Case · After the Main Applicant's D7, Spouse + Parent Land via Family Reunification

This case is a representative, composite scenario. Client details have been anonymised, and the timeline and decision points reflect patterns we typically see across similar cases. Actual approval outcomes, document requirements and processing times depend on the latest rules of the Portuguese authorities and on each individual case.

Client profile

• Main applicant: Mr Liu, 42, has held a Portuguese residence card via D7 for 14 months
• Relatives reuniting:
  • Wife (39, freelance illustrator in China)
  • Mother (67, widowed, living alone in China; Mr Liu is her only child)
• Not reuniting: father (deceased); Mr Liu has no siblings

The three categories Portugal allows for reunification

Broadly, Portugal allows reunification with three groups:

1. Spouse / de facto partner (most common and most direct)
2. Minor children or dependent minors
3. Dependent parents / grandparents (stricter — financial dependency must be proven)

Mr Liu's case involves groups 1 and 3, and the difficulty is in group 3.

Timeline (about 9 months total)

Stage	Time	Milestone
Week 0	First assessment	Main applicant's status + family situation reviewed
Weeks 1–3	Income + housing proof	The main applicant must show enough income in Portugal to support the reuniting relatives
Weeks 4–6	Building the document chain	see the two tracks below
Week 8	Apostilles	In China
Week 10	Filing	Through the AIMA online system
Week 22	Approval	Granted
Week 24	Entry visas	Issued to wife + mother
Week 28	Enter Portugal	Arrived together
Week 32	AIMA biometrics	Lawyer present
Week 38	Cards arrive	Two cards — wife + mother

The wife's reunification (relatively simple)

Document chain:

• Marriage certificate (apostilled + Portuguese translation)
• Wife's passport, birth certificate, criminal record (apostilled)
• Proof of financial means (main applicant's income supports both her and the mother)
• Proof of cohabitation (Portuguese address — the main applicant's lease or purchase documents, updated to add family members)
• Health insurance

The wife's freedom to work: once she has her card, the wife can work freely in Portugal (employed or self-employed) without a separate work visa. This is a benefit many clients don't realise they have.

The mother's reunification (the core challenge)

Portugal allows reunification with a dependent parent / grandparent, but how do you prove "dependent"?

The evidence chain the Portuguese side expects:

1. The main applicant is the parent's sole or primary financial support — i.e. the parent has no stable income of their own (pension too low, no job)
2. A long record of support in bank statements — 12 months of remittances from the main applicant to the parent's account
3. The parent's physical / health condition — advanced age / chronic illness / living alone
4. No other siblings to rely on — or siblings who also prove they cannot take responsibility

Mr Liu's mother:

• 67, widowed, living alone (✓)
• Pension of ¥2,800/month; Mr Liu sends ¥6,000/month to top up living costs (✓ 3 years of statements)
• Mr Liu is an only child (✓)
• Mother has hypertension + mild cardiovascular issues (✓ hospital diagnosis)

We assembled this evidence and drafted a statement of reasons (exposição de motivos) explaining how these facts constitute "financial and practical dependency." That statement is the lawyer's core work, and it's why parent reunification isn't something an ordinary client can run alone.

Three real sticking points

1. A "gap" in the mother's bank statements

In the mother's 3-year statements there was a 4-month stretch with no transfers from Mr Liu (he had switched banks at the time). The Portuguese reviewer zeroed in on that gap: "why no transfers for these four months — does she actually not need it?"

We added:

• Statements from both of Mr Liu's old and new banks for that period (proving the bank switch)
• The mother's spending records (showing she drew on savings those four months)
• A supplementary statement of reasons explaining the context

2. Missing "proof of cohabitation" for the wife

Mr Liu was living alone; the wife hadn't arrived yet. The Portuguese side asked, "how do you prove you're a genuine married couple?" We submitted:

• Joint account statements (partly shared asset management)
• A joint insurance policy
• WeChat / Chinese telecom family-plan records
• Proof of jointly owned property in China

3. Misaligned entry timing

The wife's and mother's entry visas were each valid for 4 months. Their validity windows weren't aligned at first — the mother's medical certificate came through 5 weeks later than the wife's, which nearly stopped them entering together. We coordinated an expedited medical for the mother alongside the Portuguese approval, and they reached Portugal together within the 4 months.

Settlement services after reunification

• The mother's SNS health number (Portuguese public healthcare) — especially important for the elderly
• The mother's NIF + NISS (if needed for inheritance, etc.)
• The wife's working tax number (she began taking overseas projects)
• Upgrading Mr Liu's family health insurance (to cover all three)

A few common misconceptions

Myth 1: "If I'm wealthy, I can bring my parents over"

No. The Portuguese side reviews dependency, not how rich the applicant is. A wealthy client whose parents also have their own stable pensions has a harder time than a modest-income client whose parents depend entirely on them.

Myth 2: "Once my parents arrive, they'll get a pension / free healthcare"

Partly wrong. After getting their card, parents can register for the SNS (public healthcare), but cannot draw a Portuguese pension (that requires a social-security contribution history). Healthcare access is on par with local residents.

Myth 3: "If a sibling can care for them, reunification is impossible"

Not absolute. If you can show the siblings have long been uninvolved, are geographically distant, or carry their own family burdens, it can still succeed. The core is the actual dependency relationship, not literal blood ties.

What the client valued most

"The wife's reunification I could have figured out myself. What truly needed a lawyer was my mother's part — there's no way I could write that statement of reasons, and if it falls short the reviewer rejects it. The firm's years of dealing with AIMA mean they know which details the reviewers care about."

Thinking about family reunification?

• Free online assessment — enter your family situation to gauge feasibility
• Talk to an adviser — a case review by our lawyers, especially for parent reunification where there's more discretion
• Already have a NIF? If not, get one online with FastNIF