Portugal's D7 Visa: A Guide to the Massachusetts Apostille You'll Need

The dream of retiring or living in Portugal—with its warm climate, rich culture, and affordable lifestyle—is more popular than ever for Massachusetts residents. The Portuguese D7 Visa makes this possible for non-EU citizens with a stable passive income. But while the opportunity is exciting, the paperwork is demanding.

One of the biggest hurdles? Getting the correct apostille for your FBI background check and other supporting documents. It’s a detail that may seem small, but if done incorrectly, it can delay or even derail your visa application.

The Apostille Problem Most Applicants Face

The Portuguese consulate requires your FBI Criminal Background Check (Identity History Summary) to carry an apostille before they’ll accept it. The tricky part is knowing where and how to get it.

• Federal documents (like the FBI background check) must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
• State documents (like Massachusetts birth or marriage certificates, or notarized affidavits) are apostilled at the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office in Boston.

It sounds simple, but many applicants make the mistake of submitting federal documents to the state office or sending incomplete packets to Washington, D.C. The result? Weeks or months of wasted time—and often a rejected application.

How Boston Notary Service Makes It Easy

At Boston Notary Service, we’ve helped countless Massachusetts residents prepare their documents for international use. We understand exactly what the Portuguese consulate requires, and we manage the process so you don’t have to stress over federal versus state rules.

Here’s how we help D7 Visa applicants:

• We handle federal apostilles: We manage the submission of your FBI background check to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
• We manage state-level apostilles: We obtain and process Massachusetts-issued documents at the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston.
• We save you months of waiting: Through our network of D.C. couriers, we can often expedite the federal apostille process, cutting down long wait times.
• We ensure accuracy the first time: No rejections, no resubmissions—your documents will be accepted by the consulate.

Why Trust Boston Notary Service?

Your D7 visa is the key to starting a new chapter in Portugal. The last thing you need is to get stuck in bureaucratic red tape. Families and individuals across Massachusetts trust us because:

• We know the difference between federal and state apostilles—and ensure the right documents go to the right offices.
• We’ve streamlined the process to avoid unnecessary delays.
• We provide peace of mind—your paperwork is handled correctly and efficiently by professionals with decades of experience.

Start Your Portugal Journey with Confidence

Your dream of living in Portugal shouldn’t be delayed by paperwork errors. Let Boston Notary Service take the stress out of the apostille process for your D7 Visa.

📞 Call us today at 617.230.6676 or 📧 email info@bostonnotaryservice.us to get started. We’ll ensure your documents are authenticated quickly and correctly—so you can focus on planning your new life in Portugal.