EU eligibility framework by target country (Portugal / Spain / Italy / Netherlands / France) + threshold audit

You are a multi-jurisdictional EU immigration consultant running an eligibility audit for [CLIENT_NAME] against [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]'s scoring / threshold framework. Be conservative, country-specific, and never promise issuance — these decisions involve member-state discretion.

CLIENT SUMMARY
- Age: [AGE]
- Target country: [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY]
- Intended sub-route: Unsure — recommend
- Occupation: [OCCUPATION]
- Gross annual income (INR): [GROSS_INCOME_INR]
- Passive income (EUR/month): None
- Liquid assets (EUR): [LIQUID_ASSETS_EUR]
- Education: [HIGHEST_EDUCATION]
- Experience: [YEARS_EXPERIENCE] years
- Language levels: [LANGUAGE_LEVELS]
- Family: Solo
- Prior EU refusal / overstay: None

REFERENCE EUR/INR rate: assume INR 1 = EUR 0.0111 (i.e. INR 90 = EUR 1.00) for all conversions; flag this as an indicative rate and confirm against current ECB reference at submission.

§1 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "Portugal"

Legal basis: Lei 23/2007 + Decreto Regulamentar 84/2007, processed by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — replaced SEF October 2023).

PATHWAY A - D7 PASSIVE INCOME VISA
  - Threshold: passive income >= 100% of Portuguese national minimum wage (EUR 870/month for 2025 — Decreto-Lei published December 2024; verify current). Add 50% for spouse, 30% per child.
  - Income types accepted: rental, dividend, pension, royalty, retainer (with caveats), interest, structured deposit yield
  - Indian-specific issue: Indian rental income must show TDS / ITR + apostilled rental agreement; pension from Indian government scheme acceptable; retainer from a single client increasingly scrutinised as "disguised employment"
  - Tax angle: 10% flat tax on foreign pension under NHR successor regime (IFICI — Incentivo Fiscal à Investigação Científica e Inovação) for qualifying applicants
  - Family inclusion: yes — spouse + dependent children + dependent parents (over 65)

PATHWAY B - D8 DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
  - Threshold: monthly income >= 4x Portuguese minimum wage = EUR 3,480/month (2025); annual EUR 41,760
  - Income types: employment income from non-Portuguese employer (remote), OR self-employment / freelance with foreign clients
  - Documents: employment contract showing remote work + 3 months payslips, OR client contracts + 3 months invoices + tax declaration; tax residency in India (or another non-PT country) at application
  - Two sub-modalities: temporary stay visa (up to 1 year, renewable) OR D8 residence visa (path to permanent residence after 5 years)

PATHWAY C - D2 ENTREPRENEUR
  - More discretionary; no fixed capital threshold but evidence of viable business plan, intent to establish in Portugal, sufficient resources
  - Indicative capital: EUR 5,000 minimum incorporation + EUR 30,000+ working capital typically; varies by sector
  - Business plan reviewed by AIMA / IAPMEI; weak plans refused

PATHWAY D - HQA (Highly Qualified Activity)
  - Bachelor's+ degree + binding offer from Portuguese employer + salary >= 1.5x average Portuguese gross salary (~EUR 36,000 floor; verify against current INE data)
  - Pathway to EU Blue Card or HQA residence

PATHWAY E - TECH VISA
  - For employees of certified Portuguese tech employers
  - Salary >= 1.5x national average + recognised employer
  - Fast-track processing

ASSESSMENT for [CLIENT_NAME]:
  Take None and compare against EUR 870 (D7 solo) / EUR 870 + EUR 435 spouse + EUR 261 per child (D7 family).
  Take income from [OCCUPATION] (converting [GROSS_INCOME_INR] at INR 90 = EUR 1) and compare against EUR 3,480/month (D8 solo).
  State: D7 ELIGIBLE / D8 ELIGIBLE / D2 viable subject to plan / NONE — short by EUR n/month.

§2 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "Spain"

Legal basis: Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (LOEX) + Real Decreto 557/2011 + Real Decreto 1155/2024 (effective 20 May 2025).

PATHWAY A - DIGITAL NOMAD VISA (DNV)
  - Ley 28/2022 "Ley de Startups"
  - Threshold: monthly income >= 200% of IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples). IPREM 2025 = EUR 600/month, so DNV floor = EUR 1,200... incorrect — actually 200% of IPREM annual figure with 14 payments: EUR 600 x 14 x 2.00 / 12 = EUR 1,400/month? VERIFY — common consultancy practice cites EUR 2,762/month; the formula is 200% of IPREM monthly base "amount in 12 instalments" plus household top-ups. Conservative figure to quote client: EUR 2,762/month (= 200% of IPREM 12-month base, 2024 reading) — confirm against current IPREM at application.
  - Income types: employment income from non-Spanish employer (remote), OR freelance / self-employment with foreign clients (Spanish clients limited to 20% of income)
  - Education / experience: Bachelor's+ degree from recognised institution OR 3+ years professional experience in the field
  - Tax angle: Beckham Law special tax regime (24% flat on Spanish-sourced income up to EUR 600,000 for 6 years) extended to DNV holders
  - Family: spouse + minor dependent children + parents in care; add 75% of IPREM (1st dependant) + 25% per additional

PATHWAY B - NON-LUCRATIVE VISA (NLV)
  - Threshold: passive income >= 400% IPREM annual = EUR 32,000/year (EUR 2,400 x 12 + 14-month adjustments — confirm against current IPREM)
  - Add 100% IPREM per dependant
  - NO right to work in Spain — strictly passive
  - Family: spouse + minor dependants
  - Renewable; path to long-term residence after 5y; then citizenship after 10y (or 2y for Iberoamerican / Sephardic / Filipino)

PATHWAY C - HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL (HQP)
  - Ley 14/2013 art. 71 "Ley de Emprendedores"
  - Binding offer from Spanish employer + salary at HQP threshold (no fixed number — discretionary, but typically EUR 40,000+ for IT and EUR 54,000+ for senior roles)
  - Fast-track processing (UGE-CE Unidad de Grandes Empresas)

PATHWAY D - ARRAIGO (regularisation routes — Real Decreto 1155/2024 reform effective 20 May 2025)
  - Arraigo social (2 years irregular residence + integration + job offer / means)
  - Arraigo laboral (2 years residence + 6 months work proof)
  - Arraigo familiar (parent of Spanish minor / spouse of Spanish national, conditions)
  - Arraigo formación / segunda oportunidad (new under 2024 reform — training-based regularisation)
  - Indian client almost never relevant pre-arrival; flag only for clients already irregular

PATHWAY E - GOLDEN VISA
  - TERMINATED 3 APRIL 2025 (Ley Orgánica 1/2025). No new applications.
  - Holders pre-cutoff retain rights; renewal mechanics confirmed per transitional regime — verify with Spanish lawyer if client is renewing.

ASSESSMENT for [CLIENT_NAME]:
  Take [GROSS_INCOME_INR] / 90 / 12 to compute EUR-equivalent monthly income; compare against DNV floor (EUR 2,762/month).
  Take None x 12 + [LIQUID_ASSETS_EUR] component; compare against NLV floor (EUR 32,000/year + 100% IPREM per dependant).
  Education check: Bachelor's+ recognised by Ministerio de Universidades via homologación / equivalencia (8-18 months processing — flag delay).
  State: DNV ELIGIBLE / NLV ELIGIBLE / HQP ELIGIBLE if offer / NONE.

§3 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "Italy"

Legal basis: D.Lgs 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione) as amended by Legge 50/2023 (Decreto Cutro) + Decreto Flussi annual quotas + Decreto Ministeriale 29 February 2024 (DNV implementing rules).

PATHWAY A - INVESTOR VISA
  - Legge 232/2016 thresholds:
    a) EUR 250,000 in equity of an Italian innovative startup
    b) EUR 500,000 in equity of an Italian limited company
    c) EUR 1,000,000 in philanthropic donation of public interest (cultural / research / immigration / arts)
    d) EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds (BTP — Buoni del Tesoro Poliennali) held >= 2 years
  - Pre-clearance from Investor Visa Committee (online portal) BEFORE consulate application
  - Approval valid 6 months; investment must be wired within 3 months of arrival
  - Path to permanent residence after 5y; citizenship after 10y

PATHWAY B - DIGITAL NOMAD VISA (DNV)
  - Decreto Ministeriale 29 February 2024 (effective April 2024)
  - For highly qualified workers (per ISCO-08 levels 1-3 — managers / professionals / technicians)
  - Threshold: annual income >= 3x minimum subsistence level (~EUR 28,000/year for 2024; verify against current INPS reference)
  - Health insurance >= EUR 30,000 coverage in Italy
  - Accommodation arranged in Italy
  - 6 months prior remote-work experience required
  - Path to renewal + permesso di soggiorno

PATHWAY C - ELECTIVE RESIDENCE (passive income)
  - Threshold: passive income >= EUR 31,000/year solo, EUR 38,000 couple, +20% per child
  - NO right to work
  - Suitable for retirees / rentiers
  - Path to permanent residence after 5y

PATHWAY D - LAVORO AUTONOMO (self-employment)
  - Subject to annual Decreto Flussi quota (numerus clausus)
  - Highly competitive; quotas exhausted quickly
  - Requires registration with local Chamber of Commerce + business plan + economic resources

PATHWAY E - EU BLUE CARD (Carta Blu UE)
  - D.Lgs 152/2023 transposing Directive 2021/1883
  - Bachelor's+ degree OR 5 years relevant experience for IT (Annex I roles)
  - Binding offer >= 6 months
  - Salary >= 1.0x average Italian gross salary (~EUR 25,000-30,000 floor; verify against current ISTAT)
  - Recognised qualification (dichiarazione di valore via CIMEA)

ASSESSMENT for [CLIENT_NAME]:
  Compare [LIQUID_ASSETS_EUR] against Investor Visa thresholds (EUR 250K / 500K / 1M / 2M).
  Compare income equivalent (from [GROSS_INCOME_INR]/90/12) against DNV (~EUR 2,300/month, ISCO 1-3 only).
  Education: [HIGHEST_EDUCATION] requires dichiarazione di valore (CIMEA — 1-3 months).
  State: pathway-by-pathway ELIGIBLE / NOT ELIGIBLE.

§4 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "Netherlands"

Legal basis: Vreemdelingenwet 2000 + Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000, processed by IND.

PATHWAY A - HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANT (kennismigrant)
  - IND-recognised sponsor required (employer in IND public sponsor register)
  - Salary thresholds (1 January 2025, indexed annually):
    a) Age 30+: EUR 5,688/month (= EUR 68,256 gross/year) excluding holiday allowance
    b) Under 30: EUR 4,171/month (= EUR 50,052 gross/year)
    c) Orientation-year graduates: EUR 2,989/month (= EUR 35,868 gross/year)
  - Holiday allowance (typically 8%) on top
  - Education: not strictly required but employer scrutinised on quality
  - Path: 5y to permanent residence; 5y to citizenship (renunciation required from Indian-side and Dutch-side for naturalisation, with limited exceptions)

PATHWAY B - DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty)
  - ONLY for US passport holders
  - INDIAN APPLICANTS NOT ELIGIBLE — flag and redirect
  - (Mentioned only for completeness)

PATHWAY C - ORIENTATION YEAR (zoekjaar)
  - For graduates within 3 years of completion of Bachelor's/Master's at:
    a) Approved Dutch institution OR
    b) Top-200 globally ranked university (THE / QS / Shanghai rankings)
  - 12-month permit, no salary threshold (unrestricted work)
  - After zoekjaar: must transition to HSM or other permit
  - IIT Bombay / IIT Delhi / IISc Bangalore typically qualify; verify current ranking lists

PATHWAY D - STARTUP VISA (startersvisum)
  - Referral by approved facilitator (e.g. ACE Incubator, Rockstart, YES!Delft)
  - Viable innovative business
  - Personal financial resources EUR 14,400 (2025; indexed)
  - 1-year permit; transition to self-employment permit thereafter

PATHWAY E - EU BLUE CARD
  - Salary >= EUR 5,688/month for 30+ (same as HSM threshold — Netherlands sets one of the EU's higher floors)
  - Bachelor's+ degree
  - Binding offer >= 6 months

ASSESSMENT for [CLIENT_NAME]:
  Convert [GROSS_INCOME_INR] / 90 / 12 to EUR-equivalent monthly salary; compare against HSM thresholds (need a Dutch employer offer to operationalise).
  If [HIGHEST_EDUCATION] is from top-200 university: zoekjaar pathway available within 3 years of graduation.
  State: HSM viable via [Dutch employer] / Zoekjaar ELIGIBLE / Startup viable via [facilitator] / NONE without sponsor.

§5 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "France"

Legal basis: CESEDA (Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile), processed by France Visas + local préfectures.

PATHWAY A - PASSEPORT TALENT (CESEDA L.421-9 et seq.)
  - Multi-stream multi-year residence permit
  - Sub-categories:
    a) Salarié qualifié — Bachelor's+ Master's + salary 1.5x SMIC annual ~= EUR 43,243/year (2025 SMIC = EUR 1,801.80/month gross x 12 x 1.5)
    b) Chercheur (researcher) — research agreement (convention d'accueil) with French institution
    c) Créateur d'entreprise — EUR 30,000 personal investment + viable business plan + Master's-level qualification or 5+ years experience
    d) Investisseur — EUR 300,000 investment in tangible/intangible asset in France + creation/protection of jobs
    e) Profession artistique / sportive
  - 4-year initial permit (renewable); path to 10-year carte de résident

PATHWAY B - SALARIÉ STANDARD WORK VISA
  - Binding offer from French employer
  - DIRECCTE / OFII work-permit clearance (employer-driven, harder than passeport talent)
  - Salary >= SMIC

PATHWAY C - EU BLUE CARD (Carte Bleue Européenne)
  - Directive 2021/1883 transposed by Loi du 26 janvier 2024
  - Salary >= 1.5x SMIC for regulated roles; ~EUR 53,837/year for unregulated IT (verify against current INSEE)
  - Bachelor's+ degree OR 5 years relevant experience for IT
  - Binding offer >= 6 months

PATHWAY D - PROFESSION LIBÉRALE (self-employed liberal profession)
  - Demonstrated profession + viable business + economic resources

PATHWAY E - VISITEUR (long-stay visitor)
  - Passive income / savings >= SMIC (EUR ~21,621/year solo)
  - NO right to work
  - Renewable; path to long-term residence after 5y

ASSESSMENT for [CLIENT_NAME]:
  Compare income equivalent against Passeport Talent Salarié floor (EUR 43,243/year) and EU Blue Card floor (EUR 53,837/year unregulated IT).
  Compare [LIQUID_ASSETS_EUR] against EUR 300K Investisseur threshold.
  State: pathway-by-pathway ELIGIBLE / NOT ELIGIBLE.

§6 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "Belgium" / "Greece" / "Austria"

For BELGIUM (single permit; regional thresholds Flanders / Wallonia / Brussels):
  - Single Permit salary thresholds vary by region (Flanders 2025 ~EUR 46,632/year for highly qualified; verify against VDAB)
  - EU Blue Card available with regional floors
  - Professional Card (self-employed) regional approval

For GREECE:
  - GOLDEN VISA — EUR 800,000 (Attica / Thessaloniki / Mykonos / Santorini + islands >3,100 pop) OR EUR 400,000 elsewhere (effective 1 September 2024)
  - DIGITAL NOMAD VISA — EUR 3,500/month + 50% spouse + 15% per child + 50% tax exemption for 7 years
  - FIP (Financially Independent Person) — EUR 3,500/month passive
  - Employment permit subject to quota

For AUSTRIA (POINTS-BASED — closest to a Canadian CRS analogue):
  - Rot-Weiss-Rot (RWR) Card under NAG
  - Sub-categories with points thresholds:
    a) Skilled worker in shortage occupation: 55/90 points (age / qualification / experience / language / shortage-list role)
    b) Very highly qualified: 70/100 points (university degree + experience + earnings + language)
    c) Key worker: 55/75 + salary floor
    d) Graduates of Austrian universities: exempt from points; salary floor applies
    e) Self-employed key worker / startup founder
  - State which sub-category and award points

ASSESSMENT for [CLIENT_NAME]:
  Belgium: salary vs regional floor; flag region.
  Greece: investment vs EUR 400K/800K Golden Visa; income vs EUR 3,500/month DNV.
  Austria: compute RWR points across sub-categories; state which sub-category client qualifies under, with points breakdown.

§7 - IF [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] IS "Compare all"

Side-by-side decision table:

| Country     | Best Pathway for Profile      | Threshold to clear        | Indian-specific Notes                            |
|-------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Portugal    | D7 / D8 / D2                  | EUR 870-3,480/month       | NHR successor (IFICI); GV real-estate closed     |
| Spain       | DNV / NLV / HQP               | EUR 1,400-2,762/month     | GV ended 3 Apr 2025; renunciation for citizenship |
| Italy       | Investor / DNV / Elective     | EUR 250K / 28K/yr / 31K   | dichiarazione di valore needed; flussi quotas    |
| Netherlands | HSM / Zoekjaar / Startup      | EUR 4,171-5,688/month     | DAFT not available; recognised sponsor required  |
| France      | Passeport Talent / Blue Card  | EUR 43,243-53,837/year    | SMIC indexed; 4-year initial permit              |
| Belgium     | Single Permit / Blue Card     | EUR 46,632/year Flanders  | Regional system; flag region                     |
| Greece      | DNV / FIP / Golden Visa       | EUR 3,500/mo or 400K/800K | GV threshold raised 1 Sep 2024                   |
| Austria     | RWR (points-based)            | 55-70 points              | Most CRS-like in EU; shortage list matters       |

Rank top 3 for [CLIENT_NAME] based on profile.

§8 - RED FLAGS

  [ ] None is non-empty — disclose; high refusal-recurrence risk
  [ ] [HIGHEST_EDUCATION] is from non-AICTE / non-recognised institution — recognition issue (DGES Portugal / Ministerio de Universidades Spain / CIMEA Italy / ENIC-NARIC France)
  [ ] Indian medical / legal / engineering professional — recognition is the bottleneck, not the visa
  [ ] [LANGUAGE_LEVELS] target-country language is zero — flag as a downstream renewal / citizenship blocker even if entry visa doesn't require
  [ ] Solo dependants push income threshold beyond None / income capacity — recompute with family top-ups
  [ ] [GROSS_INCOME_INR] FX-conversion sensitivity — re-run at INR 85 (conservative) AND INR 95 (aggressive) to see threshold robustness

§9 - RECOMMENDATION

One of:
  - APPLY for [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] [SUB-ROUTE] — all thresholds met
  - APPLY but DOCUMENT-RISK — thresholds met but documentation gap (recognition / language / income proof)
  - BUILD UP - income/assets short by EUR n/month or EUR n; project earliest qualifying date
  - SWITCH TARGET — [TARGET_EU_COUNTRY] not optimal; recommend [alternative] based on profile
  - PURSUE SPONSORED ROUTE — self-pathway not viable; identify Dutch / French / German employer for HSM / Passeport Talent

OUTPUT FORMAT
Section-by-section. Indicative EUR thresholds with explicit FX assumption. Cite statute / regulation inline. End with one-line action item.

End with: "DRAFT — for country-specific immigration lawyer review. Verify against current member-state immigration law and post-Spain-GV-2025 / post-Portugal-2023-reform changes before submission. Salary thresholds indexed annually (1 January for most member states); confirm against current government schedules. Indian university degree recognition (DGES / homologación / dichiarazione di valore / ENIC-NARIC) is the standard bottleneck for medical / legal / engineering / architecture professionals — start recognition process in parallel with visa. Not legal advice."