Family Reunification Visa (D6)

The D6 Family Reunification Visa is the primary legal pathway for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals living in Portugal to bring their family members to join them. This process allows you to extend your right of residency to your immediate family, ensuring they receive the same legal protections and access to services that you enjoy as a resident.

Unlike standard visas where the applicant starts the process at a consulate, the D6 is a multi-stage process that begins with the sponsor in Portugal. It is specifically designed for those who already hold a valid Portuguese residence permit and wish to relocate their family to Portugal permanently.

The D6 pathway is unique because it requires a "pre-approval" within Portugal before the family member can apply for a visa at a consulate.

1. AIMA Authorization: The sponsor must first apply to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). This is the "favorable opinion" phase. AIMA reviews your housing and financial capacity to support the family.
2. Consular Visa Issuance: Once AIMA grants approval, they notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only after this notification can the family member apply for the actual D6 Visa at a Portuguese consulate or VFS Global center in their home country.

While some families attempt to bypass this by entering as tourists and applying under "Article 98" (Family Reunification on National Territory), this is highly discouraged due to extreme appointment scarcity. The D6 remains the only guaranteed legal route for family entry.

Once the family member arrives in Portugal and receives their physical residence card, they are granted extensive rights:

• Right to Work: Family members have the immediate right to seek employment (salaried) or start a business (self-employed) without needing additional work permits.
• Education Access: Immediate right to enroll in Portuguese schools and universities under the same conditions as Portuguese citizens.
• Healthcare Access: Full access to the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), Portugal’s public healthcare system.
• Travel Rights: The right to travel freely within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• Path to Citizenship: After 5 years of legal residence, family members are eligible to apply for Permanent Residency or Portuguese Citizenship, provided they can demonstrate a basic (A2 level) proficiency in the Portuguese language.