Portugal D7 Visa From Pakistan

Overview

There are many benefits to having a D7 Visa. It allows you to live in Portugal provided you can support yourself financially. You can also work in Portugal but this will not count toward your passive income requirements and cannot form part of your application.

It is a suitable route for those who can demonstrate regular passive income in the form of pensions, investments, royalties, dividends or other types of non-lucrative income.

The visa allows visa-free entry to the Schengen area and to all 27 EU countries as well as the ability to live in other EU countries for up to three months at a time.

Through the Residence Permit, you will gain access to Portugal’s education, healthcare and legal systems. You will also be able to take advantage of vocational training.

Successful applicants also benefit from the Non-habitual Resident tax status which means there are exceptions and exemptions on international income. This includes potentially paying no tax on non-Portuguese income for 10 years.

The Portugal D7 Visa also allows you to bring family members to the country. This includes your spouse, any dependent children, and your or your spouse’s parents if they are financially dependent on you. You can also bring minor siblings under your care if you are the main applicant.

Other visa options such as the Portugal Golden Visa require a greater financial commitment from those wishing to immigrate to the country. With the D7 Visa, there is no minimum investment required in Portugal, for example in real estate.

You can also rent rather than buy a property if you want but you will need to provide a rental contract as evidence of your permanent accommodation in Portugal.

Benefits of the Portugual Residence Permit Granted Through the D7 Visa

A Portugal D7 Visa is issued for four months. Within this time you must apply for a Residence Permit in Portugal which lasts for two years. It can subsequently be renewed for three more years.

When you have lived in Portugal for more than five years you can either apply for permanent residency or citizenship through naturalisation. You will also be able to apply for an EU passport.

Although Portugal recognises dual citizenship with many countries it does not have a dual citizenship arrangement with Pakistan. Therefore, if you apply for a Portuguese passport you will have to surrender your Pakistan passport.

When you apply for a Portugal D7 Visa you can include dependents such as a spouse, children, parents and any siblings who are under your care. An eligible dependent is someone who is financially reliant on you.

The requirements for a spouse include having a clean criminal record and being in an official marriage or civil partnership with the applicant.

Dependent children are considered those under the age of 18 or between 18 and 21 years who are unmarried, without a job or in full-time education in a Portuguese school or university. There is no age limit for disabled children.

Parents, whether yours or your spouse’s, included in the Portugal D7 Visa application form must be financially dependent on you, the applicant.

If you wish to bring dependents with you from Pakistan to Portugal under the D7 Visa you must include them on your application and provide all necessary documentation required for them. If you are already resident in Portugal you can request a Family Reunification Visa for your family members.

Proof of annual income for the applicant and each dependent will be necessary. For a D7 Visa, this amounts to €9,120 for the first applicant, €4,560 for a spouse or parent, and €3,040 for each dependent child.

You need to provide translated bank statements or similar as evidence of your regular passive income.

Family members included on your D7 Visa will enjoy all the benefits and privileges of living in Portugal including access to the education and healthcare system as well as visa-free travel in the EU and Schengen area.

If you need advice on how to bring dependents to the Portugal then reach out to an immigration expert for support to ensure you are applying correctly.

Overview

To apply for the Passive Income Visa in Portugal for Pakistan citizens you must collect the required identification and financial documents. You then make an appointment at the Portuguese embassy in Islamabad or the Portuguese consulate in either Lahore or Karachi.

The documents are required to present to the consulate or embassy:

• Completed D7 Visa application form
• Valid passport
• Two passport-quality photos
• Evidence of regular passive income
• Portuguese bank account balance statement
• Proof of Portuguese address
• Letter detailing why you want to move to Portugal

You will need to provide evidence of your financial stability and regular income of at least €760 per month through passive means. This can include pensions, dividends, intellectual property, real estate rental, income from trusts or other investment income.

Who Is Eligible for the D7 Visa?

Anyone who is not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen and is in receipt of the minimum passive income can apply for the D7 Visa in Portugal.

To apply for the visa, the applicant from Pakistan has to attend an appointment at the Portuguese embassy in Islamabad or either of the two Portuguese consulates in Karachi or Lahore.

It is important to check that you meet the eligibility criteria for a Portugal D7 Visa before beginning your application. You cannot apply for work in Portugal in order to gain the visa and you must comply with the income criteria.

Attending D7 Visa Interview Appointment

If your D7 Visa is approved you can then travel to Portugal. There you will need to attend an interview with the Portugal Immigration & Border Service, Servicio De Extrangeirose Fronteiras, commonly referred to as SEF.

This interview is necessary so that you can apply for a Residence Permit in Portugal which must be done within four months of the issue of your D7 Visa.

A Residence Permit will allow you to stay in Portugal for two years. Following this you can renew it for a further three years.
At the appointment with SEF, you will need to provide:

• Valid travel insurance with health cover
• Criminal Record Certificate

These are in addition to the documents you presented to the Portuguese embassy or consulate in Pakistan.

At the SEF appointment, your documents will be checked and your biometric data will be taken. If everything is in order you will receive your Residence Permit within approximately three weeks.

It is very important that you provide complete and accurate documentation in support of your application for the D7 Visa. You should make a list of everything that is required and tick them off as you collate them. You will need the original documents as well as certified or apostilled translated copies.

To give you the best possible chance of success contact Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375. Our knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyers can help you prepare all the mandatory paperwork and facilitate your visa application.

Overview

In order to obtain the D7 Visa Portugal authorities will need to see evidence that you can support yourself and any dependents through your passive income.

Acceptable sources of passive income include:

• Pensions
• Annuities
• Dividends not actively managed by you
• Income from company ownership
• Real estate rental income
• Intellectual property income or other royalties
• Trust fund disbursements
• Other regular investment income

Whilst having savings can help your application it is typically not enough to satisfy the passive income criteria and you must show that you are in receipt of regular and stable income. This is to show the Portuguese authorities that you will be in receipt of this income for the duration of the visa.

As the applicant, you have to apply for an NIF number which is the legal taxation number. You need to use this number for all your fiscal activities in Portugal and it is necessary for anyone who lives in Portugal. You should apply for this number before you move to Portugal.

When you obtain your NIF number you will be required to open a Portuguese bank account. Opening a bank account can also be done remotely before you enter Portugal through a power of attorney.

The Portuguese authorities will look at your application in its entirety so it is important to include any qualifying income on your application to support your case.

Property and Minimum Passive Income Requirements

Unlike the Golden Visa pathway, there is no minimum real estate investment requirement you have to meet for the D7 Visa. You can buy or rent property and the only stipulation is that it must be sufficient to accommodate you and any dependents who are accompanying you to Portugal.

The minimum annual passive income requirements are in line with the minimum wage in Portugal. To date, this equates to €9,120 for the primary applicant, €4,560, or 50% of the minimum wage, for every dependent adult and €3,040, or 30% of the minimum wage, for each dependent child.

It is necessary for you to maintain a minimum balance of €18,240 in a bank account in Portugal while your application is being processed. This amount increases by €9,120 for each adult dependent and by €5,472 for every dependent under 18 years of age.

For a successful application, it is important that you meet all the financial criteria to be eligible for a Portugal D7 Visa. It is a good idea to begin collating your financial evidence well in advance of applying to live in Portugal so that you can demonstrate that your passive income is legal and reliable.

Bank statements and other financial or identification documents will need to be translated into Portuguese. The translations need to be certified or apostilled to show that they are accurate and true.