Family Reunification Visa Portugal (D6 Visa)
If you have a family member lawfully settled in Portugal, you may travel to the country to live with them via the family reunification route. The family reunification visa is a long-term visa that leads to a residency permit in Portugal.
The family reunification visa rules are comparatively complex. The eligibility requirements vary depending on your relationship with your family member in Portugal as well as their residence status. If you are planning to migrate to Portugal via the family reunification route, give us a call today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to receive bespoke immigration advice and legal support from our specialist team.
Overview of the Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6)
The Portuguese family reunification route is believed to be one of the most affordable family visa programmes in Europe. Given that the right to protect one’s family unit is a universal human right, a family reunification visa is granted and extended to protect the institution of marriage and the family. It falls under the category of long-term or National (‘D’) visas in Portugal, and is also known as a D6 visa.
The purpose of a D6 visa is to allow non-EEA/Swiss family members of Portuguese citizens or legal residents to come and live with them in Portugal as a family for more than 90 days. Foreign nationals from visa-required countries for Portugal must apply for a family reunification visa to travel to the country. After arriving in Portugal, they will need to apply for a residence permit.
Per the 2025 regulations, the visa applicant as well as their sponsoring family member must meet specific eligibility criteria, including income and accommodation requirements. Moreover, the immigration requirements for visa applicants will vary depending on the residence status of their family members in Portugal, as well as the type of relationship that exists between them, e.g., spouse, child, parent, etc.
EEA or Swiss citizens do not need any visa or permit to join their family members living in Portugal. Citizens from visa-exempt countries for Portugal can travel to the country without a visa. However, they must apply for a valid residence permit after arrival to live with their family members in Portugal for more than 90 days.
Page Contents
- Overview of the Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6)
- Benefits of the Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6)
- Who Can Apply for a Portugal Family Reunification Visa?
- Who is Eligible to Sponsor a Family Reunification Visa in Portugal?
- How Do I Apply for a Portugal D6 Visa for Family Reunification?
- What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a D6 Visa Portugal?
- What Are the Fees and Processing Times for Portugal Family Visa?
- How Long Are Family Reunification Visas Valid in Portugal?
- Can I Apply for Citizenship With a Portugal Family Reunification Visa?
- What If My Family Reunification Visa Application Has Been Rejected?
- How Can Total Law Help with D6 Visa for Family Reunification in Portugal?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits of the Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6)
A D6 visa holder can:
- Legally reside in Portugal with their family members on a long-term basis (i.e., as long as their family member has permission to remain in the country)
- Work or study in the country without requiring any additional permission
- Access public services like education and healthcare
- Enter and exit Portugal freely
- Become a permanent resident in Portugal after living lawfully in the country for five years
- Eventually apply for citizenship in Portugal (provided they meet the stipulated conditions)
Apart from the family reunion visa holder, their sponsoring family member also get certain benefits out of this immigration route, namely:
- Bring their eligible non-EU family members legally to Portugal
- Maintain their family life
- Do long-term planning as a family unit in Portugal
Who Can Apply for a Portugal Family Reunification Visa?
The following family members of a Portuguese citizen or legal resident are eligible to apply for a D6 visa:
- Spouse/partner (must be at least 18 years of age)
- Minor children of the applicant or their spouse, both biological and adopted
- Children over 18 in case they are dependent on the applicant or their spouse as long as they are not married and are studying in a Portuguese school/college/university, or have disabilities that made them entirely dependent on their parents
- Parents of either of the spouses
- Any dependent family members of one of the spouses
- Minor siblings, as long as they are considered to be under the legal guardianship of the resident as recognised by both the country of their origin and Portugal
Note that if you are a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection in Portugal, you can bring your spouse/partner, children and parents to Portugal via the family reunification route. However, if you are living in Portugal on a student residence permit, or engaged in any unpaid traineeship or voluntary service, you can only bring your spouse and dependent children (biological or adopted) to the country.
Who is Eligible to Sponsor a Family Reunification Visa in Portugal?
Overview
Individuals belonging to any of the categories listed below can act as sponsors for their eligible family members seeking to join them in Portugal:
- A Portuguese national
- An EEA or Swiss national
- A third-country national residing lawfully in Portugal holding any of the following:
- A Portuguese settlement permit
- A Portuguese temporary resident permit
- An EU long-term residence permit
- An EU Blue Card
- A person with a recognised refugee/protection status in Portugal
In addition, the sponsoring family member must have:
- A place of residence in Portugal, rented or owned, large enough to accommodate their migrating family members
- Sufficient financial means to cover their family members’ expenses
- Health insurance to cover the medical expenses of their family members
The sponsor must have available funds of €435 per month per adult dependant including their spouse/partner, and €261 per month for each dependent minor child.
Refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection do not need to prove means of subsistence or have any minimum income to be able to reunify with their family members in Portugal. However, they must bear the expenses related to the family reunification visa process (including, visa processing fees, travel insurance, tickets, etc).
Restrictions on Family Reunification Visa Based on Sponsor’s Status in Portugal
You will not be eligible to bring your family to Portugal if any of the following is true:
- Your current visa/residence permit category in Portugal does not allow to bring family
- You are an asylum seeker in Portugal and are yet to be granted international protection
- A deportation ban applies to you
- You do not have sufficient income to sponsor your family (unless you are a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection in Portugal)
- You do not meet the accommodation requirements for your family
- You have a poor criminal record
- You do not have consent from the other parent to bring your minor children to Portugal (unless you have their sole custody)
How Do I Apply for a Portugal D6 Visa for Family Reunification?
The application for a Portuguese family reunification visa starts with the visa sponsor, i.e., the visa applicant’s family member living in Portugal. Before you can apply for a D6 visa, your sponsor will need to submit an application on your behalf to the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA).
Upon receiving the AIMA approval, the applicant can start the D6 visa application process from their country of residence. Here’s a step-by-step guide for a D6 visa application”
- Start with arranging for all your necessary supporting documents, required to be submitted along with your visa application form. It is advisable to get in touch with the local Portuguese embassy/consulate or their designated third-party consular services provider (such as VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International), if any, to get a full list of your required documents, since the list may slightly vary depending on your home country
- If your country does not have a Portuguese embassy/consulate, you may be able to apply to the Portuguese embassy/consulate of a neighbouring country. Their respective websites will provide you with such information as well as the contact details
- After gathering the supporting documents, you will need to book an appointment online with your local Portuguese embassy/consulate, or at a visa application centre (VAC) run by the third-party service provider. You will have to attend an interview in person on the day of your appointment. Ensure to carry all your required documents with you to your appointment
- The interviewer will thoroughly check your background, review your documents, and ask why you are travelling to Portugal and any other pertinent questions relevant to your visa application. They will also collect the visa processing fee from you. If the interviewer asks for additional documents, you will have to submit them within the deadline mentioned
- The Portuguese embassy/consulate will keep your original passport with them while processing your visa application. So, plan accordingly while booking your appointment if you are to travel abroad around that time. If you withdraw your passport while your application is being processed, your application will be cancelled, and you will have to start the process afresh.
It is advisable to seek legal help before initiating your family reunification visa application process since it may prove to be a challenging task for some applicants to meet the visa requirements, given their personal immigration situations. A legal professional with expertise in the area of Portuguese immigration laws, policies and procedures will be of utmost value to you while navigating through the D6 visa application and supporting document collection process.
Dial +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to speak with one of our expert immigration lawyers.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a D6 Visa Portugal?
Overview
To apply for a family reunification visa in Portugal, you will need to submit the following documents:
- A National Visa application form, filled and duly signed by you (signed by the legal guardian in case of minors and incapacitated)
- Two copies of recent, passport size photos. Must be in good condition so as to identify the applicant
- A personal statement explaining the reason(s) why you are applying for a National Visa to Portugal. You must include the residence address where you are going to stay in Portugal as well as your source of income (where applicable)
- Your current passport which must be valid for 120 days from the requested visa expiry date, along with a photocopy of your passport’s biometric page
- Proof of your legal status in your current country of residence if it is different from your country of nationality (e.g., a residence permit or a biometrics ID card, etc.), which must be valid for 120 days from the requested visa expiry date
- A criminal record certificate issued within the past four months by the competent authority of your country of nationality or your current country of residence if you have stayed there for over a year
- Travel ticket to Portugal from your country of residence
- Travel insurance valid for at least six months from your visa application date, covering all necessary medical expenses, including emergency medical assistance and any likely repatriation
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal for the duration of the D6 visa, such as deeds of property or rental agreement in the name of the applicant, or a ‘Term of responsibility’ duly filled and signed by the sponsor as well as a copy of their passport/ID, rental agreement or property deeds in their name, an authorisation from the landlord (where applicable). The sponsor’s signature on the ‘Term of Responsibility’ must be duly recognised by a notary serving their legal area of residence in Portugal
- Proof of financial means, such as the applicant’s bank statement for last three months, or a ‘Term of responsibility’ signed by the sponsor (and duly recognised by a notary) that guarantees food and accommodation for the applicant plus any replacement of removal costs (i.e., in case of irregular stay), along with a copy of the sponsor’s passport/ID and their bank statement for last three months
- Your relationship proof with the sponsor (e.g., marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc.)
- Family reunification authorisation from AIMA
- ID document for the sponsor, such as:
- For a Portuguese national, copies of their passport and identity card
- For an EU national, a copy of their passport
- For a third-country national, copies of their passport and residency permit
- For minors:
- Birth certificates showing the names of their biological parents
- Parents’ original passports or certified copies of the biometrics pages of the passports
- Proof of nationality
- Proof of the right of care and custody of the parent residing in Portugal
- Proof of adoption, if applicable
- Letter of consent from both parents
- Custody decree in case parents are divorced
- Death certificate of the parent who has passed away, if applicable
In case your supporting documents are not in Portuguese nor in English, you will have to produce certified translated copies of the same, carried out by a translator recognised by your local Portuguese embassy or consulate where you are applying for your visa. Moreover, all official documents must be attested by relevant authorities in your country of residence, and legalised in case your home country is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Exemptions for Citizens From a CPLP Country
In July 2021, the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) signed a mobility agreement in Luanda, which was to serve as a framework agreement to facilitate mobility between nine Portuguese-speaking countries, namely:
- Angola
- Brazil
- Cape Verde
- Guinea-Bissau
- Equatorial Guinea
- Mozambique
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Timor-Leste
- Portugal
The aim was to establish minimum standards to facilitate movement across the CPLP countries, including short stay, temporary stay, and residency. Given that, if you are a citizen of any of the CPLP countries applying for a family reunification visa to Portugal, under the said mobility agreement you are exempt from submitting the following documentary evidence:
- Family reunification authorisation from AIMA
- Travel insurance
- Proof of financial means
- Return ticket from Portugal
In their place, you will have to submit a duly signed and recognised term of responsibility by:
- The host entity for interns or workers, or
- The organisation responsible for student exchange or volunteer programmes, or
- A Portuguese citizen or legal resident, guaranteeing food and accommodation for the applicant plus any replacement of removal costs (i.e., in case of irregular stay), along with a copy of the sponsor’s passport/ID and their bank statement for last three months
What Are the Fees and Processing Times for Portugal Family Visa?
A D6 visa processing can take up to 60 days. However, you must take into account factors impacting this timeline such as the volume of visa applications being handled by your local embassy/consulate at that time, the time of the year, your particular immigration circumstances, etc. To avoid unnecessary delay, ensure to submit all relevant supporting documents during your visa interview. If the consular officer asks you to submit more documentary evidence, the processing time may increase.
You will have to pay a visa processing fee of €110 per applicant. Children under six are exempt from paying this fee. Note that the visa processing fee is not refundable. If you withdraw your visa application or your application gets rejected, you will not get a refund of this fee.
How Long Are Family Reunification Visas Valid in Portugal?
Family reunification visas are valid for four months (i.e., 120 days). You must apply for a residence permit after arriving in Portugal on a D6 visa.
The validity of a family reunification residence permit usually depends on the legal status of the sponsor in Portugal. If the sponsor holds a temporary residence permit, the family reunification visa/permit will be valid until the said temporary residence permit expires. It can be renewed, however, provided the sponsor continues to reside in Portugal legally.
Usually, a Portuguese family residence permit is issued initially for one or two years, renewable thereafter depending on the sponsoring family member’s residency status in Portugal.
Can I Apply for Citizenship With a Portugal Family Reunification Visa?
If you have lawfully lived in Portugal continuously for five years on a temporary residence permit obtained under the family reunification clauses, you may be eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit provided you meet the stipulated conditions.
After living in Portugal for one year as a permanent resident, you may apply for Portuguese citizenship, as long as you fulfil the relevant requirements. Among these requirements, knowledge of Portuguese language at least at a basic, working level is important as well as having a clean criminal record (i.e., you must not have been convicted of any crimes in Portugal during the six-year residence period).
What If My Family Reunification Visa Application Has Been Rejected?
If your Family reunification visa application has been rejected, you will receive a decision letter with reason(s) behind such refusal. You may then:
- Lodge an administrative complaint within 15 days of receiving your visa refusal letter at your local Portuguese embassy/consulate
- Appeal within three months to Minister of Foreign Affairs at your local Portuguese embassy/consulate
- Initiate administrative action to challenge acts within three months at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle
Alternatively, you can also submit a fresh visa application. Be sure to address the previous refusal reasons before you apply again.
How Can Total Law Help with D6 Visa for Family Reunification in Portugal?
Family reunification is subject to stringent checks by Portuguese consular authorities to rule out immigration abuse. For example, a marriage of convenience, where a marriage is entered into for the predominant purpose of obtaining an immigration advantage for one of the parties involved.
Portuguese authorities will thoroughly check the immigration history of the applicant. Both you and your sponsor in Portugal will be liable to prove the genuineness of your family relationship to the immigration authorities beyond any reasonable doubt. So, even if you meet all eligibility requirements, you must pay due diligence while filling up the relevant form(s) as well as arranging for supporting documentation, for your Family reunification visa application to be successful.
Speak to Total Law. Our team of immigration advisers have the required expertise and empathy to understand your case and assist you, regardless of the complexity of your situation. If you are seeking overall advice with your visa application or you would like an immigration lawyer to oversee your application, we are here for you. We also offer document and application checking services if you just need a final check to confirm that your documents and application adhere to Portuguese visa guidelines.
To know more about the bespoke services we provide and how we can help you, call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today to speak to our team of immigration experts.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can work or study in Portugal on a family reunification visa without requiring any additional permission.
In exceptional cases where your sponsor has passed away or you have been granted a divorce from your sponsoring spouse, you may be allowed to apply for an independent residence permit within the first two years of your D6 visa.
D6 visa holders are subject to Portuguese tax laws as soon as they have become tax residents (i.e. lived in Portugal for more than 183 days a year). Portugal has a non-habitual resident (NHR) tax regime with attractive tax benefits for new residents having a foreign income source, but please consult a tax professional to understand whether you qualify for the same.
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.