Portugal · study · guide
Portugal family reunification for children: requirements
How to bring your children up to 17 years old to live with you in Portugal.
MIGRAGENT wrote this from 21 requirements on the official page, each checked against the government's own wording. Updated 2026-10-02. Source: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/perguntas-frequentes-portal-de-servicos
Who can apply
You must hold a valid Residence Title to apply for family reunification.[1]
At this stage, you can only apply for children and young people up to 17 years old. The family members you want to reunite with must already live in Portugal.[2][3]
You can submit the request for your whole family as long as your household includes at least one minor.[4]
You must not have an active entry ban for Portugal. You must also not have an entry ban in the Schengen Information System.[5][6]
You must not have been convicted of a crime that carries a prison sentence of more than one year in Portugal.[7]
What you need to show
You must show your own Residence Permit. You must also provide a valid passport or travel document for your family member.[8][9]
You must provide authenticated proof of your family ties. Any birth certificates you submit must have been issued less than one year ago.[10][11]
You must show proof of legal entry into Portugal for your family member. You must also show proof that you have enough money to support them.[12][13][14]
You must provide a signed declaration under oath confirming your residential address. You must also submit a Term of Responsibility (Modelo 4). The signature on this form must be officially recognized unless you sign it in front of an AIMA representative.[15][16]
Criminal record requirements
You must provide a criminal record from your family member's country of nationality, or from the country where they lived for more than one year before coming to Portugal. Children under 16 years old do not need to provide this.[17][18]
If your family member has lived in Portugal for more than one year during the last five years, you must submit a request for AIMA to check their Portuguese criminal record. This is not required for children under 16 years old.[19]
Document rules and file sizes
All documents issued outside Portugal must be properly apostilled or authenticated. Each document you upload must not be larger than 1 MB.[20][21]
Checklist
- Your Residence Permit[8]
- Valid passport or travel document for your family member[9]
- Authenticated proof of family ties[10]
- Birth certificates issued less than one year ago[11]
- Proof of legal entry into Portugal for your family member[12]
- Proof of means of subsistence[13][14]
- Declaration of your residential address under oath[15]
- Term of Responsibility (Modelo 4)[16]
- Criminal record for family members aged 16 or older[17][18]
Questions people ask
Who can I apply for under this family reunification stage?
You can only apply for children and young people up to 17 years old who are already living in Portugal.[2][3]
Can I apply for my whole family at once?
Yes, you can apply for the whole family as long as your household includes at least one minor.[4]
Do children need to provide a criminal record?
Children under 16 years old do not need to provide a criminal record.[17][18][19]
What are the rules for documents issued outside Portugal?
Any documents issued outside Portugal must be properly apostilled or authenticated.[20]
What is the maximum file size for uploading documents?
Each document you submit must be 1 MB or smaller.[21]
How old can birth certificates be?
Birth certificates must have been issued less than one year ago.[11]
What if my family member has lived in Portugal before?
If they are 16 or older and lived in Portugal for more than a year in the last five years, you must submit a request for AIMA to check their Portuguese criminal record.[19]
This explains what one official page says. It is not legal advice, and the page itself is the authority. Rules change; the wire reports it when they do.