Our Residential Visa process took exactly 6 weeks.
We are US citizens living in Thailand so we needed to go through the steps for applying for our resident visa in a slightly different way. First, we contacted the Portuguese Embassy in Bangkok to see what was required for our application.
This is the list they sent us by email. I have included only the part that we needed to use as US citizens and being retired. But I will post the full one at the bottom.
RESIDENCE VISA (D) Portugal
DOCUMENTS-
Visa application duly and fully completed (in legible capital letters or type writing).
Passport valid for more than 3 months beyond the completion of the intended journey.
Clear photocopy of the relevant pages of the passport (data of the applicant and previous Schengen Visas granted).
2 color pictures, less than 6 months old (size: 3.5cm X 4.5cm).
Criminal Record authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country.
Petition completed and signed.
If still employed at the moment of the visa request, declaration from the actual employer certifying position, date of employment, monthly salary, date of travel, and date of intended leave. Stamped and signed
Clear photocopies of bank statements (for the past 6 months) or any other documents attesting sufficient economic means to travel to Portugal.
Airplane reservation, with booking reference and contact details of the booking agent and airline, for the intended
journey. Details of any other means of transport should be also provided.
Declaration from the applicant stating the intentions and motives of the request.
Accommodation details and contact of the place of stay in Portugal. Travel insurance for 120 days starting from the date of departure. The sum insured hat to exceed 30.000 Euro.
Proof of Subsistence:
Retired or Pensioner
Document certifying the amount and guarantee for this amount to be paid in Portugal.
We had our fingerprints taken at the Police Headquarters in Bangkok and we sent them via UPS to http://accuratebiometrics.com/ in the US. They sent the prints electronically to the FBI. We had them send the results and paperwork to our US address and it was then sent to us in Thailand by our family. It took 3 weeks from the time we sent it UPS to the time we received it from our address in the US.
We had the information page (picture and number) of our passports notarized here and added it to the growing pile of papers we were gathering for our packet. We submitted the originals and one copy to the Portuguese Embassy in person.
On the list it states it could take 30 to 60 days to be approved for the residential visa and in our case it took exactly 6 weeks. We were contacted by the embassy and made an appointment to receive the visa.
We went to Bangkok and gave them our passports and the man we worked with put the visa and all necessary info in it and then took it directly to the Ambassador to have him sign them. The process in and out the door took 10 minutes.
To satisfy the insurance requirement we purchased travel insurance for the first 120 days through our travel agent with the company “Travelex”. This can be done without a travel agent on their website. After we arrive in Portugal we will contact the SEF office to get an appointment time for our Residency Permit. After we have received the permit we will open a bank account so we can qualify for Portuguese Insurance through the bank as I understand it is very reasonable.
When we went for our first meeting at the embassy to turn in our paperwork and application we asked if they needed to take our Biometrics. They said no because this was for a Resident Visa NOT a Schengen Visa. When we went today to get the stamp in our visa we were told again they didn't need our Biometrics taken. We will see how it goes when we arrive.
Over the moon excited does not begin to describe how we feel having our visa in hand. We will be flying out in 6 weeks and only have a small amount of packing to do.
We hope this helps some of you in your planning. Try to be patient and remember what the goal is. Good Luck
Lin and Vince
RESIDENCE VISA (D)
Portugal
DOCUMENTS-
Visa application duly and fully completed (in legible capital letters or type writing).
Passport valid for more than 3 months beyond the completion of the intended journey.
Clear photocopy of the relevant pages of the passport (data of the applicant and previous Schengen Visas granted).
2 color pictures, less than 6 months old (size: 3.5cm X 4.5cm).
Criminal Record authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country.
Petition completed and signed.
If still employed at the moment of the visa request, declaration from the actual employer certifying position, date of employment, monthly salary, date of travel, and date of intended leave. Stamped and signed
Clear photocopies of bank statements (for the past 6 months) or any other documents attesting sufficient economic means to travel to Portugal.
Airplane reservation, with booking reference and contact details of the booking agent and airline, for the intended journey. Details of any other means of transport should be also provided.
Declaration from the applicant stating the intentions and motives of the request.
Accommodation details and contact of the place of stay in Portugal.
- travel insurance for 120 days starting from the date of departure. The sum insured hat to exceed 30.000 Euro.
Proof of Subsistence:
Retired or Pensioner
Document certifying the amount and guarantee for this amount to be paid in Portugal.
Personal income from movable/immovable property or intellectual Property
Document certifying the amount of such incomes and access of these incomes in Portugal.
Personal income from investment
Document certifying the request of a fund transfer
Independent Professional Activity
Document certifying the investment registration.
Liberal activity
Document certifying the habilitations and authorization to perform in Portugal, and when required, inscription to the appropriate professional association in Portugal.
Employee
Documents certifying the assurance of a work offer signed by both parties, authorization issued by the (IEFP) with the certified working contract, habilitations and authorization to perform work in Portugal and when required the inscription to the appropriate professional association in Portugal.
In case of reassembly of family:
Present the authorization from the National Direction of SEF (Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) from the residential area of the family in Portugal (Art 56 of D.L. 244/98 dated 08 August). Exemption from proof of means and accommodation details
Invitation letter (legalized) clearly identifying the host and the applicant, stating specifically the responsibility of the host in Schengen territory and his responsibility in making sure that guest will obey by the terms and conditions of the delivered schengen visa, as well for the return of the invited person to the country of origin.
Identification document of the host: photocopy of the passport, Portuguese ID card or resident card/resident permit, bank statement.
Note:
Replies can take up to 30 to 60 days after the application is submitted, and should be requested accordingly.
An interview and additional documents may be required at any time.
A medical insurance is strongly recommended.
The foreign citizen should apply for the visa in person. Exceptionally, based on a declaration stating the strong motive for the absence of the applicant, he may give authorization (duly legalized) to a third person to present the application on his behalf. The authorized person must also present his original ID card.
The visa application is confidential. All information will be transmitted to the applicant only.
The applicant must present the original ticket (dates according to the application) at the moment of the hand over of the issued visa.
The applicant must verify the issued visa and its correctness before leaving the Embassy.
Mere possession of a uniform visa does not entitle automatic right of entry into the Schengen States, as borders authorities can be under instructions to deny entry in specific cases.
Visas are issued or denied according with internal decisions of the Portuguese Authorities.
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