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Request a short-term Schengen visa

The Schengen visa for short stay allows you to stay in Portugal for a maximum period of 90 days. It is usually requested for reasons of tourism, business or family visits.

The visa does not automatically guarantee entry into Portugal. At the border or any other control point, additional documentation may be requested to prove that you meet the legal requirements to enter the Schengen area.

Service channels

Request Online

Request in person

Through the E-Visa portal

Consult the field “Price”

Available at any moment

At the Portuguese consular offices (Embassies and Consulates) or at the consular representations of European Union countries that have jurisdiction, in case there is no Portuguese consular office

In some countries, at External Services Providers

Search for a point of service near you:

Who can request a short-term Schengen visa?

Any foreigner who is not a national of a Member State of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can request a Schengen visa for short stay.

The presentation of the Schengen visa to enter Portugal is mandatory for any national of a country listed in Annex I of the Visa Code .

Where request a short-term Schengen visa?

• Through the E-Visa portal .

In person, at:

• Portuguese consular offices (Embassies and Consulates)
• Consular representations of European Union countries that have jurisdiction, in case there is no Portuguese consular office.
• External Services Providers , only in some countries.

What are the documents and requirements to request a short-term Schengen visa?

You can consult all the necessary documents and requirements on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) .

The visa does not automatically guarantee entry into Portugal. At the border, or at any other checkpoint, you may have to present additional documentation proving that you meet the requirements for entering the Schengen area, such as proof that you have sufficient means to cover your stay and the return journey, for example. You can consult the full list of supplementary documentation that may be requested in Annex I of the Borders Code .

What is the price to request a short-term Schengen visa?

Usually, it costs 80€.

For nationals of countries with facilitation agreements with the European Union (EU) and children from the age of six and under 12 , it costs 40€.

It is free of charge for:

• children under the age of six (at the date of submission of the visa request)
• students and teachers when travelling on study or training trips
• researchers travelling for the purpose of scientific research
• representatives of non-profit organizations up to 25 years old participating in seminars, conferences, cultural or sports events organized by non-profit organizations
• family members of nationals of Member States of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

What is the deadline to request a short-term Schengen visa?

You must submit your request between 6 months and 15 days before the date you intend to enter Portugal. In duly justified cases you can request the visa less than 15 days before the date you want to enter Portugal.

When requesting, the consulate may require an interview. This interview must take place within two weeks of being requested. In urgent and duly justified cases, the consulate may waive the interview or schedule it immediately.

Related topics

Citizenship and documents

Other documents

Foreigners in Portugal

Migrants in Portugal

Practical guides

Travelling abroad

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6.4.6 - 20/02/2024

A Tourist Visa in Portugal: A Simple Guide

Ever felt tangled in the intricate web of visa policies? Welcome to the light!

Our simple guide navigates you through the labyrinth of obtaining a tourist visa in Portugal.

A beacon for expats, we clear the haze around protocols and pave your way to a seamless Portuguese escapade

What Is A Tourist Visa For Portugal?

The tourist visa for Portugal is also known as the Schengen visa . Portugal is one of the member states of Schengen countries that have signed an agreement with each other. 

People from one of these 27 Schengen countries can easily visit all the Schengen countries with just one stamp on one’s passport. Others would need to apply for a Schengen tourist visa.

The passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months before applying for the Schengen tourism visa with proof of one’s finances and return air ticket. People can stay in Portugal for a maximum of 90 days on a tourist visa.

As a holder of a Schengen tourist visa, one can visit friends and family to see all the beautiful locations in Portugal but cannot apply for a job or study in any Portuguese institutions permanently. 

Thus, with the Schengen Tourist visa, one can visit all the famous locations, attend festivals, and travel to sightsee all the monuments in the Schengen area of Europe , including Portugal.

What Are Different Characteristics Of Schengen Tourist Visa In Portugal?

The Schengen tourist visa allows the citizens of the Schengen countries to travel visa-free and saves them a lot of hassle and time. However, individuals from other countries still need to go through the process of applying for a tourist visa to visit Portugal.

There are different characteristics related to the Portugal tourist visa that one needs to be aware of if one wants to apply for it to visit Portugal. 

Short-Term Or Temporary Stay

The Tourist visa for Portugal and other Schengen countries is only for a temporary or short-term stay. At maximum, people can stay in Portugal for 90 days on this visa consecutively or with breaks.

They’ll need to leave Portugal after they have completed 90 days under the span of 180 days.

Several Entries

The best characteristic of Schengen visas is that they often allow multiple entries . It means that one may enter or leave the Schengen area several times within the valid limit of the period the tourist visa allows.

Thus, one might enter or leave Portugal within 6 months several times if one has yet to cross the stay of over 90 days .  

Purpose Of Tourist Visa

Tourist visas in Portugal are to travel for leisure in the country and other Schengen areas. People can acquire this visa for visiting family and friends who are residents of Portugal.

One can also apply for this visa to attend cultural festivals or enjoy vacations and other leisure activities.

No Employment

One cannot look for work, apply for work, or even work part-time on a Tourist Schengen visa. 

Schengen tourist visa is a short-term visa. One would either need to apply for a Schengen temporary visa, work permit, or job seeker visa for Portugal if one wants to work in Portugal. 

One must apply for the Schengen tourist visa to study in Portugal. One would again need to apply for a Schengen temporary visa and obtain a resident permit in Portugal to study in Portugal. 

Visa-Free Travel

For some residents of EU and EEA countries , citizens do not need to apply for this visa and are allowed to travel visa-free in all the European states of the Schengen area. 

In conclusion, it is always better to be aware of all of these characteristics of the Schengen Tourist visa before applying for it to visit Portugal.

Who Can Request A Short-term Schengen Visa?  

Any individual who belongs to a Member State of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) does not need to apply for the Schengen tourist visa. 

So, foreigners who do not belong to any of the states mentioned above need to apply for a tourist visa. 

Also, someone other than a resident of Switzerland can and must apply for a Schengen visa for touring Schengen countries like Portugal. 

Thus, it is compulsory for any individual who wants to tour the Schengen area as well as Portugal to present the approved visa papers to the authorities according to their nationality to ensure they are legally permitted to travel through Portugal. 

When To Apply For A Tourist Visa For Portugal?

The tourist Visa applications for Portugal must be submitted:

• 15 days before the travel date 
• Under 3 months before the travel date, not before 6 months .

Where To Apply For The Tourist Visa For Portugal?

Applications for the tourist visa should be presented either through the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy or any other authorized visa application center connected with Portugal.

If a country does not have a Portuguese consulate, one can request to submit the tourist visa applications at the Consulate or embassy of any other Schengen state.

An applicant must submit the visa applications in one’s home country . Applying from countries other than one’s home country is permissible in some cases.

One would need to present a valid reason for taking such action and confirm with the relevant authorities before applying. Nonetheless, one’s application may only be accepted if it goes against the laws .

How To Request A Tourist Visa Application?  

If one wants to tour Portugal and wants to access the Schengen tourist visa application, then one might be able to do that through the following ways:

It is easy if one can get the visa applications online . Portugal has made it easy to access and download Visa applications through their online portal or Foreign Ministry . One would need to print the form.  

However, one would need to go physically to the embassy or Consulate to submit the applications, as the acceptance of the visa application for tourists is not accepted by Portugal online.

Physically, In Person:

One can go physically to get the tourist visa applications. One would need to go to the following places to get the application forms:

• Portugal Embassy or Consulate Office
• Consular representative offices of any European Union country if there is no Portuguese consular office in one’s home country.
• In some countries, there are also some approved service providers where one can get the application forms for tourist visas.  

How Long Can One Stay In Portugal With a Tourist Visa?

One can stay in Portugal with a tourist visa for 90 days within a limited period of 6 months . 

The exact dates of one’s approved stay and the deadline of the stay are usually mentioned on the papers of visa stickers on one’s passport . 

What Is The Deadline To Request A Schengen Tourist Visa?  

One must apply for the Schengen Tourist Visa for Portugal between 6 months to 15 days before the intended travel date. 

In some emergency cases, one may submit a request for the visa application when one might have less than 15 days to travel but would need to provide a valid reason for such action. The visa fee might be different for urgent cases. 

What Are The Required Documents for a Portugal Schengen Tourist Visa?

Before collecting all the required documents, one needs to attach them with one’s tourist visa applications for Portugal. One needs to know in which language the documents must be approved. 

The application form for the tourist visa of Portugal is also available in different languages:

• French 

Though the application forms are available in the languages mentioned above, if the documents that the applicant needs to attach with the application forms are present in any other language than Portuguese or English.

Then, one would need to get the documents translated or notarized and approved by the embassy of one’s home country before they could be attached to the visa application. 

The table below shows that the following documents are required to be attached to the tourist visa application for Portugal:

All of the documents shown in the table are required to be attached with a completed application form for a tourist visa for Portugal.

What Are The Steps To Applying For a Portugal Tourist Visa?

Like any other visa application, the whole process of applying for a tourist visa for Portugal is also detailed for individuals who are not residents of the Schengen states. 

One needs to follow the below-given steps to get one’s application for a tourist visa in Portugal approved.

Verifying Eligibility

One must verify if one is eligible to apply for a Schengen tourist visa for traveling to Portugal. If one is a resident of EU/EEA states , then one won’t need a tourist visa.

Whereas residents of other countries would need to verify the following to be eligible:

• Have Clear Purpose And Good Intentions: One must have valid and good intentions behind traveling to Portugal, which should be for touring and not for work or studies.
• Financially Able: One must have enough means to support oneself and any dependents during the travels.
• Confirm Return: Attaching a return ticket will confirm that one will only stay in Portugal for the approved, set time as a tourist and then will return after the stay.
• Sound Character: A person is only eligible if one has a clear criminal record , which is a must. 
• Healthy: Travelling, as well as the tourist visa, requires one to be in good health .

Visiting The Portuguese Consulate Or Embassay

The second step after verifying one’s eligibility for the tourist visa is to look for the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy to get the application form for the tourist visa. One needs to get the application form from there.

If there is no Portuguese embassy or Consulate in one’s country, one can apply through any other Schengen States embassy. 

Attaching All The Required Documents

Gathering all the required documents per the instructions given in the tourist visa application form is one of the most critical steps. One’s missing or wrong documents usually lead to the rejection of one’s application.

So, carefully read the details, gather the documents on time, and attach them after re-checking. 

Scheduling An Appointment

After filling out the application form for the tourist visa and attaching all the documents, one needs to schedule an appointment in the authorized office to submit the visa application .

Remember to re-check every instruction and tick-mark the checklist of documents provided at the end of the visa application form! 

Taking Visa Interview

The consulates or working officials at the embassy usually call the applicant for an in-person interview. They might ask questions concerning the attached documents and mention details on the application form.

They may also ask about one’s travel plans, financial means, accommodation , and reasons for touring and verify it with the written information on one’s application. 

Attending this interview is mandatory. It will likely prevent one’s application from being rejected. 

Paying The Fee

People must double-check the required fee for one’s tourist visa application for Portugal because there are different fee criteria for different age groups and nationalities .

Wait For Processing 

One should always apply at the earliest after the decided date of travel . This caution is necessary because a delayed visa application processing might lead to a delayed or complete cancellation of one’s travels. 

It usually takes 15 to 45 days to process the tourist visa application for Portugal.

What Are The Further Steps For Approved Visa Applications?

After the visa applications have been accepted, one must ensure that all the information on the application form is correct and valid .

The following things should be considered by the Applicants who have got their approved Schengen Tourist Visa for Portugal:

• Inform the Portuguese Consulate of any change in your travel plans or place of accommodation. 
• The approval of a Schengen visa does not guarantee entry upon arrival to Portugal or other countries in the Schengen area.
• Obtaining a Schengen visa only provides a partial percent assurance that one will be admitted to Portugal or other Schengen countries when one arrives.
• One might still need to present additional documentation per the requirements of each member of the Schengen area, proving one’s ability to pay for travel or lodging.

What Are The Further Steps For Denied Visa Applications?

On the unfortunate occasion of rejection of one’s Schengen Tourist visa application, one may take the following steps:

• Within 15 days of rejection, one may complain to the Consulate that rejected the application.
• One can also appeal to the Portuguese minister within 30 days of rejecti ng one’s application. 
• When the appeal to the Foreign Ministry has been refused, one can make the appeal again through Lisbon’s Administrative Court within 3 months of getting the rejection.
• However, the appeal can only be processed if one has paid a non-refundable fee again.

Thus, one may follow the steps mentioned earlier in case of rejection of the Schengen Tourist Visa Application for Portugal.

What Is The Fee To Request A Tourist Visa For Portugal?  

The average cost of applying for a tourist visa for Portugal is 80€. Schengen residents and children under the age of twelve have to pay 40€.

Portugal and other Schengen countries also give fee concessions . The following individuals are not expected to pay fees for tourist visa applications: 

• Children younger than 6 . 
• Students and teachers when traveling on study trips .
• Researchers travel for scientific research or to collect data for research.
• Non-profit organizations’ representatives above 25 years of age. Specifically, touring to attend cultural or social events , seminars, and conferences that Portuguese or international non-profit organizations have organized.
• Family members or nationals of Member States of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.

What Are The Obligations Of Tourist Visa For Portugal?

Each country has specific laws and regulations imposed on its citizens and travelers. So, one must know what compulsions one must follow when visiting Portugal on a tourist visa. 

One needs to register one’s entry on arrival . Even if one has reached Portugal after traveling by air, sea, or land , one must register one’s entry with the officials.

Suppose one decides not to stay in the mentioned hotel or any tourist accommodation mentioned in the application. In that case, one is also obligated to inform the local immigration office within three days of one’s stay in Portugal. 

Portuguese Immigration Services provide a declaration of entry upon registering the tourists’ entry into Portugal. This document also mentions the duration of one’s stay.

If one fails to follow this protocol and does not make a timely registration of entry, then one has committed a punishable offense . Thus, one will be fined €60 to €160 by the authorities. 

For underage adolescents, carrying a parental consent form with their passport is mandatory . It must also be notarized in Portuguese to ease any local officer’s understanding.

According to the immigration laws of Portugal, the parental consent document must have the signature of the parents or guardian. It must mention the reason for travel and duration of stay.

Not having this document can lead to rejecti ng one’s visa application. If one loses this document during one’s stay in Portugal, then one must inform the authorities immediately.

Venturing into the heart of Portugal is a breeze when armed with the right knowledge ! Dive deep into the culture, savor the exquisite cuisine , and let the Portuguese charm weave its magic around you. With the right visa, every alley is an invitation to explore more.

Happy Exploring!

But wait, there’s more! You might also be interested in the following:

• Job Seeker Visa in Portugal: The Ultimate Guide
• Work Employment Visa in Portugal: Explained
• Dual Citizenship in Portugal: An Expats Guide

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Travel Advisory July 26, 2023

Portugal - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. 

Exercise normal precautions in Portugal.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Portugal.  

If you decide to travel to Portugal:  

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive travel alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Portugal.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Embassy Messages

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Quick Facts

3 months beyond the date of intended departure.

Not required for stays in the Schengen area under 90 days and within a 180-day period. A new period begins after a 90-day absence from the Schengen area.

10,000 Euros or equivalent

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy lisbon.

Av. das Forças Armadas, Sete-Rios 1600-081 Lisbon Portugal Telephone: +(351) (21) 770-2122 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(351) (21)-770-2122 or +(351) (21) 727-3300 Fax: +(351) (21) 727-2354 Email:  [email protected] Facebook

U.S. Consulate Ponta Delgada Av. Príncipe do Mónaco No, 6-2 F 9500-237 Ponta Delgada, Açores Portugal Telephone: +(351) (296) 308-330 EmergencyAfter-Hours Telephone: +(351) (21) 727-3300  Fax: +(351) (296) 287-216 Email:   [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Contact the embassy of Portugal at 202-350-5400 for the most current visa information. 

Portugal is a party to the Schengen Agreement and part of the European Union.

Traveling Through Europe: If you are planning to visit or travel through European countries, you should be familiar with the requirements of the Schengen Agreement. 

• U.S. citizens may enter Portugal for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa.
• Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.  If you plan on transiting a Schengen country, review our U.S. Travelers in Europe page .   
• You will need sufficient proof of funds and a return plane ticket. 

For information about visas for the Schengen area, see the Schengen Visa page .

If you are not staying in a hotel or a similar tourist accommodation, you are required to register your presence in Portugal with the Portuguese Immigration Service (SEF) within three working days of entering Portugal. You must download a declaration of entry form (declaracão de entrada) from SEF's website and personally submit it to the nearest SEF office within three business days of entry. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in an administrative offense punishable with a fine from €60 to €160.

Under Portuguese Immigration law, foreign minors under 18 years of age entering or exiting Portugal must possess an authorization letter of parental consent to travel, if travelling with adults other than their parent(s) or legal guardian. The document must be signed and dated, with the signature(s) certified by a notary. The letter of parental consent to travel must include the dates and reason for travel and the details about the adult responsible for the child. More information here .

Find additional information on traveling with minors on the  Portuguese Immigration Service  webpage.

HIV/AIDS Restrictions: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Portugal.

Find information on  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction  and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possible near-term attacks in Europe. All European countries, including Portugal, remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security.

Crime:  Crimes of opportunity, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, particularly at popular tourist sites, restaurants, and on public transportation, are common. Pickpockets take advantage of crowds getting on and off all forms of public transportation, such as the popular Tram 28, using the jostling of the crowd as a distraction. Avoid standing near the doors on public transportation, as thieves will often strike just as the train/bus doors open and then dash onto the platform and disappear into the crowd.

• Safeguard your passport and identity documents when traveling throughout Portugal. Foreigners who arrive in Portugal without a valid passport will not be permitted to enter and will be returned to their point of origin.
• Be aware of your surroundings and take personal security measures to stay safe. Thefts of backpacks, electronics and luggage occur regularly. Do not leave valuables in rental cars, especially those with stickers identifying the vehicle as a rental car. Tourists are frequent victims of petty crime/car break-ins.
• Avoid using automatic teller machines (ATMs) in isolated or poorly lit areas. Use the buddy system and indoor bank ATMs when possible. Leave extra cash, credit cards, and personal documents at home or in a hotel safe.
• Keep doors and windows of private rentals locked at all times, taking extra care if easily accessed from the street or other places.
• Illicit drug transactions increase at night, and travelers are often approached by drug dealers in the downtown area of Lisbon, especially near the bars and restaurants. Some travelers have reported incidents in which criminals used drugs to assault or rob them. Use caution when accepting open drinks at bars or clubs, and do not leave drinks unattended.
• Always use a taxi from the queue or kiosk. Do not go with someone who walks up to you and offers a ride. If you have called a ride sharing service such as Uber, confirm that the car information in the App matches the vehicle you are entering.
• Tourists should not leave personal items or valuables unattended while at the beach.
• Reports of thefts from rental homes and online rental apartments have increased.  Secure belongings and lock windows while away or sleeping.

Demonstrations occur in Portugal. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.

• Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly become violent.
• Avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.

International Financial Scams: See the  Department of State  and the  FBI  pages for information.

Victims of Crime: Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes. Report crimes to the local police at 112 (National Emergency Number) and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(351) (21) 770-2122 or the emergency after-hours telephone: +(351) (21)-770-2122 or +(351) (21) 727-3300.

• U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault should seek medical attention if needed and are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.
• For social welfare emergencies such as domestic violence or child abuse, dial the National Social Emergency Line - 144. English-speaking operators are available.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide information on  victim’s compensation programs in the United States
• provide information about a Portuguese victim assistance program, administered through an organization known by its acronym “ APAV ”  
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance. Additionally, Portugal has an “SOS” immigrant line with English-speaking operators who are ready to help you in case of emergency. You may contact them at +351 808 257 257 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is generally regulated and rules regarding best practices and safety inspections are regularly enforced. Hazardous areas/activities are identified with appropriate signage, and professional staff is typically on hand in support of organized activities. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is widely available throughout the country. Outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance . 

Natural Disasters: In the event of a natural disaster or other widespread emergency, travelers can monitor the Portuguese Civil Protection Authority’s website at Prociv.pt for the latest information. All U.S. citizens living or traveling in Portugal should also monitor local news reports, follow directions from local officials, and take appropriate action needed.  Additionally, information about areas in Portugal impacted by any events can be found at: http://www.prociv.pt/en-us/SITUACAOOPERACIONAL/Pages/ocorrenciassignificativas.aspx.

We recommend all Americans enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages, alerts, and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. 

• Filming and photographing the police or military and certain buildings in Portugal is illegal and could lead to arrest or detention.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol could land you in jail.
• Possession and/or use of narcotics and illegal drugs can result in fines, administrative penalties, mandatory drug treatment, criminal punishment, or prison, depending on type, quantity and usage. 
• Penalties for trafficking illegal drugs are severe. Offenders can expect long jail sentences.
• Pepper spray is illegal and will be confiscated. Persons carrying it are subject to fines or prison.
• Possession of unlicensed metal detectors is strictly forbidden, and persons caught with them are subject to fines.
• Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities prior to practicing or operating a business.  

Furthermore, some U.S. laws allow criminal prosecution in the United States, regardless of where the crime was committed. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. Your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

See our  webpage  for further information.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report  – see country reports
• Human Rights Report  – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTI Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Portugal. See   our  LGBTI Travel Information   page and section 6 of our  Human Rights report  for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:   General information on accessibility and accommodations is available on the website of the  Portuguese Tourism Board .

• Driving : You can drive with your U.S.-issued driver’s license for up to six months. Please note that many highways require a toll for use. Highway tolls in Portugal can be confusing, please visit  https://www.portugaltolls.com/en  for more information.
• Public transportation : Public transportation, in general, has specially reserved seats for individuals with disabilities, but some vehicles may not be equipped to load and secure wheelchairs mechanically.
• Trains : The State Railway Operator, Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (also known as CP – Combóios de Portugal ), has a free service called “integrated mobility service” (SIM), mainly aimed at reduced mobility customers. English-speaking customer service representatives can be reached by phone at + 351 808 100 746 (to request SIM Service) or (+351) 707 210 746 (reduced mobility passengers can request information about various concerns, 24 hours a day). SIM staff provides train and station accessibility, assistance with boarding/exiting or during the train ride, and assistance with trip planning. Some train stations are equipped with elevators. Requests for information or assistance must be made at least 48 hours before travel. For additional information, please visit Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses’ page for Special Needs Customers. 
• Subway (Metro) : Thirty-one of Lisbon Metro’s 52 stations offer full accessibility to people with disabilities. Elevators and moving walkways at main stations provide access from the platform to street level, as well as payment machines adapted for passengers with disabilities and/or visual impairment. Passengers with visual disabilities can travel with their guide dogs as long as their service animals are leashed and muzzled. Check  Lisbon Metro’s website  for more information. Porto’s new metro system provides system-wide accessibility for passengers  with a network of elevators, ramps, and spaces for wheelchairs onboard metro cars. Check  Porto Metro’s website  for more information about accessibility.
• Airports : All Portuguese airports provide wheelchairs and bathrooms to accommodate persons with disabilities.
• Parking : Designated parking with a wheelchair symbol is available in most supermarkets and commercial centers. The National Help Line for the Disabled (Linha Nacional de Apoio à Deficiência) can be reached by phone at +351 21 795-9545 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday). Assistance is only available in Portuguese.

Students:  See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

For emergency services in Portugal, dial 112.  Ambulance services are widely available, but training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards. 

The U.S. government does not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.  Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

• Good medical care is available, but facilities may be limited outside urban areas. Public hospitals offer services at costs lower than private hospitals.
• Payment is expected upon admission at private hospitals.
• Call the national emergency response for an ambulance at 112 for life-threatening emergencies.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance coverage overseas. We strongly recommend  supplemental insurance  to cover medical evacuation.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the  Government of Portugal to ensure the medication is legal in Portugal. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription. Portuguese law prohibits the mailing of prescription medicines from the United States to Portugal. Any prescription medications mailed to Portugal will be impounded by the Portuguese customs office.

You should bring a sufficient supply of medication with you to cover your anticipated stay in Portugal, along with a copy of your physician's prescription. Portuguese pharmacies generally carry equivalent medications to those found in the United States; however, they may be sold under a different brand name, may not be available in the same dosage, or may require a prescription from a local doctor.

Vaccinations:  Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of doctors and hospitals for Medical Assistance . We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  While Portugal has significantly expanded its motorway network with well-constructed roads that decreased the total number of accidents and fatalities, its road-accident fatality rate is still high. Use caution when driving, as aggressive driving habits and high speeds pose special hazards. Use appropriate care and caution while on the roadways, practice safe driving habits, and adhere to the applicable speed limits.

Traffic Laws:  It is against the law to speed, drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or use a mobile phone while driving. Fines for traffic offenses are substantial.

• Seatbelts are mandatory for drivers and all passengers. Small children must be in a child safety seat in the rear seat with seatbelts fastened.
• Portuguese law requires you to leave your vehicle where it is and immediately notify the police when involved in a traffic accident. The national emergency phone number 112.
• Police in Portugal have the authority to fine on-the-spot and most of their vehicles have portable payment machines to facilitate immediate payment.
• You may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license for up to six months. For international driving permits, please contact AAA or the National Auto Club.

Public Transportation:  Taxis and prominent ride-sharing services such as Uber are a reliable means of transportation. Refer to the crime section of this page to alert yourself to other threats related to taxis and ride-sharing services. Bus service is also reliable.

In the Azores, driving can be challenging due to narrow cobblestone streets, blind curves, blind corners, and livestock on country roads. Public buses are inexpensive. Bus services begin at 7 a.m. and generally operate until 8 p.m., depending on the destination.

See our  Road Safety page  for more information. Visit the website of Portugal’s  national tourist office  and the national authority responsible for road safety.

Aviation Safety Oversight:

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed that the government of Portugal’s Civil Aviation Authority is in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Portugal’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel:  Mariners planning travel to Portugal should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be available on the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency  broadcast warnings .

Please see Fact Sheet for Portugal here.

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Portugal . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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Do I need a visa to travel to Portugal?

May 27, 2023 • 4 min read

For most travelers, getting a visa to visit Portugal is an easy, smile-inducing experience © Marko Geber / Getty Images

Golden beaches, cobblestone lanes, and the scent of chargrilled seafood await in Portugal . But before you book your ticket to Europe’s sunniest coastline , make sure you’re up to date on the latest entry requirements.

Citizens from many countries need a visa to visit Portugal, while those that don’t (those from the US, the UK, and Australia) will see new requirements starting in mid-2024. Here’s a rundown of Portugal’s visa requirements, with information on how long you can stay and how to extend your vacation if you simply can’t bear to leave.

Travel is a breeze if you’re a Schengen Area citizen

Portugal is part of the Schengen Area , a bloc of 26 European countries that allow free movement of people between each of them. As such, citizens from any of these countries do not need a visa to visit Portugal, though if staying longer than three months they must request a registration certificate.

Some non-EU countries also enjoy hassle-free travel (for now)

Citizens from the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Israel, Japan, and Singapore can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days in any six-month period without a visa. Non-Schengen European countries and a number of Latin American nations share the same privilege too.

After staying 90 days, travelers will need to leave the Schengen Area for at least 90 days before re-entering. Stays of more than 90 days require a visa. Things will change in 2024 when Portugal introduces a new visa-waiver program. Skip to the final section below for more information.

Others – like India, Nepal and Turkey – require a visa

Citizens from a number of countries – including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Turkey, and South Africa – need a visa to visit Portugal. The most common visa type for tourists is a Schengen visa, which allows visitors to travel through any Schengen country, including Portugal, during the period the visa is valid (usually 90 days). A complete list of the countries that require a visa to enter Portugal is detailed on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website .

You should apply for your Schengen visa at your nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country of origin. If you plan to visit multiple Schengen countries, alongside Portugal, then apply at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country you are planning to spend the most time in. Schengen visas cost €80 for adults and €40 for children aged 6 to 12 (there is no charge for children under 6).

If you wish to extend a visa once you're in Portugal (or a 90-day period of visa-free stay) contact the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (Foreigners and Borders Service), which has branches in most major towns. You can book an appointment and download the relevant visa extension forms on the organization’s website .

Get a Youth Mobility Visa for a working holiday

Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, and the USA can apply for Youth Mobility Visas, essentially working holiday visas. These allow citizens to visit Portugal for tourist purposes for up to a year and work for up to six months during their stay. Holders of this visa need to be aged between 18 and 30 (31 in Peru and Australia; 35 in Canada) and must show a return ticket and proof of adequate funds for the duration of their stay. This visa cannot be extended and can only be granted once per person.

Portugal has canceled all Covid travel requirements

As of July 1, 2022, all Covid requirements have been lifted so travelers no longer need proof of vaccination or a certificate of recovery in order to enter Portugal. This situation could change in the future so check the latest requirements well in advance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Say hello to the new ETIAS scheme in 2024

The EU has finally committed to a significant change affecting some travelers heading to Portugal and other EU nations. In mid-2024, a new visa-waiver program called ETIAS (which stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will come into force; this program was originally scheduled for May 2023 but has been pushed back to an unconfirmed date in 2024.

In essence, ETIAS replaces the visa-free travel arrangement for non-Schengen Area visitors. Citizens of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 50-plus other countries will be required to complete an ETIAS travel authorization prior to arrival. That means filling out an online form, submitting passport info, and paying a small fee (around €7 per person).

The official authorization will then be sent by email, with approval typically granted in under an hour for most applicants. The usual rules apply here: you can stay for a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period. 

Note that this doesn’t affect citizens of countries that previously required visas – the process for them stays the same. Similarly, nothing has changed for citizens and residents of the Schengen Area, who are exempt from ETIAS requirements. You can find a complete list of nationalities that must apply for an ETIAS visa here .

This article was first published May 2021 and updated May 2023

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The Lisbon Guide – Updated 2024

Visa for americans entering in portugal.

Image Source: Unsplash

Portugal is a captivating country in Europe, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage. If you’re a US citizen planning to visit Portugal for tourism purposes, it’s essential to understand the visa requirements and application process. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining a Portugal tourist visa.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Portugal Tourist Visa
• Understanding the Schengen Area
• Who Needs a Portugal Schengen Visa
• Portugal Schengen Visa Requirements
• How to Apply for a Portugal Schengen Visa
• Portugal Schengen Visa Processing Time
• Portugal Schengen Visa Fees
• Tips for a Successful Portugal Schengen Visa Application
• Portugal Travel Insurance Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions

1. Introduction to Portugal Tourist Visa

Before embarking on your journey to Portugal, it’s crucial to understand the visa requirements. Portugal is a member of the Schengen Area, which means that US citizens can travel to Portugal for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. However, if you plan to stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days or for purposes other than tourism, you’ll need to apply for a Portugal long-stay visa.

2. Understanding the Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries that have abolished internal borders, allowing for free movement of people within the area. Portugal is one of these countries, which means that a Portugal tourist visa is also known as a Schengen tourist visa. This visa allows you to visit not only Portugal but also other Schengen countries during your trip.

The 26 Schengen states include:

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

When applying for a Schengen visa, it’s important to note that you should apply at the embassy or consulate of the country where you will spend the most time during your trip. If you plan to spend an equal amount of time in multiple countries, you should apply at the embassy or consulate of the country that will be your first point of entry into the Schengen Area.

3. Who Needs a Portugal Schengen Visa

As a US citizen, you do not need a Portugal Schengen visa if your stay in Portugal is for tourism purposes and does not exceed 90 days. However, you must ensure that you have a valid passport that is valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date.

It’s important to note that even though you do not require a visa, you still need to fulfill certain entry requirements when traveling to Portugal. These requirements include having a return flight ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds for your stay, and valid travel insurance.

4. Portugal Schengen Visa Requirements

If you plan to stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days or for purposes other than tourism, you’ll need to apply for a Portugal long-stay visa. The specific requirements for a Portugal Schengen visa may vary depending on your purpose of travel and the embassy or consulate where you apply. However, some common documents required for a Portugal Schengen visa application include:

Passport and Photographs

• A valid passport with a minimum validity of three months beyond your intended departure date. The passport should have at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
• Recent passport-sized photographs that meet the specifications set by the embassy or consulate.

Completed Visa Application Form

• A completed Portugal Schengen visa application form, which can be obtained from the embassy or consulate. Make sure to fill out the form accurately and honestly.

Proof of Travel

• A detailed travel itinerary, including flight reservations, accommodation bookings, and a planned itinerary for your stay in Portugal.

Travel Insurance

• Valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation. The insurance should have a minimum coverage of €30,000 and be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Portugal.

Proof of Accommodation

• Documentation proving your accommodation arrangements in Portugal, such as hotel reservations or a letter of invitation from a host.

Proof of Financial Means

• Sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in Portugal. This can be demonstrated through recent bank statements, traveler’s cheques, or a letter from your employer confirming your financial situation.

Employment and Income Verification

• If you are employed, provide a letter from your employer stating your job position, salary, and permission for leave during your intended travel dates.
• If you are self-employed, provide documents such as business registration, tax returns, and bank statements to prove your financial stability.

Purpose of Travel

• Supporting documents related to the purpose of your visit, such as conference invitations, event tickets, or enrollment letters from educational institutions.

Please note that these requirements are general guidelines, and additional documents may be requested based on your individual circumstances and the discretion of the embassy or consulate.

5. How to Apply for a Portugal Schengen Visa

To apply for a Portugal Schengen visa, follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine the Appropriate Embassy or Consulate

• Identify the Portuguese embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. You can find this information on the embassy or consulate’s website.

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

• Collect all the necessary documents for your Portugal Schengen visa application, as mentioned in the previous section.

Step 3: Fill Out the Visa Application Form

• Complete the Portugal Schengen visa application form accurately and honestly. Ensure that you provide all the requested information and sign the form where required.

Step 4: Schedule an Appointment

• Contact the embassy or consulate to schedule an appointment for submitting your visa application. Some embassies or consulates may require online appointment booking, while others may have a walk-in system. Follow the instructions provided by the embassy or consulate.

Step 5: Attend the Visa Appointment

• On the scheduled date and time, visit the embassy or consulate to submit your visa application and supporting documents. Be prepared for an interview and provide any additional information or clarifications if requested.

Step 6: Pay the Visa Fee

• Pay the Portugal Schengen visa application fee as required by the embassy or consulate. The fee is non-refundable, even if your visa application is denied.

Step 7: Wait for the Visa Decision

• After submitting your visa application, wait for the embassy or consulate to process your application. The processing time may vary, but it typically takes up to 15 calendar days. In some cases, it may take longer, so plan your travel accordingly.

Step 8: Collect Your Visa

• If your visa application is approved, you will be notified to collect your passport with the visa sticker from the embassy or consulate. Make sure to check the validity dates and any specific conditions mentioned on the visa.

6. Portugal Schengen Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a Portugal Schengen visa can vary depending on various factors, including the embassy or consulate where you apply and the time of year. In general, it is advisable to apply for a visa at least one month before your intended travel dates to allow sufficient processing time.

Under normal circumstances, the processing time for a Portugal Schengen visa is up to 15 calendar days. However, during peak travel seasons or when there is a high volume of visa applications, the processing time may be longer. It is recommended to check the embassy or consulate’s website for the most up-to-date information on processing times.

7. Portugal Schengen Visa Fees

The fees for a Portugal Schengen visa may vary depending on the type of visa, your nationality, and the embassy or consulate where you apply. It is advisable to check the embassy or consulate’s website or contact them directly to determine the exact visa fees applicable to your situation.

In general, the visa fee for a Portugal Schengen visa is €80 for adults. Reduced fee categories, such as children between the ages of 6 and 12, may have a lower fee of €40. Children under the age of 6 are usually exempt from paying the visa fee.

Please note that the visa fee is non-refundable, even if your visa application is denied.

8. Tips for a Successful Portugal Schengen Visa Application

To increase your chances of a successful Portugal Schengen visa application, consider the following tips:

• Start the application process well in advance of your intended travel dates to allow sufficient time for processing.
• Read and understand the visa requirements and ensure that you provide all the requested documents accurately.
• Fill out the visa application form carefully and double-check for any errors or missing information.
• Be prepared for an interview during your visa appointment and provide honest and concise answers to the visa officer’s questions.
• Keep copies of all the documents you submit and any communication with the embassy or consulate.
• Maintain transparency and consistency in your travel plans, itinerary, and supporting documents.
• Provide sufficient evidence of financial means to cover your expenses during your stay in Portugal.
• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance that meets the requirements set by the embassy or consulate.
• Be patient during the processing period and avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements until you receive your visa.

Following these tips will help ensure a smooth and successful Portugal Schengen visa application process.

9. Portugal Travel Insurance Requirements

Travel insurance is an essential requirement for obtaining a Portugal Schengen visa. The insurance should provide coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation. The minimum coverage required is €30,000.

When purchasing travel insurance for your trip to Portugal, ensure that it meets the following requirements:

• The insurance should be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Portugal.
• The insurance coverage should be valid in all Schengen countries.
• It should cover any medical expenses related to COVID-19, including testing and treatment.
• The insurance policy should clearly state the coverage amount, policy number, and contact details of the insurer.

It is recommended to carefully review the terms and conditions of the insurance policy to ensure that it meets all the necessary requirements.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: do us citizens need a visa to visit portugal for tourism.

A1: No, US citizens do not need a visa for visits to Portugal for tourism purposes for up to 90 days.

Q2: Can I work in Portugal with a Schengen visa?

A2: No, a Schengen visa does not permit you to work in Portugal. If you plan to work in Portugal, you will need to apply for a work visa.

Q3: Can I extend my Portugal Schengen visa if I need to stay longer than 90 days?

A3: Generally, Schengen tourist visas cannot be extended. If you need to stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a Portugal long-stay visa.

Q4: How long in advance should I apply for a Portugal Schengen visa?

A4: It is recommended to apply for a Portugal Schengen visa at least one month before your intended travel dates to allow sufficient processing time.

Q5: Can I travel to other Schengen countries with a Portugal Schengen visa?

A5: Yes, a Portugal Schengen visa allows you to travel to and stay in any of the other Schengen countries for the duration of your visa.

Q6: Can I apply for a Portugal Schengen visa by mail?

A6: Generally, Portugal Schengen visa applications require an in-person interview at the embassy or consulate. However, specific circumstances may allow for mail-in applications. It is recommended to check with the embassy or consulate for their application procedures.

Q7: Do I need to provide a flight itinerary when applying for a Portugal Schengen visa?

A7: Yes, as part of the visa application requirements, you will need to provide a flight itinerary or proof of travel arrangements for your trip to Portugal.

Q8: Can I apply for a Portugal Schengen visa online?

A8: The online application process for a Portugal Schengen visa may vary depending on the embassy or consulate. It is recommended to check the embassy or consulate’s website for their specific application procedures.

Q9: Is travel insurance mandatory for a Portugal Schengen visa?

A9: Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for obtaining a Portugal Schengen visa. The insurance should provide coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation, with a minimum coverage of €30,000.

Q10: How long is a Portugal Schengen visa valid for?

A10: A Portugal Schengen visa is typically valid for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. The validity dates will be mentioned on your visa sticker.

In conclusion, obtaining a Portugal Schengen visa for tourism purposes is a straightforward process if you meet the necessary requirements and plan ahead. By following the guidelines outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can ensure a smooth and successful visa application experience. Enjoy your trip to Portugal and explore all the beauty and charm this country has to offer!

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Do I need a Portuguese Visa to Visit Portugal?

Eu/efta nationals.

If you are an EU/EFTA citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Portugal. You can stay in Portugal for three whole months. You have 90 days in a 180 day period to spend in Portugal, for tourism, visiting family, work, etc. Family members of EU/EFTA nationals are also allowed to travel without a visa for 90 days. However, if you want to stay for longer, you must request a registration certificate. You can also obtain permanent residency after five years.

Non-EU/EFTA Nationals

If you are a non-EU/EFTA national, you will need a visa to visit Portugal for less than three months. However, Portugal is one of the easiest countries to travel to as the country has diplomatic agreements with 61 countries. If your country is on the list, as is the case for the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, you do not need a visa for short stays. If you wish to stay for longer than three months, you will need to apply for a long-term visa before coming to Portugal.

Types of Portuguese Visas

There are three main types of Portuguese Visas: Short Stay visas, Temporary Stay National visas, and Long Stay National Visas. Let’s go through each type of visa.

1. Short Stay Visas (Schengen Visas)

Also known as a Schengen visa, a Short Stay visa applies for stays up to 90 days. EU/EFTA nationals do not need this visa to travel to Portugal for less than 90 days, as well as those from the 61 countries with visa-free travel agreements. This visa is given for tourism, visiting family, airport transit, as well as other temporary travel reasons and allows visa holders to travel through the Schengen area. There are different types of Portuguese Schengen visas: General Short Stay visa, Seasonal Work visa, and Airport Transit visa.

A Schengen visa usually costs €80, while children between 6 and 12 years old pay €40. Those from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine only pay €35. Children under six do not pay a fee.

2. Temporary Stay National Visas

If you are looking to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a Temporary Stay visa that allows you to stay in Portugal for up to a year. You can enter the country whenever you want throughout that year. EU/EFTA nationals don’t need this visa, neither do their family members. However, even if you come from a country that has a visa-free travel agreement, you must still obtain a Temporary Stay visa to stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days. There are many types of Temporary Stay visas such as a temporary work visa, a study visa, professional training or internship visa, medical treatment visa, youth mobility visa, self-support visa, and a religious purposes visa. A Temporary Stay national visa costs €75, but children under six do not pay a fee.

3. Long Stay National Visas (Residency Visas)

A Long Stay National visa, also known as a Residency visa, allows stays of over a year long. Non-EU/EFTA nationals need to apply for this visa in order to stay in Portugal for over a year, even if their country has a visa-free travel agreement. To apply for this visa, you will have to apply for a residency permit with the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF). You’ll have to show proof that you can financially support yourself throughout your stay. There are multiple types of long-stay national visas including a work visa, study visa, professional training or internship visa, family reunion visa, Portugal Golden Visa, Portugal D7 Visa, and a D2 Entrepreneur Visa. We’ll go through these last three visas in more detail in the next section. A Long Stay national visa costs €90.

Long Stay Residency Visas: Which Portugal Visa is Right For You?

The most famous Long Stay Residency visas in Portugal are the Golden Visa, D7 Visa, and D2 Visa . To be eligible for these, you need to be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national. All of these visas share similar benefits. From being able to travel freely within the Schengen area, being able to study and work in Portugal , family reunification, and eventually being eligible for Portuguese citizenship, the perks are too positive to ignore. We will go through the tax incentives of these visas in the final section.

Portugal Golden Visa

Considering portugal's golden visa program.

If you're interested in finding out the latest details about the Golden Visa program and want to take advantage of the new opportunities. Signup for a live Q&A webinar with an expert from Holborn Assets that will answer all your questions. The event is scheduled for April 11 at 6 PM Lisbon Time (2 PM EST) . The live webinar will cover the following:

• The latest news of the Golden Visa program with an overview on the new rules
• New Investment Criteria for 2024
• The end of NHR - what next for taxes?
• Citizenship/Passports now issued 1-2 years faster
• Live Q&A for all questions

*If you cannot attend the seminar or would prefer one-on-one, book a call here .

2023 Update: Portugal’s Golden Visa Coming to an End

Portugal shocked the world in  February 2023  when the government announced an end to Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme to tackle the housing crisis. The program will end for new applicants, with the government’s announcement referencing real estate investment options specifically.

While official deadlines are still unclear, your time window is closing if you are looking to obtain a Portugal Golden Visa. Financial and Immigration firms facilitating Portugal Golden Visa applications are urging those who wish to apply to do so as soon as possible.

The Portugal Golden Visa might be suitable for you if you have the funds to make an investment in the country. One of the most attractive Golden visas in the world, it allows non-EU citizens to get a long-term residency permit, and eventually citizenship. However, you do not need to live in Portugal to be eligible for this visa. All you need to do is to stay in the country for at least 7 days in the first year and 14 days in the subsequent years. This visa allows for family reunification where your family members are granted the same residency rights as you.

Guide to Portugal Golden Visa

Portugal Golden Visa: Investment Options

So, what type of investments can you make to be eligible for a Portugal Golden Visa? There are 5 types of investments!

1. Real Estate Investment

• The most common type of investment is purchasing a property . Check out our guide to buying a home in Portugal here.
• You can purchase real estate in a low-density area of Portugal for €400,000.
• Or you can purchase real estate that is over 30 years old in an urban rehabilitation area and renovate it for at least €350,000.
• Or you can purchase property for €500,000.
• You will not pay any tax on the property if you do not rent it out. If you do, the income will be taxed at 28%.
• Since 2022, you CAN NOT buy property in Lisbon, Porto, and coastal towns.

Guide to Real Estate in Portugal

2. Investment Fund

• You can spend a minimum of a €500,000 subscription in a qualifying Portuguese investment fund.
• These are known as “fundos de capital de risco” and are investment funds that support Portuguese businesses.
• The minimum amount used to be €350,000, but it has changed to €500,000 at the beginning of 2022.

3. Capital Transfer

• This is the most expensive option, a €1.5 million capital transfer.
• You must show proof of bank transfer deposits to Portugal from a foreign account that adds up to this amount.
• The minimum amount used to be €1 million, but it has been increased to €1.5 million at the beginning of 2022.

4. Job Creation

• Another investment option is creating jobs in Portugal. There are two options in this category:
• Create a minimum of ten new full-time jobs in a Portuguese business that you own.
• Or invest a minimum of €500,000 in an already existing Portuguese business and create a minimum of five new full-time jobs in that business within three years.

5. Donation

• You can also make a donation in Portugal. There are two options in this category:
• Invest a minimum of €250,000 in preserving national heritage in Portugal.
• Or invest a minimum of €500,000 in a research and development activity in Portugal.

Portugal Golden Visa Steps & Application Process: How to Get a Golden Visa

Portugal D7 Visa

The D7 Visa is also known as the Retirement or Passive Income Visa but is also suitable for remote workers and digital nomads. The Portugal D7 Visa was introduced in 2007 and requires no investment. This visa is for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who want residence in Portugal and have a reasonable passive income. This income can come from real estate, a retirement pension, a salary, etc.

The minimum passive income required is  €8,460 per year  for the main applicant. For a spouse, you must add 50% to this (€4,230) and for a dependent child, you must add 30% to this (€2,538). Therefore, for a couple with one child, you would need around €15,300 a year to be eligible for the D7 Visa.

For this visa, you must spend at least 16 months in Portugal during the first 2 years. Along with a clean criminal record, when applying you need to show that you have proof of address in Portugal (rental or purchase). This visa allows for family reunification where your family members are granted the same residency rights as you.

Guide to D7 Visa

Portugal D7 Visa Steps & Application Process: How to Get a D7 Visa

Portugal D7 Visa vs Portugal Golden Visa

Wondering what the main differences are between the Portugal D7 Visa and the Golden Visa? The main difference is that the Golden Visa requires an investment of at least €350,000, while a D7 Visa requires zero investment. The application process for a D7 Visa is also much shorter as it only takes 3 to 4 months to obtain a visa, while with the Golden Visa this can take up to a year. However, with the Golden Visa, you only need to stay in Portugal for around one week, while with the D7 Visa you need to stay at least 6 months of a whole year. The D7 Visa does require proof of passive income, while the Portugal Golden Visa does not. The Golden Visa is more expensive not only in investment but because the professional service fees such as paying lawyers can cost more than €30,000, while the cost for a D7 Visa is less than €5,000.

These two visas also share some essential similarities. They both contain family reunification where your family members are granted the same residency rights as you. Both visas also pave the way for permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 6 years. Moreover, they both make you eligible for the non-habitual tax regime, an attractive fiscal regime.

Portugal D2 Visa

The Portugal D2 Visa is not as well known as the Portugal D7 Visa and the Portugal Golden Visa, but it could be the right path to take if you are an entrepreneur, freelancer, or independent service provider from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland looking to reside in Portugal. You might be eligible for a D2 Visa if you want to start a business or startup in Portugal, transfer your existing one to Portugal, as well as invest in a business in Portugal. This visa is catered to small and medium-sized businesses to raise foreign investment to develop the Portuguese economy. To apply, you must put together a viable business plan that will be evaluated in terms of its economic, technological, and cultural impact. You can set up any business, from a restaurant to a tech startup.

In terms of cost, the D2 Visa would sit right in the middle between the D7 Visa and the Golden Visa. While with the Golden Visa you need at least a €350,000 investment and with the D7 Visa all you need is proof of passive income, the D2 Visa requires you to prove that your business is viable. You must invest in the company’s share capital, which immigration firms advise should be at least €50,000. In truth, the more you invest, the more likely you might be to get your visa. You must also show that you have the financial ability to sustain yourself while living in Portugal.

This visa allows for family reunification where your family members are granted the same residency rights as you. Like the D7 Visa and Golden Visa, you can apply for a permanent resident after 5 years and citizenship after 6 years. To be eligible for permanent residence, you must spend at least 6 consecutive months in Portugal within those 5 years.

Portugal D2 Visa Steps & Application Process: How to Get a D2 Visa

Guide to D2 Visa

Portugal Residency Visas: The Non-Habitual Tax Regime

Guide to nhr tax regime.

With a Portugal Golden Visa, Portugal D7 Visa, and Portugal D2 Visa, you can become a non-habitual resident (NHR) and enjoy the incentives of this fiscal regime. This tax regime allows you to transfer your tax residency to the country. To be eligible, you cannot have been taxed in Portugal during the five years before the application.  Here are the benefits of this tax regime:

• You can be eligible to not pay ANY tax on pensions, rental income, real estate gains, and income from non-Portuguese sources if your country has a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with Portugal. You would instead pay taxes in your country of origin. The UK, USA, and many more countries have a DTA with Portugal where this is the case.
• If your pension income is taxed in Portugal, it will be at a flat rate of 10%, including retirement savings and insurance.
• Income from “high value-added activities” in Portugal is taxed at 20%. This includes employment and self-employment income from activities of scientific, artistic, or technical character performed in Portugal. Still, you will pay the same income tax as ordinary tax residents for other types of domestic income.
• You will only be taxed on your worldwide income after the first 10 years of residence.
• Foreign interest, dividends, rents, and property capital gains can be exempted from taxation.
• You will not pay an inheritance or wealth tax.

Want to become part of the large community of US expats in Portugal? Sign up for Holborn Assets’ live webinar on the challenges facing US connected clients moving or living in Portugal. Find out all about the financial perks of moving to Portugal and have all your burning questions answered. The event is scheduled for March 27 at 5 pm (Lisbon Time) / 12 pm EST . If you would like to schedule a one-on-one call instead, you can book one here .

Register Your Spot

Portugal Residency Visas: Cryptocurrency in Portugal

Portugal is a crypto tax haven. There are many incentives for crypto traders to move their residency to Portugal. The country does not view cryptocurrencies as an asset, but rather as a form of payment so they do not tax it as the former. The Portuguese Tax & Customs Authority (PTA) officially  announced in 2019 that buying or selling cryptocurrency in Portugal is tax-free. However, businesses that provide services related to cryptocurrency are taxed on their gains. There are many factors that determine whether this is the case like your profit and the frequency of your trade. To be sure, contact a tax advisor in Portugal.

What makes Portugal a crypto-friendly country goes beyond tax incentives alone. You can actually purchase real estate with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through intermediaries and qualify for a golden visa. You can also qualify for any of the investment options with crypto visa cards.

Guide to Cryptocurrency in Portugal

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Related articles, time required to get portuguese citizenship reduced by 12-18 months, spain vs portugal: which golden visa program is best, life after nhr: latest 2024 update, 59 comments.

How can a Bangladeshi citizen apply for d7 visa? Is there any good immigration law firm in Bangladesh who can help for applying for this type of visa. If not then how can a Bangladeshi citizen can get portugal visa processing service? Pls reply somebody. Sayed Alam from Bangladesh

I don’t know any immigration law firms in Bangladesh, but I am sure you can find these online. You can always do the work yourself and apply through the SEF website by logging in and completing the application https://www.sef.pt/pt/Pages/homepage.aspx?requestUrl=https://www.sef.pt/portal/v10/PT/aspx/page.aspx

However, I recommend getting a lawyer as the Portuguese system is quite complex. You can always speak to a law firm in Portugal. Here are some I have found (but have not worked with): https://www.filipeespinha.pt/artigos/the-d7-visa-.php?lang=en#:~:text=The%20D7%20visa%20is%20a,a%20period%20of%204%20months . https://www.ada-legal.com/en/portuguese-d7-visa/

hello sir i am from Bangladesh, i need to anything job from portugal. Right now what is my frist step please healp me.

First, you would need to find a job so you can get a work visa. Take a look at this guide to working in Portugal https://www.portugal.com/business/expat-guide-to-working-in-portugal/

I am in Nigeria and I want to know if there are COVID-19 restrictions still in Portugal.

You can check out the restrictions here https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal

Respected sir/miss I am from pakistan but live in south korea do you have any consultant in pakistan or in south korea because i want to apply for portugal d7 visa

i visited your website i got a lot of help

Thanks for your message. We do not have any of those contacts, sorry about that!

your website is very helpful and i hope people who want to read easy text can easily understand from your website

i want to know about the work visa opening for the agritecture from myanmar people. Its pay for the 900 EU/per month. These issue are trust or spam. Thanks

We recommend contacting an immigration lawyer or the Portuguese SEF about this query.

My father have a eu passport & permanent residence in portugal till 2012 & last year he is dead. Tell me the benefits for applying visa. I have all the document of my father everthing. If you want to help us for this problem.

I am sorry for your loss. It’s best if you contact an immigration lawyer about your situation. Good luck!

Hello Lara As I want to go ahead on d7 program to proof about passive income how we can do that and 2nd thing is that necessary to book a lawyer in Portugal before applying for assist

I would recommend contacting an immigration lawyer that can answer your questions and help you through the process.

Dear Sir, I am Md Musfiqur Rahman from Bangladesh. First query about Work permit visa in Portugal . Is it possible to get work permit visa from Portugal ;? If any company ready to give us a work permit visa what is the main criteria to need fulfil first. Second question or query is after Covid-19 period Portugal government issues work permit visa ? Thanks for your kind cooperation.

Hi! I recommend contacting an immigration lawyer about work visas in Portugal.

Hi Ms. Lara, I am a US citizen who desires to move to Portugal. I am on SSDI, which is basically my SS. I am working on being certified to teach English online, I am not sure if this is popular thing in Portugal? My SSDI along satisfies what income rules I could find. What visa would you recommend ?

Hi Melodie!

While English is taught in public and private schools in Portugal, you are hopefully likely to find many students who need the extra help! To figure out which visa is best for you, I would definitely recommend contacting an immigration lawyer so you can speak to a more qualified person on the subject. However, from the information you provided me, it seems the D7 would be your best bet (if you are eligible).

Hello, my name is Bilal from Yemen. I make short videos on YouTube about travel and immigration in Europe. I would like to cooperate with you. I will take ideas from your site and make videos from your site in Arabic. Will you allow that in return, I will put the link to your site in the video description box. Message me if you don’t mind [email protected]

Hello, if you want to work with us fill out this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaTW3eqFEgQqag5-XtmqJIhIlC_aq1co-_WtzCLqR5EX4EAg/viewform

HI, I am from Iran but living in lONDON UK now. my wife is study in master degree and we have UK resident permit. We have property in Iran and we are getting rent income from them. Please let me know can we submit D7 visa from UK ? if can please inform me how to start? thanks and best regards

Hi! Usually, you need to apply at the Portuguese embassy in your home country. However, we recommend contacting a Portuguese embassy in the UK to clarify this.

Hi, I’m from Pakistan. I’m a cloth businessman a need to the d2 or d7 visa. Can u help me?

Hi Manzoor! I recommend contacting an immigration lawyer to help you out.

HELLO thank you for the detailed information, I would like to know whether a holder of EU resident permit(from FRANCE) could I apply for business licence and resident permit in Portugal please give some guidance thank you kind regards khan

Hi, We recommend contacting a Portuguese embassy in France or an immigration lawyer.

Hello Lara For almost 90% of the queries, your reply is please contact with immigration lawyer. Which immigration lawyer you are referring?

At the moment, we don’t have any lawyer or lawyers that we can recommend. We are looking at creating a resource to help people find lawyers in the future and will update this article accordingly if that project moves forward.

What document constitutes proof of Criminal Record from the UK is it a DBS certificate ? if so does it need to be the enhanced or basic.

Hi Roger! You should ask an immigration lawyer as they will have the most accurate information.

I am 50 years old still working for an international organization. I have dependent children (2). Is it possible to request a long stay residency visa for them and their mother while I stay in my home country? I can financially support them. If it possible what are the procedures to follow? Is there any consultation firm in Morocco that can assist with this?

Hi Rachid, I am unsure if this is possible. However, you can get a long stay residency visa as the main applicant and then apply for family reunification for your family. I recommend contacting an immigration firm to help you.

Thank You Lara Where can I find an immigration firm that can assist me in filing the request?

At the moment, we don’t have any lawyers or firms that we can recommend. We are looking at creating a resource to help people find lawyers in the future and will update this article accordingly if that project moves forward.

Hi! I am in Ireland, have a residency and its been 20years in the country. I want to visit Portugal on the 26th of October, watching my niece who is coming from South Africa and participating in sport in Madrid on the 26th. Every time I try to do on line, it gives me UK to go and visa. How to do it in Ireland Regards Thesh

If you are a non-EEA citizen and you currently live in Ireland, you may need a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen Area, even if you have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP). The best way to find out is to visit your local Portuguese embassy.

Hi Lara Your website is very informative and helpful. However please could you confirm whether or not I would have to reapply annually, up to 5 year point, for a D7 Visa? I also presume we would have to prove annual income annually too?

Many thanks Andy

Thanks! The D7 visa is a long-term visa of up to 5 years, you do not need to reapply annually. I have also never heard of having to prove income annually either, but its always advisable to contact an immigration lawyer to give you further details.

Could you assist our candidates in Bangladesh with D7 Portuguese visa?

Hi my name is mohsin altaf I am welder 12 years working experience working in Malaysia now can I apply for work Visa can I apply direct embassy in purtgal pilz you help me

Hi Mohsin! You could be eligible for a Portuguese visa, I recommend contacting a Portuguese embassy in your home country.

I kindly need informations regarding Job Seeker Visa ( requirements, apply through VFS center or Consulate…etc )

Thanks in advance

Thank you for the great, informative article. I am very interested in the D7 visa & wanted to verify that your above passive income figure (E8460) is still accurate as of Dec. 29, 2022? Do you have any indication that this may increase in 2023, and if so, approximately when? Many thanks!

The 8460 refers to 12 months of the minimum wage in Portugal (705 euros) in 2022. In 2023, the minimum wage is changing to 760 euros, so the yearly passive income required will now be 9,120 euros.

Thank you so much!!

Your reply: “In 2023, the minimum wage is changing to 760 euros, so the yearly passive income required will now be 9,120 euros.”

If a single person’s passive income falls short of this by only 20 euros/mo. (approx.), are there any options to make up the difference? Is savings considered? Will a freelance business be allowed to fill the gap? Any other options to make it work? Thank you!

I recommend contacting an immigration lawyer. They will be better suited at assessing what extra income qualifies.

I kindly need informations regarding Job Seeker Visa ( requirements, apply through VFS center or Consulate…etc )

Hi Anamul! I recommend contacting your local embassy/consulate or an immigration lawyer.

I have the opportunity to work remotely abroad for my UK-based company for a period of 30 days. I am from the UK, if i was to do this what would be the visa that i would require?

Hi Mark! You can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days visa free.

Thanks Lara, does this also cover working remotely for that period?

Hello Iranian people can’t have bank accounts in foreign countries, how does the D7 visa process work then?

Hi! I recommend contacting an immigration lawyer.

What is the legislation on the 12 month rental agreement that is accepted by the immigration office , when applying for a D7? I understand the property has to be registered as a legitimate long term rental to be accepted and it has to be registered, I think the type of agreement begins with an F?

Can anyone help me?

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• How to Apply for Portugal tourist visa in 7 easy steps
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Portugal tourist visa.

Table of Contents

Do you need a Portugal tourist visa?

If you need a Portugal tourist visa or not is a matter of your nationality. You need to know that Portugal is a member of the Schengen Area. So the EU, EEA, and Switzerland nationals don’t need a visa to enter the country. They can visit Portugal by passport or travel documents. However, the visit must be short terms for up to 90 days.

Apart from the EU nationals, a few other countries are free from the Portugal short-stay visa . For instance, the US, Japan, South Korea are among them. Such non-EU countries can visit Portugal for the short term without a visa. Yet, they need a visa for the long term. In other words, they have to get a visa for stays longer than 90 days.

See the link provided above. If your country is among them, you have to apply for a Portugal tourist visa. If not, Congratulations. You can move to the country with your valid passport.

You can find the links and extra information explained in the video here:

The list of countries that need and don’t need a Portugal tourist visa 

Application form 

The list of Portugal embassies and consulates to submit your application 

The website to apply online 

Portugal tourist visa requirements

The requirements for a Portugal tourist visa are the required documents for a Schengen visa. They prove the applicant’s eligibility. He/she has been honest with his/her application. Yet, you might have to provide further documents depending on your:

• Nationality
• Traveling alone or by family

A general list of requirements are as follows:

Travel document

You can define it as a passport or travel ID. It must be valid for over the duration of your stay in Portugal. Holding at least one blank page with the passport is a must.

Don’t wait no more. Move to Portugal as a Nurse with ease. How? just take a look at our article.

You need two photos for a tourist visa. They must be identical to the instructions. A few Photography’s know about the visa photo. They can give you good tips. See if you can find one of them in your city.

If you apply to a visa center like VISAMETRIC and the photo doesn’t comply, they take new ones. For the embassy, you need to be careful. The embassies often don’t provide such services.

Completing the Schengen visa application form is a must. You can get the form from the Portugal Embassy or the visa center’s website. If you apply from a visa center, you’re better off getting the form from them. They might have a particular option in the form for your country, you not knowing.

Complete the form with your information, then print the date and sign it.

You need insurance to enter Portugal. It must be valid for all the Schengen Area members and cover your expenses for 30.000 EUR.

Be careful with the insurance you purchase. See if it’s valid in Portugal or not. Don’t be misled by fake advertisements. Also, see if they return your money in case of visa rejection.

In case of applying to a visa center, determine if they provide insurance services or not. Their prices are a bit more reasonable than others.

Cover letter 

It is a letter stating the purpose of your trip. Try to explain everything with details in it. If you have a relative or friend in Portugal, mention her/his details.

Proof of accommodation

Explain where you will stay during your visit. A rental agreement or reserved hotel could make it clear. Providing that you will be staying with a friend or family member, provide his/her details.

Reserved flight ticket (if applicable)

Proof to have enough funds 

The Schengen officials are really strict about this item, so don’t take it easy. You can provide bank statements proving you have enough money. But consider one point with the statement. Banks are often inconsiderate with the bank statement, and it might not fulfil the rules.

Check the dates and make sure it’s in Euro, not your local currency. The numbers must also be Latin, as the numbers are different in some languages. For instance, in Persian, “۲” is for two.

Invitation letter

In case visiting a friend or family, ask her/him to provide you an invitation letter. He/she must write don full details:

• Passport Number
• Contact Number
• Place of residence in Portugal

Requirements based on your job status

You need to provide further documents based on your employment status:

• Job contract
• Bank statements for the latest six months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)
• Permission leave

Self-employed

• Business license copy
• Banks statements of the company for the latest six months

Attention : Depending on your situation and nationality, the officials might ask you for further requirements. You need to have the original documents translated to English or Portuguese.

Portugal tourist visa application process

The application process for a Portugal tourist visa is up to your nationality. You might have to go through different procedures by the country you live in. However, a comprehensive way to follow is as follows:

1. Do you need a Portugal visa?

The article explained that not everyone needs a Portugal tourist visa. We can say not everyone needs a Portugal short-stay visa. Many countries are exempt from it. Many more have to receive it.

Determine if you need a visa or not. The section above is your guideline on this stage.

If you need the visa, follow the below steps.

2. Where to apply?

Find out where you should apply for the Portugal visa. Again, it is up to where you live. You might have to visit:

• Portugal embassy or consulate
• An authorized visa center like VFS
• The embassy or consulate of Portugal in a neighboring country

For instance, there is no US embassy in Iran. Its citizens have to visit the Swiss embassy for visa services. It is also common that they get to Turkey to visit the US embassy in Istanbul.

The same thing might be true about the Portugal embassy in your country.

3. Filling the application form

When you find where to apply, get the application form for a Portugal tourist visa from them. You could receive it from the Portugal embassy’s website.

Complete it with your information and print it.

Be careful when you complete the form. The written information must be identical to your documents.

Many applicants make a mistake with names. For instance, Juhan, Juho, Janno. They all look the same but have subtle differences. You need to write the spelling identical to your passport.

4. Visa appointment

Schedule a meeting with the Portugal embassy or consulate. You need to find the place to submit requirements before this part.

When getting the time, see if you can keep up with it. You have to prepare the requirements by then.

5. Requirements

The requirements for a Portugal tourist visa are the supporting documents. They prove you are qualified to enter the country.

Keep in mind that you might have to provide further documents. It is up to the officials’ decision. See the part above to get familiar with them

6. Visa interview

Go to your visa meeting on time. Try to reach there early enough so as not to be late, even for a few minutes. Keep in mind to bring the requirements, including your passport. It will stay with the officials until they issue the visa.

Submit all the documents to the authorities when you meet them. You also need to pay the fee for visa processing. The fee is different. In case your family accompanies you, you need to pay more.

If you haven’t visited the Schengen Area in the last five years, you might have to submit your biometrics. The embassy will also ask the purpose of your visit. Of course, it is to see a friend, family, or visiting tourist attractions. Be honest and give true answers.

7. Processing

The Portugal embassy or visa center needs time to work on your application. Providing that the embassy requires further documents, they will tell you. So the processing will get longer. If they ask you to give further explanation for the purpose of your trip, you need to wait for a longer period.

Keep in mind that you can not apply earlier than three months to the date you want to enter Portugal. You may not apply later than 15 days either.

When your visa is ready, the officials will post it to your address. You might have to get it yourself from the embassy. It’s up to the embassy you apply to.

Now you can move to Portugal.

How long is the Portugal tourist visa valid for?

The validity of a Portugal tourist visa depends on the officials’ decision. The visa might be valid for up to five years. Yet, you can stay in Portugal for 90 days in six months. You have to apply for another visa to stay longer.

Bear in mind that the allowed times to enter the country is also different. You may have a:

• Single entry -permits you to enter Portugal once in the authorized time.
• Double entry -lets you enter the country twice in the legal given time.
• Multiple entry -permits you to enter Portugal several times in the permitted time.

The type you will receive will depend on:

• Officials’ decision
• The purpose of your visit
• Your background

The better and stronger background you have, the more likely to receive a multiple entry visa.

Portugal tourist visa length

Many applicants ask about the length of validity of a Portugal tourist visa. It’s only valid for 90 days in six months. You may not stay for longer than 90 days in a six month period.

The times you can enter Portugal or the Schengen Area depends on the type of visa. It could be a single entry, double-entry, or multiple-entries.

The decision on the type is up to the officials, your purpose, and background.

Portugal tourist visa from the UK

The residents or national of the UK don’t need a Portugal visa if they hold one of the below passports:

• British subjects (BS)
• British overseas citizen (BOC)
• British overseas territories citizen (BOTC)
• British protected person (BPP)
• A full UK passport

However, many non-EU nationals living in the UK might need a Portugal Schengen visa.

The guaranteed way to know if you need a Schengen visa from the UK is the Schengen visa checker .

When you enter the site, you have to complete two blanks. Your country of citizenship is the first one. Then it asks about your residing status in the UK. If you have a Residence permit, will it be valid for at least three months after you return to the UK?

If it is so, you may apply for a Schengen visa from the UK. You have to apply from your home country.

Let’s sum up…

If you are going to visit Portugal for sightseeing or visiting friends, you might need a Portugal tourist visa. It is up to your nationality that you need it or not. The above section explained your answer well.

The text also covered how to apply for a tourist visa in Portugal, requirements, and FAQs.

To know more about Portugal visa, see the left sidebar.

In case you hold one or two experiences with a Portugal visa, please write it down in the comment section.

• Published by
• January 12, 2021

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Hello. How can I get insurance after entering Portugal?

Hey there. Thanks for leaving a comment on our website. Insurance cover is one of the requirements of a Portugal tourist visa, so you should get it before entering the country.

I own a house in Portugal so need to e tend the 90 day tourist visa to 180 day how do I do that

Hello there. Thanks for leaving a comment on our website. We will be happy to guide you through the application process. However, we should first beware of the purpose of your visit to help you in a more precise way.

great post to read

Thank you. It’s a pleasure for us that you found the content useful.

How much fund required to be eligible for retirement visa ?

Portugal D7 Visa (Retirement Visa) applicants in 2024 will need to have passive income equivalent to the Portuguese minimum wage. In 2024, the minimum wage in Portugal is €820 per month. Application for a D7 visa requires proof of a yearly income of €9,840 (€820 times 12 months). If the applicant’s spouse is also an adult family member, the annual income requirement for that person rises to €4,230, a 1.5-fold increase.

According to another source, the monthly income requirement is €3,040, which is four times the Portuguese minimum wage. The Digital Nomad Visa, and not the Retirement D7 Visa, may be the intended recipient of this data. The D7 Visa appears to primarily require a €820 monthly passive income.

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VFS appointment for a Portuguese Visa IMPOSSIBLE - Portugal Forum

• Europe    
• Portugal    

VFS appointment for a Portuguese Visa IMPOSSIBLE

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Any help or advice greatly received.

34 replies to this topic

It's exactly the same in the UAE. Impossible to get an appointment - been trying for two months.

When you call you are told that you have to keep looking at the VFS website for appointments. Same old message every time you log on - no available appointments. It's a joke, obviously the Portuguese Authorities do not have the staff to deal with applications or they don't want you to visit their country!

https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/short-stay-visas-schengen/general-information/application-forms

After you fill the form, you need to book an appointment with VISA Centre, however, it is not impossible, as there are no slots available. However, it is possible to book one through the agent for an extra £200 odd. Which I believe is unfair. The VFS should not sale the slots.

Were you able to get a slot? It’s the very very difficult and I don’t know what to do now.

Anyone know if https://www.portugalschengenvisa.co.uk/get-in-touch/ is trustworthy?

No, there were no slots available on VFS website. I did call them, they also couldn't help. They just told me to keep checking their website.

No idea. But they have a lot of slots available even this week. However, I did not want to risk and pay £249.

Yeah that’s very expensive for me as well. Don’t know what to do now.

Same story :( I believe it is not fair, that agents are taking all slots and selling them after.

Hi, could you please share the agent information? or how to get the agent? At thism point seems thats the only solution to this problem.

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Home → Apply Visa → Visa Type

Visa Information

Select the visa type that is right for you to see important information on visa fees, documents required, forms, photo specifications and processing times.

Short Term Visa

If you are planning a short visit to Portugal and you do not have Portugal nationality, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa. Portugal is one of the 26 European countries forming the Schengen Area which have no border controls between them. These countries also issue a common visa, the Schengen visa for the stay upto 90 days. Please note that the following essentials must be met by all applicants submitting their applications for visa.

• Online application form should be submitted.
• Passport should have been issued within the previous 10 years.
• Passport should have at least two blank pages.
• Passport should have at least three months validity from the date of arrival back in India
• Applications are only accepted within 3 months of the requested date of arrival
• Relevant Forms & Photograph
• Application will be accepted only until 15 working days (excluding VFS handling time) before the date of travel.
• Decisions on visa applications should be taken within 15 calendar days from the date the application has been considered admissible.
• That period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.

Please Note

The overseas travel medical insurance valid for all Schengen-countries has to cover the applicant for at least 30000 Euros or equivalent, for all risks e.g. accident, illness, medical emergency evacuation, repatriation of mortals remains etc. The policy has to clearly specify the period of validity and has to cover the entire duration of the trip including the date of arrival and departure. Please click on the following link for the approved list of insurance companies in India.

Increased fees for visa applications

Please note: As of 02 February 2020 the Schengen visa fee per person (Short Stay Visa) will increase from 60 to 80 euros or the equivalent amount in your local currency. For children between 6-12 years old the visa fee will increase to 40 euros or equivalent

Applications can be lodged 6 months in advance of travel date

Effective 26 February 2020 post 03 pm onwards , applicants applying for Portugal visa, short term and long term except seasonal work must book an appointment and pay the VFS service fee (mandatory) and additional services (optional) online before coming to a VFS visa application center to submit their application and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). From this date, appointments to submit applications will only be confirmed once payment is completed. It is applicable for entire PAN India.

The reason for the introduction of the pre-payment system is to reduce the no-show percentage, unnecessary waiting times for an appointment will be reduced and the application process in the visa application centers will become more streamlined.

Pre-payment of the service fees can be made using a secured online payment portal using VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card.

Visa fee and additional service charges are non-refundable except in cases where applicants could not come due to medical reasons if provide the valid medical proof will be refunded.

Note: No fee will be refunded if the application is refused by the Embassy/Consulate of Portugal and/or if the application is withdrawn while it is under processing at the Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi or Consulate in Goa.

Long Term Visa

Long Term Visas are national Visas which are processed in accordance with the national legislation of the respective Member state. All the visa applications under this category are processed by the Embassy and sent to SEF, the Portuguese Boarder and Foreigners Service, for their analysis.

There are two broad categories of National/Long Term Visas for Portugal.

Temporary Stay: For stays longer than 90 days and usually less than one year.

Residence: For stay longer than one year.

According to Law 23/2007, the process time for Temporary Stay Visas is usually 30 days, after interview at Embassy/Consulate, if required, and for Residence visas; the processing timing is 60 days, also after interview at the Embassy/Consulate, if required.

Visa Stamping

Applicants from Bangladesh who has received an email communication from the Portugal Embassy to submit their passport for stamping, will now have to come VFS New Delhi to submit the passport.

In case the agent is coming for passport submission, they have to submit the valid authority letter with the applicant signature and copy of email received from the Embassy to VFS New Delhi.

In case the travel agent, family or friends coming for passport collection on behalf of the applicants, they have to bring the valid authority letter with the applicant signature, valid photo ID of the collecting member and original ICR (receipt given while submitting the documents at the VFS centre) to VFS New Delhi.

Pre -payment of VFS service charges are not required for visa stamping.

We encourage applicants to book an appointment by selecting VISA stamping option in the appointment module to submit their passports. Visa stamping appointment can be booked for Monday – Thursday between 09:00 hrs-11:00 hrs. @VFS New Delhi only.

For Appointment click here

Please note:  Applicants who have received an email confirmation from Embassy can only book the appointment for Passport Submission.

Business/ Conference

Documents required, travel medical insurance list, photo specifications, processing time, download forms.

In case you want to travel to Portugal for business purposes, you should lodge a Schengen Business visa application. The application can be submitted for a travel period of less than 90 days and can be applied before 180 days from the intended date of travel. Applicants who do not live in India for at least six months, cannot submit their visa application at VFS in India. They should submit their visa application at the country where they are residing. Applicants who live in Sri Lanka and in Bangladesh who wish to travel to Portugal for business and need to apply for a Schengen visa application are required to submitted their application in Colombo and Dhaka. The applications will be assessed by the Embassy of France in Colombo (Sri Lanka) and by the Embassy of France in Dhaka (Bangladesh). In these cases applicants are not authorised to submit their applications at VFS in India. If you live in Sri Lanka and you need to apply for a Schengen business visa to travel to Portugal, book your appointment at VFS Colombo: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/sri-lanka If you live in Bangladesh and you need to apply for a Schengen business visa to travel to Portugal, book your appointment directly at the Embassy of France in Dhaka: https://bd.ambafrance.org/Applying-for-a-French-visa-in-Bangladesh-2012 https://france-visas.gouv.fr/bangladesh Effective 26 February 2020 post 03 pm onwards, applicants applying for Portugal visa, short term and long term except seasonal work must book an appointment and pay the VFS service fee (mandatory) and additional services (optional) online before coming to a VFS visa application center to submit their application and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). From this date, appointments to submit applications will only be confirmed once payment is completed. It is applicable for entire PAN India. The reason for the introduction of the pre-payment system is to reduce the no-show percentage, unnecessary waiting times for an appointment will be reduced and the application process in the visa application centers will become more streamlined. Pre-payment of the service fees can be made using a secured online payment portal using VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card. Visa fee and additional service charges are non-refundable except in cases where applicants could not come due to medical reasons if provide the valid medical proof will be refunded. Note: No fee will be refunded if the application is refused by the Embassy/Consulate of Portugal and/or if the application is withdrawn while it is under processing at the Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi or Consulate in Goa.

Please Note:

• The applicable VISA Fee in Indian Rupees is as per the current exchange rate. The same is subject to change without prior notice.
• The VISA Fee and VFS Service Fee are non-refundable in case the VISA is refused.
• All VFS Service Charges are inclusive of Goods and Service Tax – SGST @ 9% and CGST @ 9%.
• Applicant shall be levied a Service Charge of INR 2823/-.
• Courier facility available at INR 450/- per application.
• Courier Assurance facility available at INR 550/- per application.
• SMS facility available at INR 115/- per application.
• Premium Lounge facility available at INR 2600/- per application.
• All VISA Fee and Service Charge can be paid by Cash/Visa/Master Card/Rupay.

Effective 26 February 2020 post 03 pm onwards, applicants applying for Portugal visa, short term and long term except seasonal work must book an appointment and pay the VFS service fee (mandatory) and additional services (optional) online before coming to a VFS visa application center to submit their application and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). From this date, appointments to submit applications will only be confirmed once payment is completed. It is applicable for entire PAN India.

Required documents for Business and Conference Visa:

Please find below a list of the documents required for applicants travelling for Business and Conference purposes.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here .

Please use this “Checklist” for all applicants applying under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa.

Please use this “ Checklist ” for all applicants applying under the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

This checklist needs to be duly filled in by the Applicant/Travel Agent/Authorized Representative and needs to be submitted along with the Visa Application. Please note: the Checklist is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant could be asked for additional documents if desired by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa/Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

• Applicant could be asked for additional documents or may be called for an Interview if desired by The Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi/Consulate General of Portugal, Goa.
• Applicants (Adults & Children) applying from Mumbai and Pune VFS centre will be required to appear for a Personal Interview (Skype) with The Portugal Consulate, if there has been no travel to any Schengen country within the last 3 years at the time of submission. The Visa Application Centre shall help you scheduling an appointment for the same.
• Please Note - Interview will be scheduled at the time of application submission at VFS centre in Mumbai or Pune, subject to earliest interview appointment slot available.
• The visa fee, according to Schengen regulations, is non-refundable.
• Carry All documents in Original at the time of interview.

The photographs must be:

• No more than 6-months old
• 35-40mm in width
• Close up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70 -80% of the photograph
• In sharp focus and clear
• Of high quality with no ink marks or creases
• As per instructions from Portugal Consulate ,Goa photographs with eyewear are not acceptable for applicants submitting applications at Mumbai VFS
• Show you looking directly at the camera
• Show your skin tones naturally
• Have appropriate brightness and contrast
• Be printed on high quality paper, and at high resolution Photographs taken with a digital camera must be high quality colour and printed on photo-quality paper.
• Be colour neutral
• Show your eyes open and clearly visible-no hair across your eyes
• Show you facing square on to the camera, not looking over one shoulder (portrait style) or tilted, and showing both edges of your face clearly
• Be taken with a plain light-coloured background
• Be taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows or flash reflections on your face and no red eye

If you wear glasses:

• the photograph must show your eyes clearly with no flash reflection off the glasses, and no tinted lenses (if possible, avoid heavy frames - wear lighter framed glasses if you have them)
• Make sure that the frames do not cover any part of your eyes.

Head coverings :

• Are not permitted except for religious reasons, but your facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown.

Your photographs must:

• show you alone (no chair backs, toys or other people visible), looking at the camera with a neutral expression and your mouth closed.

Travel Medical Insurance is compulsory for Schengen visa applications under Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).

Therefore, when you apply for a short stay visa you need to prove that you have travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in case of urgent medical attention or emergency hospital treatment during your stay, including repatriation. If you apply for a multiple entry visa, you have to have insurance covering the period of the first visit. Kindly refer to the list of travel insurance companies of the Consular Posts of Schengen States providing travel medical insurances for Schengen visa applications .

This list is applied by the Schengen States of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland as well as the European Union Member States of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.

In addition, you shall sign the declaration stating that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent travels .

Visa applicants are advised to note that other travel medical insurances issued by Indian insurance companies are not accepted for Schengen visa procedure. However, visa applicants may seek to obtain insurance in any other country where claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Schengen State. Make sure that you submit the original document of your travel insurance and it should have a QR Code in order to be verified.

Please note that the insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of Schengen States, even if your destination is Portugal. The insurance has to cover the entire period of your intended stay. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000 / 50,000 USD / 50,000 CHF per person. Kindly be advised that travel medical insurance policy terms and conditions cannot limit the coverage of medical expenses or emergency care based on your age, resulting in coverage below this minimum coverage. Please make note that failure to provide adequate travel medical insurance will delay the processing of your visa application.

• The Schengen visa application must be printed back-to-back
• The other forms have to be submitted with the visa application and as per the instructions on the checklist and in these forms.
• You can also obtain these forms from The Portuguese Visa Application Centre at VFS.

Schengen Visa Application Form

Mandatory Consent Form for Minors

Waiver Declaration

Declaration on Travel Health

Statement of Responsibility

To Download a Form:

• Click on the form link
• When the form opens, save the form on your computer.
• Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
• Select Save Target As from the list
• Save the form on your computer.

In case you want to travel to Portugal for tourism purposes, you should lodge a Schengen Tourism visa application. The application can be submitted for a travel period of less than 90 days and can be applied before 180 days from the intended date of travel. Applicants who do not live in India for at least six months, cannot submit their visa application at VFS in India. They should submit their visa application at the country where they are residing. Applicants who live in Sri Lanka and in Bangladesh who wish to travel to Portugal for tourism and need to apply for a Schengen visa application are required to submitted their application in Colombo and Dhaka. The applications will be assessed by the Embassy of France in Colombo (Sri Lanka) and by the Embassy of France in Dhaka (Bangladesh). In these cases applicants are not authorised to submit their applications at VFS in India. If you live in Sri Lanka and you need to apply for a Schengen Tourism visa to travel to Portugal, book your appointment at VFS Colombo: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/sri-lanka If you live in Bangladesh and you need to apply for a Schengen Tourism visa to travel to Portugal, book your appointment directly at the Embassy of France in Dhaka: https://bd.ambafrance.org/Applying-for-a-French-visa-in-Bangladesh-2012 https://france-visas.gouv.fr/bangladesh Effective 26 February 2020 post 03 pm onwards, applicants applying for Portugal visa, short term and long term except seasonal work must book an appointment and pay the VFS service fee (mandatory) and additional services (optional) online before coming to a VFS visa application center to submit their application and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). From this date, appointments to submit applications will only be confirmed once payment is completed. It is applicable for entire PAN India. The reason for the introduction of the pre-payment system is to reduce the no-show percentage, unnecessary waiting times for an appointment will be reduced and the application process in the visa application centers will become more streamlined. Pre-payment of the service fees can be made using a secured online payment portal using VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card. Visa fee and additional service charges are non-refundable except in cases where applicants could not come due to medical reasons if provide the valid medical proof will be refunded. Note: No fee will be refunded if the application is refused by the Embassy/Consulate of Portugal and/or if the application is withdrawn while it is under processing at the Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi or Consulate in Goa.

Exemption of VISA Fee

• child below 6 years

Required documents for Tourist Visa:

Please find below a list of the documents required for all applicants travelling for Tourism purposes.

Please use this “Checklist” for all applicants applying under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa.

• Applicant could be asked for additional documents or may be called for an Interview if desired by The Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi/Consulate General of Portugal,Goa.

Applicants belonging to film crews, should lodge a Schengen film crew visa application. The application can be submitted for a travel period of less than 90 days and can be applied before 180 days from the intended date of travel.

Effective 26 February 2020 post 03 pm onwards, applicants applying for Portugal visa, short term (Schengen) and long term (except seasonal work E8 or residency work visa application D1) must book an appointment and pay the VFS service fee (mandatory) and additional services (optional) online before coming to a VFS visa application center to submit their application and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). From this date, appointments to submit applications will only be confirmed once payment is completed. It is applicable for entire PAN India.

The reason for the introduction of the pre-payment system is to reduce the no-show percentage, unnecessary waiting times for an appointment will be reduced and the application process in the visa application centers will become more streamlined. Pre-payment of the service fees can be made using a secured online payment portal using VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card.

Visiting Family And Friends

Visit to family or friend visa application is applicable in case you are travelling for visiting your family member or friend. This visa is given for travel period of less than 90 days and can apply before 180 days from the intended date of travel.

Required documents for Visit to Family or Friend:

Please find below documents required for all applicants travelling for Visit to Family or Friend purposes.

Please click here to download ‘Termo de Responsabilidade’ form for the applications submission.

As per instruction received from Consulate General of Portugal Goa, minors travelling in the absence of any one or both parents an NOC signed by both parents and duly attested by the Notary and Mantralaya is required.

Transit Visa (Seamen)

Applicants for a seaman’s visa must be employed in any capacity on board a vessel, and seeking to enter Portugal solely in pursuit of his/her calling as a seaman, with the intention of departing with the vessel or reshipping on other vessel that is bound for a foreign port or place or one coming to the Portugal to join a vessel in this country.

Required documents for Transit (Seaman Visa):

Please find below required documents for all applicants travelling for Transit (Seaman) purposes.

This checklist needs to be duly filled in by the Applicant/Travel Agent/Authorized Representative and needs to be submitted along with the Visa Application. Please note: the Checklist is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant could be asked for additional documents if desired by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa /Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

Relatives of EU, EEA, Swiss citizens or UK nationals (Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU)

Please carefully read the following information:

EU Free Movement Directive 2004/38/EC

European Union (EU) Member States (MS) shall grant third-country nationals who are family members of citizens of the EU, the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - Switzerland and the United Kingdom (under the Withdrawal Agreement), who are covered by Directive 2004/38/ CE, all facilities for obtaining their visas. Nationals of third countries who are family members of EU citizens are only required to hold an entry visa, in compliance with Regulation (CE) n.º 539/2001, provided they are core family members.

According to the Article 2(2) of the EU Free Movement Directive (EC) 2004/38, the core family members of a citizen of the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein and Switzerland or of UK nationals whose family members benefit from the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) – read the information below -

• The spouse;
• The partner with whom the EU citizen has contracted a registered partnership, on the basis of the legislation of any Member State, if the legislation of the host EU Member State treats registered partnership as equivalent to marriage;
• Descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependant as well as those of the spouse or partner as defined above; or
• The dependant ascendants and those of the spouse or partner as defined above.

Visa applications for relatives of citizens of the EU, States that are part of the EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), Switzerland and of UK nationals whose family members benefit from the Withdrawal Agreement are free of charge. The processing of these visa applications will have preferential status. You must book an appointment at VFS Global India and should you face any problems in doing so for an appointment on this category, address the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi by email: [email protected], submitting needed documents that proof that you are a core family member as described above. Do not send multiple emails and kindly wait for an answer.

Applications for cases of funeral of an immediate family members (parents, spouse and children) should also address the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi by email: [email protected], submitting a declaration of the funerary agency and proof that you the deceased is your immediate family member. Do not send multiple emails and kindly wait for an answer.

Joining family members of beneficiaries of the UK Withdrawal Agreement (WA) in Portugal

Essentially those are:

• Family members who were directly related to the Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary and resided outside the host State at the end of the transition period and who fulfil the relevant conditions of Article 2(2) of the EU Free Movement Directive 2004/38/EC at the moment they seek residence under the Withdrawal Agreement in order to join the beneficiary in the host State;
• Children born to, or adopted by, a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary after the end of the transition period; and
• those who were durable partners and resided outside the host State before the end of the transition period and whose relationship continues at the time they seeks residence in the host State.

Those family members have the right to themselves become Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries in the host State (or, in the case of durable partners, the right to have their residence as Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary facilitated in accordance with national law) at any point in time after the end of the transition period. Member States’ Withdrawal Agreement residence schemes must thus be open for applications of such family members.

As a corollary, the Withdrawal Agreement does not govern short stays of family members of Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries in the host State for the purposes of visiting the beneficiaries. This is consistent with the purpose of the Withdrawal Agreement, which was not intended to regulate future movement of persons between the UK and the EU. Family members of Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries who want to enter the EU for a short stay therefore have to comply with the regular entry conditions for non-EU nationals, which are set out in the Schengen Borders Code (see in particular its Article 6(1)).

• the sponsoring UK nationals is actually a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary;
• the family members requesting a visa are themselves covered by Article 10 of the Withdrawal Agreement; and
• the visa application falls under Article 14(3) of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Regarding the last condition, the first visa application of an eligible family member will generally fall under Article 14(3) of the Withdrawal Agreement. For multiple visa applications (second or more), the following applies:

If the host EU MS of the UK national (and of the family member) has a declaratory scheme (as in Portugal), multiple short stay visas can be issued as long as the family member continues to have Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary status. In practice, it will be about whether the family member respects the absence rules (for non-permanent residence not more than a total of 6 months of absence in a year or exceptionally one single absence of not more than 12 months; in case of permanent residence, the family member can be absent for up to 5 years).

Applications under this Schengen category are exempted of visa fees. You must pay however the required VFS fees as described below:

• The VFS Service Fee is non-refundable in case the VISA is refused.

Please use this “ Checklist ” for all applicants applying for EU Nationals (Family Visit/Reunion).

• Applicant could be asked for additional documents or may be called for an Interview if desired by The Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.
• Applicants (Adults & Children) applying through the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa will be required to appear for a personal Interview if there has been no travel to a Schengen country within the last 3 years at the time of submission. The Visa Application Centre shall help you take an appointment for the same.

Please use this “ Checklist ” for all applicants who are relatives of EU, EEA, Swiss who intend to submit a Schengen visa application under the EU Free Movement Directive 2004/38/EC or who are relatives of UK nationals (and eligible under the Withdrawal Agreement).

• Although the processing of these Schengen visa applications will have preferential status, please note that the standard processing time is of 15 calendar days, which starts counting only when the application reaches the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi (the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the Consular Section Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi) and that public holidays of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi will not count as working days. For the ease of reference, applicants are invited to follow the status of their application through the VFS tracking system.
• Kindly click here for public holidays 2024.

Insurance List

When you apply for a short stay visa you also need to prove that you have travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in case of urgent medical attention or emergency hospital treatment during your stay, including repatriation. If you apply for a multiple entry visa, you have to have insurance covering the period of the first visit. In addition, you shall sign the declaration stating that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent travels.

Please note that the insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of Schengen States, even if your destination is Portugal. The insurance has to cover the entire period of your intended stay. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000. Kindly be advised that travel medical insurance policy terms and conditions cannot limit the coverage of medical expenses or emergency care based on your age, resulting in coverage below this minimum coverage. Please make note that failure to provide adequate travel medical insurance will delay the processing of your visa application.

You shall, in principle, take out insurance in India. Where this is not possible, you shall seek to obtain insurance in any other country. Please find here the list of those Indian insurance companies which are approved by consular representations of the Schengen States to provide travel medical insurance for the visa procedure.

Seasonal Work

This visa is issued to the applicants who are travelling to Portugal for seasonal work (Agriculture, Foresting, etc). This visa is given for travel period of less than 90 days and can apply 180 days before from the intended date of travel.

Please note – Applications more than 10 will be considered as a group and will be accepted at New Delhi VFS only. Kindly follow the procedure defined for Group appointments to book appointments to submit this application in Delhi. Kindly click here to book appointments-

• scientists going for research work
• Tracking Services facility available at INR 200/- per application.

Required documents for Seasonal Work Visa:

Please find below a list of the documents required for all applicants travelling for Seasonal Work purposes.

This checklist needs to be duly filled in by the Applicant/Travel Agent/Authorized Representative and needs to be submitted along with the Visa Application. Please note: the Checklist is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant could be asked for additional documents if desired by the Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

Applicants applying at VFS Delhi/Chandigarh/Jalandhar/Kolkata/Chennai/Bangalore and Ahmedabad towards the Embassy of Portugal New Delhi are requested to submit typed application form in Capital letter with complete details. Form can be downloaded from  here .

E1 - Medical Treatment

Temporary Stay visa is issued to the applicants for a period of less than one year applying for medical treatment under recognized hospital.

Please click on the below “Checklist” link to download the list of required documents.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here.

Please use this  “Checklist”  for all applicants applying under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa.

• Applicant could be asked for additional documents or may be called for an Interview if desired by The Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi / Consulate General of Portugal in Goa
• Applicants (Adults & Children) applying from Mumbai and Pune VFS centre will be required to appear for a Personal Interview (Skype) with The Portugal Consulate. The Visa Application Centre shall help you scheduling an appointment for the same.

Below mentioned documents are not required to be submitted in ORIGINAL while submitting the applications in any of the VFS centre. Therefore the applicant are required to bring coloured photocopy of the below mentioned certificates & carry the original as well along with the documents while submitting the applications at the VFS office.

• Birth certificates
• Birth registration certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Marriage registration certificates
• Education degrees
• Application will be accepted only until 30 working days (excluding VFS handling time) before the date of travel.
• The deadline to decide on a resident visa (D Visa) application, except in circumstance stipulated by law, is 60 days.
• The deadline to decide on a temporary stay visa (E Visa) application is 30 days.

D2 Applicants are requested to submit the application form with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here

Letter of Authorization SEF(Link) Applicants are requested to fill the SEF form and submit it with other required documents.

On the Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas Visas website applicants must select ‘ Apply for a visa ’ to initiate the Online form filling process.

At the end of completing the Online Visa Application Form you are required to select a ‘date’ on the Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas Visas website. Please be informed that this date on the visa application form should be the same date on which you wish to submit your visa application at VFS Mumbai or VFS Pune and can be selected when scheduling your appointment accordingly on our website. Please click here to schedule an appointment with VFS.

E2–intra Corporate Transfer Of Citizens Between States Party To Wto

The E2 temporary stay visa is a visa established in the framework of the transfer of citizens of states party to the WTO (World Trade Organization), in the context of providing services, and is intended for the transfer of partners or subordinate workers between establishments of the same company in a third country (or the same group of companies) with the establishment located in Portugal to provide services equivalent to those provided by the establishment from which the foreign citizen is being transferred.

Who is entitled to apply for a E2 visa?

The transfer of partners and/or subordinate workers through a E2 visa is possible provided they have been part of the company's staff for at least one (1) year and must fall into one of the following categories:

• those who, having management powers, work as senior managers of the company and essentially manage an establishment, receiving general guidance from the board of directors;
• have specific technical knowledge essential to the activity, to the research equipment, techniques or management of the company;
• who will receive professional training at an establishment located in Portuguese territory, in the framework of their duties.
• Courier Assurance facility available at INR 650/- per application.

Please click here to download SEF form for the applications submitted under the jurisdiction of consulate general of Portugal in goa.

• The standard processing time of a E2 visa application is 30 (thirty) calendar days.
• This period starts counting only when the application reaches the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi (the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the Consular Section Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi) and that public holidays of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi as announced on its website will not count as working days.
• This period can be prolonged by the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi if deemed necessary for a personal interview, scrutiny of bank documents and/or verification of any other supporting documents, among other reasons.
• Visa applications should be submitted in advance to ensure time for competent authorities to deliver a decision.
• A booked flight ticket does not result in a preferred processing of the application.

E2 Applicants are requested to submit the visa application form with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here .

Term of Responsability

E3 - Independent Work

Temporary Stay visa is issued to the applicants for a period of less than one year who are travelling for independent business activity.

Applicants applying at VFS Delhi/Chandigarh/Jalandhar/Kolkata/Chennai/Bangalore and Ahmedabad towards the Embassy of Portugal New Delhi are requested to submit typed application form in Capital letter with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here .

For applicants applying at VFS Mumbai and VFS Pune towards the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa please note:-

Criminal Record Verification: Authorising Form (AIMA)

E4–scientific Research/ University Teaching Position/ Highly Qualified Activity

Temporary Stay visa is issued to below mentioned for a period of less than one year.

• Scientific research purpose
• Academic teaching purpose
• Highly qualified activity purpose

E5 - Amateur Sports

Temporary Stay visa is issued to the applicants for a period of less than one year applying for amateur sports purposes.

• All VISA Fees and Service Charge can be paid by Cash/Visa/Master Card/Rupay.

E6 - Student Exchange/ Unpaid Professional Internship/ Volunteer Work

This visa is applicable for exceptional and well-founded circumstances, namely for programs of study in a certified institution, Student exchange, unpaid professional internship, volunteer work or pursuant to WTO obligations or those arising from conventions and international agreements to which Portugal is a state party. This visa is given for travel period of more than 90 days and less than one year.

E7 - Accompanying Of A Currently Ill Family Member.

Temporary Stay visa is issued to the applicants for a period of less than one year applying for accompanying of a currently ill member.

Please use this “ Checklist ” for all applicants applying under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa.

E8 - Seazonal Work (More Than 90 Days)

This visa is issued to the applicants who are travelling to Portugal for below mentioned seasonal work. This visa is given for travel period of more than 90 days.

• Agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry and fishing.
• Housing, hotel and restaurant industries.
• Food, drinks and tobacco industries.
• Wholesale and Retail commerce.
• Construction industries.
• Land transports (drivers must show proof that they are allowed to perform driving duties in Portugal – such as international driving license).

E9 - Educational / Professional Course (Less Than One Year)

The E9 temporary stay visa is aimed at foreign citizens who have been admitted in technical and/or professional trainings or courses offered by training institutions or schools in Portugal. These courses have a duration of less than one year.

Exemption of Visa Fee

• Students beneficiaries of scholarship from Portuguese institutions
• The standard processing time of a E9 visa application is 30 (thirty) calendar days.

E9 Applicants are requested to submit the visa application form with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here .

ER- Temporary Stay Visa Digital Nomads

This visa is issued to the applicants for a period of less than one year applying for Educational or professional course attendency.

EF - Temporary Stay Visa for accompanying family membrer

D1 - subordinated profissional activity.

This visa is issued to the applicants who are travelling to Portugal for employment purpose.

Please note – Applications more than 10 will be considered as a group and will be accepted at New Delhi VFS only. Kindly follow the procedure defined for Group appointments to book appointments to submit this application in Delhi. Kindly click here to book appointments-   

Please read and download the checklist of required document clicking here

Please click here to download ‘Termo de Responsabilidade’ form for the applications submission.

This checklist needs to be duly filled in by the Applicant and needs to be submitted along with the Visa Application. Please note: the checklist is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant could be asked for additional documents if desired by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa/Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

• Applicant could be asked for additional documents or may be called for an Interview if desired by The Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi/Consulate General of Portugal in Goa
• The Visa Fee, according to Schengen regulations, is Non-Refundable.

Applicants are requested to fill the SEF form and submit it with other required documents. It is not required for children below 16 years.

D2–Independent Professional Activity/Entrepreneur Immigrants/Start-up Visa

The D2 visa is a residence visa aiming at entrepreneurs and foreign nationals who wish to establish their professional independent activity in Portugal and/or have been hired as service providers (within the range of liberal professionals) by a service provider or a company in Portugal.

Since the term ‘liberal professions’ is understood differently in different Member States of the European Union, for the purpose of the D2 visa application, a liberal profession is considered as follows: “liberal professions provide intellectual services based on a specific professional qualification or skill. These services are provided personally and rest on a relationship of trust. Members of the liberal professions carry out their activity autonomously and on a professionally independent basis. They are characterised by a professional ethos, have an obligation to the interests of their client, are required to act in the public interest and are subject to a system of professional organisation and oversight (as defined in the Rome Manifesto adopted by the European and Economic Social Committee in 2017). Hence, the liberal profession is “of a marked intellectual character, requiring a high-level qualification and are usually subject to clear and strict professional regulation. In the exercise of such an activity, the personal element is of special importance and such exercise always involves a large measure of independence in the accomplishment of the professional activities” (as defined by the judgment issued by the European Court of Justice in the case „C-267/99, Adam./.Administration de l’enregistrement et des domaines de Luxembourg“)

As for any residence visa, the D2 visa grants two entries in Portugal to the visa holder, being valid for a period of 4 months (120 days). During that period, the visa holder is required to apply for a residency permit with the competent Portuguese authorities: https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/trabalhar/art90-aq/

StartUp Visa Program established by IAPMEI, I.P.

The StartUp Visa Program is an accreditation program focused on supporting and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in Portugal, aiming to attract foreign investment, talent and capacity for innovation to the country. The StartUp Visa Program has been established by IAPMEI,

I.P. (the Portuguese public Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation – within the Portuguese Ministry of Economy) and is particularly aimed at young entrepreneurs from all over the world who wish to open an innovative company or work for a Portuguese StartUp certified by IAPMEI, I.P., in the framework of this program. Therefore, IAPMEI, I.P is responsible for assessing and accrediting the startups under the StartUp Visa Program. So if you are a young entrepreneur planning to work with one of the Startup Visa Certified Incubators by IAPMEI, I.P., please find here the list of certified incubators by IAPMEI, I.P under the StartUp Visa Program.

Applicants who wish to submit their D2 visa application under the StartUp Visa Program, must have the Statement form issued by IAPMEI, I.P. and must submit it together with the other mandatory documents mentioned on this checklist.

a. Eligibility criteria (established by IAPMEI, I.P.)

International entrepreneurs wishing to access the Startup Visa Program must accomplish the following criteria:

• Intend to develop business activities to produce innovative goods and services;
• Open or relocate companies and/or projects focused on technology and knowledge, with a perspective of developing innovative products;
• Have the potential to create qualified employment;
• Have the potential to attain, 5 years after the incubation period, a turnover over 325.000€ per year, and/or assets value over 325.000€ per year.

b. Evaluation process (established by IAPMEI, I.P.)

The evaluation of the economic and innovative potential is made based on the degree of innovation, the scalability of the business, the market potential, the capacity of the management team, the potential for creating qualified employment in Portugal and the relevance of the applicant in the team.

The applications to the StartUp Visa Program are directly submitted to IAPMEI, I.P. and not to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi. Additional information about the StartUp Visa is available here: https://startupportugal.com/programs/startup-visa/

Applicants who wish to submit their visa application under the StartUp Visa Program, must have the Statement form issued by IAPMEI, I.P. at the moment of applying for a D2 residence visa and should submit it together with the documents mentioned on this checklist. It should be noted that, although the business project and contract is approved by IAPMEI, I.P., the entrepreneur is not exempted from the legal obligation to comply with the requirements and procedures for the entry and residence in Portugal with the competent authorities.

Visa fees and booking system

Applicants applying for Portugal visa, short term and long term must book an appointment and pay the VFS service fee (mandatory) and additional services (optional) online before coming to a VFS visa application center to submit their application and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph). The exceptions are for D1 and E8 working visa types in which the companies hiring the workers shall address their appointment requests to the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi as stated publicly: Pedidos de agendamento de vistos de trabalho para empresas portuguesas - Notícias - A Embaixada - Embaixada de Portugal na Índia (mne.gov.pt)

Appointments to submit applications will only be confirmed once payment is completed. It is applicable for entire PAN India.

Note: No fee will be refunded if the application is refused by the Embassy/Consulate of Portugal and/or if the application is withdrawn while it is under processing at the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi or at the General Consulate of Portugal in Goa.

Read and download the checklist of required documents, by clicking here

Submit the documents in the exact order mentioned in the checklist. Do not staple any document. All supporting documents must be in A4 size paper. If not otherwise noted, submittal of copies of the original document are sufficient. Please note that the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi does not return original documents if you do not provide a copy.

• Submission of the mentioned mandatory documents in the checklist does not guarantee that a visa is granted. The required documents must be submitted with the visa application (documents sent through e-mail or post to the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi are not accepted, unless if required).
• The Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi reserves the right to ask for additional documents and/or for a personal interview. The Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi is not however obliged to ask for submittal of documents already mentioned on this list before denying an application.
• Submission of incomplete documentation may result in the rejection of an application.
• All documents, forms and declarations must be submitted either in Portuguese or English. All documents, forms and declarations not in Portuguese or English have to be submitted with proper Portuguese or English translation. Failing to provide proper translation will result in the document, form or declaration considered “missing”.
• The refusal of the visa application does not entail the reimbursement of the visa fees.
• Consult the legislation in force at the following hyperlink: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/en/national-visas/national-legislation

The standard processing time of a D2 visa application is 60 (sixty) calendar days. This period starts counting only when the application reaches the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi (the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the Consular Section Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi) and that public holidays of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi as announced on its website will not count as working days.

A booked flight ticket does not result in a preferred processing of the application

Term of Responsibility

D3–University Teaching Position/ Highly Qualified Activity/ Cultural Activity

The D3 visa is a residence visa for teaching and/or research purposes and/or high qualified professionals. Applicants who have been hired by a Portuguese cultural institution to develop a cultural activity or project, within the framework of a project recognized by the member of the Portuguese Government responsible for the area of culture or by law as of national interest are also entitled to apply for a D3 visa.

Therefore the D3 visa is entitled to all foreign citizens (who are not nationals from Switzerland and the Member States of the European Union and/or the European Economic Area) and: a) who have been admitted as PhD students at a Portuguese high institution; or b) as researchers at a research centre recognised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Portugal; or c) that that have been hired to teach at a higher education institution in Portugal; or d) that have been hired to perform a high qualified job at a Portuguese company.

As for any residence visa, D3 visa grants two entries in Portugal to the visa holder, being valid for a period of 4 months (120 days). During that period, the visa holder is required to apply for a residency permit with the competent Portuguese authorities: https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/trabalhar/art90-aq/

Tech Visa program

Tech Visa is an accreditation program focused on providing Portuguese companies with a fast-track system to hire highly qualified professionals from outside the Schengen area. It aims at simplifying the access to highly qualified professionals (and who are nationals of countries outside the European Union and the European Economic Area and Switzerland) to jobs at Portuguese companies, particularly in the field of technology, information and innovation. Therefore, the Tech Visa program is mostly aimed at technological and innovative companies that are looking to attract highly qualified and specialized professionals to Portugal.

The Tech Visa program is run by IAPMEI, I.P. (the Portuguese public Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation – within the Portuguese Ministry of Economy). Therefore, IAPMEI, I.P is responsible for assessing and accrediting companies under the Tech Visa program. So if you are a highly qualified worker and plan to work in Portugal, find here the list of certified companies by IAPMEI, I.P under the Tech Visa program.

Applicants who wish to submit their visa application under the Tech Visa program and therefore have the liability agreement issued by IAPMEI, I.P. must apply for a D3 residence visa together with the documents mentioned on this checklist.

Additional information about the Tech Visa program addressed to the companies can be found at the following hyperlink: https://www.iapmei.pt/Paginas/Tech-Visa-en.aspx

Can my family members apply for the visa for accompanying family members while I apply for the D3 visa?

Yes. The D3 visa does grant the right to the family member(s) of the D3 visa applicant to apply together with him/her for the visa for accompanying family members (DF). Family members of the D3 applicant do not need an appointment at VFS, although they should submit their applicants at the same time as the D3 applicant and applications shall be assessed together.

• Premium Lounge Facility available at INR 2600/- per application.

Please read and download the checklist of required documents, by clicking here .

This checklist needs to be duly filled in by the Applicant needs to be submitted along with the Visa Application. Please note: the checklist is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant could be asked for additional documents if desired by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa/Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

• The standard processing time of a D3 visa application is 60 (sixty) calendar days. This period starts counting only when the application reaches the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi (the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the Consular Section Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi) and that public holidays of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi as announced on its website will not count as working days. A D3 visa application shall be treated as a priority by the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi.

Empresas Certificadas Tech Visa

D4 - Research/Study/Internship (More Than One Year)

This visa is issued to the applicants applying for more than one year who are travelling for residence visa for research, study, high school student exchange, internship or volunteering

VFS Global Service Charge

Applicants applying at the Portuguese Visa Application Centre shall be levied a Service Charge of INR 2789/- (Inclusive of Goods & Service Tax – SGST @ 9% and CGST @ 9%).

D6 - Family Reunification

Some family members (specifically identified in the law, see below) of foreign nationals (foreign nationals who are already living in Portugal and who are holders of a valid residency permit issued by the Portuguese authorities) are entitled to family reunification (which means they can join them in Portugal and apply for residency), in which case they should apply for a D6 visa.

For that purpose and prior submitting a D6 visa, it is mandatory that the foreign national (living in Portugal and holder of a valid residency permit issued by the Portuguese authorities) must request for family reunification in favour of his/her family members to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) - the new agency responsible for the reception, integration and asylum of migrants since 29/10/2023, which was created with the abolition of the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) and the restructuring of the border control system in Portugal. Please see: https://aima.gov.pt/en/viver/reagrupamento-familiar-com-familiar-fora-de-territorio-nacional-art-98-o-n-o-1

Only the following family members of the foreign national (living in Portugal and holder of a valid residence permit issued by the Portuguese authorities) are entitled to apply for family reunification (D6 visa):

• The spouse (or the partner in the case of a non-marital partnership, provided that non-marital partnerships are recognised by law in the country of the national);
• The children under the age of 18 years old, either of the applicant or of his/her spouse, as well as minors adopted by the applicant and/or by his/her spouse, as a result of a decision by the authority competent authority of the country of origin, provided that the law of that country recognizes to the adopted rights and duties identical to those of natural filiation and which the decision is recognized by Portugal;
• The children older than 18 years old, provided that they are financially dependent of the main visa applicant and/or his/her spouse, and provided that they are single and are studying at an educational institution in Portugal;
• The children older than 18 years old, provided that they are financially dependent of the main visa applicant and/or his/her spouse, and provided that they are single and are they are studying, as long as the holder of the right to family reunion is the bearer of a residence permit issued under the article 90.º-A (Decree-Law no. 90/2022, of 30th December);
• The direct ascendants (parents) of the main applicant or the direct ascendants (parents) of his/her spouse, as long as they financially dependent on the applicant (or financially dependent on the spouse);
• Siblings of the main applicant, as long as they are minors and are under the guardianship of the main applicant, in accordance with the decision made by the competent authority of the country of origin and as long as this decision is recognized by Portugal.

As for any residence visa, D6 visa grants two entries in Portugal to the visa holder, being valid for a period of 4 months (120 days). During that period, the visa holder is required to apply for a residency permit with the competent Portuguese authorities (AIMA): https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-regime-e-requisitos-gerais-art-o-77-o-n-o-1

Applicants who want to join their spouse/parents/siblings have to apply under this category.

Exemption of VISA Fee:

• spouse of EU national
• applicant below 18 years

D6 Applicants are requested to submit the visa application form with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here .

D7– Senior Citizens/Religious Immigrants/People Living From Rents And Investments

This visa is issued to the applicants for the establishment of residence for senior citizens, religious people or income (Investment, Rents, Personal Revenues) dependent people.

Please read and download the checklist of required documents, by clicking here

DP - Residence job seeking visa

The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for a job in Portugal. It authorizes its holder to work in Portugal until the visa expires or until (and in case) the residence permit is granted. This job seeker visa is granted for a period of 120 days and might be renewed for another 60 days. It allows for only one entry in Portugal.

The issuance of this visa grants its holder the possibility of registering as a job seeker at one of the Portuguese employment and vocational training centres run by the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP – Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional), the Portuguese Public Employment Institute. Once registered at one of those employment and vocational training centers, job seekers should not miss any appointment scheduled by the concerned employment centre in which moment the job seeker will be informed about potential employment and training opportunities in Portugal. At that moment job seekers should bring with them their valid documents which allows to legally reside and work in Portugal, among which the job seeker visa. For any further information, applicants are invited to kindly check: https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/servicos/inscrever-se-no-centro-de-emprego

The issuance of this visa also allows the applicant, once it has found a job and signed an employment contract with his/her employer, the right to apply for a residence permit in Portugal. To do so, the job seeker visa holder must fulfil the general conditions and criteria for granting a temporary residence permit in Portugal, which can be checked at the following hyperlink: https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/residir/art77-1/

Once the 120-days period expires and in case the job seeker visa holder has not succeed in getting a job in Portugal nor has the visa holder be able of applying for a residence permit, the visa holder must leave Portugal.

Can I travel to other Schengen countries in case I am granted a job seeker visa?

No. The job seeker visa only grants the right to enter and stay in Portugal with the sole purpose of finding a job in Portugal during the validity of the visa (120 day-period that can be renewed for a period of 60 days). Holders of a job seeker visa are not entitled to travel to any other Schengen country.

I could not find a job in Portugal and I was not able to apply for a residence permit. Can I apply again for a job seeker visa?

In these situations, you can apply a second time for a job seeker visa but only one year after the expiry of the previous visa. The fact that the applicant was granted a job seeker visa once does not automatically grant him/her another job seeker visa. The second application is assessed independently and as per the documents mentioned in this checklist. The applicant can be once again called for an interview at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi.

The 120-day period has come to an end and I was not able to find a job. Can I request an extension of my job seeker visa?

The job seeker visa might be renewed for a 60-day period. To request the visa extension, the visa holder must be registered at the IEFP, I.P., as job seeker. The job seeker visa holder must also submit a declaration in which she/he explains how the conditions of the planned stay have not changed and which will be reassessed by the competent authorities.

Can my family members apply for the visa for accompanying family members while I apply for the job seeker visa? No. The job seeker visa does not grant the right to the family member(s) of the job seeker visa applicant to apply together with him/her for the visa for accompanying family members (DF).

This checklist needs to be duly filled in by the applicant and needs to be submitted along with the Visa Application. It will be verified by the VFS staff officer who receives the application at the moment of the submission. Please note that the checklist is not an exhaustive list of documents, and the applicant could be asked for additional documents if desired by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa/Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi.

If not otherwise noted, submittal of copies of the original document are sufficient. Please note that the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi does not return original documents if you do not provide a copy.

General remarks of the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi:

• Submission of the above-mentioned mandatory documents does not guarantee that a visa is granted. The required documents have to be submitted with the visa application (documents sent through e-mail or post to the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi are not accepted, unless if required).
• Please note that the standard processing time of a job seeker visa application is 60 (sixty) calendar days. This period starts counting only when the application reaches the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi (the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the Consular Section Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi) and that public holidays of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi as announced on its website will not count as working days.
• The deadline to issue a decision on a job seeker visa application, except in circumstance stipulated by law, is 60 days.

DF - Residence Visa for accompanying family member

The DF visa is a residence visa aimed at the family member(s) of the “main” residence visa applicant (for any residence visa category, except DP – job seeker visa - which does not entitle for family members to apply for a DF visa), allowing them to also apply for residence in Portugal.

Therefore, the DF visa application is assessed at the same time of the residence visa application of “main” family member. DF applicants do not need to get an appointment at VFS to submit their visa application. Only the main residence visa must have an appointment and his/her family member(s) shall submit their visa application(s) on the same date.

Only the following family members of the main residence visa applicant are entitled to apply for a DF visa:

As for any residence visa, the DF visa grants two entries in Portugal to the visa holder, being valid for a period of 4 months (120 days). During that period, the visa holder can submit a residency permit request with the competent Portuguese authorities: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/viver/autorizacao-de-residencia-regime-e-requisitos-gerais-art-o-77-o-n-o-1

• The standard processing time of a DF visa application is 60 (sixty) calendar days.
• The DF visa application is assessed together with the residence visa application of the main family member/main applicant. This period starts counting only when the application reaches the Consular Section of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi (the visa application will need up to two working days to reach the Consular Section Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi) and that public holidays of the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi as announced on its website will not count as working days.

DF Applicants are requested to submit the visa application form with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here .

DR - Residence Visa Digital Nomads (EN)

• The standard processing time of a DR visa application is 60 (sixty) calendar days.

DR Applicants are requested to submit the visa application form with complete details. Form can be downloaded from here .

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How to apply for a Portugal Visa from India ?

By Axel Strauss Date: 27/11/2023

When Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama opened the first sea route from Western Europe to Asia 500 years ago, India played a key role in his discovery. And ever since, Portugal and India have shared a mutual history in terms of exploration, trade, and culture. Today, millions of people make the voyage between the two countries with ease annually. And that voyage is a lot faster and easier too. However, if you’re planning to trace back Vasco’s steps from India to Portugal in the near future, you might need a Schengen visa . And if so — have no fear — because humble Schengen travel insurance pioneers AXA can help put some wind in your sails. Let’s start with the basics.

Do Indian nationals need a visa to travel to Portugal?

How do i apply for a portugal visa from india, how much does a visa for portugal from india cost, why choose axa schengen insurance for my portugal visa application.

• FAQ about Portugal for Indian nationals
• How to apply for other Schengen countries from India?

Yes. Portugal is one of the 27 countries in the Schengen Zone . This means that most non-Schengen-country nationals need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter its borders. And while many countries — such as Brazil, Canada, the U.S., the U.K., the UAE, and so on — have visa-free travel agreements with the Schengen zone, India does not. So if you’re an Indian citizen, you will indeed need a visa to enter Portugal —and any other Schengen country.

And now for the specs. Before you apply, you’ll need to figure out which Portugal Visa works best for you. This will be determined by several factors — the purpose and length of your trip, how many times you plan to visit, and so on.

What type of Schengen visas for Portugal are there?

There are four basic types of Schengen Visa you can choose from. They are business , work , student , and — the most common one — short-stay (aka the “ tourist visa ”). You can also opt for a multiple-entry visa if you plan to travel to Portugal frequently. And you have a few various options if you have a partner living, working, and/or studying in Portugal. An increasingly popular option — specifically for Portugal — is also what’s known as the D7 Residence Visa (aka the “Passive Income Earner Residence Permit”). It’s designed for financially independent individuals who can support themselves without working in Portugal. To be eligible, you’ll need at least €7,200 (or ₹654,723.13) in passive income annually. Meanwhile, the once very popular (and often controversial) “Golden Visa” initiative in Portugal was terminated in 2023 .

When should I apply?

You must apply for your visa no more than six months and no fewer than 15 days before your trip. But make sure to give yourself plenty of time to prep all the paperwork.

What documents do I need to apply for a short-stay Portugal Visa from India?

To apply for a short-stay Portugal Visa from India, you’ll need (at the very least):

• a Schengen Visa application form;
• two recently taken passport-style photos;
• an Indian passport (or other travel documents, if applicable) no older than 10 years and are valid for at least three months after your departure date from Portugal;
• Travel and medical insurance (covering you up to costs of €30,000, but more on that below);
• Your flight itinerary;

You might also need:

• Evidence of legal residence in India (if applicable);
• A cover letter stating your itinerary and the purpose of your visit (if applicable);
• A letter of invitation (if applicable);
• Proof of accommodation (if applicable);
• Proof of your civil status (such as a marriage certificate, if applicable);
• Proof of sufficient funds.*

*To enter Portugal, you’ll need to show you have at least €40 (or ₹3,648.59) per day when applying for a Portugal Visa. And each time you enter Portugal’s territory you must have funds of at least €75 (or ₹6,841.10). Although if you can prove your accommodation and food is covered during your stay in Portugal, you may be released from the means of subsistence obligation.

What if I need to get a Portugal Visa to work or study?

If you are planning to work or study in Portugal (for fewer than 90 days), you’ll need a bit more to obtain your visa. And depending on your particular situation,this may include:

• An employment contract;
• A recent bank statement;
• A no-objection letter from your Indian employer;
• An income tax return;
• Proof of enrolment at an educational institution in Portugal;
• A no-objection letter from your current Indian educational institution (if applicable).

Meanwhile, if you plan to study in Portugal for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a national study visa and residency permit — as well as to provide evidence of your enrollment and plans to reside in Portugal. For work visas, you should provide evidence of a salaried employment contract and obtain a residency permit.

Where do I apply for a Portugal Visa in India?

In India, the company VFS Globa l deals with initial applications — before passing them on to Portuguese embassy officials. You can apply online via their website, but you will also need to attend an in-person interview (with aloof the above paperwork) at one of their centers located in :

• Puducherry,
• Chandigarh,
• and Bengaluru.

How long does the application take to process?

Applications should take around 15 days to process . However,in certain cases — and especially during busy periods — it may take up to between 30 and 60 days. So make sure to give yourself plenty of prep time.

The costs of the Schengen Visa are universal — meaning they’re the same in India as anywhere else. The standard fee is €80 (or roughly ₹7,274.70). For children between the ages of six and twelve — it’s €40 (or roughly ₹3,637.35). And children under the age of six can get a Schengen visa for Portugal for free .

NOTE: Those traveling to Portugal for study purposes, research, those under 25 years old traveling with charitable organizations, and those taking part in certain sporting or cultural events may also have their visa fee waived in some circumstances. AXA has more info on how to apply for a Schengen visa from India (not just for Portugal) here . And you can also learn more via the Portuguese government’s official eportal website . Meanwhile, here’s another great way we’re here to help.

Well, because an AXA Schengen travel insurance plan will give you one less big thing to worry about during your Schengen visa application process. First off, all three AXA plans — Low-Cost (starting at as little as €22/week), Europe Travel , and Multi-Trip — meet the necessary requirements for obtaining a Schengen Visa for Portugal. Just in case, those requirements are that your travel insurance plan:

• Has a minimum coverage of €30,000 in case of medical care, hospitalization, and/or medical repatriation :
• Is accepted by all 27 countries within the Schengen zone (not just Portugal);
• Is valid for the entire duration of your trip/stay.

AXA’s plans also have no age restrictions . Moreover, getting an AXA travel insurance plan is quick , easy , and can all be done from the comfort of your home(i.e., online ) in minutes. Once you’ve chosen a plan, the AXA travel insurance certificate can be downloaded (and printed) online instantly too. And it is accepted by all Schengen embassies and consulates — including the Portuguese ones. And — last but not least — if your Schengen visa for Portugal from India is denied , AXA’s plans are refundable in most cases . We’ll only ask that you provide the appropriate documentation (i.e., an official explanation as to why your visa was refused by the relevant embassy, consulate, or visa application center). In short, an AXA travel insurance plan will help make your centuries-tested trip between India and Portugal that much more smooth and worry-free.

FAQ about Portugal

And now here’s some more general info to help you prep for your Portuguese voyage.

Is a Portugal visa easy to get?

Portugal has become a top destination for many in recent years. As such, it is issuing loads of visas — but processing times may vary. And whether you’ll get one obviously depends on your particular situation. Generally speaking, Portugal is not the most difficult place to get a Schengen visa for. That said — with a roughly 10% rejection rate — it’s also not the easiest .

Is a work visa open in Portugal?

Yes. Non-EU nationals — including Indians — are allowed to work in Portugal with a valid work visa and residence permit . You should consult with your employer about a work contract from and/or a work permit. And you can also apply for what’s known as a “job-seeker visa” to come to Portugal and find work once you’re there. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official website can tell you more about that.

Can Indians get Permanent Residence in Portugal?

Yes, they can — and often do! But,again, the official channels — i.e., AIMA , Portugal’s official immigrant service (formerly known as SEF) — can tell you more about that.

How much is rent in Portugal?

One of the bigger issues facing Portugal’s major cities in recent years is housing. And the influx of foreigners making much more than the local minimum wage is leading to drastic increases in rent prices, as well as a near-20% poverty rate. The rent for an okay one-bedroom apartment in central Lisbon, for example, can be anywhere between €800 to €2000 a month. And most people, therefore, live with roommates. However, you can find apartments — and even houses — in more remote areas of the country for under €500 a month. For an idea of local rent prices, the locals most trusted go-to is idealista.com .

General cost of living in Portugal

Despite the rent, Portugal is still relatively cheaper than many of its European neighbors. And to live somewhat comfortably, a single person needs to spend about €2,000-3000 monthly. Whereas a family of four is looking at anywhere upwards of €5000, depending on their location.

Is it easy to get a job in Portugal?

That also depends. For example, many locals struggle to make ends meet due to the housing crisis and low pay. However, the tourism, service, and tech sectors have been booming in recent years — drawing in a huge influx of immigrants and expats alike. Moreover, many international companies have been moving to Portugal in recent years too. So figure out what you’re looking for, keep your ears to the ground, ask around — and you might be in luck.

How to apply for other Schengen countries from India ?

And if you’re considering other countries in the Schengen Area for your Schengen visa, AXA can help too. In fact, we’ve compiled all the info you need — in alphabetical order — below:

Apply for Belgium visa from India

Apply for Czech Republic visa from India

Apply for Denmark visa from India

Apply for France visa from India

Apply for Germany visa from India

Apply for Greece visa from India

Apply for Iceland visa from India

Apply for Italy visa from India

Apply for Netherlands visa from India

Apply for Spain visa from India

Apply for Switzerland visa from India

Related topics

How much time does it take to proceed a Schengen visa for India ?

How much does a Schengen visa cost from India ?

Where to apply for a Schengen visa in India ? How to fill out a Schengen visa application form

What is the Schengen Agreement?

Which European countries are not part of the Schengen area?

Frequently asked questions about Portugal Visas from India

What should i do if my portugal visa is refused.

If your visa is refused you have the right to appeal to the authorities in Portugal.

Can I travel to Portugal if I have obtained a Schengen Visa from another country?

Yes. Schengen Visas allow you to travel throughout the countries who are signed up to the agreement.

Can I travel to the Portuguese islands of Azores or Madeira on a Schengen Visa?

Yes. Although not on the continent of Europe - these are incorporated into the Schengen Area.

Do I have to attend my Schengen visa interview in person?

Yes — except in exceptional circumstances — as officials will need to check your documents and collect biometric data.

Are there any COVID restrictions for entering Portugal?

No. All travel restrictions implemented to control the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted in the EU — including for Portugal.

Get Schengen insurance

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Golden visas and how to get one – from Portugal to Greece

T here is very little that money cannot buy – including a brand new passport, or the right to live in an overseas paradise visa-free.

Around the world there are more than 100 nations that would welcome you with open arms – in return for an investment in their national economy. Some are looking for entrepreneurs, start-up angels, philanthropic donors or big hitting business investors. 

Others simply want you to buy a home.

Interest in these property-contingent golden visa schemes (also known as residence or citizenship by investment schemes) has skyrocketed in the post-Brexit world, as Britons look to claw back their right to travel around Europe visa-free. Others want to take advantage of enviable tax breaks overseas, or simply enjoy a change of pace.

Here, Telegraph Money takes you through what you need to know and how to get the best golden visas available now.

What is a golden visa?

Typically a golden visa (conferring residence) or a golden passport (conferring citizenship) gives the buyer of a property, plus their dependents, the right to live, work and study in that country.  

In some cases the visas for European countries also confer the right to travel around the rest of the continent for extended periods without another visa (although not to settle there permanently). Passport holders can live anywhere in the union for as long as they like.

How do they work?

The world of golden visas is complex and fast-moving as countries open, close and alter the terms of their schemes, which offer a choice of either permanent citizenship or long term residency.

So far this year, for example, Greece has hiked the price of its golden visa while Australia has axed its scheme altogether. As of today, the following locations are your best options for a ticket to a new life in the sun.

Over Christmas Portugal killed off its golden visa by property investment scheme , complaining it caused house prices to soar beyond the reach of locals. That puts Spain’s scheme into pole position in Europe.

In return for a property investment of at least €500,000 (£427,350) – which would buy you an apartment in Barcelona or three-bedroom villa close to Malaga – you can follow in the footsteps of generations of second home owners and retirees and soak up the sun, full-time.

The choice of lifestyles you can buy into is fantastic – indulge your passion for golf on the Costa del Sol, enjoy vibrant cities like Seville or Madrid, relax on your sun lounger on the Costa Brava or get away from it all in the Catalonian countryside.

Spain’s practical appeal includes plentiful and cheap flights from the UK, a low cost of living, the fact that English is widely spoken, safety and good schools for relocating families. And a Spanish golden visa gives you the right to travel across Europe, a privilege lost to the UK post-Brexit.

“The scheme has garnered significant interest among UK nationals, particularly following Brexit, which has altered their residency status in Spain,” said Mary Dunne, Hamptons International representative in Marbella. “The primary motivation for seeking a golden visa is the desire for regular access to Spain, often because individuals own a second home there.”

But if you want to live, work, or study in Spain your window of opportunity looks to be narrowing. Since last year the Spanish Government has been considering abolishing the “golden visa” altogether – or doubling the minimum investment to €1 million.

Recommended

How to retire to Spain – and stop the taxman raiding your wealth

A Greek golden visa brings many benefits beyond the promise of chilling out on white beaches while the sun blazes overhead.

There is also visa-free travel within Europe’s Schengen area and no requirement to live in Greece full-time. Within around three months you can apply for a residence permit, followed by citizenship after seven years.

Until recently the offer was also appealingly affordable, with a minimum property spend of €250,000 in part of the country.

However, in late March the government announced those minimums would be increased to €800,000 on popular islands and to €400,000 elsewhere. Investors must purchase a property of at least 1,292 sq ft.

Pantelis Leptos, chairman of Leptos Estates, said demand from British buyers “seeking to secure their seamless access to the EU” had escalated post-Brexit. Other buyers simply want to spend time enjoying the Grecian lifestyle, and know they can offset the expense by renting their property out when they are not in situ.

Where to buy in Greece for year-round returns

In December 2023, Portugal ended its ‘golden visa’ that proved popular with British retirees . The scheme allowed expats to take up residence for five years in exchange for property purchases of €500,000 (£432,000) or more. After that period you could then apply for permanent residency.

Launched in 2012 as a way to encourage investment into the country, Portugal’s scheme has been a success and attracted more than €6bn in investment. However, critics say it has pushed up prices and made housing unreachable for many Portuguese nationals. In popular areas, such as the Algarve, house prices have gone up by 15pc. 

While the country has removed the home ownership route to residency, the investment options are still available. In order to qualify you need to invest €500,000 into a Portuguese investment or venture capital funds, into an existing company, or creating a new company that creates or maintains five permanent jobs for at least three years.

You could make an investment into a business that leads to the creation of 10 jobs. Other options include a €250,000 donation to a project for the maintenance or production of Portuguese national heritage.

The good news is that if you meet the conditions you will be entitled to the same five-year benefits as those who used the residential property route and the ability to travel within the Schengen zone. 

You can also include a dependent in your application. This covers a spouse, children or parents. And you don’t even need to spend that long in the country if you choose not to – the requirement is just seven days a year.

Dubai/ United Arab Emirates:

The hottest of global property hotspots, Dubai’s modern apartments have seen prices jump 20pc last year alone.

And anyone prepared to spend AED 2m (around £430,000) in this futuristic holiday resort with guaranteed sunshine, through an investment fund or buying property, will get some substantial golden visa benefits and a low tax environment with no personal income, capital, net worth or withholding taxes.

From a lifestyle point of view, Dubai has pros and cons. Beaches aside, there are endless fancy bars, restaurants and boutiques to browse – and very good schools. There is also an opera house, contemporary art galleries, regular film and food festivals and major sporting events to enjoy.

On the other hand, over the summer months average temperatures exceed an insufferable 40°, the traffic is a nightmare and some find the ambience soulless.

Stuart Wakeling, managing partner at golden visa specialists Henley & Partners said some recent applicants have seen Dubai’s stellar price growth in recent years and simply want a piece of the action. “They can see themselves living there, setting up a business,” he said.

Peter Ferrigno, director of tax partners at Henley & Partners, said Dubai is particularly popular with people looking to cut their tax bill. “I have got a guy at the moment who has persuaded his employers it is better for him to be based there,” he said. “You get a break from the rain for a few years, and you can save a bit of cash.”

Quitting high-tax Britain? Here's where to move for the most money

This peaceful Mediterranean paradise is often overlooked by tourists, second home owners and expats, who prefer southern Europe’s bigger, better-known destinations.

But if you like good food, white sandy beaches and history then Malta could be a winning option. Although it is not a budget friendly choice as the scheme was established to bring an influx of wealth to the island.

If you want a new passport Malta’s citizenship by investment programme is open to anyone able to spend €700,000 on a property. If you opt for permanent residency instead you must spend €350,000 on a home, plus around €70,000 in administration fees and contributions to the Maltese economy.

Either way, you get the right to travel in Europe’s Schengen area without a visa.

You might love the idea of rubbing shoulders with the jet set on balmy Jersey, but you will need deep pockets to join this particular club.

In order to join the island’s residency-by-investment scheme you will need to buy a property priced at a minimum £1.75m. And, said Wakeling, you have to contribute tax of £250,000-per-year to qualify, which means you need annual earnings of around £1.25m.

“It is very restricted,” said Wakeling: “The government offers about 15 applications each year to high net worth individuals.”

The chosen few also have to meet moral criteria. Those who apply for a golden visa will be judged on their track record for voluntary work, any media coverage of their business or social life, awards and achievements, and cultural interests or skills.

Fancy life in a tropical paradise?

Costa Rica is an astonishingly beautiful slice of Central America where you can hang out on unspoiled beaches and surf to your heart’s content. Its national slogan is pura vida – pure life – and it’s the place to be if you’re into wellness.

The minimum property investment is appealingly low - $150,000 (around £120,000), and participants in its residence-by-investment scheme get some great financial advantages, since they are only taxed on income earned within Costa Rica.

But now for the bad news. You will need a little bit of pioneering spirit because Costa Rica isn’t as developed as western nations, turnkey property is hard to find and there are half a dozen active volcanos to contend with.

The Foreign Office adds a sobering note of caution, warning of muggings, theft, drink spiking and car jackings, particularly on the Atlantic coast.

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