The family reunion visa for Portugal is issued to those foreign nationals who wish to join another family member, such as a spouse, who is already living legally in the country. It is important to note that the right to family reunion is granted only to foreign nationals who have a valid residence permit (Titulo de Residencia) for at least 2 years, as a general rule applicable to family members from outside Portugal, with the exceptions foreseen by the current legal framework.
If you wish to know more about the residence permits available for different purposes, and how to extend an existing permit before inviting your family, our team of Portugal immigration specialists can help you.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Family reunification for spouses | When the applicant is married to the Portugal residence permit holder, or in a de facto union with him/her. |
| Family reunification for children | For children under the age of 18 |
| Proof of relationship | Marriage certificate or proof of de facto union of more than 2 years, proof of adoption, other documents. |
| Accommodation requirements | The person with whom the applicant is reuniting provides details about proper accommodation in Portugal. |
| Income requirements | Met by the person who already holds a Portuguese residence permit. |
| Special rules for EU nationals | Citizens of an EU Member state, those of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland do not need a family reunification visa to initially enter Portugal. |
| Rules for highly skilled migrants in Portugal | Can be joined by family members |
| Family reunification for the foreign parent of a Portuguese child | Subject to conditions |
| Provisional residence permits for family members | Yes |
| Registration with the authorities | Upon arrival |
| Online registration | Our team can give you more details on the application steps and the submissions. |
| Situations in which family reunification is prohibited | The applicant cannot bring sufficient proof for the relationship. |
| Family reunification permit renewal | As needed |
| Family residence permit application fee | EUR 90; please keep in mind that this can be subject to change. |
| Assistance for family reunification visa applications | Upon request, before your spouse or children arrive in Portugal or after their arrival. |
Table of Contents
What is the Portugal family reunion visa?
This is a type of visa that is issued to the family members of a foreign national who already resides in Portugal. This visa allows family members who reside outside of Portugal at the time of the application to enter the country with the purpose of obtaining a resident permit.
The sponsor (resident person) must provide proof that he/she has the necessary resources to support the family member, including proper accommodation and sufficient means of subsistence.
The family reunion visa for Portugal is applied for at a consular office in the country where the family member resides; however, before this, the foreign national living in Portugal is expected to request this from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA – Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), which succeeded the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) for these administrative competencies as of 29th October 2023.
The application for the family reunification visa is processed within the procedure administered by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), and the decisions concerning the requests for family reunion are in the remit of the executive board of AIMA, or sub-delegated territorial branches. This administrative step is mandatory to be completed before applying for a visa.
We can help you if you are a UK national looking to apply, as well as if you are a foreign national of any other country. We can also assist in case you want to apply for citizenship by investment in Portugal, through the procedure named Autorização de Residência para Investimento (ARI).
What documents are needed for the family reunion visa in Portugal?
According to AIMA, the following general documents are required when applying for a family reunification visa:
- Documents indicating the residence status;
- Copy of a valid travel document (e.g., passport) of the family member;
- Documents proving the family links (e.g., marriage/birth certificate, etc.);
- Evidence of accommodation and means of subsistence;
- Criminal record from the family member’s country of origin.
Supplementary documents may include those related to the adoption of a minor child, certificates of incapacity for dependents (if applicable), proof of registration for studies (for children still dependents), certificates of economic dependence for first-degree relatives, and others. As a rule, proof documents that are issued in a foreign language must be translated and legalized.
Our Portugal immigration team can help you prepare these documents. You can reach out to us for more information about the specific ones, should you be subject to a certain family situation described above (such as child adoption).
Our Portugal specialists can also assist applicants interested in other types of visas, such as the freelancer nomad visa for Portugal.
The following infographic also provides a summary of the requirements for this type of visa:
Family reunification FAQ
Applying for a visa that allows your family members to join you in Portugal is subject to thorough verification of your relationship. It is natural to have questions about the process, and you can find answers to some of the most common ones below.
Who are the family members accepted for a Portugal family reunion visa?
The following categories are considered the family members of a foreign national who is a Portuguese resident:
- Spouse;
- The partner in a common-law relationship;
- Minor children;
- Dependents of the foreign national or of the spouse;
- Minors adopted by a non-married resident;
- First-degree relatives, who are dependents of the resident or the spouse;
- Minor brothers or sisters, if under the guardianship of the resident;
- Unmarried adult children who are dependent and in education in Portugal.
Exact eligibility depends on fulfilling the legal preconditions, such as dependence and family situation. For more information about this procedure, please consult the guidance of our Portuguese lawyers.
How long does it take to receive the family reunification visa?
For a family reunion visa for Portugal, the relationship between the foreign national living in Portugal and the joining family member(s) is carefully assessed. Therefore, one can expect a processing time of up to 60 days for the decision on the residence visa, and up to 90 days for the procedure on family reunion.
The processing time may vary based on individual case complexity and the high volume of requests that the authorities in AIMA need to deal with at a certain moment.
What are the fees for Portuguese visas?
AIMA imposes certain fees on all types of administrative procedures concerning residence for foreign nationals, with two price ceilings depending on whether the procedure is standard (in-person) or digital. The following were in place at the time this article was written:
- 245 € – 326 € for the granting of a family reunification permit;
- 3157 € – 4210 € for the renewal of the residence permit of a family member reunited with the holder of a residence permit for investment purposes;
- 6314 € – 8418 € for issuing a third and successive copy of the residence permit for investment purposes, including that issued for the accompanying family members.
The prices can be updated regularly; it is recommended that you reach out to our immigration specialists in Portugal for updated information on official fees issued by AIMA.
Therefore, if you are interested in obtaining a family reunification visa in Portugal, you can reach out to our immigration lawyer for more details regarding the entire process.
What are the steps after receiving the family reunion visa for Portugal?
Once your family member(s) joins you in Portugal, he/she or they will need to apply at AIMA for a residence permit for family reunion. This step also includes the collection of biometric data and the issuance of the residence card.
A family reunion visa is a popular option for non-EU citizens, while for EU citizens who wish to reunite with their non-EU family members, there is a distinctive legal framework, based on the right to free movement. If you have questions about the rights of your family members when it comes to applying for a residence permit in Portugal, our team will analyze your particular situation and will give you the right answers. Please reach out to us as needed.
A foreign national can choose to apply for Portuguese nationality after five years lawfully spent in the country based on a valid temporary residence permit, as long as he/she fulfills all other legal requirements (e.g., knowledge of the Portuguese language). If you would like to know more about your options according to your reason for staying, our team can give you complete details about the minimum requirements for gaining Portuguese citizenship.
The administrative procedure for family reunion in Portugal involves distinct administrative steps and specific documentation requirements. If you would like to know more about the general process needed to relocate to Portugal, you can reach out to our agents.
If you are already in the country and wish to start the process to obtain a family reunion visa for Portugal, our team can guide you and your family members. Contact us for more details about our services and to schedule an initial meeting.