Golden Visa Questions – Entry Requirements, Documents, and Health Insurance

Residencies & citizenships Portugal Golden Visa 🇵🇹
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Hi everyone,

I’m currently exploring the Golden Visa route for Portugal and will most likely work with a lawyer, but before that, I’d love to get some clarity from the community on a few points. I appreciate any insights you can share:

  1. Do I need to be physically in Portugal at the time I submit the online application? If yes, does this requirement also apply to my family members included in the application?
  2. The law mentions needing a valid Schengen visa — does this apply to U.S. citizens, even though we can enter the Schengen Area without a visa?
  3. Besides the standard documents, are there any lesser-known documents that applicants usually miss or overlook?
  4. There’s a requirement for a declaration of no registration with Portuguese social security. I’ve never registered with Portuguese social security — how do I obtain this document?
  5. The law says that if the applicant doesn’t reside in Portugal, they must submit a criminal record certificate from their country of origin (or where they’ve lived for over a year), certified by a Portuguese diplomatic or consular office. However, I thought an apostille would suffice. Am I missing something here?
  6. For dependent children included in the application — what documents are required?
  7. Do I need to have health insurance, even if I don’t plan to settle in Portugal right away?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

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  1. No
  2. No
  3. Yes, quite a few, pls use the forum search, e.g. I posted a list some years ago.
  4. Your lawyer get it for you. But if not (e.g. mine did not) you then take the matter in your own hands and call the Social Security to book an appointment in-person, then you attend the said appointment and they print out the letter. Once you get your ARI card, you will be able to get a job or become self-employed, then you will be able to get your NISS, and after some long-winded system registration process, you’ll finally be able to download the no-debt declaration any time online by yourself.
  5. Yes, if your country of residence/origin is a Hague convention member, the apostille is what’s needed. Note: the main applicant is only required to submit ONE police certificate (normally from the country of current residence), while dependants are required to submit BOTH residence and origin countries’ certificates. Don’t ask for the logic of it, it’s the law =)
  6. Depends on their age - search the forum for the details.
  7. No.