PORTUGAL: IMMIGRATION FOR FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS

PORTUGAL: ADVANTAGES

Becoming a resident of Portugal under the D7 program for financially independent applicants comes with various advantages, such as the following:

1. 1. 1. The right to reside, study, work and operate a business in Portugal.
      2. Permanent residency and citizenship of Portugal can be obtained after only 5 years of residence in the country.
      3. Free movement within the other 26 countries members of the Schengen Area.
      4. As a Portuguese resident, applications for a visa for countries like the USA, Australia, Canada or New Zealand are more accessible.
      5. Portugal is an attractive destination for tax conditions for investors, self-employed professionals and many others as nomads or financially independent people.
      6. Facility to open a bank account in Portugal and in other European countries for either personal or business needs.
      7. Possibility to establish a business in Portugal and in other countries in Europe.
      8. Education system is of high standard. Portugal has several private French, American and British schools.
      9. Portuguese healthcare system is considered one of the best in Europe.
      10. According to the Global Peace Index, in 2021 Portugal was ranked the 4th most peaceful country in the world, just behind Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark. Portugal is also considered a safe country and its crime level is significantly lower compared to other countries in Europe.
      11. Portugal offers rich cultural activities, with a multitude of festivals, concerts and museums. Various historic monuments and villages are classified under UNESCO World Heritage sites.

PORTUGAL: REQUIREMENTS

The main conditions of the D7 visa in Portugal are the following:

1. 1. Provide evidence of a regular passive income that may come from pension, property rental, interests, dividends, intellectual property or any other income equivalent to at least €7,200 for the main applicant per year, of €3,600 for spouse and of €2,160 for a minor child.
   2. Have a regular and long-term accommodation in Portugal, which can either be acquired or rented for a minimum period of 12 months.
   3. Obtain a Portuguese tax ID number (NIF).
   4. Open a bank account in Portugal and transfer the minimal funds to cover expenses in the country.
   5. Subscribe to a medical insurance in Portugal for the entire length of the stay.

PORTUGAL: DOCUMENTS

Any document in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator. Some of the personal documents have to be legalised. Below is a general list of required documentation necessary for a D7 visa application in Portugal:

1. 1. 1. Passport,.
      2. National Identity card.
      3. Birth certificate.
      4. Marriage certificate, family booklet or divorce certificate, according to the situation of the applicant. 
      5. Police certificate. 
      6. Medical insurance coverage valid in Portugal for minimum 12 months.
      7. Tax assessment covering the previous 5 years. 
      8. Confirmation of accommodation in Portugal (such as a title deed or a lease agreement and a utility bill).
      9. Portuguese tax ID number (NIF).
      10. Documents justifying a regular income based on the occupation.
      11. Bank certificate and bank statements from a bank in Portugal.

PORTUGAL: PROCESS

Below is a general process we typically offer our clients with regards to their application of a D7 immigration visa in Portugal:

1. 1. Before we launch the official process of a visa application, we suggest to begin with a private consultation with our team. During this meeting, we will evaluate your profile, provide you with additional information on the program and inform you of the conditions. At the same time, we will be able to cover other topics or concerns you may have with regards to education, medical care, taxes and any other topic related to the Portuguese D7 program.
   2. We will assist you in the preparation of the list of documents that is required based on your situation. Documents issued in a foreign language will have to be translated and will have to be legalised. Our team will be able to guide you during this step and will make sure the documents are in a correct and acceptable format.
   3. Our local Portuguese team can welcome you during your travel in Portugal and accompany you in order to find a suitable property. We will be able to provide you with valuable insights on the real estate market, good neighbourhoods and much more. In case you are unable to travel to Portugal, we can assist you with this step by distance.
   4. We can propose you assistance in opening a bank account in Portugal. Once the bank account is open, you would have to transfer the minimum required funds for living expenses.
   5. We will also help you to apply and obtain a Portuguese tax ID number (NIF).
   6. Our team will guide you in the subscription to a medical coverage with a Portuguese insurance company.
   7. Once your application file is complete, we will take an appointment for you to apply for a Portuguese D7 visa at the Portuguese consular services in your country of citizenship or of residence.
   8. If your application is approved, a national Portuguese visa will be issued in 2-3 weeks.
   9. After the visa is issued, you will have to travel to Portugal, register your arrival and apply for a residence permit at Portuguese Immigration Department and Border Control Service (SEF). Our team will be present with you to prepare and submit your application in Portugal and obtain the first residency permit, which is valid for 12 months.
   10. The residency permit may be renewed twice for a period of 2 each each. After residing in Portugal for 5 years, you may be eligible to submit an application for permanent residence or Portuguese citizenship by naturalization. Our collaborators will also be present to assist you during the renewal process as well as for the permanent residency and citizenship application.

PORTUGAL: CITIZENSHIP

Our experts at the Inimex Portugal and VIP Serveis Portugal office provide you with the following information about the methods of obtaining Portuguese citizenship. There are three main pathways to become a citizen of Portugal, which are by descent, marriage, and naturalisation.

1. Descent

1. 1. 1. A child automatically acquires Portuguese citizenship at birth, if one of the parents is a Portuguese citizen, regardless of the place of birth.
      2. If born in Portuguese territory and has lived in any territory of Portugal for a period of 10 years, they can automatically acquire nationality (this includes any Portuguese colony before its independence).
      3. If one of your grandparents is Portuguese by birth and you are familiar with the Portuguese language, you may qualify for Portuguese citizenship, subject to approval.
      4. An adopted child by Portuguese parents before reaching legal age, the child automatically acquires nationality.
      5. Those who have lost their Portuguese nationality as minors can reclaim it at any time.
      6. If you are of Sephardic Jewish lineage, it is also possible to apply for citizenship by justifying such lineage to those who were expelled from current Portuguese territories.

2. Marriage

It is possible to apply for Portuguese citizenship if you have been married to a Portuguese citizen for at least 3 years and have not been legally separated.

3. Naturalisation

An individual who has legally resided in Portugal for 5 consecutive years and can justify Portuguese language knowledge can apply for citizenship.

PORTUGAL: OUR SERVICES

1. 1. 1. Application for a visa and residence permit for financially independent applicants (visa D7) in Portugal.
      2. Application for a visa and residence permit for real estate investors (Golden visa) in Portugal.
      3. Assistance in the renewal process of residency permit.
      4. Submission of the immigration file to the Portuguese Immigration Service (SEF).
      5. Supporting in the application process for the permanent residency and/or citizenship of Portugal. 
      6. Opening a bank account for residents and non-resident in Portugal (BPI, Barclays, BBVA, Novobanco, Santander Totta).
      7. Application for a N.I.F. (fiscal identification number) in Portugal.
      8. Selection and subscription of a health insurance that best suits your needs and that is under the D7 visa in Portugal.
      9. Interpreter during official meetings with the Portuguese authorities, official translation of documents into Portuguese and legalisation services.
      10. Guidance through the process of property rental or acquirement by offering expertise and recommendations on the areas, the real-estate market and any other questions or concerns related to accommodation in Portugal.

PORTUGAL: DIGITAL NOMAD VISA

The digital nomad visa in Portugal is the first one of its kind in Europe. Remote workers who would like to establish themselves in Portugal can now apply for a one-year temporary stay visa. The visa can be extended into a residency permit each year for a maximal period of 5 years.

The applicant will have to perceive a monthly income of at least €2,800, which is equivalent to four times the minimum wage in Portugal. In addition, the applicant must be employed by a company based outside of Portugal and permit to accomplish the work by distance.

REQUIREMENTS

1. 1. Justify a regular income by providing a work agreement, pay slips and a work certificate from a company that is located outside of Portugal.
   2. Confirmation the applicant is able to accomplish the work remotely from Portugal.
   3. Portuguese tax number (NIF).
   4. Bank certificate and bank statements.
   5. Tax assessment.
   6. Police certificate.
   7. Confirmation of regular accommodation in Portugal.
   8. Certificate of medical coverage valid in Portugal for 12 months.

PORTUGAL: TESTIMONIAL I

We collected several testimonies from clients who chose Portugal as a destination and our team to accompany them through the process. Below is one of them:

“My wife and I retired and chose Portugal as our destination in order to fully enjoy the amount of free time we now had. We took this decision according to the warm ambiance of Portugal, its low cost of living, its rich culture, its amazing climate and the quality of its medical services. For all these reasons, we bought an apartment in Porto. We were surprised to find out that there was a huge community of French and Germans who were also retired and living there. We are really happy we met all these people with whom we can share great moments. Our life quality is excellent, and we are never worried because we have access to medical services that fit our needs. Thanks to the Inimex team who helped us with the apartment purchase and facilitated with the application process for the visa in Portugal. We were enjoying life like never before, and we are really happy we took that decision.”

PORTUGAL: TESTIMONIAL II

“While being a mother of two teenagers, I decided to start a new project abroad. I invested in a property in Portugal in order for me to obtain a Portuguese residence and keep it for 5 years. My main goal was to obtain a residence permit in a European country to facilitate trips through Europe. I also wanted to live in Europe and provide many study tracks to my children. With our Portuguese residence permit, my two children could conduct their studies in Switzerland. The process in both Portugal and in Switzerland went very well, thanks to the Inimex team who was present and patient during the entire process. I am glad about this experience, and I would suggest it to anybody particularly because of the program flexibility.“