Hi travel bugs!
Our Portugal move is underway! We wanted to share the entire experience in a series of vlogs where we explain the entire Portuguese residency visa application process.
We will cover the visa types, required documents, our D7 visa application, our move timeline, rental home search, our first 30 days, our SEF appointment, neighborhood reviews, transportation and more…

Some of the benefits of the D7:
▪ Permanent free entry and circulation throughout Schengen countries (26 European countries)
▪ Freedom to live in Portugal and, if you wish, to have a professional activity in this country.
▪ Option to become a “Non-Habitual Resident” of Portugal for tax purposes
▪ Access to other Portugal residents’ rights, such as education, recognition of diplomas and
qualifications, healthcare, the law and the courts of law.
We´d like to take advantage of the education aspect to learn Portuguese since the High commission for Migrations offers free Portuguese lessons via their ´Learn Portuguese’ platform.
Link to sign up: www.pptonline.acm.gov.pt
Required Documentation for a D7 visa application:
1) An Application for a National Visa (
2) A Passport, passport-size color photos with white background; notarized copy of main passport for U.S. applicants in USA), and any other visas previously granted from other countries.
If not a U.S. citizen, you will need proof of legal status
3) Personal statement declaring the reasons why you are seeking residency in Portugal
4) Proof of financial means or proof of sufficient funds (In Mexico, the embassy requires the last 3 month’s bank statements or proof of pension with a letter of amount received monthly or proof of salary or Scolarship for the period of stay)
5) Proof of a funded bank account in Portugal and a Portuguese NIF number, an Individual Tax Identification Number used in Portugal
*NIF =Número de Identificação Fiscal
(www.bordr.io) or (nifonline.pt)
6) Copy of outbound flight reservations to Portugal. Make sure your tickets are either refundable or they can be changed in case of visa denial, delays, etc.
7) If applying from the U.S., an apostilled FBI criminal record report is required or if left in the original, unopened envelope it does not need to be apostilled.
( or outsource to a paid service (www.sespanish.com)
Applying from Mexico requires a criminal record report at the federal level from your country of origin OR from Mexico if you have resided there for more than 1 year and it must be apostilled.
*In Mexico the record must be the one issued by (SSP) or in Mexico City
Secretaria de Seguridad Publica (
For apostille services in Mexico: Centro Integral de Servicios – Secretaria de Governacion (Rio Amazonas #62 Colonia Cuauhtémoc
Tel: +52 55 5093 3218
8) A signed Release/request form for a Portuguese criminal record check provided by the Foreigners and Borders Service. (Form provided by the consulate.)
9) Proof of private health insurance coverage or travel insurance with medical benefits and COVID coverage valid for Portugal
(amount equal or greater than 30k euros including repatriation expense during the entire period of stay in the country)
10) Proof of 6 months accommodation in Portugal (either property title deed, a rental agreement, letter of invitation or terms of responsibility form and or property loan agreement. (Airbnb, Flatio.com).
But we also read that some consulates in the U.S. like San Francisco have been requiring a 1 year lease.
11) Copy of marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates when children are also applying *(apostilled if being used in Portugal for Family Reunification or school registrations).

After providing all the mentioned documents to your local consulate (embassy), they will submit your application to the Portuguese Immigration or SEF office, the department responsible for processing and issuing residency visas.
Once your visa is granted, you will receive a stamp within your passport which is valid for 120 days to enter Portugal and a SEF appointment is scheduled in Portugal to complete the final step which is getting your Temporary Residence permit, which provides you residency in Portugal for 2 years from the date your permit is granted and is renewable in subsequent 3-year terms.

For a complete guide and information about visa application and procedures, join the Americans & Friends PT Facebook Group:

www.vecteezy.com (Icons and illustrations)

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