Residence permits in Portugal

Living or investing in Portugal requires choosing the right residence route before taking the first step. The route determines the requirements, the timeline, which family members may accompany the applicant and future access to permanent residence and citizenship.

The most common routes. The residence visa for holders of their own income, known as the D7. The remote work visa, known as the D8. The residence permit for professional activity. The residence permit for investment, which since 2023 no longer accepts the purchase of property. And family reunification, which allows the applicant to bring a spouse and children.

The process. We prepare the visa application at the consulate and, after arrival in Portugal, the residence permit application with AIMA, the Portuguese immigration agency. We assemble the documentation, confirm the source of the means of subsistence and handle renewals.

When AIMA does not decide. Delays in scheduling and decisions are today the main problem in these cases. Once the statutory deadline has passed, we bring a court action to compel the authorities to decide.

The regime was amended in 2025. We analysed the changes in our briefing note on Law no. 61/2025.