Your Access to Establishing Residency in Portugal

Supporting documents issued in a foreign language will have to be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator. Personal documents will have to have an apostille. An apostille officially certifies a document in order for other countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention to recognize it.

Below is a list of documents that can be required to apply for a D7 visa and residence permit in Portugal:

• International valid passport.
• National identification card.
• Police certificate.
• Birth certificate.
• Family booklet, marriage or divorce certificate, if applicable.
• Declaration attesting the motives for residing in Portugal and describing the links the applicant has with the country.
• Tax declarations.
• Documents justifying a regular and stable income.
• Portuguese Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF).
• Bank documents (certificate of balance and statements).
• Evidence of accommodation in Portugal.

Below is a step-by-step process with regards to an application for a D7 immigration visa in Portugal:
Initial meeting: Before we launch the official process of a visa application, we suggest we begin with a private consultation with a dedicated member of our team. During this meeting, we will understand your goals, evaluate your profile, provide you with additional information on the program and inform you of the conditions. At the same time, we will be able to cover other topics or concerns you may have with regards to education, medical care, taxes and any other topic related to the Portuguese D7 program.

Documentation: Based on your specific situation, we will share with you a detailed list of documents that are required for the D7 immigration visa. Documents issued in a foreign language will have to be translated and will have to be legalized or have an apostille. Our team will be able to guide you during this step and will make sure the documents are in the correct and acceptable format.

Local formalities: Our local Portuguese team can welcome you during your travel in Portugal and accompany you in order to find a suitable property for your residence in Portugal. We will be able to provide you with valuable insights on the real estate market, the appropriate neighborhoods and much more. In case you are unable to travel to Portugal, we can assist you with this step by distance. We can also propose assistance in opening a bank account in Portugal and help you to apply and obtain a Portuguese tax ID number (NIF). Finally, our team will guide you in the subscription of medical coverage with a Portuguese insurance company.

Visa application: Once your application file is complete, we will take an appointment for you to apply for a Portuguese D7 visa at the Portuguese consular services in your country of citizenship or of residence. If your application is approved, a national Portuguese visa will be issued within a few weeks.

Arrival to Portugal: After the visa is issued, you will have to travel to Portugal. You will then have to register your arrival and apply for a residence permit at the Portuguese Immigration Department and Border Control Service (SEF). A member of our local team will be present with you to prepare and submit your application and obtain the first residency permit, that is valid for 12 months.

Residence permit: The Portuguese residency permit can be extended twice for a period of 2 years each. After residing in Portugal for 5 years, you may be eligible to submit an application for permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship by naturalization. Naturally, our associates will be present to assist you during the renewal process as well as for the permanent residency and citizenship applications.

There are three main pathways to become a citizen of Portugal, which are by naturalization, by marriage and by descent. Additionally, Portugal recognizes dual-citizenship.

1. Naturalization
An individual who has legally resided in Portugal during 5 consecutive years and can justify Portuguese language knowledge can be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.

2. Marriage
It is possible to apply for Portuguese citizenship if you have been married to a Portuguese citizen for at least 3 years and have not been legally separated.

3. Descent

• A child automatically acquires Portuguese citizenship at birth, if one of the parents is a Portuguese citizen, regardless of the place of birth.
• If born in Portuguese territory and has lived in any territory of Portugal for a period of 10 years, they can automatically acquire nationality (this includes any Portuguese colony before its independence).
• If one of your grandparents is Portuguese by birth and you are familiar with the Portuguese language, you may qualify for Portuguese citizenship, subject to approval.
• An adopted child by Portuguese parents before reaching legal age, the child automatically acquires nationality.
• Those who have lost their Portuguese nationality as minors can reclaim it at any time.
• Sephardic Jewish people can apply for citizenship by justifying such lineage to those who were expelled from current Portuguese territories.

For the Golden Visa immigration program in Portugal, here is a general list of required documents that must be prepared.

Please note that any supporting documents issued in a foreign language need to be officially translated into Portuguese. Additionally, some documents may require an apostille to certify their authenticity:

• Valid passport.
• Birth certificate.
• Family booklet, marriage or divorce certificate if applicable to be issued within the previous 3 months prior to the application.
• Police certificate of good conduct.
• Documents confirming the occupation and the source of revenues.
• Tax assessment and declarations covering the previous 5 years.
• Acquisition deed of the real estate in Portugal as well as a land Register Certificate with the records.
• Documents from the bank confirming the transfer and payment for the property acquisition in Portugal.
• In case of an investment in a property that is dated more than 30 years, the applicant should include supporting documents of the construction of the real estate justifying it is more than 30 years.
• If the real investment concerns a property located in low density areas, in this case a declaration of the competent entity attesting the real estate is within a rehabilitation area should be included as well.
• Engagement letter attesting the applicant will maintain the property for at least 5 years.
• Health insurance coverage valid in Portugal.
• Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF).

Below is a general procedure our clients typically follow in order to obtain the immigration visa and the residence permit in Portugal under the investor category (Golden Visa):

First meeting with Inimex: For starters, we suggest having a private consultation with one of our team experts with the purpose of understanding your goals, analyzing your profile and providing you with more information on the process of immigration in Portugal. We will also take this moment to provide you with further details on any questions you may have, whether they relate to medical insurance, real estate or any other subject.

Document Preparation: We will assist you in preparing a list of required documents tailored to your specific situation.

Legalization and Translation: Should your documents need to be legalized and translated into Portuguese, our team will verify your documents and support you through this process.

Bank Account and NIF: Opening a bank account and obtaining a NIF (Tax Identification Number) in Portugal are essential steps to complete your application file.

Property Search and Acquisition: You can travel to Portugal to search for and acquire property. Our team is available to assist you in finding the right neighborhood, evaluating properties, and negotiating prices. If you cannot travel, we can manage the process remotely via proxy.

Visa Application: Once your file is complete and the property acquisition is finalized, you can submit your visa application at the Portuguese consulate in your country of citizenship or residence.

Visa Issuance and Arrival Registration: If your application is approved, a Portuguese national visa will be issued, allowing you to travel to Portugal to register your arrival and finalize the administrative procedures to obtain a residence permit from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Control Service (SEF).

Initial Residence Permit: The first residence permit will be valid for 2 years, during which you can reside in Portugal and engage in activities like studying, working, or starting a business.

Renewal and Citizenship: The residence permit can be renewed twice, each valid for an additional 2 years. After a total of 5 years of residence, you may apply for permanent residency or Portuguese citizenship by naturalization.

Our associates will assist you with the renewal process and guide you through the applications for permanent residency and citizenship.