WHAT IS THE PORTUGAL GOLDEN VISA?
How to obtain the visa
In order to get your golden passport, you must file some formal applications with Passport Office-the official in charge of issuing passports to residents and foreigners.
In order to qualify for the type of pass that is available, you have to meet certain requirements. These include, but are not limited to, the requirement to have at least one year lived in portugal as an resident alien, interest in applying for the special status passport card or residency certificate (these apply specifically to those who already hold valid foreign citizenship), proficiency in english (or other common language) ability, and ability to provide required documentation.
For both applicant types above, an application can be made online or via paper form. If submitted electronically, it will require information like name, height, weight, date of birth, place of residence, employer identification number, driver’s license info, bank account numbers, travel authorization, immigration papers, and payment.
Once all this information has been provided, a message will be sent stating when and where the application can be filled out. Upon completion, the forms can be printed and mailed in or delivered in person.
The processing time is between 4 and 6 weeks; however, there are restrictions regarding whether or not applicants may begin submitting documents. For example, if portugal was never been held by enemy forces or if an aggravated situation exists, the wait period cannot exceed 30 days from the day the application is received. Also, under no circumstances
Who can apply?
In order to become eligible for a golden visa, you have to meet one of these requirements :
You’re from an European Union country.
You have a child who is under the age of 18 and whose parent meets at least one of these requirements : You are more than 60 years old. You’ve been married for 40 years and your spouse has lived in Portugal for at least 37 years. You’re from a new EU member country. You have a recognized illness that will seriously affect your health if you leave the country. You work as a doctor or nurse and you need to keep this job for at least two years. Or you’re from any other EEA country (Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc.).
Your child must be a Portuguese citizen.
He or she must live with you permanently.
Only people ages 64 and older qualify for a non-working golden passport. A working golden passport includes conditions such as needing employment for at least three months after arrival.
These visas can also help you escape debt. If you arrive alone and find yourself unable to support yourself financially, the government may give you financial assistance until you get back on your feet.
Furthermore, there are no processing dates or documentation required before applying. You just have to answer five questions for consideration. The application itself is online and requires some basic information from you.
A copy of your birth certificate
What happens when you get the visa?
Once you have received your passport, you can travel anywhere in the world as if you were a local visitor. No one will ask any questions about your purpose of visit, nor will they expect you to work or present evidence of employment.
You must bring two copies of your valid immigration document (passport or birth certificate). One copy is for use as identification during your stay in Lisbon, the other is for return at the end of your stay.
When you enter the country, you will be required to fill out a one-page information form containing no more than 18 factoids*, and accompanied by an cashier’s check made payable to the Portuguese Immigration Ministry for the total amount stated on the form.
The form cannot exceed 3 pages total**. The money is used to fund additional security screenings at border checkpoints.
What does it cost?
There are no application fees or any other sort of processing fee’s for visas to Europe
Visas can be purchased at travel agencies, foreign embassies, consulate offices, or you may find some online vendors who sell them. Prices will vary between countries, and companies.
It is important to research which countries have issued the most similar visa to see what documents they require in order to apply. *The EU Country Guide* will help with this.
Some of the requirements vary slightly from country to country, but there are certain documents that everyone requires. These include your passport (with minimum length), and proof of identity.
Other necessary documents depend upon whether you are entering through an embassy or consular office, or arriving by land. If someone enters via airway, then no documents are required.
Proof of income and earnings is needed, depending upon how long you plan to stay and how much money you have. This can be pay stubs, utility bills, bank statements, work schedules, or anything that proves where you make regular payments and what you earn.
Others refer to this as ‘the bucket list’ — things you want to do before you kick the bucket (i.e., die). It includes questions like ‘why not visit Spain when you have enough funds’ or ‘go to Canada for two weeks during winter break’.
This takes more planning than getting paperwork done ahead
Who can work?
The European Union passport is one of the most attractive in the world. However, to receive it, you must meet certain qualifications.
First, your child must be under 18 at the time he or she applies for the visa. Also, both parents need to be EU citizens living within the EU at the time the application is made. Finally, people who apply will have to provide proof that they have been married for two years if they were divorced before applying.
These requirements ensure that the child only gains citizenship from his or her parent’s country of residence and not any other country which could make him or her non-EU citizen by birth. Additionally, the applicant must pass an exam administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Portuguese language and culture.
Finally, the individual must wait six months after completing the application before beginning employment with a government agency or another legal entity. This waits period is also subject to regulatory review. As such, you cannot begin working until proper documentation has been submitted and reviewed.
The above list represents the basic requirements required to obtain a Portugal golden visa. There are additional components related to family ties certificates, police clearances, statements of assets/equivalents etc., but these are not applicable depending on your situation.
If you meet the criteria listed, then there are three options open to you. You can get a European Union passport, a European Commission passport, or become a native (or naturalized)
What you need to start
In order to qualify for this immigration status, you must be applying from outside the EU or EFTA countries (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Canada).
You also must meet one of the following criteria:
- You are married to a Brazilian citizen
- Your child is born to a Brazilian mother
- You are pregnant with a child of your own who is not yours or unmarried and don’t have any children already
What you should do
If you are interested in working, living, or studying in Portugal for at least three months, you can apply to be considered for what’s known as a golden visa.
In order to be eligible for this type of visa, you will need to have worked for at least five years abroad with a corresponding number of transferrable employment credits.
You will also need to make an application through your local Portuguese consulate before moving to Portugal. In addition to the required documents, applications may require additional documentation depending upon their discretion.
The processing time for these applications can take up to two years, so wait until they process all your paperwork before entering into a relationship that may result in invalidating your immigration status.
What you need to apply
To obtain the golden visa, you must be from a European Union country
To get the visa, your marriage must be registered in France (for citizenship registration purposes)
You can have up to three children from your French wife, as long as at least one was born in France before getting married
It’s best to wait to have kids until you are more settled into your new life together!
There is no age limit on how old you can be when you marry
The process for applying requires that you go to a Portuguese consulate with certain requirements-
Please see our guide How to Apply For A Portuguese Residency Card
