Interview of Elena Bykovets with Oksana Balaban. Part 2

– Could you remind me of the current options for residency in Portugal? As far as I know, the submission for residency under Articles 88 and 89 was suspended in June 2024. Or perhaps I’m missing something? Are there any other options?

– Yes, there are always options. In general terms, we can distinguish two main directions: one for those who want to permanently reside in Portugal, and one for those who need documents, for example, for a “Plan B.” We’ll talk about the latter option later — these include programs like the Portuguese “Golden Visa” and Citizenship by Investment, which do not require residency in the country.

For those who really want to live here, there are several options. Almost all of them can be done from abroad or already in Portugal. These could be programs for entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals, or students.

It’s important to note that the student visa isn’t just for children or young students. For example, schoolchildren from the 7th grade can come to study and obtain residency, and their family can move through family reunification. Adults can also use this option: if someone already holds a master’s degree, they can come to Portugal for a year to do postgraduate studies, which also grants them residency. This type of residency is initially given for a year, can be extended for another year to search for work, and then can be converted to another status, continuing the path to citizenship.

– So, a person in Ukraine can apply for a student visa? Could you please explain more about how this process works and who it is suitable for?

– Yes, they can. And I want to emphasize that the student visa is suitable not only for children and young students, but also for adults.

Schoolchildren from 7th grade can study in Portugal, get residency, and their family can join them later.

After completing school, they can enroll in college, for example, in a two-year program. Of course, this isn’t just language courses but a full education that requires regular attendance. Most often, the education is in Portuguese, but there are also many programs in English, especially for international students.

They can continue their studies: after college, they can pursue a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s, and then postgraduate studies. At each stage, a person, for example, in Ukraine, can submit documents and get accepted. After receiving an invitation from the college, university, or school, they apply for a visa through the consulate. Upon arrival in Portugal, they receive a package of necessary documents and apply for student residency.

Thus, a student residency is a real opportunity for legal stay in Portugal, with the prospect of further integration.

– And the next question. As far as I know, the Digital Nomad visa is very popular in Europe. Can you also get it in Portugal? What are the conditions, what advantages does it offer, and who is it suitable for?

– Yes, you’re absolutely right, this is a very popular option now. The Digital Nomad visa is for people who have an employment contract with a foreign company, and the contract must specify that the person can work remotely.

Another important point is the salary level. The requirements change each year, and the minimum income for the Digital Nomad visa increases. This year, if I’m not mistaken, it’s 3,480 euros per month (which equals four minimum wages in Portugal).

The application process is the same: the person gathers their documents in the country they are in, applies, receives the visa, and officially arrives in Portugal. Here, they receive the right to reside legally under this category.

– Are there any possible tax advantages with this visa?

– This depends on the specific country of origin. I want to emphasize that I’m not a tax expert — we have separate specialists in our team who handle that. But in general, there are certain tax benefits, exemptions from paying taxes, but it all depends on where the income is coming from, where the contract is concluded. The person coming to Portugal will also have different options. I think we should discuss tax minimization opportunities separately.

– Thank you. What other options are there?

– We’ve already discussed two options, but we haven’t touched on family reunification. This is also an important point. For example, if one spouse is already in Portugal and has a package of documents, the other can come under the family reunification program.

Also, we forgot to mention another option — residency by passive income. This is a very relevant topic, especially for your younger audience. If someone can prove a stable passive income, they can obtain residency. Passive income can be from various sources: dividends, interest from stocks, rental income from property that generates monthly income.

As for the amount, different sources provide different figures. By law, you only need to prove around 1,000 euros per month in passive income, which is formally enough for residency. But from experience, we recommend a minimum of 1,800 euros per month. This is because Portugal has a set minimum living wage, and the country wants to ensure that newcomers can live comfortably here and spend money. Of course, if a person has their own housing and minimal expenses, they may be able to live on 1,000 euros. But in general, we recommend a higher amount.

This residency option is quite accessible, and if someone has stable passive income, they can almost always find a way to apply for residency through this program.

– What is this visa called?

– It’s called the D7 visa. It’s also known as the visa for financially independent individuals or passive income visa.

– In general, am I correct in understanding that to apply for this visa, one must do so in their country of residence or citizenship? Or are there other options? For example, we have clients in Poland who plan to move to Portugal, but they currently have temporary protection. What options do they have? What is the best path for them?

– In this case, we need to first see if they qualify for the Digital Nomad visa, or if they can apply for the D7 visa through passive income.

Applying through the consulate is, on one hand, a longer process because it happens in two stages: first, document gathering for the consulate, then applying for residency inside Portugal. But this route is smoother because the steps are clear, and waiting times are often shorter.

There’s a Portuguese consulate in Poland, so they can apply there for one of the two options: either Digital Nomad or D7.

There’s also the option to come to Portugal and apply from inside the country. If a person plans to build their life here, this option is worth considering as well.

– The next question. What should those already in Portugal do if they only have temporary protection and cannot apply for residency? When was it easier to do this?

– In any case, it’s essential to consult with specialists first. I’m a big advocate of consultations because I believe we pay people for their experience, which they have accumulated over the years working in a particular field. So, in my opinion, it’s important to get advice from one or two specialists to understand the available options and what each expert offers.

After that, depending on the person’s plans with temporary protection, we can look at what they are doing. Maybe they already have some business activity, and they can start their own business here — this opportunity still exists.

There’s also Article 90.2, which allows highly qualified professionals to obtain residency. It happens that a person realizes they’re in love with Portugal, want to stay, but feel something is missing. For example, a real case from our clients: the woman has a bachelor’s degree, and she decided to pursue a master’s degree.

The master’s program is two years. What does this give her? She doesn’t know Portuguese, but she’s studying in English. This immediately provides a certain circle of contacts, helping to integrate into Portuguese life more smoothly. You begin to understand what’s happening here, you see the experience of others, and you make connections.

Plus, after graduation, she will have a Portuguese diploma, and by the end of the second year, she will most likely have learned Portuguese as well. Because, as practice shows, Ukrainians have an easier time mastering Portuguese than, for example, Americans or Chinese. The sounds are quite similar, and learning the language comes more naturally.

In the end, in two years, she will not only have a local degree but also connections, language, and thus, it will be easier to find a job. So, we need to look at it individually: what the person is doing, what their prospects are, and offer solutions based on that. If they are a highly qualified professional with confirmed work experience, why not?

– And what is considered a high qualification now? For example, does the IT field fall into this category? Are there any special conditions?

– Yes, look, if we take real examples from our clients, they usually already have a relevant degree. Typically, this is a younger audience, aged 30-35, many of whom hold a bachelor’s degree in the necessary field, meaning they are already qualified professionals.

For example, we have a woman with a designer’s degree, but for the last five years, she’s been working in IT. She can confirm this experience with contracts from these years. In such a case, she can follow two paths: either she has a degree in the specialty and at least a couple of years of work experience, or she has confirmed work experience of at least five years, even if her degree is in another field.

In this regard, Portugal is quite welcoming to highly qualified professionals.