A naturalized Portuguese citizen—such as one who gained citizenship through the Golden Visa (GV) program—can sponsor adult children under Portuguese immigration law, but only under specific conditions. According to Article 99(1)(b) of Law no. 23/2007, adult children (18 or older) may qualify for family reunification if they are financially dependent on the parent and are enrolled in an educational institution in Portugal. Proof of both dependency and enrollment is required. If approved, the adult child receives a residence permit through family reunification, which counts toward the five-year legal residency requirement for Portuguese citizenship under Article 6(1) of the Nationality Law (Law no. 37/81). If the adult child is not dependent or not studying, they do not qualify for reunification and must apply independently for a visa. This can include a work visa (Article 88) with a confirmed job offer, a job seeker visa, or a study visa. In these cases, the parent may provide support (e.g. housing or financial guarantees), but cannot act as a legal sponsor. All these legal pathways—family reunification, work, study, or job seeking—can lead to permanent residency and eventually citizenship, provided the applicant maintains legal residence in Portugal for five years.
