Eligibility for family reunion meets best practice in Portugal, as in CA and SE (see box). Eligible migrants face conditions that score halfway to best practice: To reunite their families, migrants must prove sufficient accommodation and income during an expensive procedure. A reunited family is secure under laws that rank 2nd after IT; the family can stay in the country as long as their sponsor does, but family members can lose their permits if the family relationship breaks up. However, if the break-up is caused by divorce or the death of the sponsor, spouses, children and other family members have the right to live in the country autonomously from their sponsor. All family members acquire that right after two years. Family members have equal rights as their sponsor to take up a job, education, social security and social assistance.
