Immigrating to Portugal from Canada
If you want to move to a foreign country in Europe with an affordable cost of living, beautiful beaches and rich history, then you should try Portugal, as it offers all these and more.
For more information about moving to Portugal, including details on eligibility, how to apply and the documents required, contact any of our immigration attorneys. You can reach out to us at 0333 305 9375 or chat online today.
Moving to Portugal From Canada Overview
Portugal is a popular destination for Canadians that want to live in Europe. And this is primarily due to the lower cost of living, job and study opportunities and warmer weather.
Portugal is also known for having lower taxes and a 5-year route to permanent residence. Should you spend up to 5 years in Portugal, you are eligible for permanent residence and, subsequently, citizenship.
One factor that discourages Canadians from moving abroad is the language barrier. But despite having Portuguese as its official language, a large number of people in the country speak English.
Many expats from Canada are also in Portugal, with a large concentration found in Lisbon, Porto, Braga and Madeira.
Except for Canadians with a Schengen or EU passport, you have to apply for a permit to spend more than 90 days in Canada. There are various options for Canadians, depending on your reasons for going there. No matter the visa you want, your application will start in the Portuguese embassy in Canada and finish with the SEF in Portugal.
Visa Options for Canadians Moving to Portugal
Many visa options are open to those who find studying, working or visiting Portugal appealing. Here they are:
D7 Visa
If you find retiring in Portugal from Canada appealing, you can apply for a D7 visa. This visa is well-suited for people earning passive income via pension, investment, rental agreements or real estate.
This visa’s validity is 2 years and can be renewed for another 3 years. After 3 years, the holder becomes eligible for permanent residence.
You must meet certain requirements to apply for this visa. Also note that even though the application process starts in Canada, it is completed in Portugal.
Eligibility Requirements
Below are the requirements you need to meet before applying for the D7 visa.
- Proof that you earn a minimum of €760 every month. If you are going with your spouse, you must show an additional €380 and an extra €228 for every child.
- Valid and funded Portuguese bank account. If your bank in Canada has a branch in Portugal, then you do not need to meet this requirement. Your account must be funded with at least €10,000 if you are alone, €15,000 if you are coming with a spouse and an extra €3000 for each child.
- Taxpayer identification number or Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF). You must have this to open a bank account in Portugal.
- Proof you have accommodation in Portugal. Either you purchased a property, or you have a one-year rental agreement. You can also show an invitation letter from someone in Portugal.
- Proof that you have not committed any criminal offence.
- Proof that you have a valid passport up to 6 months after your visa expires.
- European Union standard medical insurance policy worth at least €30000.
- EU-standard passport photographs.
- Completed, signed and printed visa application form.
- Marriage and birth certificates, if applicable.
- Criminal record authorization form.
- Cover letter stating why you want to move to Portugal.
How to Apply
To apply for the D7 visa, do the following:
- Gather your supporting documents.
- Go to the website of the Portuguese Ministry of foreign affairs and complete the visa application form.
- Visit any Portuguese consulates in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal to schedule an appointment.
- Submit your passport and documents.
- Take your visa to Portugal.
- Attend a visa interview with SEF in Portugal to get your residence permit.
Fees and Processing Time
Fees
- €90 visa application fee per person.
- €83 for Portugal residence visa per person.
Processing Time
- It takes approximately 60-180 days to get a decision on your application.
- It takes 15-120 days to get a decision on a residence permit from SEF.
D2 Visa
The D2 visa route is how to immigrate to Portugal from Canada. This route is for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Portugal. There are two categories of entrepreneurs who this visa is for. The first are people who want to start a business requiring a physical location in Portugal. The second category is for independent contractors or self-employed people who will offer services to people in Portugal or outside.
This route is exciting because, for a Canadian living in Portugal, taxes are considerably lower compared to what is obtainable in Canada.
The validity of a D2 visa is 2 years, and it can be renewed. After 5 years, you can get Portuguese citizenship.
D2 visa application is not an easy application to make because of the complexities that surround starting a business. However, our business and immigration lawyers at Total Law are equal to the task and can help you achieve your goal seamlessly.
Note that with this visa, you must spend at least 4 consecutive months in Portugal out of a possible 12 in your first year. Then you can spend at least 6 successive months in Portugal out of 36.
Eligibility Requirement
To apply for the D2 visa, you have to meet certain requirements.
Declaration of Investment
To be considered for this visa, you must prove you have an investment in Portugal or intend to make one there.
The SEF will also evaluate how useful and economically relevant your business is or will be, especially in terms of creating employment and promoting their culture.
Setting Up A Company in Portugal
You have to show you have a company in Portugal or have the financial means to set up one.
Financial Means
For this visa, you must show you can care for yourself in Portugal for at least a year. You will also show you have enough funds to support the business you will set up. You must prove you earn a salary of €9870 per year (the minimum annual salary). If you are coming with your spouse, you will add €4935. An extra €2962 for each child.
Business Plan
You must also present a business plan that will guide your business.
Health Insurance
A health insurance policy up to €30000 in value must be purchased. This is not only required for the principal applicant but also for the dependents.
Tax Representative
You must employ the services of a tax representative, usually an accountant in Portugal, who will make sure you pay the proper tax.
Service Contract
If you are an independent service provider, you must show the contract of what service you will provide and to whom.
Share Capital
You have to show you have the initial share capital and can maintain this capital to keep the business afloat even if it is not making profits.
Documents Required
- A passport valid for 6 months after your visa expires.
- A health insurance policy certificate.
- Cover letter.
- Personal and corporate bank statements.
- Criminal history certificate
- Proof of accommodation
- Portuguese bank account.
- NIF number.
- Copy of contract for independent service providers.
- EU-standard passport photographs.
- Completed, signed and printed visa application form.
- Marriage and birth certificates, if applicable.
- Criminal record authorization form.
How to Apply
To apply for the D2 visa, do the following:
- Gather your supporting documents.
- Go to the website of the Portuguese Ministry of foreign affairs and complete the visa application form.
- Visit any Portuguese consulates in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal to schedule an appointment.
- Submit your passport and documents.
- Take your visa to Portugal.
- Attend a visa interview with SEF in Portugal to get your residency visa.
Fees and Processing Time
Fees
- €90 visa application fee per person.
- €156 for residency permit fee per person.
Processing Time
- It takes approximately 60-180 days to get a decision on your application.
- It takes 15-120 days to get a decision on a residence permit from SEF.
D5 Student Visa
If you intend to study in Portugal for over 90 days, you must apply for a D5 visa. This must be after you have gotten admission to a school in Portugal.
D5 Student Visa Requirements
These are the documents you need to present when applying for a Portugal student visa.
- Admission letter from the school.
- Valid passport.
- Proof of school fees payment or scholarship.
- Completed visa application form.
- Bank statements showing you can take care of yourself in Portugal.
- EU-standard passport photographs.
- Proof you have accommodation in Portugal. This can be an invitation letter, scholarship, school dormitory offer or rental agreement.
- Criminal history certificate
- Health insurance policy certificate. This policy should be worth at least €30000.
How to Apply
- Get your admission letter and gather your documents.
- Fill out your application form online at the Portuguese consulate in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal.
- Schedule an interview with the consulate.
- Pay the visa fees.
- Attend your interview.
- Collect your visa and travel to Portugal.
- Schedule another interview with SEF for the residence permit.
Fees and Processing Time
Fees
- €90 for visa application.
- €83 for scheduling an interview with SEF.
- €72 for the residence permit.
Processing Time
Student visas can take 28 to 90 days for approval, depending on your country and the workload of the consulate.
Digital Nomad Visa
This visa is meant for remote workers and freelancers. And just like other visas mentioned in this article, it is a route to permanent residence. The digital nomad visa is of two types. The first type is the temporary stay or temporary residence permit, and the second is the residence visa.
The temporary visa is valid only for a year, while the residence visa is valid for 2, and both are renewable. The residence visa is the only option that lets applicants bring their family.
Visa Requirements
- You must be making at least €3040 per month. You must show bank statements for three months that prove this.
- Health insurance policy with a minimum value of €30000.
- Flight itinerary.
- Proof of accommodation. This should be a rental agreement, invitation letter or evidence of owning a property.
- Cover letter explaining why you want to go to Portugal.
- Portuguese bank account with at least €10,000.
- Evidence of tax payment in the past 6 months.
- Criminal history certificate.
- Authorization for SEF to look at your criminal history.
- NIF number, which is necessary before opening a Portuguese bank account.
How to Apply
Here is how to apply for the digital nomad visa:
- Gather your supporting documents.
- Go to the website of the Portuguese Ministry of foreign affairs and complete the visa application form.
- Visit any Portuguese consulates in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal to schedule an appointment.
- Submit your passport and documents.
- Take your visa to Portugal.
- Attend a visa interview with SEF in Portugal to get your residence permit.
Fees and Processing Time
Fees
- €180 for visa application.
- €320 for the Portuguese residence permit.
Processing Times
Depending on the workload of the Portuguese consulate in Canada, it can take between 2 to 3 months to make a decision on your first visa application.
It will take SEF in Portugal 14 days to make a decision on your application.
Applying for Permanent Residence or Portuguese Citizenship
It is possible to apply for a permanent residence permit or Portuguese citizenship and get a Portuguese passport if you have stayed in Portugal for 5 years. The application is made to SEF. You must complete an application form with the following documents:
- Bank statement showing proof of financial means.
- Health insurance policy certificate.
- Proof you are a fluent Portuguese speaker.
- Valid passport.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Tax payment slips.
- Proof of income.
With the approval of permanent residency or citizenship, you can benefit from social security and public healthcare. You can apply for any job and travel in and out of Portugal without immigration restrictions.
How Can Total Law Help?
Immigration to Portugal might seem daunting due to the numerous documents needed to make the application. This is often one of the things that scare away Canadian citizens from applying. But this should not deter you.
At Total Law, we have expert immigration lawyers who can guide you on what document to submit. It can be exhausting trying to do it yourself without proper guidance. And this guidance is what we can provide if you want to move to Portugal from Canada.
We can estimate how much it will cost to make this move, including details on the application process and eligibility.
If you want to know more about our services and how we can assist in your application, call us with the number 0333 305 9375 or send a message to us online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of living in Portugal is relatively lower than what you can find in Canada. Rent in Portugal is almost 47% cheaper than in Canada. Groceries are 46% cheaper in Portugal, and food prices are 62% more affordable.
A Canadian can live in Portugal for as long as the permit they are on allows. Without a visa, Canadians can stay in Portugal for 90 days. However, a stay beyond that will require a visa. These visas have different validity. And how long a Canadian can stay is dependent on the type of visa they are on.
Portugal is friendly to Canadian expats. The weather is warmer, and the people are friendly. There are many Portuguese citizens that know how to speak English. Certain regions like Lisbon and Algarve have a high concentration of expats. If you are in Portugal, you can reach out to fellow Canadians and bond.