Long-Stay (Type D) — Family Reunification (D8) Verified 2026-05-12Portugal D8 Family Reunification Residence Visa (Informational)
Informational guide to the Portugal D8 Family Reunification Residence Visa for spouses, children, and dependent parents joining a Portugal-resident sponsor.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Portugal visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Please note: SureshotVisa does NOT process Portugal long-term residence visas (D1 Work, D2 Entrepreneur, D3 Teaching, D4 Research/Study, D7 Retiree, D8 Family Reunification, D9 Digital Nomad, CPLP Mobility, Golden Visa, etc.). This page is provided for informational purposes only. For Portugal residence visas, apply directly via the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi + AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) — or consult a licensed Portuguese immigration lawyer. We specialise in short-stay Schengen visas where our Indian-side expertise adds the most value.
Processing
60–90 days (Embassy + AIMA)
Stay Duration
4-month entry D-visa; residence permit aligned to sponsor's permit
Starting Fee
€90
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Portugal visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1SureshotVisa does NOT process D8 — informational only.
- 2AIMA backlog reality: plan 6+ months not the nominal 60-90 days.
- 3Translation must be by authorised Portuguese translator — generic translations get rejected.
Who Can Apply
- Spouse / registered partner / cohabitant of Portugal-resident sponsor
- Dependent children under 18 of Portugal resident
- Adult children unable to support themselves (special cases)
- Dependent parents financially supported by Portugal-resident child
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Portugal / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| D8 Residence Visa — Embassy fee | €90 |
| AIMA Residence Permit fee | €84 |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,052 |
Government fees set in EUR. Family reunification often runs longer in practice due to AIMA backlogs.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Relationship Documents
4 items- Marriage certificate (apostilled India MEA + translated to Portuguese)Required
- Birth certificate (for children/parents), apostilled + translatedRequired
- Cohabitation proof (for cohabitant route) — 2+ years documented
- Proof of financial dependence (for adult dependants)
Sponsor Documents
4 items- Sponsor's Portuguese residence permit (Autorização de Residência) + passport copyRequired
- Sponsor's income proof (last 3-6 months) meeting subsistence thresholdRequired
Sponsor must cover applicant subsistence: +50% for spouse, +30% per child
- Sponsor's housing proof — accommodation adequate for familyRequired
- Sponsor's clean criminal record from Portugal
Core Documents
5 items- National D-Visa application form (signed)Required
- Valid passport (full validity for visa + permit)Required
- Passport-size photosRequired
- PCC India + every country lived 1+ year past 5 years, apostilled (applicants 16+)Required
- Travel medical insurance (first 4 months)Required
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
7 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Sponsor confirms eligibility
Sponsor verifies their permit type supports family reunification + meets income / housing thresholds.
- 02
Sponsor files reunification request with AIMA in Portugal
Pre-AIMA approval recommended though not always strictly required at consulate stage.
- 03
Apostille + translate relationship documents
India MEA apostille + authorised Portuguese translator.
- 04
Applicant PCC + apostille
India + countries lived 1+ year past 5 years.
- 05
Fill D-visa application + submit at VFS
visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/prt.
- 06
Consulate + AIMA decision
60–90 days nominal; backlogs may extend timeline.
- 07
Enter Portugal + AIMA appointment + residence permit
Within 90 days of arrival.
What works
5 levers that flip a borderline case.
- AIMA's family-reunification queue has been heavily backlogged since 2023-24 reforms — expect delays beyond nominal 60-90 days.
- Apostille documents in India well in advance — India MEA apostille can take 1-2 weeks.
- Cohabitant route requires 2+ years of documented joint life — start the paper trail early.
- Income thresholds: Sponsor must show enough to support self + dependants (+50% spouse, +30% per child) at IAS index level.
Download official forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens the official VFS Global page for Portugal
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Schengen Visa Application Form (Embassy of Portugal)
Portuguese MFA visa portal. Download the Schengen / National Visa application form, complete in English/Portuguese, sign.
VFS Global Portugal (India)
Book biometrics appointment, view checklists, track application status.
AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
Successor to SEF (since Oct 2023). Handles substantive decisions on Portugal long-term residence permits.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Portugal D8 Family Reunification Residence Visa (Informational) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently asked
Questions, answered straight
Nominally 60-90 days, but AIMA has been heavily backlogged since 2023-24 — total can run 6-12 months in practice. Plan accordingly.
Yes, but as 'dependent ascending relatives' — you must prove financial dependence (regular substantial financial support). AIMA scrutinises this carefully.
5 years on a D8 residence permit + A2 Portuguese + clean record → permanent residence; further 1 year → citizenship eligibility.
Generally no — D8 is for spouse / children / parents. Siblings need a separate route (typically D1/D2/D4 in their own right).
Still have a question about your case? Ask us directly — we usually reply in 5 minutes.
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other Portugal visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
Other Portugal Visa Types
Portugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Apply for a Portugal Schengen tourist visa from India — fees, documents, VFS process and tips for Indian travellers.
View guidePortugal Business Visa (Schengen Type C)
Portugal Schengen business visa from India — for meetings, conferences and training. Fees, documents, invitation letters and VFS process.
View guidePortugal Visit Visa (Family & Friends — Schengen Type C)
Portugal Schengen visa to visit family or friends from India — host invitation, Statement of Responsibility, fees and VFS process.
View guidePortugal Student Visa (National Type D — Long Stay)
Portugal National Type D student visa from India — for study, research or internships over 90 days. Documents, process and AIMA route.
View guidePortugal Work Visa / Permit (National Type D — Information Only)
Information about Portugal's National Type D work visa/permit. SureshotVisa does NOT process work visas or permits — this page is informational only.
View guidePortugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting Portugal for tourism — Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Madeira, Azores — up to 90 days.
View guidePortugal Business / Conference Visa (Schengen Type C)
Short-stay Schengen visa for Indian business professionals attending meetings, conferences, training, or trade events in Portugal.
View guidePortugal Visa for Visiting Family & Friends (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends resident in Portugal — up to 90 days.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Portugal website and Embassy of Portugal. Last verified 2026-05-12. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.