Portugal D6 Family Reunification Visa · 2026
Do You Meet The Requirements for Portugal’s D6 Visa?
The family reunification visa (commonly known as the D6) allows qualifying family members to join a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who’s already legally resident in Portugal.
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What it is
A quick introduction to the D6
Portugal’s family reunification visa — often referred to as the D6 — is the route for non-EU family members of someone who is already a legal Portuguese resident. The resident family member (the “sponsor”) files the reunification request from inside Portugal; the family member abroad then collects their D6 visa from a Portuguese consulate or VFS office before flying in.
It’s important to be precise about which route applies. The D6 is for the dependent family of non-EU citizens who are residents of Portugal. If your sponsor is an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, the relevant route is Article 15 / family of EU citizen instead.
You’ll need to be a qualifying family member (such as a spouse or dependent child) and your sponsor will need to have sufficient income and savings to support you.
As of 2026, your sponsor will need a minimum of €920 to support themselves and 50% of that (€460) to support a spouse or long-term partner. 30% of the main applicant’s income (€276) would be needed for any dependent children and 50% (€460) for any dependent parents. See the full breakdown below.
The basics
The D6 at a glance
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For family of non-EU residents
Spouses, partners, dependent children, sometimes parents and dependent adult children — joining a non-EU sponsor already legally resident in Portugal on a D-series, Golden Visa, or other residence permit.
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Sponsor must qualify too
The sponsor needs valid Portuguese residency, adequate housing, sufficient income (typically €920/month + extra per family member), and a clean criminal record. AIMA assesses the sponsor as much as the family member.
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Slow process
Realistically 3-6 months.
Planning ahead — and applying early — matters a lot.
Who qualifies
Which family members can be reunited?
Portugal’s family reunification scope is reasonably generous but each category has its own evidentiary bar. The further out the relationship, the heavier the dependency evidence.
Spouse / married partner
Marriage certificate, typically apostilled and often translated (especially if not in English). The marriage must be genuine — AIMA can ask for evidence of cohabitation, joint finances, photographs, or other proof if there’s any doubt.
Unmarried partner in a stable union
Typically requires 3+ years of demonstrated cohabitation — joint lease, joint utility bills, joint bank account, etc. The bar is higher than for married couples because there’s no marriage certificate to lean on.
Dependent minor children (under 18)
Birth certificates apostilled. If only one parent is the sponsor / applying with the child, the other parent’s notarised consent is normally required. Adoptive and stepchildren can qualify with the relevant supporting documents.
Adult children in education and financially dependent
Adult children (18+) can qualify if they’re unmarried, in full-time education, and financially dependent on the sponsor. Evidence: university enrolment, tuition records, transfers from the sponsor’s account, and the absence of independent income. Typically, there’s a cut-off around age 24.
Dependent parents
Parents over 65 are generally easier to include; under 65 typically need stronger evidence of financial or physical dependency. Documentation: medical records, evidence of ongoing financial support, lack of other support network in the home country.
Minor siblings under the sponsor’s guardianship
If the sponsor is the legal guardian of a minor sibling — and can document that guardianship — those siblings can also qualify. Less common, but a real route in specific family situations.
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The rules tightened in 2024-2025
Portugal’s family-reunification rules were significantly reformed in 2024-2025 — including (in some categories) stricter sponsor prerequisites, longer pre-conditions on the sponsor’s residency, and tighter evidentiary requirements. Some changes were challenged in court and the final state has continued to move. Before relying on any specific timeline or eligibility detail here, get current advice from an immigration lawyer.
What you’ll need
D6 Visa Requirements
The D6 has two parallel sets of requirements: the sponsor’s (assessed by AIMA in Portugal) and the family member’s (assessed by the consulate abroad). Both need to hold together.
Sponsor requirements (in Portugal)
Valid Portuguese residence permit
The sponsor must hold a valid Portuguese residence permit — D-series, Golden Visa, or other recognised category. The specific permit type and how long the sponsor has held it can affect what categories of family they can reunite with.
Adequate housing
The sponsor must demonstrate that the property they live in is reasonably suited to hosting the family members joining them — based on room count, square metres, and the number of people who’ll live there. A long-term rental contract, deeds, or notarised hosting confirmation is required.
Sufficient income
Sponsor income is typically benchmarked against the Portuguese minimum wage (€920/month as of 2026) with an additional per-family-member increment — broadly +50% of the minimum wage for a second adult and +30% for each child. Payslips, tax returns, and bank statements are needed.
Health coverage for the family
Evidence that the joining family members will be covered by health insurance (private) or eligible for the SNS public system once resident.
Clean Portuguese record & tax/social-security standing
Sponsor must be in good standing with Finanças (tax) and Segurança Social (social security), with no relevant criminal record in Portugal.
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Sponsor pre-residency requirement
For some family categories, the 2024-2025 reforms introduced a minimum period the sponsor must have legally resided in Portugal before they can file for reunification. The exact duration has shifted with legal challenges. Before counting on a specific timeline, check the current rules with a Portuguese immigration lawyer.
Family member requirements (abroad)
Relationship documentation
The core of the family-member’s file. Depending on the relationship:
- Spouse: marriage certificate, apostilled and often translated
- Unmarried partner: 3+ years of cohabitation evidence (lease, bills, shared bank account, etc.)
- Minor child: birth certificate, plus consent from the non-applying parent if relevant
- Adult dependent child: birth certificate, enrolment record, transfers, lack of independent income
- Dependent parent: medical records, financial-support evidence, age verification
Valid passport
At least 3 months of validity beyond the planned stay (6+ months is safer), with at least 2 blank pages.
D6 visa application form & photos
Completed D6 application form (current version from the local consulate’s site) plus 2 EU-sized passport photos per applicant.
Clean criminal record
Criminal record certificate from the family member’s country of nationality and anywhere they’ve lived for 1+ year — apostilled or legalised, often translated, and recent (typically within 90 days). Children under a certain age are usually exempt.
Authorize a Portuguese criminal-record check
Signed form letting AIMA check for any Portuguese record. Formality for first-time applicants.
Travel insurance
Schengen-compliant travel insurance covering the period until the family member becomes resident and enrols in SNS / private insurance. At least €30,000 in medical cover as well as repatriation.
Proof of travel
A flight itinerary or booked ticket to Portugal in the family member’s name. Refundable / flexible tickets are wise — don’t lock in non-refundable flights until the visa is in hand.
Documents both sides will need
Translated and apostilled versions of everything
Most personal-status documents — marriage, birth, dependency, parental consent — need to be apostilled (Hague Convention countries) or legalised by a Portuguese consulate (non-Hague), and may need to be translated into Portuguese by a sworn / certified translator (not typically required if in English).
Proof of accommodation in Portugal
The sponsor’s home, with clear evidence it can accommodate the joining family. If the family will live elsewhere (a separate rental), that contract is needed too.
Income Requirements for Bringing family
How much Additional income do you need?
Each additional person raises the passive income and savings requirements for a family reunification visa. If the sponsor does not meet the requirements for additional family members, any adult family member should consider applying for their own visa (e.g. D7 or D8).
Spouse or partner
Married, civil-partnered, or long-term unmarried partners can be added. For unmarried partners you’ll usually need 3+ years at the same address, with paper evidence (shared bills, both on the lease).
+50% in both passive income and savings
Dependent children
Under-18s are added easily. Children 18 to around 24 can be included if they’re in full-time education; older children, or those not studying, normally need to apply with their own separate visa.
+30% in both passive income and savings
Dependent parents
Can be included if they’re physically or financially dependent on you. If they have their own passive income (e.g. retirement income), they’ll usually apply for their own D7 visa.
+50% in both passive income and savings (estimated)
Income & savings, by household
The following table shows how much income the sponsor will need, depending on whether he’s in a couple or bringing dependent children or parents.
| Household | EUR official | USD approx. | GBP approx. | CAD approx. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income | ||||
| Couple | €1,380 | around $1,607 | around £1,197 | around CAD$2,219 |
| + each dependent child | €276 | around $322 | around £240 | around CAD$444 |
| + each dependent parent | €460 | around $536 | around £399 | around CAD$740 |
| Savings (≈ 12 months of income) | ||||
| Couple | €16,560 | around $19,281 | around £14,353 | around CAD$26,619 |
| + each dependent child | €3,312 | around $3,857 | around £2,871 | around CAD$5,324 |
| + each dependent parent | €5,520 | around $6,427 | around £4,785 | around CAD$8,873 |
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Only the sponsor’s income counts
For a D6 application, only the sponsor’s income is considered. If the sponsor does not have sufficient income, it may be worth other family members considering getting their own visas, such as a D7 or D8.
How it works
From AIMA filing to family residence cards
Sponsor files with AIMA
Sponsor in Portugal files the reunification request, with their own evidence (housing, income, record) and the family relationship documents.
AIMA approval
AIMA reviews the file and, if approved, notifies the relevant consulate that the family member can apply for the D6 entry visa.
Family applies at consulate / VFS
Family member abroad submits the D6 visa file at the local Portuguese consulate / VFS — short personal interview, biometrics.
Fly to Portugal
Once the D6 is issued, the family member has up to 120 days to enter Portugal.
AIMA biometrics + card
Final AIMA appointment in Portugal to receive the residence permit (typically aligned with the sponsor’s permit term).
After approval
What family members get
Same residency rights as the sponsor
Once approved, family members have effectively the same rights as the sponsor’s residence permit — including the right to work, access SNS healthcare, send children to public schools, and travel freely within Schengen.
Independent residency path
After enough time, family members can apply for residency independently — meaning their right to stay in Portugal isn’t permanently dependent on the sponsor’s status. Useful in case of divorce, the sponsor’s death, or the sponsor leaving Portugal.
Path to permanent residency & citizenship
Time on the D6 counts towards permanent residency (year 5) and Portuguese citizenship (year 10) — provided continuous residency is maintained. You will need to show an A2 level of Portuguese to obtain either, which can be done by sitting an exam or completing a qualifying course.
Common questions
D6 Visa FAQ
Can family apply at the same time as the sponsor?
For many routes (e.g. D7, D8, Golden Visa) family can be included in the main applicant’s file from the start. The D6 specifically applies when family are joining later — i.e. after the sponsor is already resident.
Can D6 holders work in Portugal?
Yes — D6 holders have the right to work in Portugal without a separate work visa. Useful for a spouse who wants to take up local employment, or for adult dependents combining study with part-time work.
What happens if my sponsor’s visa is denied or revoked?
If the sponsor loses their residency, dependent family members’ residency can be at risk too — though there are protections for cases like divorce, death of sponsor, or long-term residency built up independently. Talk to a lawyer the moment a sponsor’s status looks shaky.
What if my sponsor is a Portuguese / EU citizen?
You don’t need the D6. Family of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens — including Portuguese nationals — go through Article 15 instead.
Are unmarried partners treated the same as spouses?
Yes in principle — a “stable union” is recognised — but the evidentiary bar is higher because there’s no marriage certificate. Typically 3+ years of demonstrated cohabitation: joint lease, joint utility bills, joint bank, etc. This isn’t always possible to prove, and if that’s the case, the dependent may need to apply for their own residency visa (such as a D7 or D8).
Can my parents qualify?
Yes — although they would need to show they are physically or financially dependent on the sponsor. If they have their own income (e.g. retirement income) they would normally apply for their own residency visa.
How long does the family’s permit last once issued?
Typically issued in line with the sponsor’s permit — so if the sponsor is on a 2-year D7, the family permit is usually issued for the matching term. Renewals are done together going forward.
Trying to bring family to Portugal?
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