Immigration
Government issued 26,000 family reunification permits through September
The government issued 26,000 family reunification permits in the first nine months of 2026, averaging 2,900 per month. Additionally, the government has handled 42,000 in-person appointments and 55,000 scheduled sessions. Under rules effective since October 2025, applicants must hold a valid residence permit for at least two years before requesting family reunification, and the official processing timeframe is now nine months.
Why it mattersIf you are planning to bring family members to Portugal, be aware that you must have held a valid residence permit for at least two years and expect a total processing time of up to nine months for these applications.
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