The Portugal D6 Visa makes it possible for non-EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens to join close family members who already live in Portugal as residents or citizens.
If you want to bring your family to Portugal, the process starts you getting approval from AIMA in Portugal. Once that’s done, your family members can apply for the visa at their local Portuguese consulate.
In this article, we’ll explain Portugal Family Reunification Visa requirements, who to apply and which family members you can include in your application.
You’ll also find out:
- What is the Portugal Family Reunification Visa?
- Who can apply for family reunification in Portugal?
- Portugal Family Reunification Visa requirements
- Required documents for family reunification
- Family Reunification Visa application process
What is the Portugal Family Reunification Visa?
The visa, designated by the government as the D6 Visa, allows anyone with a valid residency permit to apply for permission to bring their close family members to live with them in Portugal.
Most countries in the European Union have a variant of the Family Reunification Visa, and in Portugal, it is officially called the Reagrupamento Familiar Visa.
Who can apply for family reunification in Portugal?
Since the Family Reunification Visa in Portugal is a residency visa, it falls under Portuguese Immigration Law, which dictates who can apply and when.
Therefore, it can be divided into two eligibility criteria: the sponsor's legal status and the relationship between the sponsor and the family member.
The sponsor or main applicant
To explain how the D6 Visa works, we’ll assume you are the main applicant (sponsor). To be eligible as the main applicant, the most important factor is that you must hold a valid residency permit in Portugal.
This means that it can be either a temporary or permanent resident permit, and some of the most common routes are:
- Entrepreneur Visa (D2)
- Portugal HQA Visa (D3)
- Portugal Passive Income Visa (D7)
- Digital Nomad Visa (D8)
- Portugal Golden Visa
There are several other requirements, which we’ll get into later, but if you satisfy that criterion, you’re already halfway there.
Relationship to the family member
The D6 Visa allows you to bring close family members to Portugal, and the government’s directions on the relationships are clear.
As the sponsor, you can apply for:
- A legally married spouse
- A civil partner (registered or unregistered)
- Your minor biological children or those of your spouse
- Adopted minor children or minors under your guardianship
- Adult children, if they are unmarried, financially dependent on you, and enrolled in full-time education
- Your parents or the parents of your spouse, if they are financially dependent on you, are over the retirement age, or they can’t support themselves in their home country.
It’s crucial to note that Portuguese law doesn’t provide for siblings. This isn’t specific to Portugal, though, as adult siblings are almost universally excluded across the EU.
Portugal Family Reunification Visa Requirements
As mentioned, you must hold a valid Portuguese residence permit to even consider applying for a Family Reunification Visa. It can’t be a pending AIMA application, and a Schengen tourist visa doesn’t qualify.
1. Residency period
Then, the next most important requirement for the sponsor is that you have legally lived in Portugal for at least two years. This is a new stipulation, as Parliament approved the law change and the then-Portuguese President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, ratified it in 2025.
However, there are some important exceptions. There is no waiting period that applies for:
- Minors
- Incapacitated dependents
- Co-parent spouses
- Portugal Golden Visa holders
- Highly qualified professionals
2. Financial requirements
As the sponsor for family members coming to Portugal, you must show that you have enough money to support them without having to rely on social security.
The amount needed is 12 times Portugal's minimum monthly wage, which in 2026 is €920, plus additional percentages for each family member.
In practice, this means you must earn at least €11,040 per year, and then an additional 50 percent (€5,520) for a spouse and 30 percent (€3,312) for each minor child.
As with most of Portugal’s D-Type residency visas, acceptable sources of income include:
- Employment income (with contract and payslips)
- Self-employment or business income
- Pension income
- Rental income
- Dividends or investment income
At some point, your family members in Portugal will also need a tax identification number, called a NIF. This is something that GetNIF can help you with, and also opening a bank account in Portugal.
3. Accommodation in Portugal
Alongside meeting the financial requirements, you’ll also need to show that your family will have a suitable place to live in Portugal. This means proving that your home has enough space and meets basic living standards for everyone who will join you.
You can provide a registered rental contract or proof that you own a property in Portugal. The address needs to be officially registered, and often the local parish council (Junta de Freguesia) will issue a residence certificate to confirm that you live there.
You’ll need to have your accommodation sorted before you apply for family reunification, since proof of housing is one of the first things immigration authorities will check.
4. Criminal record
Both you and any adult family members need to have a clean criminal record. Adult family members will need to provide official criminal record certificates from their home country and from any country where they have lived for more than a year.
These documents should be recent, legalized with an Apostille if needed, and translated into Portuguese by a certified translator.
5. Family Relationship
You’ll need to provide official documents that prove your relationship to your family member. Portugal will only accept civil registry records, so it’s important to have the right paperwork in order.
- For spouses, you’ll need a marriage certificate.
- For children, a birth certificate that names the parent is required. If you’re applying for an adopted child, bring the official adoption decree.
- Guardianship cases need a court-issued guardianship order.
- Informal relationships or unregistered partnerships usually aren’t enough unless you can show legal proof of a stable, long-term relationship.
Any documents issued outside Portugal must be legalized with an apostille or a consular stamp, depending on where they were issued, and must be officially translated into Portuguese.
Required Documents for Family Reunification
Since the application process can be complex, several documents must be submitted to AIMA.
- A copy of your residence permit in Portugal
- A certified copy of the passport for the family member who wants to join you.
- Proof of your family relationship, such as a marriage or birth certificate
- A signed statement confirming your current address in Portugal and explaining whether you own, rent, or have another arrangement for your home.
- If you own your home or have the right to use it, you’ll need to show a land registry certificate or provide the access code to prove it.
- If you rent, you’ll need a statement from your landlord or hosting entity confirming your right to live at the property.
- Proof that you have enough income or savings to support yourself and your family in Portugal.
- A criminal record certificate from your family member’s country of nationality, or from any country where they lived for more than a year before moving to Portugal. This document must be properly authenticated.
Specific documents
There are also specific documents, depending on the family members you want to include:
- A marriage certificate, properly authenticated, to confirm your relationship.
- A medical report confirming incapacity, or an official court declaration of interdiction or disqualification, both properly authenticated.
- An official adoption decree, properly authenticated, to show the legal relationship.
- A birth certificate, properly authenticated.
- For dependent adult children, you’ll also need proof of financial dependence and enrollment in a school or university in Portugal.
- If a minor or dependent person is involved, you’ll need either written authorization from the non-resident parent (authenticated by a Portuguese consulate) or a copy of the court decision granting legal custody or guardianship to the resident or their spouse.
- Documents showing both your family relationship and financial dependence, such as records of money transfers to your home country.
- A court decision granting guardianship, along with a certificate from the national authority that recognized it, both properly authenticated.
- Documents that prove you have been in a de facto union for more than two years.
Family Reunification Visa Application Process
To start the D6 Visa process, you first need to apply for a Family Reunification Visa at AIMA, listing the specific family members you want to bring to Portugal.
AIMA usually reviews the application within 60 days. Once approved, they send a written statement and notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Then, if your family member is already in Portugal with a legal entry, they can apply for the family reunification residence permit directly through AIMA’s services portal.
If they are still abroad, they should apply for a D6 Visa at the Portuguese Consulate or VFS office in their area.
Once your family member arrives in Portugal with the D6 Visa, they need to visit AIMA to register as a resident and get their long-term permit.
Validity and renewal
The D6 Visa’s validity will match the length of your residence permit. For example, if your permit is valid for three years, they will get a D6 that’s also valid for three years. When you renew your residency permit, it will also extend your family’s residency validity.
However, there is an exception for permanent residency permits: the D6 will be valid for 2 years, after which they can apply for their own residency permit.
Portuguese Citizenship with a D6 Visa
Once you’ve lived in Portugal with legal residency for five years, you can apply for both a long-term residence permit and Portuguese citizenship. To become a citizen, you’ll need to pass a simple test covering the basics of the Portuguese language and culture.
If you’re thinking about becoming a Portuguese citizen, there’s more good news: Portugal allows dual citizenship. That means you can usually keep your current citizenship as long as your home country also permits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Portugal D6 Visa
What is a D6 visa for Portugal?
A D6 Visa for Portugal is a family reunification visa that allows non-EU family members to join a legal resident in Portugal. The D6 visa permits spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents to live in Portugal and apply for a residence permit valid for 1–2 years, renewable.
How much is the D6 visa in Portugal?
The D6 Visa fee for Portugal is approximately €90 for the initial visa application at the Portuguese consulate. After arrival, applicants pay about €170 to €200 for the residence permit issued by AIMA. Total government fees typically range from €260 to €300 per applicant, excluding legal or translation costs.
Who qualifies as a family member under the Portugal family reunification visa?
Family members who qualify under Portugal’s family reunification visa include a spouse or registered partner, minor children under 18, unmarried dependent adult children who are studying, and dependent parents of the resident or spouse. The applicant must provide proof of financial support, accommodation, and legal residency in Portugal.
Can children over 18 apply under the Portugal D6 visa?
Children over 18 can apply under the Portugal D6 Visa if they are unmarried, financially dependent on the resident parent, and enrolled in full-time education. Portuguese immigration law typically recognizes dependent adult children up to age 21, and older if dependency and study status are proven with official documents.
What is the minimum income requirement for the D6 visa in Portugal?
The minimum income requirement for the Portugal D6 Visa equals 100 percent of the Portuguese minimum wage for the main applicant, 50 percent for a spouse, and 30 percent per dependent child. In 2026, Portugal’s minimum wage is €920 per month.
Does the sponsor need to already live in Portugal to apply for a D6 visa?
The sponsor must already be legally residing in Portugal to apply for a D6 Family Reunification Visa. The sponsor must hold a valid Portuguese residence permit or long-term visa and demonstrate registered accommodation and sufficient income before family members submit their D6 application.
