# Portugal Family Reunification 2026: Full Requirements Guide Portugal's family reunification rules tightened in 2025: 2 years' residence, income and housing proof, a 9-month AIMA decision window in 2026. Canonical: https://unlockportugal.co/visas/portugal-family-reunification-2026/ Updated: 2026-09-19T00:00:00.000Z Language: en --- **Key Takeaways:** Portugal’s family reunification rules got noticeably stricter under Lei 61/2025 (in force 23 October 2025). You now generally need 2 years of valid residence before sponsoring family, down to 15 months for a spouse and waived entirely for your own minor children. You’ll need to prove income of roughly 100% of the minimum wage for yourself plus 50% per extra adult and 30% per child, plus suitable housing. AIMA has a fixed 9 months to decide, with no extension allowed for these cases, and appeal rights to the courts remain intact. This applies the same way whether you’re Indian, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, or from anywhere else outside the EU — the rules don’t change by nationality, only your own residence permit and family situation do. If you’re working in Portugal, on a farm in Odemira, a construction site, a restaurant kitchen, or an IT desk in Lisbon, and you want your spouse, children, or a dependent parent to join you, this guide walks through exactly what changed, what you need to prove, and how long it actually takes in 2026. ## Who counts as “family” under Portugal’s reunification rules? Portugal’s family reunification law recognizes a specific, limited list of relatives, not “family” in the broad sense. According to [Portugal’s visa portal (vistos.mne.gov.pt)](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/family-reunification), a resident foreigner can sponsor: - **A spouse or civil partner** (união de facto), including same-sex partners who can prove a genuine cohabiting relationship - **Minor children**, including those of only one spouse, and adopted minors under specific conditions - **Dependent adult children** who are still studying and financially supported by the sponsor - **Dependent ascendants** — typically a parent who relies on you financially, yours or your spouse’s - **Minor siblings** under your legal guardianship Notice what’s missing: adult siblings, cousins, or parents who are simply retired and would prefer to be near you don’t qualify unless you can show genuine financial dependency. AIMA and the consulate will ask for proof of that dependency, such as regular remittances or a documented lack of independent income, not just a birth certificate. This route is open to any foreign resident with a valid residence permit, regardless of which visa got you here. Whether you hold a work visa, a [D3 highly qualified worker visa](https://unlockportugal.co/visas/d3-visa-portugal-highly-qualified-2026/), or a residence permit from a family or humanitarian route, the same reunification right applies — though, as the next section covers, how long you must wait to use it can depend on which visa got you here. Your nationality doesn’t change the rules; your own residence status does. ## How long do you need to live in Portugal before applying? **The general rule, since Lei 61/2025 took effect on 23 October 2025, is 2 years of valid residence** before you can request family reunification. That’s a real tightening: the previous regime allowed reunification much earlier in a resident’s stay. There are two exceptions worth knowing: 1. **Spouse or civil partner:** if you and your partner already lived together for at least 18 months before you moved to Portugal, the required residence period drops to **15 months**. 2. **Minor or dependent children of the sponsor:** there is **no minimum residence period** at all. You can apply as soon as you hold a valid residence permit. There are two more exceptions worth knowing. First, if your spouse or civil partner is already the co-parent of a minor or dependent child you share, the 2-year wait doesn’t apply to them either — the law treats that family the same as your own minor children. Second, if your own residence permit is for highly qualified work, university teaching or research, or you hold an EU Blue Card (the category behind the [D3 visa](https://unlockportugal.co/visas/d3-visa-portugal-highly-qualified-2026/)), your family members are exempt from the 2-year minimum entirely, not just given a shorter one. AIMA can also waive or shorten the residence period in other exceptional, well-documented cases at its discretion. Confirm your specific situation with AIMA or a licensed immigration lawyer before assuming an exception applies, since eligibility is assessed case by case. ### A worked example Say you arrived in Portugal in January 2024 on a work visa tied to an agricultural or construction job. Under the current rule, you’d need to wait until January 2026 to sponsor a parent or an adult dependent child, but if your spouse already lived with you for 18 months before you both moved, you could have sponsored them starting around April 2025, 15 months after your own residence began. The clock is different for each family member, so don’t assume one waiting period covers your whole household. ## What income and housing do you actually need to prove? **Portugal calculates the minimum income you need using the national minimum wage (RMMG).** According to [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa documentation page](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/documentacao-instrutoria/meios-de-subsistencia), the formula is: 100% of the RMMG for yourself, plus 50% for each additional adult in the household, plus 30% for each child. The 2026 RMMG is **€920/month**, per [DGERT](https://www.dgert.gov.pt/retribuicao-minima-mensal-garantida-para-2026). Here’s what that looks like for common family sizes: | Household you’re sponsoring | Calculation | Minimum monthly income (2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | You + spouse | €920 + 50% | ~€1,380 | | You + spouse + 1 child | €920 + 50% + 30% | ~€1,656 | | You + spouse + 2 children | €920 + 50% + 30% + 30% | ~€1,932 | | You + 1 dependent parent | €920 + 50% | ~€1,380 | This income has to be **documented and stable**, not a one-time deposit before you apply. AIMA and consulates typically want to see payslips, an employment contract, tax records, or, for the self-employed, invoices and social security contributions. A [NIF](https://unlockportugal.co/finance/how-to-get-nif-portugal/) is a prerequisite for almost all of this paperwork, so make sure yours is active and your address on file is current before you start assembling documents. **Housing has its own bar.** You need accommodation considered normal for a comparable family in your region, meeting basic health and safety standards, whether you own it or rent it. If you’re renting, a registered lease in your name is the standard proof; a room shared informally with coworkers, common in some agricultural and construction placements, generally will not meet this standard for a family application. If you’re not sure your current housing would qualify, our guide on [renting an apartment in Portugal](https://unlockportugal.co/daily-life/renting-an-apartment-in-portugal/) covers what a properly registered tenancy looks like. ## How does the AIMA application process actually work? The process runs in two stages, and the order matters: 1. **You (the sponsor) apply first**, from inside Portugal, requesting AIMA’s authorization for reunification. You submit proof of your own residence status, the length of time you’ve held it, your income, and your housing. 2. **Once AIMA grants that authorization**, your family member applies for a national visa at the Portuguese consulate or embassy with jurisdiction over where they live. For readers in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, or Sri Lanka, that’s the [Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi](https://novadeli.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/), which explicitly covers all six of those countries — there is no separate Portuguese consulate or visa centre in Kathmandu or Dhaka. If you’re applying from Pakistan or elsewhere, confirm which post has jurisdiction over your specific location before booking any appointment, since arrangements vary by country and can change. **AIMA is legally required to decide within 9 months, and for family reunification specifically, that deadline can’t be extended.** The law lets AIMA push back its decision time on other kinds of residence applications, but Article 105(2) of the Foreigners’ Law explicitly excludes family reunification cases from that extension — so 9 months is a genuine outer limit here, not a soft target. Once approved, your family member receives a visa to travel and then a residence permit once they arrive. If your family is already living in Portugal, having entered and remained legally the whole time, there’s a separate standing route under [Article 98, n.º 2 of the Foreigners’ Law](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2), distinct from applying while they’re still abroad under [Article 98, n.º 1](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-fora-de-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-1). This lets you request reunification without sending them home first, but it has its own conditions, so confirm eligibility with AIMA rather than assuming it applies automatically. ## What if my family arrived under the 2025–2026 transitional rule? Lei 61/2025 included a temporary bridge: for **180 days after it took effect (23 October 2025)**, sponsors could request residence for family members already in Portugal who had entered legally, even if they didn’t yet meet the new 2-year rule. That window is widely reported as having run through **around 21 April 2026**, and, as of this post’s publish date, it has closed. If you missed it, the standing Article 98, n.º 2 route above may still be available depending on your family member’s legal status, but the special transitional bridge itself is no longer open, so don’t plan around it. ## What happens after your family arrives? Reunification doesn’t end at the airport. Under the current framework, family members who join you are expected to take **Portuguese language and civic-values training** after arrival, and any school-age children must be enrolled in compulsory education. This isn’t paperwork you can quietly skip: falling behind on it can complicate a future residence-permit renewal for your family member, in the same way that keeping your own [residence permit renewal](https://unlockportugal.co/visas/renew-residence-permit-portugal-2026/) on schedule matters for your own status. Once your family is registered, getting them signed up with the public health system, covered in our guide to [SNS registration and the utente number](https://unlockportugal.co/healthcare/sns-registration-utente-number/), is one of the first practical steps worth taking. ## What if AIMA refuses the request? A refusal isn’t automatically final. The government’s original draft of Lei 61/2025 would have sharply narrowed judicial recourse against AIMA decisions, but the Constitutional Court ruled that restriction unconstitutional before the law passed, and the enacted text kept ordinary appeal rights to the administrative courts intact. If your family reunification request is denied, get advice on your appeal deadline immediately, since court deadlines in Portugal are unforgiving of delay. This is also where continuous, well-documented compliance helps: a clean record of income, housing, and legal status makes both the original application and any appeal stronger. ## Step-by-step: how to actually apply 1. **Confirm you meet the residence-period rule** for the specific family member you’re sponsoring: 2 years generally, 15 months for a spouse, or immediately for your own minor children. 2. **Gather income proof** covering the RMMG-based threshold for your full household size — payslips, contract, tax records. 3. **Secure housing** that meets the “normal for the region” and safety/health standard, with a registered lease or proof of ownership. 4. **Apply to AIMA** for reunification authorization from inside Portugal. 5. **Once authorized, your family member applies for a visa** at the consulate or embassy with jurisdiction over their country. 6. **After arrival**, register for a NIF, enroll in Portuguese language and civic-values training, and get children into school. 7. **If refused, act quickly** on the appeal, since court deadlines are strict. ## Final word Family reunification in Portugal is still very much achievable in 2026, but it’s no longer the loose, faster process it used to be. The core numbers to hold onto are 2 years of residence (15 months for a spouse, none for your own minor children), a household income built on 100% of the minimum wage for yourself plus 50% per adult and 30% per child, and a fixed, non-extendable 9-month decision window at AIMA. None of that changes based on whether you’re coming from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, or anywhere else outside the EU. What changes the outcome is preparation: a clean residence record, documented income, proper housing, and applying through the right channel for your family member’s situation. _This page describes the legal situation as checked against official Portuguese government sources on 19 September 2026. Immigration law and its implementing rules change; always confirm current requirements with AIMA, vistos.mne.gov.pt, or a licensed immigration lawyer before filing._ ## Quick facts Residence needed to sponsor family 2 years generally; 15 months for a spouse; none for minor/dependent children 2026 income floor (RMMG-based) €920/month for you, +50% per extra adult, +30% per child AIMA decision deadline 9 months — fixed; the law bars any extension for family reunification cases Legal basis Lei 61/2025 (in force 23 October 2025), amending the Foreigners' Law Transitional window for family already in Portugal Closed — ran 23 Oct 2025 to ~21 Apr 2026 After arrival Portuguese language and civic-values training required ## Frequently asked questions How many years do I need to live in Portugal before I can bring my family? Since Lei 61/2025 took effect on 23 October 2025, the general rule is 2 years of valid residence before you can sponsor family reunification. There are two important exceptions: if you're sponsoring a spouse or civil partner who lived with you for at least 18 months before you moved to Portugal, that drops to 15 months, and if you're sponsoring your own minor or dependent children, there is no minimum residence period at all — you can apply as soon as you hold a valid residence permit. Can I bring my parents to Portugal under family reunification? Only if they qualify as dependent ascendants — typically a parent (yours or your spouse's) who relies on you financially. Portugal's family reunification rules do not extend to parents who are simply retired or would prefer to live near you; AIMA and the consulate will ask for evidence of actual financial dependency, not just a family relationship. Siblings only qualify if they are minors under your legal guardianship. How much income do I need to show for family reunification in 2026? Portugal calculates the minimum using the 2026 minimum wage (RMMG) of €920/month, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa portal: 100% of that figure for yourself, plus 50% for each additional adult, plus 30% for each child. A worker sponsoring a spouse and one child needs to show roughly €1,656/month in documented, stable income, evidenced by payslips, an employment contract, or tax records, not just a bank balance on the day you apply. My spouse or child is already living in Portugal. Do we still have to apply from abroad? Not necessarily. Article 98, n.º 2 of the Foreigners' Law lets you request reunification for a family member who is already in Portugal, as long as they entered and have remained here legally the whole time. This is separate from the temporary 180-day window Lei 61/2025 opened for pending cases, which closed around 21 April 2026. If your family member entered legally and is still in status, ask AIMA about this standing route before assuming you must send them home to apply through a consulate. How long does AIMA take to decide, and what happens if we're refused? AIMA is legally required to decide a family reunification request within 9 months. Unlike most other residence-permit categories, this one can't be pushed back for complexity — Article 105(2) of the Foreigners' Law specifically excludes family reunification cases from the extension it allows elsewhere, so 9 months is a hard outer limit, not a starting point. If your request is refused, the law that finally passed kept full appeal rights to the administrative courts intact. An earlier draft would have narrowed judicial recourse against AIMA to only the most extreme cases, but the Constitutional Court struck that restriction down before the law was enacted. So a denial is not automatically the end of the process, though you should get advice on the appeal deadline quickly. Do my reunited family members need to learn Portuguese? Yes. Under the current rules, family members who join you through reunification are expected to take Portuguese language and civic-values training after they arrive, and school-age children must be enrolled in compulsory education. Skipping this isn't just a suggestion — it can complicate a future residence-permit renewal, so treat it as part of the move, not an optional extra. ## Sources This guide cites the following official sources. We link directly so you can verify every claim yourself. - [Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros — Vistos](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/general-information/family-reunification)vistos.mne.gov.pt - [Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros — Vistos](https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/pt/vistos-nacionais/documentacao-instrutoria/meios-de-subsistencia)vistos.mne.gov.pt - [AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-fora-de-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-1)aima.gov.pt - [AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo](https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-em-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-2)aima.gov.pt - [Diário da República](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei/61-2025-941547426)diariodarepublica.pt - [Dgert](https://www.dgert.gov.pt/retribuicao-minima-mensal-garantida-para-2026)dgert.gov.pt - [Novadeli](https://novadeli.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/)novadeli.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt - [Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa](https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=920A0103&nid=920&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&nversao=)pgdlisboa.pt - [Tribunalconstitucional](https://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/20250785.html)tribunalconstitucional.pt Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. [How we research and update our guides](https://unlockportugal.co/editorial-policy/) ![Photo of Larissa Miranda](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/larissa-miranda.C89EgK8m_ZIuImL.webp) Written by [Larissa Miranda](https://unlockportugal.co/author/larissa-miranda/) Writer & editor Larissa Miranda is a writer and editor at Unlock Portugal. ## Related guides [ ![Retired couple enjoying wine on an Atlantic beach — retiring in Portugal guide 2026](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/hero.Dagv2M9l_1AN9un.webp) Visas ### Retiring in Portugal: The Complete 2026 Guide ](https://unlockportugal.co/visas/retiring-in-portugal-guide/)[ ![Portuguese Citizenship 2026 Rules: The Application Guide](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/hero.B8kQvIws_1lir3x.webp) Visas ### Portuguese Citizenship 2026 Rules: The Application Guide ](https://unlockportugal.co/visas/portuguese-citizenship-by-residency/)[ ![Gated entrance to the Lisbon palace housing CPLP headquarters, the community behind the Portugal residence permit](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/hero.DfjkC2Kh_Z4dumH.webp) Visas ### CPLP Residence Permit in Portugal: The Complete 2026 Guide ](https://unlockportugal.co/visas/cplp-residence-permit-portugal/)