Chapter VI · Residence in national territory · Section II · Residence permit · Subsection IV · Residence permit for family reunification

Article 101 Conditions for exercising the right to family reunification

Artigo 101.º · Condições de exercício do direito ao reagrupamento familiar

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. In order to exercise the right to family reunification, the sponsor must have:

1 - Para o exercício do direito ao reagrupamento familiar deve o requerente dispor de:

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a) Accommodation, proven to be owned or rented, that is regarded as normal for a comparable family in the same region of national territory and that meets the general safety and health standards, as defined by order (portaria) of the members of the Government responsible for migration and housing;

a) Alojamento, comprovadamente próprio ou arrendado, considerado normal para uma família comparável na mesma região em território nacional, e que satisfaça as normas gerais de segurança e salubridade, tal como definido por portaria dos membros do Governo responsáveis pelas áreas das migrações e da habitação;

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b) Sufficient means of subsistence to support all members of the family group without recourse to social benefits, as defined by order (portaria) of the members of the Government responsible for migration and social security.

b) Meios de subsistência suficientes para sustentar todos os membros do agrupamento familiar, sem recurso a apoios sociais, tal como definido por portaria dos membros do Governo responsáveis pelas áreas das migrações e da segurança social.

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2. The preceding paragraph does not apply to family reunification of refugees.

2 - O disposto no número anterior não é aplicável ao reagrupamento familiar de refugiados.

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3. After the grant of a residence permit for family reunification, the sponsor’s family members must comply with integration measures consisting of attending Portuguese language training and training on Portuguese constitutional principles and values and, in the case of minors, attending compulsory education, as provided for in a regulatory decree.

3 - Os familiares do requerente devem, após a concessão de autorização de residência para reagrupamento familiar, cumprir medidas de integração correspondentes à frequência de formação em língua portuguesa e de formação relativa a princípios e valores constitucionais portugueses, bem como à frequência do ensino obrigatório, no caso de menores, nos termos previstos em decreto regulamentar.

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4. Save for reasons not attributable to the sponsor’s family members, renewal of the residence permit for family reunification depends on proof of compliance with the criteria and measures referred to in the preceding paragraphs, including as regards social benefits not being taken into account, as well as of knowledge of the Portuguese language and of Portuguese constitutional principles and values.

4 - Salvo por motivo não imputável aos familiares do requerente, a renovação da autorização de residência para reagrupamento familiar depende de ser comprovado o cumprimento dos critérios e medidas a que se referem os números anteriores, incluindo quanto à não contabilização de apoios sociais, assim como o conhecimento da língua, princípios e valores constitucionais portugueses.

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5. The sponsor’s family members may exceptionally be exempted from complying with integration measures on humanitarian grounds, by order (despacho) of the member of the Government responsible for migration, having regard to the principle of proportionality.

5 - Os familiares do requerente podem ser excecionalmente dispensados do cumprimento de medidas de integração por razões humanitárias, por despacho do membro do Governo responsável pela área das migrações, atendendo ao princípio da proporcionalidade.

What we checked in this article

Verify the accommodation and means-of-subsistence conditions and the ministers responsible for each order (portaria), the refugee exemption in paragraph 2, the integration measures in paragraph 3, the renewal conditions and their exception in paragraph 4, and who may grant the humanitarian exemption in paragraph 5.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 101 may decide what you can apply for.

We map the visa and residence route that fits your activity, prepare the company side (contracts, payroll, registrations) and coordinate with immigration lawyers for the application itself. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Visas and residence in Portugal, planned together with the company

The permit depends on what you will do here: employment, your own company, remote work for a foreign employer or investment. Tell us the plan, and we will set out which route the Act gives you and what the company needs to have in place.

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