Short answer (checked 30 September 2026)
The D6 is the residence visa used by eligible family members outside Portugal after AIMA approves the sponsor's family reunification request. The family member does not normally apply from scratch at a consulate. Following notification of approval, they must formalize the visa application within the applicable 90-day deadline, and Article 65 provides for issue within 10 days after submission. The D6 is valid for two entries and a four-month stay, during which the holder proceeds to the residence permit stage.
National visa fee, subject to exemptions
Legal period for D6 visa issue after submission
AIMA decision period for Article 98(1) and 98(2) cases
What the D6 visa is
The Portugal D6 is the national residence visa used by a qualifying family member outside Portugal after AIMA approves the sponsor's reunification request. AIMA comes first, then the consular visa stage.
Family members of EU, EEA, Swiss or Portuguese citizens fall under a different regime, Law 37/2006.
Before you start: are you eligible yet?
For proceedings started after 23 October 2025, the standard Article 98(1) wait is two years, and the Article 99 and 100 family members must have cohabited with the sponsor or depend on the sponsor. The wait is 15 months for a spouse or partner who lived with the sponsor for at least 18 months immediately before the sponsor entered Portugal. There is no wait for the specified dependent minor or incapable children, the co-parent spouse or partner of that minor, or family of Article 90, 90-A and 121-A permit holders. An exceptional ministerial waiver is possible.
Proceedings initiated before 23 October 2025 are not automatically governed by the new waiting rules. Eligible relatives can include a spouse, qualifying unmarried partner, dependent children, certain dependent unmarried adult children, dependent parents and minor siblings under legally recognized guardianship. Ordinary dependent adult children generally study in Portugal, while Article 90-A can cover study outside Portugal. Study, unpaid professional training and volunteering residence permits have narrower family categories under Article 99(3).
For the full rules, see our Portugal family reunification rules for 2026.
Step by step
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1. The sponsor applies to AIMA in Portugal
For a family member outside Portugal, the sponsor requests family reunification from AIMA by appointment using Form Modelo 1 and the required documents. See our guide to AIMA appointments in 2026.
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2. AIMA decides the family reunification request
Article 105 gives AIMA nine months. The exceptional extension does not apply to Article 98(1) standard cases or Article 98(2) 15-month spouse or partner cases. For other categories, the period may be extended by an equal period in exceptionally complex cases.
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3. AIMA approves the request and the 90-day deadline starts
After approval, the family member must go to the competent Portuguese diplomatic mission or consular post within 90 days to formalize the residence visa application. Missing this deadline causes the reunification approval to lapse.
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4. The family member submits the D6 visa application
The consulate should not request documents already transmitted by AIMA. Article 65 provides for issue within 10 days after submission. The official checklist also requires travel insurance covering medical expenses, urgent assistance and possible repatriation, but does not establish a statutory EUR 30,000 D6 minimum.
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5. The family member enters Portugal
The D6 is valid for two entries and a stay of four months. NIF, NISS and SNS numbers are assigned automatically in connection with issuance of the family reunification residence visa.
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6. The family member requests the residence permit from AIMA
During the visa validity period, the family member proceeds to the residence permit stage with AIMA.
Documents checklist
The main family reunification documents are filed at the AIMA stage. Current guidance includes:
- The sponsor's residence permit and a certified copy of the family member's passport.
- Authenticated proof of the family relationship, plus dependency, guardianship or parental consent evidence where applicable.
- Proof of accommodation and sufficient means of subsistence.
- Modelo 4 term of responsibility with certified signature, if applicable.
- A criminal record certificate for applicants aged 16 or over from the country of nationality or the country where the person resided for more than one year before residing in Portugal.
- Certified translations where required.
Third-country documents generally use an apostille for Hague Convention countries or consular legalization for non-Hague countries. Some EU public documents are exempt under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191. AIMA also recognizes translation exceptions in some cases, including certain English, French or Spanish documents and qualifying multilingual EU forms. Certified translations can be handled by authorized professionals or consular authorities.
For accommodation evidence, see our guide to proof of accommodation in Portugal.
Income and housing proof
Portaria 1563/2007 uses 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child. The means must be assured for at least 12 months, without recourse to social support.
Using the 2026 continental Portugal minimum wage of EUR 920 as a mainland reference gives:
| Family member | Percentage | 2026 mainland monthly reference |
|---|---|---|
| First adult | 100% | EUR 920 |
| Each additional adult | 50% | EUR 460 |
| Each child | 30% | EUR 276 |
Worked example: sponsor + spouse + one child = EUR 1,656 per month as a 2026 mainland reference, with the means assured for at least 12 months. These are reference amounts, not fixed Portugal-wide euro thresholds in the statute. Portaria 1563/2007 refers to the minimum wage net of social security contributions.
See our guide to financial requirements for moving to Portugal.
Housing may be owned or rented, subject to Article 101. AIMA asks for a sworn address declaration plus proof of the legal right to use the property. Owners can use land registry evidence. Tenants and similar occupiers should provide a landlord or accommodation provider declaration stating the legal basis for occupation. A lease may support the file, but is not listed as a substitute for that declaration.
Fees
| Stage | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| D6 national residence visa | EUR 110 | Descendants are specifically exempt. Spouses and parents generally pay unless another statutory exemption applies. |
| AIMA analysis | EUR 133.00 | Unreduced base amount. |
| AIMA grant | EUR 114.30 | Unreduced base amount. |
| AIMA base total | EUR 247.30 | Analysis plus grant. |
| AIMA 25% reduced total | EUR 185.60 | Where the 25% reduction applies. |
AIMA provides a 25% reduction for digital filing, 10% for assisted in-person filing where the procedure is digitally available, and 25% for in-person filing until the relevant service becomes available digitally. Golden Visa family members pay higher ARI fees.
Processing times
| Stage | Legal time | What happens in practice |
|---|---|---|
| AIMA Article 98(1) or 98(2) | 9 months, no Article 105(2) extension | Visas.pt experience: appointment availability and document readiness can affect the overall elapsed time. |
| Other AIMA categories | 9 months, with possible equal extension in exceptionally complex cases | The extension is legally available only outside Article 98(1) and 98(2). |
| After AIMA approval | 90 days to formalize the visa application | Missing the deadline causes the approval to lapse. |
| D6 visa issue | 10 days after submission | Local appointment and submission procedures can vary. |
| D6 validity | 2 entries and 4 months | The holder uses this period to proceed to the residence permit stage. |
There is no single official 60-day processing time for the complete D6 process.
Checking your application status
For a family member outside Portugal, the AIMA request is filed in person by appointment. AIMA's Portal de Serviços currently accepts family reunification applications only for relatives already in Portugal, so services.aima.gov.pt is not a universal tracker for external D6 cases. Follow AIMA's case instructions, then use the relevant consulate or visa provider at the visa stage.
After your family arrives
The permit generally matches the sponsor's duration. If the sponsor is a permanent resident, the family member receives an initial two-year permit, renewable for successive three-year periods.
After two years, an autonomous permit is available if family ties still subsist. The wait does not apply where the sponsor has minor children resident in Portugal. Earlier autonomy can also follow judicial separation, divorce, widowhood, death of an ascendant or descendant, reaching adulthood, or a Public Prosecutor accusation concerning domestic violence. A spouse's first permit is already autonomous where the marriage or de facto union has existed for more than five years.
Integration duties also cover Portuguese language learning, civic and constitutional training and compulsory school attendance for minors. Detailed regulations had not been published as of 30 September 2026. See our guide to proof of integration for Portugal family permits.
If needed separately, Visas.pt also offers a Portuguese NIF service.
If the application is refused
For an AIMA refusal, Article 106 requires the reasons, judicial challenge right and deadline to be stated. The challenge normally has devolutive effect, but is suspensive where family members are already in Portugal and refusal is based exclusively on Article 106(1)(a).
These rules concern the AIMA decision. A later consular visa refusal is separate. Current consular fee rules recognize administrative challenges to visa decisions and exempt family reunification visa challenges from the usual EUR 75 administrative challenge fee.
For case-specific advice, consider an immigration consultation.
Common mistakes to avoid
In Visas.pt's experience, common problems include:
- Applying at the consulate before AIMA approval.
- Missing the 90-day deadline after approval.
- Applying the post-23 October 2025 waiting rules automatically to older pending proceedings.
- Assuming every AIMA case can be extended beyond nine months.
- Treating the whole process as one processing clock.
- Presenting EUR 30,000 as a statutory D6 insurance minimum, rather than following the current residence visa insurance checklist.
- Submitting foreign documents without checking apostille, legalization or translation rules.
- Assuming a lease alone always satisfies AIMA's accommodation checklist.
Common questions
What is the Portugal D6 visa?
The D6 is Portugal's family reunification residence visa for qualifying family members outside Portugal. Normally, the sponsor first obtains AIMA approval, then the family member formalizes the D6 application through the competent Portuguese diplomatic mission or consulate.
How long does a Portugal family reunification visa take?
AIMA has nine months to decide. The exceptional extension does not apply to Article 98(1) or 98(2) cases, but may apply to other categories in exceptionally complex cases. After approval, the family member has 90 days to formalize the visa application, and Article 65 provides for issue within 10 days after submission.
What documents are required for family reunification in Portugal?
The AIMA file generally includes the sponsor's permit, the family member's passport copy, proof of the family relationship, accommodation, means and criminal record evidence for applicants aged 16 or over. The criminal record is from the country of nationality or the country where the person resided for more than one year before residing in Portugal.
How do I check my family reunification status in Portugal?
External family reunification cases are normally filed in person at AIMA, and services.aima.gov.pt is not a universal tracker for them. Follow AIMA's case instructions, then use the consulate or visa provider's tracking method at the D6 stage.
Can my spouse apply for a Portugal spouse visa before AIMA approval?
Normally no. For a spouse outside Portugal, the sponsor first files the reunification request with AIMA and waits for approval before the spouse formalizes the D6 residence visa application.
What are the income requirements for a D6 family reunification case?
The formula is 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult and 30% for each child, with the means assured for at least 12 months. Using the 2026 continental Portugal wage of EUR 920 as a mainland reference gives EUR 1,656 per month for a sponsor, spouse and one child.
How much does the D6 visa cost?
The national residence visa fee is EUR 110. Descendants are specifically exempt, while spouses and parents generally pay unless another statutory exemption applies. Separate AIMA permit fees also apply.
Can family reunification be applied for from inside Portugal?
The current ordinary in-country route is restricted to Article 98(3) no-wait family members. Article 103(2) requires them to be in Portugal and to have entered and remain there at the application date, while AIMA asks for proof of legal entry. The broader 180-day transitional route closed around 21 April 2026.
How long is the family member's residence permit valid?
It generally has the same duration as the sponsor's permit. If the sponsor is a permanent resident, the family member receives an initial two-year permit renewable for successive three-year periods. Article 107 also contains special rules for autonomous permits.
Do I need EUR 30,000 travel insurance for a D6 visa?
The current official consular checklist requires travel insurance covering medical expenses, urgent medical assistance and possible repatriation. However, EUR 30,000 should not be presented as a statutory D6 minimum.
How Visas.pt can help
Visas.pt can help prepare the family reunification case, organize supporting documents and manage the D6 process from AIMA through the consular application. See our D6 family reunification service.
Sources
- Law 23/2007, consolidated version, including Articles 58, 64, 65, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 105, 106 and 107.
- Law 61/2025, including the current waiting rules and transitional provisions.
- Law 62/2026, including revocation of Article 106(5) and Article 108(6). It did not change the core Article 98 waiting periods described here.
- Decreto Regulamentar 84/2007, Article 68, including the 90-day deadline after approval.
- AIMA family reunification, foreign document, means and 2026 fee guidance.
- Official Portuguese consular residence visa and fee information.
- Portaria 1563/2007 on means of subsistence.
- Decreto-Lei 139/2025 on the 2026 continental Portugal minimum wage.
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 on certain EU public documents.