If I have temporary residence permit and I want to apply for my mother to come to Portugal. Should I show that she is dependent on me socially? And what does it actually mean? She is under 65 years old now. What are our options?
Family reunification can be done with the family member abroad or already in Portugal pursuant a legal entrance in the country. The requirements for parents will regard to the dependence that can be demonstrated with health, social or economic dependence documents.
First of all, let me clarify that any holder of a residence permit in Portugal acquires the right to family reunification, i.e. the right to reunite the family in Portugal. Since your mother is under 65, the law requires proof that she is financially dependent on you. In practical terms, we only have to demonstrate that it is the son who supports the mother, for example through bank transfers to the mother's account. In this sense, the most appropriate visa for the family reunification process is the D6 visa.
If you hold a PT residence permit, then you are allowed to bring your parents if you prove that they depend on you. Not yet having 65, you can prove the dependence of your parents by showing that their income is none or insufficient to support their essential expenses, such as housing and food, and that you help them on that. You can also show the dependence for health reasons. For regrouping, it is necessary to prove the family relationship (through a birth certificate duly legalized and translated into PT), as well as economic dependence, which can be proven through bank transfers, declarations of official entities, and, if the dependence is due to health reasons, a medical declaration stating that your parent needs permanent accompaniment.
As a residence permit holder in Portugal, you are entitled to the family regrouping of your mother, provided you prove your family bonds (via your birth certificate) and, among other criteria, prove that your mother is economically dependent on you. This means that you have to prove to the authorities that you are responsible for your mother’s housing, nourishment and living expenses. As your mother is under 65, the economic dependence on you is a mandatory criterion, as the authorities will not see her as a retired person and, therefore, earning a pension to sustain herself. The residence permit to which you will apply your mother will have the same rights and obligations as yours regarding, for example, minimum time to be spent in Portugal, among others.
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