Thinking about a move to Portugal? We’ll help you choose a visa, prepare your documents and plan what happens after you arrive.
IMIGRATA has its headquarters in Atlanta and an office in Lisbon, with teams who can help on both sides of your move. From US documents and apostilles to your Portuguese residence application, you can handle the process with one company.
Have a few questions? Our general online consultations are free, with no limit on the number of questions you can ask. If you want a detailed plan for your own situation, book a private video or in-office consultation for €49.
Start with what you plan to do in Portugal. We’ll help you check which route fits your circumstances.
The D7 visa may suit you if you receive a pension or , such as rent or investment income.
For 2026, a single applicant should plan around a monthly income reference of €920 and savings of €11,040. The amounts increase for a partner or children. You’ll need to show where the income comes from; savings alone don’t automatically meet the income requirement.
Study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or choose a professional course that qualifies for a study-based residence route. This can be a practical option if you want to develop your skills while building a life in Portugal.
We help you choose a suitable school or course, apply for admission and prepare your visa documents. We’ll check that the course fits your immigration plans before you pay for it.
University study in Portugal (opens in a new tab) · Professional courses in Portugal (opens in a new tab)
Do you for a company or clients outside Portugal? The Digital Nomad visa may be a good fit.
In 2026, you need to show average monthly work income of at least €3,680 over the previous three months. We’ll help you prepare the contracts, payment records and other documents for your application.
If you plan to run a business or work for yourself in Portugal, we can help you assess the D2 visa.
There isn’t one fixed investment amount for every D2 business. You need a credible plan or a working project with clients, money for the proposed activity and enough funds to support yourself. We’ll help you work out what that means for your particular business.
Want Portuguese residence without moving full-time? The Golden Visa may suit you if you prefer an investment-based route with short stays in Portugal.
Qualifying cultural support starts at €250,000, or €200,000 for eligible projects in low-density areas. The eligible investment-fund route starts at €500,000. Buying property no longer qualifies for a new Golden Visa application.
The minimum stay is seven days in the first year and 14 days in each following two-year period. You can include eligible family members, work in Portugal and travel within the Schengen area, subject to its visitor rules. You may also apply for permanent residence after five years if you meet the requirements.
Plan to maintain the qualifying investment for at least five years. Cultural support is non-refundable; fund investments carry risk, and neither returns nor repayment of your capital are guaranteed. Government fees, legal support and other costs are separate.
IMIGRATA helps you review the options with a licensed Portuguese lawyer, document the source of your funds and prepare the investment and residence application. This follows a separate process with AIMA, not the D-visa application through a US consulate.
These aren’t the only programs we handle. We also help with D1 employment visas and other Portuguese immigration programs. Tell us about your work, family and plans, and we’ll help you compare the options rather than trying to fit you into the wrong program.
Visa income requirements, savings, tuition and IMIGRATA’s service fees are different costs. Here are examples to help you plan.
The following planning figures follow Portugal’s , using the full 2026 monthly minimum-wage reference of €920.
| Who is moving? | Monthly income reference | Savings covering 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| One adult | €920 | €11,040 |
| A couple | €1,380 | €16,560 |
| A couple with one under 18 | €1,656 | €19,872 |
For example, a couple receiving €1,500 a month in documented pension or other suitable income is above the €1,380 household reference. They should also plan for the separate savings requirement. We’ll check the documents and calculation for the .
For a bachelor’s or master’s degree, add the university’s tuition fees to your living budget. The financial documents you need can depend on the university, scholarships and your circumstances.
For a professional-course example, IMIGRATA lists digital-marketing tuition at €1,880. Adding a €11,040 annual personal-support reference gives an illustrative budget of €12,920, before insurance, application fees, travel, housing deposits and other costs.
This isn’t a fixed minimum for every student. We’ll check the course, tuition and financial documents you need, including any that apply to your university program.
An average monthly work income of €4,000 over the previous three months is above the 2026 requirement of €3,680. You still need documents showing the work and payments. Savings don’t replace this work-income requirement.
Moving with family? We’ll calculate the additional support you need for your household.
For one person planning to invest in a business, €11,040 is an example of 12 months’ personal support using the full 2026 reference. Your business budget is separate. A small consultancy and a business that needs premises or equipment won’t have the same costs.
For a qualifying cultural project, plan for €250,000, potentially reduced to €200,000 for an eligible low-density project. This contribution is non-refundable. For the eligible fund route, the investment starts at €500,000 and must meet the program’s conditions; it is not a bank deposit or a guaranteed-return product.
Maintain the qualifying investment for at least five years. Add government application and residence-card fees, legal and service fees, document costs and any costs for family members. We’ll help you compare the full cost before you choose an investment; the investment amount is not IMIGRATA’s service price.
All figures are in euros. Allow for exchange-rate changes when planning your funds in US dollars. We’ll confirm the requirements for your application before you commit.
Our US staff have worked with official documents and since 1998. We specialize in obtaining documents and arranging apostilles quickly from all 50 states, so you don’t have to coordinate separate providers around the country.
We can also help you obtain an FBI background check and prepare it for use in Portugal.
We have several notaries in our US office who can notarize documents on the spot, where notarization is appropriate. Our in-house certified English-to-Portuguese translator can prepare official translations when they’re needed.
We’ll explain which documents need notarization, an apostille or translation, so you don’t pay for steps your application doesn’t require.
We also have a location and our own representative in San Francisco to make document drop-off and collection easier and faster. We’ll explain how this fits your application and where any visa documents must be submitted.
Our passport courier service is registered with the US Department of State. We help with urgent US passport renewals and first-time applications. In eligible cases, passports may be obtained in as little as three days, depending on government processing and appointment availability.
Tell us your travel date first. We’ll check whether the fast service is available for your application and explain any required in-person steps. IMIGRATA is not a government agency, and the final processing time is outside our control.
Your move doesn’t end when your visa is issued. Depending on your package, we can help with your , residence-permit documents, tax consultations and other practical steps in Portugal.
If your case is unusual or needs legal help, our attorney in Lisbon is ready to step in quickly, deal with the legal issue and help move the case forward. You won’t have to start searching for a Portuguese attorney on your own.
We can advise on moving with pets and the documents you’ll need. Tell us about your pet and travel plans early so we can help you check the requirements before you book.
Together, these services make IMIGRATA a one-stop shop for your relocation: US paperwork, visa preparation and local support in Portugal, coordinated by one team.
Don’t rush into a long lease just to prepare a visa application. There are several ways to arrange and document accommodation, and the right choice depends on your visa and the consulate handling your case.
We can help you review the available options before you sign anything, including alternatives that may avoid committing to a long lease before you move. We’ll check what your application needs rather than promising that one housing solution works for everyone.
The steps below describe the D-visa routes. Golden Visa applications have a separate investment and AIMA process, which we’ll explain during your consultation.
Start with free online advice. If you’d like us to review your personal situation in depth, book a private consultation. We’ll discuss the visa options, documents, steps and costs.
We’ll give you a checklist for your visa and family, help organize the US documents and review the application before submission. We can also help with appointment booking, depending on your chosen service.
You submit your documents through the appropriate consulate or VFS office. As a planning guide, the Portuguese Embassy in Washington advises allowing 60 working days for a residence-visa decision. Preparing documents and waiting for an appointment take additional time, and some applications take longer.
A residence visa normally gives you four months and two entries to travel to Portugal and complete the next stage. You then apply for your residence permit through . The appointment and residence-card process are separate from your visa, and we’ll explain the next steps for your case.
The directory below is for D-visa applications. Golden Visa residence applications follow a separate process with AIMA.
Your US place of residence determines which Portuguese consulate or VFS office you submit your documents to. Some consulates accept applications directly; others use offices for visa document submission. VFS collects the application, but the Portuguese authorities make the decision.
Not sure about your ? Send us your state of residence and, if you live in Massachusetts, your county. We’ll help you find the right office.
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Washington, DC.
VFS offices in Washington, DC, Chicago, Houston or Miami. Application instructions (opens in a new tab).
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyoming; American Samoa, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands.
VFS San Francisco. Application instructions (opens in a new tab).
Connecticut, Michigan or New York; Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.
VFS New York. Application instructions (opens in a new tab).
Delaware, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Apply directly through the consulate’s visa appointment system. Application instructions (opens in a new tab).
Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont; Massachusetts counties Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk or Worcester.
Apply through Boston’s online visa application system. Application instructions (opens in a new tab).
Rhode Island; Massachusetts counties Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket or Plymouth.
Apply through New Bedford’s visa appointment system. Application instructions (opens in a new tab).
Rhode Island and Providence: Rhode Island, for consular services other than visa applications. For a Portuguese visa, apply through New Bedford instead.
Miami’s VFS office handles applications for the Washington district; it isn’t a separate Portuguese visa consulate. Honorary consulates generally aren’t where you submit a residence-visa application.
Understand how Portugal’s rules and your US obligations fit together. Your visa and your tax position are different questions.
Ask about a tax consultationYour matters more than the name of your visa. You’ll generally become Portuguese tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Portugal during a 12-month period that starts or ends in the tax year. Having a home there that you intend to use as your usual residence can also make you tax resident sooner.
Portuguese tax residents generally report worldwide income, including income from the USA. Different rules can apply to salaries, freelance earnings, pensions, rental income and investments.
For 2026, mainland Portugal’s standard personal income-tax rates range from 12.2% to 48% of taxable income. These rates apply in bands: reaching a higher band doesn’t mean all your income is taxed at the top rate. An extra tax applies at higher income levels, and some types of income have separate rules.
The old NHR tax program isn’t generally open to new arrivals. A different program, IFICI, can give eligible people a 20% rate on qualifying work income for ten years. It has specific conditions; a D7 or D8 visa doesn’t automatically give you a special tax rate.
US citizens and people treated as US residents for tax purposes may still need to file US returns after moving. Tax credits and the US–Portugal treaty can help avoid paying tax twice on the same income, but the result depends on your situation.
Have your pensions, Social Security and retirement accounts reviewed before you move. Don’t assume that an IRA, Roth account or other income that gets special treatment in the USA will be treated the same way in Portugal. The US Foreign Earned Income Exclusion doesn’t cover pensions, annuities or Social Security.
IMIGRATA offers affordable consultations in English with certified Portuguese tax advisers. Bring your income and account details so you can understand the likely costs and plan your move with fewer surprises. We’ll explain the price and scope before you book; advice on your US filing may also require a US tax professional.
If your application is refused, we’ll submit it again free of charge. If it’s refused a second time, we’ll refund 70% of the cost of our service or change the program for you, under the terms of your agreement.
We guarantee our services, not a government decision. The consulate and immigration authorities decide whether to approve the visa and residence permit.
General questions are always free. A private consultation is for a detailed review of your personal situation.
Unlimited general questions about programs, documents and moving to Portugal.
Fee credited toward your relocation program under the booking terms. Tax consultations are a separate service unless included in your package.
If Portugal’s options feel complicated or don’t fit your circumstances, Spain may be worth a look. Some of our US clients choose Spain’s Digital Nomad visa instead, and our Spain team can help you compare the options and prepare the application.
No. We’ll help you compare D7, D4, D8, D2, Golden Visa, D1 and other options based on what you want to do in Portugal and the documents you can provide.
For 2026, the D7 planning reference starts at €920 a month for one adult, with savings and extra amounts for family members. D8 requires average monthly work income of at least €3,680 over the previous three months. We’ll help check which income counts and what documents you need.
Savings help show you can support yourself, but they don’t automatically replace suitable regular income. Bring us details of your pension, rent, investments and other income so we can review the whole picture.
Yes, if you want to study and can meet the requirements for a suitable university or professional course. We help with bachelor’s and master’s programs, as well as eligible professional courses. We’ll check the course and visa route before you enroll.
Plan for tuition, living expenses and application costs. The €12,920 example above combines a €11,040 annual personal-support reference with €1,880 in example course tuition. It isn’t a fixed price or visa requirement for every course; university fees and financial-document rules vary.
There isn’t one fixed amount for every business. You’ll need to show a realistic project, money to carry it out and funds for your living expenses. We’ll help you prepare a budget for the business you actually plan to run.
There are family options, but the documents and timing depend on your visa and family circumstances. Tell us who is moving at the start so we can plan the applications together.
No. They’re money you need to earn or hold for the application and to support yourself. IMIGRATA’s service fee, tuition, government fees and other costs are separate. We’ll explain what your chosen package includes before you sign.
Your home address determines which Portuguese consulate or VFS office handles your documents. Use the directory above or ask us to check. Massachusetts is split by county; Rhode Island visa applicants use New Bedford.
Yes. Our US staff have worked with official documents and apostilles since 1998, and we help obtain documents and apostilles from all 50 states. We can also help with FBI background checks, notarization and English-to-Portuguese translations.
We have notaries in our US office who can notarize documents on the spot, where appropriate. We also have a San Francisco location and our own representative to help with document collection. Contact us first so we can confirm the arrangements.
Yes. Our registered passport courier service helps with renewals and first-time applications. Eligible urgent applications may be completed in as little as three days, depending on government processing and appointment availability. Tell us your deadline so we can check what is possible, including any required in-person steps.
Not necessarily. There are several accommodation options, and we can help you find a solution for your application before you commit to a long lease. The available choices depend on your visa and the consulate’s requirements.
Yes. We can advise on the documents and preparation needed to move with your pet. Start early so you have time to check the travel and entry requirements.
Allow time for documents, appointments, the visa decision and the residence-permit application in Portugal. Washington’s Embassy advises allowing 60 working days for the visa decision alone. We’ll help you build a schedule for your case, but appointment availability and government processing can change it.
Yes. If a situation needs legal support or direct involvement from a Portuguese attorney, our attorney in Lisbon is ready to step in quickly and work on resolving it with the team handling your case.
Yes. We offer affordable consultations with certified Portuguese tax advisers in English. You can discuss your income, pensions, business or freelance work and the tax questions raised by your move. Tax consultations are a separate service; we’ll explain the cost and any package inclusion before you book.
Moving doesn’t automatically end your US tax obligations. US citizens and others covered by US tax rules may still need to file. Get advice on both countries’ rules, especially if you have pensions, investments or retirement accounts.
Yes. We offer free, unlimited online consultations for general questions about programs, documents and relocation. You don’t need to book a paid session just to find out how a program works.
Free online advice answers general questions. A private video or in-office consultation gives you an in-depth review of your own case, a step-by-step plan, a cost breakdown and a written follow-up summary. The private consultation costs €49.
We review your income, work, family, documents and moving plans, then explain the options that fit. You’ll have time for detailed questions and receive a summary afterward. Our private video sessions last at least 45 minutes. If IMIGRATA handles your relocation, the consultation fee is credited toward your program under the booking terms.
We’ll submit it again free of charge. If it’s refused a second time, we’ll refund 70% of our service cost or change the program for you, under your agreement. This is our service guarantee; the authorities still make the approval decision.
Yes. Some US clients find Spain’s Digital Nomad visa a better fit for their plans. We can help you compare the programs without assuming one country is right for everyone.
Start with free online advice if you have general questions. If you’re ready for a detailed review of your own case, book a €49 private video or in-office consultation with a step-by-step plan, cost breakdown and written follow-up.