Portugal Family Reunification Visa [D6 Visa]

The concept of the Portuguese Family Reunion Visa is to reunite those who are citizens of other nations but reside in Portugal with their loved ones – without losing the talent or skills they offer the country by having them leave. As those who have been accepted for a visa to reside within Portugal are likely there for a useful purpose to the nation, this ensures that they’re able to remain resident without being separated from their partner, dependents, or other immediate family.

Most commonly, Family Reunification Visas are granted to the spouses and children of those who are non-citizen residents in Portugal.

Page Contents

• Family Reunification Visa in Portugal For Bangladeshi Nationals
• Eligibility Criteria to Apply for a Family Reunification Visa in Portugal
• Required Documents for a Family Reunification Visa in Portugal
• Fees Associated with Applying for a Family Reunification Visa in Portugal For Bangladeshi
• Step-by-Step Process: How to Apply for a Family Reunification Visa in Portugal
• What Is The Typical Processing Time Of The Application?
• How can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Portugal is a Schengen state and a member of the European Union, so family members already resident in any of these eligible countries may relocate to Portugal without any formal permissions to join their loved one/s. However, Bangladesh is a non-EEA country and so those looking to join their family members in Portugal must apply for a D6 Visa.

Immediate family members of an individual who has been granted a valid Portugal residency permit may apply for a Family Reunification Visa at any time after the permit has been agreed. A Visa is not guaranteed for anyone, and an application process must be undertaken; but only the following family members are considered eligible:

A spouse or legal partner

• Children aged under 18, including stepchildren if legal parental responsibility is held by either partner
• Dependents aged over 18, providing they are unmarried and are enrolled (or will be enrolled) as full-time students in Portugal or another Schengen state
•   Dependent parents of either partner.

Where dependents belong to the partner who is not the Portuguese residency permit holder, the eligibility of the dependents are reliant on the partner being successful in their application. There are no circumstances in which the resident may be granted a Reunion Visa for their partner’s dependents if the partner is not granted a Visa themselves.

A Family Reunion Visa can only be applied for once a family member has been successful in applying for a Portugal Residency Visa. The following documents will need to be supplied as part of the application process:

• Relevant visa application form, completed and signed
• 2x recent passport photographs
• If the applicant is employed, an HR letter confirming their continuing role
• Current personal bank statement for the last 6 months; or bank statement of the Portuguese resident partner (preferably from a bank in Portugal)
• Valid travel insurance cover document including sufficient medical coverage for emergencies and repatriation costs, covering the duration of intended stay
• If the applicant is over 18, an original criminal record certificate and certified translation as well as a request for criminal record enquiry from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Services (SEF)
• Proof of familial relationship through birth or marriage certificate
• Proof of the applicant’s family member’s status in Portugal through proof of residence or copy of ID residence card
• If the applicant is under 18, a power of attorney document from both parents
• Flight ticket or confirmation (one-way)
• Proof of accommodation booked or confirmed
• Passport (valid until at three months after the intended date of departure)
• Photocopy of all visas or stamps
• Details of any previous visa rejections.

If all appropriate documents are not included, the visa application will be either severely delayed or outright declined. It is, therefore, critical that all relevant information is included.

As with most visa classes, family visa applications do entail a fee. This amount must be paid upon application in order for it to be processed – and without, the application will not be reviewed by the relevant immigration authorities.

As of September 2023, a fee of €84 is payable for the application of a family visa type, as well as €75 for the country’s temporary national visa. These fees are to be paid by the relevant Portuguese resident, except in the rare case of ascendents being granted a D6 visa.

Those looking to apply for a Portuguese family visa for reunion purposes have two main steps to complete in the application: the initial notification of application at SEF, and the formal application at a Portuguese Embassy or Consulate.

Firstly, the family member already resident in Portugal must notify their local SEF office of the intention to apply for a D6 visa. They will be required to provide some details and supply some documentation to prove the family relationship.

SEF review all ‘sponsor’ notifications within 60 working days. The resident family member, the person/s intending to apply, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will all be informed of their decision.

If the SEF has agreed to the application being made, the applicant must file a formal application at a Portuguese Embassy or Consulate within the country they reside in. In Bangladesh, nationals must attend the Honorary Consulate of Portugal at House-19b Rd 117, Dhaka 1212.

It is always recommended that applicants prepare all required documents before taking any further steps in the application process. This preparation includes information gathering and the translation of them into either English or Portuguese for later notarisation.

Once all documents are prepared, an appointment can be scheduled. All documents must be handed over at this appointment and application forms completed. The Consulate will be in touch with their decision once the application has been processed – but this will require the sponsor to have paid the application fee. At this stage the SEF may choose to hold additional interviews. If this is the case, both sponsor and applicant/s will be notified.

If the visa has been granted, the applicant is free to travel to Portugal at their earliest inconvenience. Upon arrival in the country, the individual must report to the SEF to register as a resident.

There is no set processing time for a Family Reunification Visa for Portugal, but anecdotally applicants seem not to wait more than 60 working days. If an application is to take any longer than this to be processed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will notify both the sponsor and applicant and advise of any further requirements.

In extremely rare cases where such a visa takes a period of six months or more to process, it will be considered automatically valid. In the event of this happening, the SEF will certify the visa and notify the Director General of Consular and Portuguese Communities Affairs of its validity. This can technically be later reneged upon, and so applicants and sponsors must remain mindful of this through any such period of residence.