Araújo & Associados provides legal advice on Portuguese immigration and nationality law, with offices in Porto and Lisbon and more than 44 years of experience assisting foreign and Portuguese nationals with proceedings across Portugal and abroad. This practice area covers the general matters relating to the entry, stay and settlement of foreign nationals in Portugal, as well as proceedings for the acquisition of Portuguese nationality by naturalisation or on other grounds provided for in the Nationality Act.
Portugal’s immigration legal framework is set out, essentially, in Law no. 23/2007, of 4 July (the Foreigners Act), Law no. 37/81, of 3 October (the Nationality Act), and the regulations of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), which took over the administrative functions relating to residence permits previously held by the former Immigration and Borders Service (SEF). As this is an area subject to constant legislative and regulatory change, specialist legal advice is often decisive for the correct handling of applications and for understanding the requirements applicable to each individual situation.
There are several legal routes to obtaining a residence permit in Portugal, each with its own requirements, timeframes and legal framework. The most suitable route depends on the applicant’s profile — i.e., their professional situation, source of income, family ties or investment objectives — and requires a prior assessment of their specific circumstances.
The D7 visa, also known as the passive income visa, is aimed at third-country nationals who have regular and sufficient passive means of subsistence — from pensions, rental income, investment income or other stable sources — and who wish to settle in Portugal without carrying out dependent professional activity within the country. It is the route most commonly used by retirees and by holders of passive income from abroad. The process involves obtaining a visa from the Portuguese consulate in the applicant’s country of origin and subsequently formalising the residence permit in Portugal with AIMA. We examine the income requirements, supporting documentation and applicable timeframes in detail in our dedicated article: D7 visa for retirees — requirements and process.
The Residence Permit for Investment Activity programme (ARI), popularly known as the Golden Visa, allows third-country nationals to obtain a Portuguese residence permit by making a qualifying investment, under the terms of the Foreigners Act and its implementing regulations. Following legislative changes in recent years, the eligible investment routes have been overhauled: the direct purchase of property no longer qualifies, and eligible routes now include, among others, subscribing to units in investment funds and supporting artistic or scientific production.
Despite these legislative changes, the Golden Visa remains one of Europe’s most competitive residency-by-investment (RBI) programmes, allowing the holder to travel throughout the Schengen area without the need for effective residence within European territory. Subject to certain time-related limitations, the Golden Visa also provides a route towards Portuguese nationality.
We set out the routes currently available, the minimum amounts required and the process timeline in our article: Golden Visa in Portugal — investment routes and requirements.
The digital nomad visa, introduced by the 2022 amendment to the Foreigners Act, is aimed at third-country nationals who carry out employed or self-employed professional activity remotely for employers or clients based outside Portugal, and who wish to reside in Portugal while continuing that activity. The regime requires proof of a minimum monthly income, indexed to the Portuguese national minimum wage, as well as evidence of the remote professional relationship. We set out the income requirements, required documentation and the specific features of this regime in our article: Digital nomad visa — requirements and process.
Portuguese nationality may be acquired on various grounds provided for in the Nationality Act, notably naturalisation based on length of legal residence, nationality by descent from a Portuguese citizen, nationality through marriage or civil partnership with a Portuguese citizen, and special regimes applicable to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Portugal or to descendants of Portuguese nationals from certain communities. Each of these grounds has its own requirements and processing timeframes, and it is common for nationality proceedings to run in parallel with residence permit proceedings already under way. We set out the legal grounds, the residence periods required and the necessary documentation in our dedicated article: Portuguese citizenship — routes to acquisition and requirements.
Family reunification allows the holder of a valid Portuguese residence permit to apply for certain family members — a spouse or civil partner, minor or dependent children, dependent ascendants, among others, as defined by the Foreigners Act — who are outside Portugal to join them. The process is handled by AIMA and depends on proof of family ties, the main applicant’s means of subsistence, and suitable housing arrangements. We explain the requirements applicable to each degree of kinship and the procedure before AIMA in our article: Family reunification in Portugal — who can apply and how.
In operation since 1980, with offices in Porto and Lisbon, Araújo & Associados provides legal advice to clients from more than 31 countries, in Portuguese, English, French, German and Spanish. The team handles immigration and nationality proceedings for clients of diverse backgrounds, combining knowledge of Portuguese law with communication in several languages — a relevant asset in proceedings that frequently require coordination with consular, notarial or administrative authorities in other countries.
A visa is issued by the Portuguese consulate in the applicant’s country of origin and allows entry into Portuguese territory for the purpose for which it was granted. A residence permit is the title subsequently issued in Portugal by AIMA, which allows lawful stay in the country for a longer period. As a rule, long-term visas (such as the D7 or the Golden Visa) are the first step in a process that culminates in the grant of a residence permit.
No. Most grounds for acquiring nationality by naturalisation require a minimum period of legal residence in Portugal, evidenced by previous residence permits. A nationality application can only be lodged once that period has been completed, except for grounds that do not depend on a period of residence, such as nationality by descent.
Timeframes vary according to the type of visa or permit concerned, the consulate or service responsible, and the volume of applications being processed at any given time, so it is not possible to state a uniform timeframe applicable to all cases. Assessing the applicant’s specific circumstances allows for a more accurate estimate of the likely timeframe.
No. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland benefit from the right of free movement and need only register as an EU citizen with the local council (câmara municipal) for their area of residence; they are not subject to the visa regime applicable to third-country nationals.
Yes. Most immigration proceedings begin before the applicant arrives in Portugal, through the preparation of documentation and coordination with the competent Portuguese consulate in the country of origin. We provide legal services in Portuguese, English, French, German and Spanish, allowing us to assist clients based in different countries throughout the process.
In the event of a refusal, the applicant generally has legal remedies available, including the possibility of an administrative or judicial appeal, depending on the grounds for refusal and the type of proceedings involved. Assessing the specific grounds for refusal is necessary to identify the most appropriate course of action.
For further information on immigration and nationality proceedings, or to schedule a legal consultation, you may contact us through our Porto or Lisbon offices, by telephone, e-mail or via the form available on the website. We provide legal advice in Portuguese, English, French, German and Spanish.
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