Residence Permits and Work Visas

Portugal remains a leading destination for British citizens planning to relocate to Europe. It has many highly attractive features that are appealing to British ex-pats. Portugal welcomes other nationals and has a range of visas enabling non-EU citizens to live, work and study in Portugal. A Portuguese visa will also provide freedom of movement across the EU Member States.

Giambrone & Partners’ immigration lawyers can provide a comprehensive service to guide and advise visa applicants and facilitate the application process. Our highly experienced lawyers can eliminate errors and omissions that could lead to the rejection of your application.

All visa applications require:

• A completed application form and the fee paid.
• A valid passport
• Two passport photos
• Travel insurance, with adequate medical cover and that includes repatriation
• You must provide proof of your legal situation if you are living in a country where you are not a national
• A criminal record certificate for you and dependents which are 16 or over
• Proof of financial resources for the support of the applicant and their dependents
• A face-to-face interview at a consulate or other designated Authority

The most commonly sought-after visas are:

D7 Visa - The Portugal Passive Income Visa
The D7 visa requires an applicant to be able to support themselves and their family with a regular income, known as passive income. The D7 visa is considered an appropriate choice for retirees. The income can be derived from pensions, dividends and certain other categories relating to investment income as well as rental income from an applicant’s property portfolio.

The D7 visa allows the applicant to include dependant family members:

• A spouse or partner
• Minor children
• Incapacitated children
• Children over the age of majority who are unmarried and studying in an educational establishment in Portugal.
• The dependent parents of both the main applicant and the applicant’s spouse
• Minor siblings who are dependent on the main applicant

The minimum income requirements vary according to the number of dependents the applicant includes in the application:

• The principal applicant should receive the current minimum wage applicable to the D7 visa
• The spouse or parents of the main applicant should receive 50% of the current minimum wage, per person
• Dependent children should have an amount equivalent to 30% of the current minimum wage applied to each child.

The experienced lawyers in Giambrone & Partners’ immigration team recommend that the main applicant keeps a financial reserve amounting to at least 12 months’ minimum income in a Portuguese bank.

Following a successful application, the applicant will receive a Portuguese residency card valid for two years. In order to continue to reside in Portugal the residency card must be renewed at the end of the second year, whereupon you will receive a residency card valid for three years. The D7 visa is intended for ex-pats who intend to relocate to Portugal and there is an obligation to spend six consecutive months or eight non-consecutive months in Portugal.

The opportunity to become a Portuguese citizen is extended after five years of residency in Portugal.

D2 The Entrepreneur Visa
The Entrepreneur visa is aimed at EU and non-EU citizens setting up small businesses in Portugal, or opening a branch office in Portugal. It is regarded as one of the most accessible visas for business in Europe. 

There is no minimum investment required, however Giambrone & Partners’ corporate and commercial lawyers recommend that a sum of at least €5,000 should be available to demonstrate credibility. The ability to speak Portuguese is not required for a D2 visa. However, if you intend to reside in Portugal you will only have to pass a Portuguese language proficiency test at Level 2 if you apply for citizenship. A D2 visa is often granted within four to five months and you can include your dependents in your application.

An application for a D2 visa – the requirements:

• You must have a structured, well thought out business plan that demonstrates the viability of your business idea
• You should be able to make a case for your business idea and with valid business analysis.
• You must be able to show that you have experience, expertise and connections within the industry sector you have chosen.
• You must be able to show that you have adequate capital and sufficient financial resources to support the early days of the initial set-up and enable the business to grow

Student Visa
In order to study in Portugal non-EU nationals will need to apply for a Portuguese student visa if the period of their studies exceeds three months. They will also require a residence permit. An applicant can apply for a student visa in the Portuguese consulate or embassy of the applicant’s home country before travelling to Portugal.

In addition to the standard information required for all visa applications, a student will require a letter of acceptance from a university or similar educational establishment. If your period of study exceeds three months you will need to demonstrate proof of enrolment, payment of your tuition fees and proof that you have accommodation.

Our lawyers recommend early application for your visa to ensure that you are able to start your course on time. Student visa applications can take from between one to three months to process.

Married students are permitted to be joined by their spouses and minor or dependent children. You will be required to provide proof of your relationship with your family and your family members will also have to apply for their visas and permits to enable them to live in Portugal.

For more information on residence permits and work visas please click here.