include pregnancy at least 13 weeks, legal or equivalent residence, reference income under the first four levels and furniture heritage less than 240 social support index (125,400 euros in 2025).
Do you need to have worked?
No. The work bond is not on the list of legal criteria. As the Gov.pt portal explains, it is sufficient to fulfill the pregnancy, residence and income requirements to be able to submit the request, without having discounts or any work history in Portugal.
How is the reference performance calculated?
This amount results from the sum of the annual income of all elements of the household, divided by the number of right holders plus one. If the result falls into the first, second, third or fourth echelon, the condition of access is fulfilled.
In addition, furniture heritage, which includes bank accounts, financial investments or aforro certificates, can not exceed 240 times the amount of IAS in force.
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When does support start and how to ask?
The allowance is assigned from the 13th week of gestation. The request should preferably be made until the baby’s birth, although it is still accepted up to six months after delivery.
The process implies the presentation of a medical certificate (model GF 44-DGSS), its own form (RP 5045/2-DGS) and identification and residence documents.
The request can be delivered online, in person, in person at a counter or by e-Balcão. According to the same source, the answer usually arrives in about 30 days. Payment is monthly until the child’s birth.
What happens after birth?
When the baby is born, the prenatal allowance ends automatically. If the economic criteria are maintained, the support moves to the family allowance regime, and it is only necessary to update the family aggregate data.
Who benefits from this framing?
This legal model is particularly relevant for immigrants and refugees who have recently arrived in the country. As long as they have a valid residence title and meet the required economic criteria, they may access the support. It is not necessary to have discounted or worked in Portugal.
Prenatal family allowance is a right accessible to any pregnant woman with legal residence and limited resources, regardless of whether or not worked.
The legislation in force confirms that the decisive factor is the economic and documentary framework, not the labor bond.
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