Article 100 Portugal União de Facto Family Reunification

Article 100 is often misunderstood. It is not the article for bringing dependent parents to Portugal. Article 100 is the family reunification route for an unmarried partner in a recognised união de facto and, where applicable, that partner’s minor or incapacitated unmarried children who are legally entrusted to them.

This distinction is important. A parent case is usually argued through Article 99 as a dependent first-degree ascendant. An unmarried partner case is argued through Article 100.

Last verified: June 30, 2026. União de facto evidence can be very fact-sensitive, especially when the relationship was formed outside Portugal or the couple has not kept clean cohabitation records.

Quick answer

Article 100 allows family reunification with an unmarried partner who has a duly proven união de facto with the resident in Portugal. It may also cover the partner’s unmarried minor or incapacitated children, including adopted children, if they are legally entrusted to the partner. The application still follows the broader family reunification rules, so the sponsor must satisfy Article 98, income, housing, and document conditions.

What união de facto means

União de facto is not simply dating, engagement, or a long-distance relationship. In Portuguese law, it is a legally relevant non-marital partnership that must be proven with reliable evidence.

For immigration purposes, AIMA may look at evidence such as:

• whether the couple has a common child;
• whether the couple lived together before the application;
• whether the union is registered or recognised in a reliable way;
• whether there are other trustworthy documents showing a stable shared life.

AIMA can conduct interviews and checks where needed. The more the relationship depends only on personal statements, the weaker the file usually feels.

Article 100 vs spouse reunification

Use Article 99 spouse logic if you are legally married. Use Article 100 if you are not married but claim to be in união de facto.

Situation	Better route
Legally married spouse	Article 99 family member category
Unmarried partner with strong cohabitation evidence	Article 100
Engaged but never cohabited	Usually weak for Article 100
Long-distance relationship with visits only	Usually weak for Article 100
Parent financially dependent on the resident	Dependent ascendant under Article 99, not Article 100

If you are unsure whether to marry before applying, do not treat marriage as a magic fix. A rushed marriage with inconsistent documents can create its own questions. The right route depends on the real facts.

The sponsor waiting period still applies

Article 100 does not bypass the Article 98 sponsor rules. In 2026, the sponsor usually needs a valid Portuguese residence permit held for at least two years. The shorter 15-month rule may apply to a spouse or equivalent partner who lived with the sponsor for at least 18 months immediately before the sponsor entered Portugal.

The phrase “equivalent partner” is where união de facto can matter. But you still need to prove the relationship properly.

Strong evidence for Article 100

A strong Article 100 file usually combines several kinds of evidence:

Cohabitation evidence

• lease with both names;
• official address records showing the same address;
• utility bills, bank letters, tax records, or insurance records at the same address;
• residence certificates or local authority declarations;
• travel and entry records that match the claimed cohabitation period.

Relationship evidence

• birth certificate of a common child;
• registered partnership or local equivalent where available;
• joint bank account or shared financial responsibilities;
• insurance beneficiary records;
• evidence of shared household expenses;
• consistent civil-status documents.

Portuguese proof where the couple lives in Portugal

In Portugal, a declaração de união de facto from the junta de freguesia is commonly used to prove união de facto in administrative contexts. The usual evidence can include a declaration under honour that the couple has lived in união de facto for more than two years and civil-registration documents. Requirements can vary by junta and by the purpose of the proof.

For AIMA, I would not rely on the junta declaration alone if other evidence is available. Add the documents that show the relationship is real over time.

Weak evidence patterns

An Article 100 file is weaker when it relies mostly on:

• photos without address or date context;
• chat screenshots;
• flight tickets showing only short visits;
• statements from friends without official documents;
• a recent lease signed just before applying;
• inconsistent addresses in tax, bank, university, or employment documents;
• a relationship that started after the sponsor entered Portugal with no cohabitation history.

Photos and messages can support a file, but they should not be the foundation.

Documents usually needed

The exact checklist depends on the country and the AIMA route, but an Article 100 file commonly needs:

• sponsor’s residence permit;
• sponsor’s passport copy;
• partner’s passport;
• proof of união de facto;
• birth certificates or civil-status certificates where needed;
• proof that neither partner is blocked from the claimed relationship status;
• apostille or legalisation for foreign documents;
• certified Portuguese translation where required;
• income proof;
• housing proof;
• criminal-record certificate where required;
• documents for the partner’s minor or incapacitated child, if included.

If the partner has a child from a previous relationship, prepare custody and authorisation documents carefully. This is where many files become complicated.

Income and housing

The sponsor must show enough income and suitable housing for the family after reunification. In 2026, AIMA’s family reunification income calculation uses the minimum wage framework: 100% for the first adult, 50% for each additional adult, and 30% for each minor or dependent adult child.

For sponsor + unmarried partner, the basic 2026 monthly reference is €1,380. If the partner brings one minor child, the reference becomes €1,656.

Housing should show that the couple and any children can actually live at the address. See the proof of address guide and renting guide if the lease or address proof is weak.

The process

The Article 100 process usually follows the wider family reunification route:

1. Confirm that the relationship qualifies as união de facto.
2. Confirm that the sponsor satisfies Article 98 timing, income, and housing conditions.
3. Prepare relationship, cohabitation, civil-status, and identity documents.
4. Submit the AIMA family reunification request through the correct route.
5. If the partner is outside Portugal, complete the national visa stage after AIMA approval.
6. After entry or approval, complete the AIMA residence-permit stage.

For appointment and follow-up steps, use the AIMA appointment guide.

Can the partner work after approval?

A partner who receives a residence permit through family reunification should generally be able to work in Portugal under the normal rules for family reunification residence holders. They will still need NIF, NISS, and a proper employment or self-employment setup.

What makes Article 100 cases fail

The most common weak points are:

• treating a romantic relationship as união de facto without enough proof;
• not showing cohabitation clearly;
• relying on a document that is not recognised or not properly legalised;
• inconsistent address history;
• missing civil-status documents;
• weak income or housing evidence;
• sponsor not meeting the Article 98 waiting rule;
• including a child without proper custody or legal-authority documents.

In my opinion, Article 100 is not harder because AIMA dislikes unmarried partners. It is harder because evidence of an unmarried partnership is often messier than a marriage certificate.

Common questions

Is Article 100 for parents?

No. Article 100 is for união de facto partners and certain children of that partner. Dependent parents are normally considered under Article 99 as first-degree ascendants who are dependent.

Do we need to live together for two years?

Portuguese união de facto proof often focuses on more than two years of living together, especially for a junta de freguesia declaration. Immigration files can be fact-specific, but a recent or mostly long-distance relationship is much harder to prove.

Can my boyfriend or girlfriend come to Portugal under Article 100?

Only if the relationship is strong enough to qualify as união de facto and the sponsor meets the family reunification requirements. A casual relationship or engagement is usually not enough.

Is marriage easier?

Marriage can make the family category clearer, but it does not remove income, housing, sponsor timing, recognition, or document requirements. A rushed marriage can also create suspicion if the evidence is inconsistent.

Final practical advice

For Article 100, build the evidence around shared life, not emotions. AIMA needs documents that show a stable partnership over time: where you lived, how you supported each other, whether you have a child, and whether the relationship is recognised in a legally meaningful way.