Back in the late 90s of the last century, many Ukrainians left to live in other countries, in particular, they dared to immigrate to Portugal, the westernmost country in Europe.
The reasons for emigration were various circumstances, in particular, economic hardship in the Motherland, which encouraged Ukrainians to seek a better fate abroad in order to realize themselves and, in particular, help their families. Therefore, the availability of jobs and rather soft conditions for migrants in Portugal itself were and still are extremely favorable.
Today, immigration to Portugal, regardless of the great distance that separates our countries, enjoys constant popularity among Ukrainians.
Migration policy of Portugal
Immigration to Portugal from Ukraine is allowed with a biometric passport, as well as with the presence of children’s birth certificates. No visa or entry permit is required. In order to get to the country, you can use both commercial bus and train flights, as well as humanitarian buses that transport those who wish for free, or private cars.
Portuguese transport companies sometimes offer free bus transport from Spain, as well as discounted flights from Poland or Romania.
If the applicant plans to stay in the country for more than three months, it is necessary to apply for a long-term visa, as well as a residence permit in Portugal. Such documents will allow you to stay in the country for the next 1-2 years, and after five years you can get a permanent residence in Portugal.
Methods of immigration to Portugal
Immigration to Portugal for Ukrainians consists of several stages, which include the selection of a migration category depending on the capabilities and needs of the applicant and a thorough check of the migrant for compliance with the requirements of the selected program, within the framework of which immigration to Portugal takes place.
Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal for freelancers is possible in the following ways:
Financially independent foreigner. Applicants with passive income may be able to obtain a D7 visa in Portugal. This method is considered one of the fastest and easiest ways to obtain a resident card, because it does not require investment in business, real estate or investment. Such a program is ideal for sailors, specialists in the field of IT, as well as entrepreneurs with passive income. Moving to Portugal in this case is possible for the whole family, and there are no requirements to speak Portuguese.
Entrepreneur’s visa. Immigrating to Portugal with the help of the so-called “golden visa” is available to foreigners who can afford to buy a certain amount of real estate in the country, invest in a local business or make a donation of a certain amount. Such immigration to Portugal allows you to combine obtaining a visa and profitable investments. In addition, the investor does not have strict requirements for permanent residence in the country – you can stay in Portugal for at least seven days a year.
Business immigration. Portugal is considered one of the best tax residences in Europe and focuses not only on European, but also on global sales markets. At the same time, the costs of maintaining an office here are lower than in other countries, and low corporate tax and benefits when paying VAT allow business to develop quickly. In order for business immigration to Portugal from Ukraine to be successful, you need to have a working business plan and sufficient funds for its implementation.
Startup visa. The Ministry of Economy of the country has launched a special visa program specifically for applicants who dream of founding a startup from scratch to live in Portugal. In order to take part in it, the business being started must be innovative, useful, profitable, and the applicant must be able to manage a team and financial flows. There is no time limit for this program – applications can be submitted online at any time in Portuguese or English.
Labor immigration. Depending on the employee’s specialty and qualifications, the employer can carry out a corporate transfer of the employee if the company’s head office is located outside Portugal and other EU countries. If immigration to Portugal from Ukraine is necessary for a highly qualified professional employee, he can receive an EU “blue card”, which entitles him to unlimited free movement within the EU countries and preferential conditions for obtaining a residence permit.
Family reunion. In this case, immigration to Portugal from Ukraine is possible if one of the applicants’ close relatives permanently resides in the country. It can be someone from a spouse, minor children, parents who have reached the age of 65, or younger family members who are unable to take care of themselves.
Tax resident. A natural or legal person who, according to the law, is subject to taxation according to his place of residence, has the status of a tax resident. Under the terms of the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) program, new residents are exempt from taxes on most types of income from a foreign source for ten years.
Despite the fact that immigrating to Portugal for Ukrainians in most cases is quite simple and acceptable, in order to increase the chances of obtaining a residence permit, we advise you to contact an experienced immigration lawyer who will help you successfully fulfill all the conditions so that your immigration to Portugal 2022 is easy, which in the future, in particular, will allow you to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
