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Portugal Retirement Visa Application Process

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For good reasons, Portugal is one of the top destinations amongst retirees. Retirees can benefit from the low cost of living, high-quality health system, the NHR tax regime, and much more. However, retiring to Portugal might seem monotonous if you need help figuring out what to do.

Portugal has some of the Lenient visa requirements out of EU countries and is often referred to as the gateway to Europe.

How to Retire in Portugal?

If you are not an EU citizen, you must apply for a visa to retire in Portugal. Two of the most popular visa routes which allow you to live in Portugal as a retirement are:

Retire in Portugal with a Portugal Golden Visa

If you have a pension or money from a house sale in your home country, you can get the most favorable tax conditions through Portugal’s Golden Visa Program. The scheme encourages investors to make a financial contribution to the nation — most popularly as a real estate investment — in exchange for a residence permit.

Portugal Golden Visa visa requirements

To qualify for the program, retirees must fulfill the following Golden Visa requirements for Portugal:

  • Be either non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA
  • Make a minimum investment of €280,000 (investment routes are various)
  • Have a clean criminal record
  • Spend a minimum of seven days in Portugal for the first year, then no less than 14 days each subsequent two-year period

Advantages of retiring under the Portugal Golden Visa

If you’ve got funds to invest or are looking to purchase real estate in Portugal, this visa is a fantastic option to retire in Portugal. Not only will you be able to expand your portfolio, but you’ll also acquire Portuguese residency in no time.

One of the most popular investment options for the Golden Visa is through a qualifying home purchase. You can purchase a new property from €500,000 anywhere in the country or choose a government pre-approved renovation project totaling or exceeding €280,000 and rebuild the property into a second home. Since Portugal’s property market is performing so well, you can get a solid return on your investment. Do note that from 1 January 2022, investors will no longer be able to make real estate investments in Portugal’s thriving centers like Lisbon, Porto, and coastal areas of the Algarve.

How Much Money Do I Need To Retire In Portugal?

If you settle in a smaller town, you can comfortably live in Portugal with €1,500 per month; you would have a little more luxury and freedom if your income is at €2,000 or more. Naturally, busy cities such as Lisbon, Cascais, or Porto come with a higher cost of living, but you’d still be quite comfortable with a budget of €2,000 – €2,500 per month. Maybe even less than that if you don’t mind cutting some corners and luxuries.

Portugal is one of the least expensive countries to retire in Europe. However, the money you need to live there depends on where you plan to settle and your preferred lifestyle.

Retiring in Portugal with a Portugal D7 visa

Retirees can opt to apply for Portugal’s D7 visa. It gives foreign citizens wishing to live in Portugal the chance to do so, either as retirees or passive income earners.

In exchange for showing you have a regular and reliable income from your pension funds or your finances, you can get the residence permit (D7 visa), granting you special tax status for a ten-year income tax break.  A D7 visa is an excellent option for ex-pats looking to retire in Portugal, and many internationals are applying for this specific residence program.

D7 visa requirements

  • Be a non-EU national
  • Earn a passive income of at least €760 per month(your income can come from pensions, transferable equity, real estate, intellectual property, or financial equity)
  • Show proof of a place to live in Portugal
  • Be willing to reside in Portugal for more than 183 consecutive days per calendar year.

Advantages of retiring under the Portugal D7 Visa

  • The Portugal D7 Residency Visa is the best option for ex-pats seeking to retire in Portugal without making a significant investment.
  • Renewable after one year for two successive periods of two years, the D7 visa can be converted into a permanent residence permit; after five years of holding the D7 visa, it is possible to apply for a Portuguese passport.
  • Affordable, easily accessible, and family-friendly, the visa is the perfect scheme for self-sufficient individuals looking to call Portugal their new home.

Retirement visa for Portugal tax benefits

The NHR scheme is the best tax option for ex-pats retiring in Portugal. After applying to the scheme, retirees are exempt from paying local taxes for the next ten years. Currently, NHR offers a 20% income tax rate to people employed in ‘high-value’ professions and the potential to receive some foreign income, like property gains or pensions, free of specific Portuguese tax.

Portugal Retirement Visa Requirements

To apply for a retirements visa for Portugal, you must have the following documents:

  • Two recent passport-size pictures of yourself, which are in line with Schengen requirements.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least another six months.
  • Application form for Portugal national (residence) visa. You can get the application form from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.
  • Proof of income: You have to prove that you can sustain yourself financially for the time you intend to live in Portugal, either through a pension, savings, or other legitimate sources of income.
  • Proof of Accommodation: You must show that you will have a place to live once you move to Portugal, such as an apartment rental.
  • Health Insurance: You need to get a travel health insurance or international health insurance plan for ex-pats before you move to Portugal. Then once you settle, you can either continue with an international insurance policy or subscribe to health insurance from a local company.
  • Birth certificate, and marriage certificate, as required.
  • Criminal background clearance. You must not have been charged with a crime punishable with at least one year of deprivation of freedom (imprisonment).

Applying for a Portugal Retirement Visa

The process for applying for a Portugal retirement visa is as follows:

  1. Contact the Portugal Embassy or Consulate responsible for your area. See where you must apply for a visa based on where you live.
  2. Make an appointment to submit your application.
  3. Collect the required documents.
  4. Pay the visa application fee. Sometimes, you may pay the application fee on the date of application, not before.
  5. On the date of the appointment, submit the documents. If the Embassy/Consulate is in another country from which you live, you may be allowed to apply via mail. The relevant visa officials will inform you.
  6. Wait for the application to be processed.
  7. If the outcome is positive: You will receive a retirement visa, which the Embassy/Consulate staff will attach to your passport. You can use the visa to travel to Portugal.
  8. When you arrive in Portugal: Make an appointment with the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) to apply for your residence permit.

Portugal Retirement Visa Fee

When applying for a retirement visa in Portugal, you must pay several different fees.

  • National visa fee at the Embassy/Consulate – €90
  • To process the residence permit application at the SEF – € €83
  • Residence permit cost – €72

Duration of a Portugal Retirement Visa

When you receive your residence permit for retirement in Portugal, it is initially valid for one year. You can renew it twice for two years, adding up to five years. After five years, if you meet all other requirements, you can apply for permanent residency in Portugal.

How Much Money Do You Need to Retire in Portugal?

If you settle in a smaller town or on the outskirts, you can comfortably live in Portugal with €1,500 per month; you would have a little more luxury and freedom if your income is at €2,000 or more. Naturally, busy cities such as Lisbon, Cascais, or Porto come with a higher cost of living, but you’d still be quite comfortable with a budget of €2,000 – €2,500 per month. Maybe even less than that if you don’t mind cutting some corners and luxuries.

Portugal is known as one of the least expensive countries to retire in Europe. However, the money you need to live there depends on where you plan to settle and your preferred lifestyle.

Health Insurance When Retiring in Portugal

Portugal’s public health insurance system, the Servicio Nacional de Saude (SNS), provides free healthcare to Portuguese citizens and permanent residents. However, you can subscribe to the SNS only when you become a permanent resident. When you first arrive in Portugal, you must get private healthcare instead.

Portugal has a very high standard of healthcare, with specialized medical staff and well-equipped and modern hospitals. When you subscribe to the SNS, most of your medical bills are covered, although some fees may apply.

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IMMIGRATIONS

Iceland Residence Permits Application Process

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An Iceland residence permit entitles the holder to travel to and stay in Iceland for three months. If the applicant satisfies all of the requirements outlined in the application by the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration, the permit will be issued to him or her.

Holders of an Iceland resident permit can make use of many of the same advantages as Icelanders. The owners of various sorts of residency permits are allowed to work. A work permit may be necessary for certain specific circumstances.

Not all citizens of the world will require an Iceland resident permit. Certain favored groups can go to Iceland and live there without applying for a residency visa.

For immigration to Iceland, citizens of the following countries do not require a resident permit:

  • Norway
  • Switzerland
  • Iceland
  • EU Member States
  • Liechtenstein

Types of Iceland Residence Permits

There are various residency permits, depending on why you live in Iceland. Choosing the appropriate form of residency permit is crucial. According to it, you will be gathering the necessary paperwork. It also outlines what is permitted and prohibited in Iceland.

These are the several forms of Icelandic residency permits:

  • Family reunification
    • Spouse or cohabiting companion
    • Children under 18 years old
    • Parents 67 years of age or older
    • Parent of a child under 18 years
  • Study
  • Volunteers
  • Specialties
  • Missionaries
  • Legitimate and special purpose
  • Permanent residence permit
  • Work
    • Shortage of workers
    • Athletes
    • Qualified professionals on the grounds of collaboration and service contracts

Iceland residency permit requirements

The gathering of the necessary documents is the critical component of your application for an Iceland residency visa. There are two groups of these documents:

  • The basic requirements – which you will need to collect regardless of the type of residence permit you are applying for.
  • The detailed requirements – which you will need to collect according to the residence permit type you are applying for

Basic Requirements for a Residence Permit

The following criteria must be met to obtain an Icelandic residence permit:

  • Payment receipt: You will get a payment receipt if you pay the residence permit fee at the bank. Make sure your name is written on it.
  • Photocopy of passport
  • Application for a residence permit
  • Criminal record certificate
  • Proof of Financial means
  • Certificate of health insurance
  • Passport photo

Detailed Requirements

You must submit the following paperwork, depending on the type of Iceland residency permit you are seeking for:

Conditions for an Iceland Family Reunification Residence Permit

  •  Certificate on cohabitation
  • Birth certificate
  • Child custody
  • Death certificate
  • Divorce documents
  • Martial status certificate
  • Marriage certificate

Conditions for an Iceland Study/Education Residence Permit

  • Either a letter of acceptance or a certificate of admission to the university.
  • If the applicant intends to work as a student:
    • Employment agreement
    • Application for a work permit

Iceland Working Residence Permit Requirements

  • Application for the appropriate work permit
  • Employment contract

Prerequisites for an Icelandic Au Pair Residence Permit

  • An original written contract between an au pair and the host family.

Criteria for an Iceland Missionaries Residence Permit

Confirmation of an invitation to volunteer for an Icelandic religious organization or the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Criteria for an Iceland Special Ties Residence Permit

  • Employment
  • Application for a work permit
  • Report on ties, social and cultural ties.
  • Proof of sufficient support during the entire stay

Iceland’s legal and specific conditions for residence permits

  • The statement and documents confirm that the applicant needs a residence permit for a legitimate and particular purpose.
  • Application for a work permit.
  • Employment contract

Conditions for an Iceland Permanent Resident Visa

  • copies of recent tax returns verified, i.e., by the applicant’s deadlines.
  • Original status exam administered by a recognized party, written exemption request, written exemption certificate, or original certificate on an Icelandic language course stating that the applicant has finished at least 150 hours with 85% attendance.
  • Documents on Support, such as job contracts, income-tax payment summaries for the last 12 months, or other documents demonstrating secure support.

Processing of Iceland Resident Permit Applications

From the day an application is submitted, the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration can take up to 180 days to process it. Your residence permit renewal application will be processed more quickly in as few as 90 days.

Can my permit to live here be taken away? 

Several things can cause your residency permit to be revoked, most notably if:

  • You no longer meet the requirements for a temporary or permanent residence permit.
  • You have given wrong or misleading information in your application, and the information is vital to the granting of a permit.

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Switzerland Student Visa – How to Apply

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You must apply for a Switzerland Student Visa if you want to study there but are a foreign national. The Swiss student visa is a type of national visa for Switzerland.

Before applying for a student visa to Switzerland, there are a few requirements. You might not even need to apply for a visa in some circumstances. Everything is based on your nationality.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about student visas for Switzerland, in case you have already decided to pursue higher education there.

How can I obtain a student visa for Switzerland?

1. Getting accepted into a Swiss University

Getting admitted into a Swiss academic institution is the first step in studying there.

You can apply for a student visa to Switzerland once you obtain your certificate of enrollment from the college or university you wish to attend.

2. Determine if a Swiss student visa is required

Most foreign people who wish to visit Switzerland and stay for an extended time must get a Swiss visa. Nevertheless, even though everyone needs a residency permit, citizens of a few nations are not required to apply for a long-stay Swiss visa. Which are:

  • Ireland
  • Brunei
  • Great Britain
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Vatican City
  • Schengen countries
  • Andorra.

But even if someone is free from needing a long-stay visa to visit Switzerland, they must still apply for a residence permit regardless of their nationality if they plan to stay for more than three months.

3. Assembling the necessary paperwork

When applying for a Swiss student visa, you must fulfill the requirements and provide the necessary paperwork. You must send the original of each document and three copies translated into either English or one of Switzerland’s official languages (French, Italian, German, or Romansh).

The requirements for a Switzerland student visa

  • The standard mandatory requirements for every Swiss visa application
  • Completed and signed application forms in either German, French, Italian, Spanish or English.
  • A valid passport with two blank pages minimum.
  • Four current images. Both biometric and passport-size.
  • Application forms that have been filled out and signed in English, German, French, Italian, or Spanish.
  • Proof of sufficient funds
  • Confirmation you have paid the course fees for your first year
  • Certificate of enrollment at your school
  • Your study plan
  • Copies of previous educational certificates and diplomas.
  • Letter of motivation in one

4. Applying for a student visa to Switzerland

You submit an application for a student visa from Switzerland at the Swiss embassy in your nation. The process for applying for a student visa to Switzerland is much the same as applying for any other visa to Switzerland.

The application procedure for a Swiss student visa is as follows:

  • Make an appointment with the Swiss embassy or consulate in your nation.
  • Download the application form, complete it, and sign it. (In some situations, the Swiss representative where you apply will have the application forms.)
  • Visit the Swiss embassy or consulate in person to submit the paperwork.
  • Pay the student visa fee for Switzerland.

The Swiss delegation in your country will send your application for a student visa to Switzerland to the appropriate cantonal migration office* after receiving it. The Swiss Consulate General will issue you the visa after the cantonal immigration authority has approved your application.

5. After you receive the Swiss Student Visa

You can enter Switzerland after receiving a student visa from Switzerland.

You must register your arrival at the local residents registration office within 14 days of arriving in Switzerland, and you must go to the cantonal migration office where you will be residing to acquire your residence permit. (The same is true for citizens of nations exempt from a Swiss long-stay visa.)

You can find the addresses, contact information, and websites of each canton’s migration offices here.

How long is the student visa for  Switzerland valid for?

The initial validity of a student visa for Switzerland, or more specifically, the B permit you are granted to be permitted to stay for your studies, is one year. However, you have the choice to extend it if your studies go over that time frame. If you want to extend your student visa in Switzerland, you must present updated documentation of your financial situation and income.

Additionally, you have the option to apply for a residency visa so that you can hunt for a career in Switzerland once you finish. This license can only be used for six months and cannot be renewed.

At the cantonal migration office in your neighborhood, you can apply for the six-month permit that allows you to look for job. You must offer evidence that you:

  • Have finished your course.
  • Can provide for yourself financially during your stay.
  • Have a place to live.

Can I work while on a student visa for Switzerland?

As a student, you are only permitted to work fifteen hours a week in part-time jobs. During the holidays, you can work a full-time job. Though your company must secure a work visa for you, you can only begin working after settling in Switzerland for six months.

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IMMIGRATIONS

Australian Partner Visas Application Process

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Australian Partner Visas are divided into Onshore and Offshore visas, which vary depending on whether you are inside or outside of Australia at the time of application. They are further separated into temporary and permanent visas depending on how long they are valid.

Another type of Partner Visa, which does not fall into either category, is the Prospective Marriage Visa, which many also refer to as a fiance visa.

Australia Partner Visa Types

The various partner and spouse visas available in Australia are shown below:

  1. Visas for onshore partners:

Thanks to onshore partner visas, you can submit your visa application from inside Australia and wait for it to be completed there. You must submit applications for both of them simultaneously because there is a collaborative application process. However, you will get the 820 and have to hold off on applying for permanent residency for two years. There are two visa types:

  • Onshore Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801), which is permanent. After two years with a subclass 820 visa, you h documents, and then you will receive the 801 tickets.
  • Onshore Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820), valid for about two years.
  1. Visas for offshore partners:

You can submit your application outside of Australia with the Offshore Partner Visas. As soon as your Visa is granted, you can stay with your partner while you wait to be qualified for permanent residency. The Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 Visa must be applied for simultaneously, but you won’t get the permanent Visa until two years have passed since you received the temporary one. Therefore, when you apply for and acquire your 309 visas, you must be outside of Australia, but when you receive your permanent Visa, you may be inside or outside of Australia. Two offshore partner visas are available:

  • Provisional Offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309): This is a temporary two-year visa.
  • Offshore Migrant Partner Visa (Subclass100): This is the permanent Visa you will receive after the temporary one expires.
  1. Future Marriage Visa

You can get a Future Marriage Visa if you are engaged to an Australian citizen or resident and wish to marry them in Australia. With this Visa, you can stay there for 9 to 15 months, but you’ll need to wed your fiancé during that time.

What Distinguishes Temporary and Permanent Visas

Even when you simultaneously apply for the Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820/309) and the Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801/100), you do not get both. The temporary Visa must have been granted two years before applying for the permanent one. You and your partner will be residing in Australia at this time.

The Department of Home Affairs will inform you that they have begun processing your application for permanent residency two years after you acquire the Temporary Visa and that you must submit a few additional papers.

You do not need to pay anything for a Permanent Visa because you will already have paid the visa application fee when you submit the joint application.

The Australian Immigration Authorities want to be sure that you genuinely have ties to Australia before allowing you to live there permanently, which is why you do not get a permanent visa immediately.

General Requirements for a Partner Visa in Australia

You and your partner must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for an Australian Partner Visa:

  • Your partner has to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
  • You have to be in a sincere, committed relationship.
  • You must be an adult (over 18 years old).
  • You must be able to demonstrate the sincerity of your bond.
  • You had to have been dating for at least a year at the time of application.

How Can I Show a Relationship Is Sincere?

The Australian visa officials will want you to provide certain documents as proof of your relationship. This can include utility bills addressed to both of you to demonstrate that you share household responsibilities, a joint bank account to demonstrate that you share finances, phone records to demonstrate that you communicate over the phone even when you are not together, photos of the two of you together and with other people to demonstrate that you have spent time together and that others are aware of your relationship, etc.

Before you can be granted a permanent visa, two persons familiar with you and your partner must fill out a form that assures them that you are actually a pair.

Sponsorship Requirements

Your Australian partner must also fulfill several requirements to sponsor you:

  • If your partner has sponsored another partner during the last five years, they are ineligible to sponsor you.
  • Your partner cannot sponsor you if they recently acquired their Permanent Partner Visa through sponsorship. After five years since they acquired their Visa, they must wait.
  • Throughout their lifetime, their spouse is limited to two other partners. Therefore, they cannot sponsor you if they have already sponsored two other persons.

Can You Get Married and Get Citizenship in Australia?

Yes, it will take a few years. However, you can also become an Australian citizen if you marry an Australian citizen or resident.

  • He/she is not spent more than 90 days outside of Australia in the 12 months before the application.
  • He/she must have basic knowledge of the English language, Australian culture, society, and way of life.
  • He/she must not have been outside Australia for longer than 12 months in the four years before the application.

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