Migrate to Portugal from India

In order to immigrate from India to Portugal, Indian nationals will need to apply for and obtain a long-term visa. It can be issued for various purposes, such as at work (as an employee or independently), studying or training, and scientific research or family reunion.

Indian residents wishing to travel to Portugal need to submit an application at a center in New Delhi or Mumbai. The Portuguese Embassy in New Delhi or the Portuguese Consulate General in Goa evaluates the application.

Depending on the type of visa you choose to travel to Portugal for a longer period of time, various conditions apply. We recommend that applicants contact our Portuguese immigration agent, who can provide personalized information according to their own circumstances.

Below, we describe the main types of long-term visas that can be applied by Indian nationals who want to immigrate to Portugal.

Ways Indians can move to Portugal

The Portuguese residence visa is a visa suitable for foreign nationals wishing to move to the country. It can be granted based on the reason for the move, as follows:

• Employment: Either employed or self-employed, you need to sign a contract of employment or its certificate in advance, as well as the business plan or the qualification of the person who intends to make the investment or provide self-employed services.
• For research purposes: scientific researchers belonging to the plan or scientific researchers with agreements with Portuguese universities or other research purposes can apply for this visa.
• For learning purposes: For Indian nationals who wish to move to Portugal to study or participate in follow-up training.
• Family reunion: This is possible for those who wish to reunite with their spouse, parents or siblings.

The specific requirements vary depending on the type of visa. We recommend that you speak with an immigration lawyer in Portugal before going to the embassy. Our immigration experts can provide you with personalized information so that you have all the necessary details before you submit your application to the visiting authority.

Visa fees vary according to the type of visa, but in general, most types of visas (such as work visas or family reunification visas) are about 90 euros, which does not include other taxes and fees required to prepare documents. Applicants should know that the visa fee is not refundable. This is another important reason. Please ensure that all documents are properly kept before submitting the application so that you can make further changes to the visa.

How to obtain a residence permit for employment in Portugal?

The employment visa is one of the most popular visas. It can be issued to Indian nationals who have signed employment agreements with Portuguese employers, those who want to engage in teaching activities, highly qualified people and are applying for internal company transfers. Those who engage in high-quality activities (technical visas) in certified companies will also receive separate permits.

When applying for a residence permit for employment, self-employment, or other types of paid work, it is important to understand the conditions of employment. For example, those who hold a residence visa and apply for a residence permit should note that they can be employed by a third party, but only if they apply for the relevant residence permit for this purpose. The application will be submitted to the Aliens and Border Services Agency (SEF).

One of our Portuguese immigration agents can provide individuals with more information about employment conditions, self-employment, and other types of work (such as high-quality work).

How to obtain a residence permit to invest in Portugal?

Indian investors wishing to move to Portugal can also consider a golden visa scheme based on substantial investment in Portuguese real estate. This type of visa is for citizens of third countries who wish to invest in real estate or other purposes, as follows:

• 1 million Euros: The visa is used for capital transfers with an amount not less than this amount.
• 10 positions: Investors can create 10 new positions.
• € 500,000 investment: real estate in Portugal.
• 350,000 Euros: for real estate investments with a construction date of more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration zones.
• 350,000 Euros: capital transfers for investment in research activities by public or private institutions.
• € 250,000: capital transfer for art investment or national heritage reconstruction.

You can find more information about this option in this article, and you can always contact our immigration lawyers in Portugal for more detailed information.

Indian investors who are able to carry out the above-mentioned amount of capital transfer of the above-mentioned purchased property can benefit from obtaining an investor visa, as it also contains provisions regarding family members. Applicants and family members who meet the requirements of the current law will receive a permanent residence permit that can be renewed.

The following list applies to visas for employment or self-employment purposes. For other types of visas, you can contact one of our Portugal Immigration Lawyer. The work visa list includes the following documents:

• Completed application form;
• Two recent passport-size photos, no longer than six months;
• Valid passport (valid for at least three months);
• Police clearance certificate issued by the passport office;
• Proof of sufficient income to stay in Portugal;
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal (eg rental contract);
• Travel medical insurance;
• pre-book fly ticket.

The list may vary, depending on the Indian jurisdiction that submitted the list. For example, the document list of the Consulate General of Goa may be different from the document list of the Portuguese Embassy in New Delhi. You can talk to our immigration lawyers in Portugal based on the area where you live. When interviewing the embassy or consulate general, it is recommended that all necessary documents be kept in their original format.

After arriving in Portugal, you will need to apply for a residence permit and obtain a financial identification number from the Immigration and Border Services. Our agents can provide you with these arrangements.

• A copy of the work contract signed by the employer and employee;
• Proof of independent work through a contract (independent worker) between the self-employed and the other party;
• The holder has the right to live and work in Portugal, provided that he / she stays in the country for 7 days or more in the first year and at least 14 days in the following years. According to the visa program, as long as all other conditions are met, the holder can apply for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization.

When applying for a start-up visa or investment visa for job creation, entrepreneurs should also fully understand the current company establishment system and the requirements for social security contributions established by the Portuguese government through its ministries.

Portugal for Indians

Portugal is a country that provides plenty of opportunities for foreign citizens, whether for employment purposes or as a convenient place to enter other European countries and markets. The quality of life is an important factor for many immigrants and the climate. Warm summer and mild winter are also convenient for many people. Indians will also find that they can receive quality education in Portugal and their overall cost of living is relatively low compared to other EU countries.

According to the report of the Foreigners and Border Service, the following data applies to Indian nationals living in Portugal:

• The population of India grew strongly in 2018, reaching 127.3%.
• Also in 2018, the number of applications for Indian nationals increased by 10% through an automatically pre-arranged residence permit program (expression of interest expressed in residence permits for subordinate or independent professional activities).
• 3,618 Indians used a platform to facilitate foreign citizens' contact with SEF services.

Indians who wish to arrive in Portugal and meet the legal residency requirements can contact our immigration experts. We can provide the required information before arrival so that the immigrants can avoid any annoying situations