Bringing the family together in Portugal is, for many immigrants in Portugal, the whole point of the move. Law 61/2025 changed the family reunification regime and tightened the conditions for bringing relatives over. Here is what changed and how it may affect your case.
Who can apply for family reunification
Reunification is the right of a foreign citizen residing in Portugal to bring family members living in another country — or already in Portugal — to live with them. The major change is the waiting period: the main applicant must now generally prove two years of legal residence in Portugal before submitting the application.
Minor children and other relatives: different rules
The law draws a distinction:
- Minor children can, as a rule, be reunified while already in Portugal;
- Other relatives — such as a spouse or dependent family members — must generally apply from abroad, through the consular procedure.
This distinction is decisive for planning the family's arrival and avoiding applications that would be refused for being filed through the wrong channel.
Which relatives are covered
Broadly, reunification covers the spouse or de facto partner, minor or incapacitated children dependent on the couple or on one spouse, and, under certain conditions, dependent ascendants and adopted minors. Each family relationship requires its own documentary proof — marriage and birth certificates and, where relevant, evidence of economic dependency.
What you need to gather
Beyond proof of the family bond, the application usually requires showing:
- Sufficient means of subsistence for the household;
- Adequate accommodation;
- The regularity of your own residence throughout the required period.
Incomplete documentation or missing translations are the most common cause of delays and refusals.
My application was already under way. Do the new rules apply?
As a rule, cases pending on the date the law came into force remain subject to the previous regime. Even so, given the transition, it is worth confirming exactly how your application is framed before acting.
Before bringing your family over, confirm that you already meet the residence period and which channel each application must use. A wrong move can cost months of waiting.
How my office can help
I assess whether you meet the conditions, set the correct channel for each relative, and prepare the whole file — from the family bond to proof of means and accommodation. This is part of my Private International Law service; when the application involves marriages or partnerships celebrated abroad, I combine it with Family Law.
If you want to reunite your family in Portugal with confidence, book a consultation, in person or online.