VisaPath

D6 / Family Reunification

Reunite your family in Portugal through the D6 residence pathway.

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CostLow
ProcessingFast-Medium
ComplexityModerate

Cost, processing time and complexity are VisaPath's general guidance, not official figures, and vary by applicant and current rules.

Who it's for

Spouses & partnersChildren & dependents

About this route

The D6 (Family Reunification) visa lets close family members of a Portuguese citizen or a legally resident non-EU national join their sponsor in Portugal for stays beyond 90 days. It is potentially suitable for spouses, partners, dependent children, and certain dependent parents who want to live, work, or study alongside a family member already settled in Portugal. Rules were significantly tightened by Portugal's 2025 immigration reform, so a professional review of your specific family situation is recommended before applying.

Who it's for

  • Spouses or legally recognized partners of someone living legally in Portugal
  • Dependent children (including adopted and a partner's children) joining a parent
  • Dependent parents or grandparents in certain documented cases
  • Families of Golden Visa, highly qualified (D3), or work/study permit holders
  • People already settled in Portugal who want close family to relocate with them

Benefits

  • Legal residence in Portugal for family members, with the right to live, work, and study
  • Visa-free short-stay travel across the Schengen Area while resident
  • Access to Portugal's public health service and schooling once registered
  • Potential pathway toward permanent residence after several years of lawful stay
  • A possible long-term route toward citizenship, subject to current nationality rules and timelines

Requirements

  • A sponsor who is a Portuguese citizen or holds a valid Portuguese residence permit
  • A qualifying family relationship, evidenced by official certificates (marriage, birth, partnership)
  • Proof the sponsor has stable income commonly benchmarked to the national minimum wage, with additional amounts typically expected per family member
  • Suitable accommodation in Portugal sized for the joining family
  • Health coverage for the applicants, via private insurance or the public health system once resident
  • Clean criminal record documentation for adult applicants
  • Under current rules, a minimum prior-residency period for the sponsor may apply before some in-country applications, subject to exceptions

Documents commonly requested

  • Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity, plus passport photos
  • Completed visa application form for each applicant
  • Proof of family relationship (marriage, birth, adoption, or partnership certificates)
  • Sponsor's income evidence such as payslips, tax returns, and bank statements
  • Proof of suitable accommodation in Portugal
  • Health insurance or proof of public-system coverage
  • Criminal record certificates for adult applicants and the immigration authority's approval/notification
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How to apply

  1. 1

    Confirm the sponsor's status and the family relationship that the application will rely on

  2. 2

    The sponsor (or family) typically lodges a reunification request with Portugal's immigration authority, AIMA

  3. 3

    Gather civil-status, financial, housing, and health-coverage evidence for review

  4. 4

    Once authorities issue an approval/notification, the joining family member applies at the relevant Portuguese consulate or visa center abroad

  5. 5

    Attend the appointment, submit biometrics, and pay the applicable visa and permit fees

  6. 6

    Travel to Portugal and complete residence registration to receive the residence permit card

  7. 7

    Plan for renewals and any required language or civic-integration steps under current rules

Good to know

  • Portugal's 2025 immigration reform (often referenced as Law 61/2025) reshaped family reunification, so requirements and waiting periods are in flux — confirm current rules before relying on any figure.
  • Reporting indicates a prior-residency waiting period may apply for some in-country reunifications, with exceptions commonly cited for minor children and for Golden Visa or highly qualified (D3) holders.
  • Transitional provisions and deadlines have been discussed for permits issued under earlier rules; timing can materially affect your options.
  • Language classes and civic-integration steps are increasingly part of the reunification framework and may be required.
  • Income thresholds, fees, and processing timelines are administrative and change periodically; treat any number you read as indicative, not guaranteed.

Common questions

Typically a Portuguese citizen or a non-EU national who holds a valid Portuguese residence permit. The eligible relatives commonly include spouses or partners, dependent children, and in documented cases dependent parents. Your specific case should have a professional review.

Under Portugal's current rules, a minimum prior-residency period for the sponsor may apply to some in-country applications, with exceptions often cited for minor children and for Golden Visa or highly qualified holders. Because this changed recently, confirm the rule that applies to your case.

It varies. The immigration authority and consulate each have their own review stages, and published timelines are administrative targets rather than promises. Complex cases can take longer, so build in buffer time.

Family residence status generally allows joining members to live, work, and study in Portugal once their permit is issued. Exact conditions follow current rules, so verify them for your situation.

It can be part of a long-term route. After several years of lawful residence, family members may become potentially suitable for permanent residence and, later, for citizenship — subject to current timelines and integration requirements. This is an initial route match, not a legal conclusion.

Start your application

Tell us your situation and our team will confirm the route and handle the paperwork.

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Esta ferramenta fornece uma estimativa geral de correspondência de rotas com base nas informações que você inseriu. Não é aconselhamento jurídico, tributário, financeiro ou de imigração. Não garante elegibilidade, aprovação, emissão de visto, aprovação de residência, cidadania, abertura de conta bancária ou qualquer resultado por parte de órgãos governamentais. Recomenda-se uma avaliação profissional.