Master prompt
Portugal — Family Reunification under D7 / Golden Visa holder
Family of a D7 passive-income or ARI/Golden Visa investor applies via reagrupamento familiar at AIMA. Family permits track the sponsor and qualify for citizenship at year 5.
EUPortugalD7Golden VisaARIAIMAReagrupamento FamiliarLei 23/2007
Portugal's family reunification (reagrupamento familiar) is governed by Lei 23/2007 (Regime jurídico de entrada, permanência, saída e afastamento de estrangeiros), articles 98-108, implementing Directive 2003/86/EC. Since October 2023, SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) was replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). All references to SEF in older guides should now be read as AIMA.
The reagrupamento family of a sponsor on D-series visa (D7 passive income, D2 entrepreneur, D8 digital nomad) or ARI Golden Visa holder is favourable because:
• Family members receive residence permits with same validity as sponsor
• Family members qualify for the 5-year citizenship/permanent-residence clock simultaneously with sponsor
• For Golden Visa: minimal physical-presence requirement extends to family
Draft a reagrupamento familiar strategy for [SPONSOR_NAME] ([SPONSOR_VISA_TYPE], in Portugal [SPONSOR_RESIDENCE_DURATION]) reuniting with [FAMILY_MEMBERS].
§1 — APPLICATION PATHWAY SELECTION (120-150 words)
Two pathways depending on [APPLICATION_LOCATION]:
Pathway A — Family members already in Portugal (typical for Golden Visa families who arrive together on tourist Schengen):
• File reagrupamento application at AIMA portal directly
• Family members register their presence within 90 days of arrival
• Receive biometric appointment; residence permit issued
• Faster: 3-6 months in practice (varies with AIMA backlog)
Pathway B — Family members abroad:
• Sponsor in Portugal files manifestação de interesse para reagrupamento at AIMA
• AIMA issues comunicação approving reagrupamento in principle
• Family members apply for national long-stay visa at Portuguese consulate in country of residence
• Visa issued → family travels → AIMA appointment for residence permit
• Slower: 6-12 months end-to-end
For [SPONSOR_VISA_TYPE] = ARI (Golden Visa): family is typically included in original investor application — confirm whether this was done, or whether subsequent reagrupamento is needed.
§2 — ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS (100-130 words)
Under Lei 23/2007 art. 99:
(a) Spouse or unmarried partner (união de facto):
• Civil marriage certificate (apostilled + sworn translation to Portuguese), or
• União de facto registration (Portuguese registry, or equivalent from country of residence with 2+ years cohabitation evidence)
(b) Minor children of either sponsor or spouse (under 18, biological / adopted)
(c) Adult children if economically dependent on sponsor (studying, disabled)
(d) Dependent parents of sponsor or spouse (1st-degree ascendants) — must show economic dependency
(e) Minor siblings under sponsor's guardianship
Portuguese law is among the more inclusive in the EU — recognising união de facto with ≥2 years cohabitation and allowing dependent-parent reunification.
§3 — SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (150-180 words)
For each family member:
□ Passport (validity 6+ months)
□ Passport photos
□ Civil status proof:
- Marriage certificate (spouse) — apostilled / sworn-translated
- Birth certificate (child) showing sponsor as parent — apostilled / sworn-translated
- União de facto certificate (unmarried partner) — 2+ years evidence
□ Police certificate (registo criminal) from country of residence — apostilled, dated within 90 days
□ Medical declaration of fitness to travel
□ Authorisation for AIMA to consult Portuguese criminal record
Sponsor's documents:
□ Portuguese residence permit (título de residência) — front + back
□ Tax registration (NIF — Número de Identificação Fiscal)
□ Social Security registration (NISS) if employed/D7
□ Income evidence:
- [SPONSOR_INCOME_ANNUAL]: D7 requires passive income ≥ Portuguese minimum wage (currently €870/month × 14 months ≈ €12,180/year for sponsor, +50% for spouse, +30% for each child — verify current)
- For Golden Visa: investment evidence
□ Housing evidence:
- Property deed (caderneta predial + escritura) OR lease (contrato de arrendamento registered with Finanças)
- Adequate for family size (no strict sqm rule, but officer may flag overcrowding)
□ Health insurance covering family members
§4 — D7 / GOLDEN VISA — INCOME THRESHOLD SCALING (80-100 words)
Portuguese minimum-wage-based scaling for family reunification (verify against current Salário Mínimo Nacional):
• Sponsor: 100% of minimum wage
• Plus spouse: +50%
• Plus each child: +30%
Example (with €870 SMN, indicative only):
Sponsor + spouse + 2 children = 100% + 50% + 30% + 30% = 210%
Required passive income: ~€1,827/month × 14 months = ~€25,578/year
For Golden Visa sponsors: the investment (real estate, investment fund, etc.) typically satisfies; passive income test less strict.
For [SPONSOR_INCOME_ANNUAL]: confirm sufficiency for [FAMILY_MEMBERS] count.
§5 — POST-ISSUANCE + INTEGRATION (80-100 words)
• Family members receive residence permits aligned with sponsor's permit duration
• D7 / D8: 2-year initial permit, then 3-year renewals; eligible for permanent residence + citizenship at year 5
• Golden Visa: family permits track ARI cycles (initially 2 years, then 3-year renewals); same citizenship clock
• Portuguese language: A2-level for permanent residence + citizenship (CIPLE exam); family members tested same as sponsor
• Minimum physical presence: 7 days first year + 14 days each 2-year period for Golden Visa (very low); D7 expects ≥6 months/year actual residency
• Children attend Portuguese public school (free)
§6 — COMMON ISSUES (60-80 words)
• AIMA backlog (legacy SEF cases pending) — appointments delayed; many cases extend 12+ months
• Documents not apostilled correctly — most common rejection cause
• União de facto evidence insufficient — needs ≥2 years cohabitation documented
• Income from cryptocurrency / informal sources — not always accepted for D7 minimum
• Sponsor's permit expiring during process — synchronise renewals
End with: "DRAFT PORTUGAL REAGRUPAMENTO FAMILIAR — for Portuguese advogado de imigração review before filing. AIMA (formerly SEF) is operating under significant backlog as of 2026; expect delays beyond statutory timelines. Verify current Salário Mínimo Nacional for income scaling and check whether Golden Visa rules have been further amended (real estate route was removed in late 2023). — DRAFT only. Country-specific licensed lawyer review required before filing. EU member states have different immigration practice rules."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt