How to obtain a Schengen visa to Portugal: required documents and costs

The Schengen visa to Portugal allows foreigners to stay in the country or the Schengen area for 90 days out of every half a year within the validity period. It is granted for the purposes of transit, tourism, family visit, business, seasonal work and others.

There are also other types of Portugal visas, such as temporary stay national visas and residency visas. Which one is more suitable for you depends on the purpose of the visit and the duration of stay. In this article you will find answers to the most frequent questions about Portugal Schengen visa.

Who needs a visa to Portugal

Whether or not a foreign national needs a visa to Portugal depends on their citizenship. Citizens of 106 countries and territories must apply for a Portugal visa for tourism, study, work, or business.

However, citizens of 62 countries and territories, including EU members, Schengen states, the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, and others, are exempt from holding a Portugal visa to enter the country for short trips up to 90 days.

To stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, foreigners are required to hold a national visa. The only exceptions are EU and EFTA citizens who can apply for a registration certificate to reside in the country long-term.

What type of Portugal visa to apply for

There are three categories of Portugal visas: short-stay visas, temporary-stay national visas, and long-stay national visas. The purpose and the duration of your trip are the main factors when choosing the visa type.

Short Stay Visas (Schengen Visas) allow for transit and short-term stays in the Schengen area with a maximum validity of 90 days during any 180 days.

• Airport Transit visas (A visas) are granted to allow citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka to transit within the international area of an airport, from one flight to another, without entering the Schengen area.
  
  Citizens of other countries are not required to hold a transit A visa to Portugal. For them, it is enough not to leave the airport and have a flight ticket which is a legal basis for entry, stay and departure from a Portuguese airport.

• Seasonal Work visas are issued to foreign nationals who want to engage in seasonal employment in previously approved fields of work for a period of time equal to or less than 90 days.
  
  Portugal cannot grant this type of visa on behalf of another Member State, and vice-versa. Seasonal work visa applications should be made at the consular post of the country where the applicant wishes to engage in seasonal work.

• General Short Stay visas (C visas) are obtained for entering the country for personal matters, such as family visits, tourism, business trips, medical treatment, participating in competitions, cultural events, etc.
  
  The maximum validity of a Portugal tourist C visa is 90 days. These days can be used within 180 days, either in a row or through multiple visits. You can travel to any other Schengen country with a Portugal C visa.
  
  Depending on the validity period, the Schengen visa to Portugal can be single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry. A single-entry visa allows you to visit the country once, a double-entry one – twice, multiple-entry one – several times.

National Visas can be temporary-stay or long-stay, depending on the duration of the trip. They grant the visa holder an authorization to stay in the country for study, internship, work, medical treatment and other purposes.

• Temporary Stay National Visas allow entry and stay in Portugal for over three months but less than a year. Temporary stay visas are valid during the entire stay and allow multiple entries.
  
  The type of Temporary Stay Visas depends on the purpose of the stay, for example, temporary work visas, study visas, medical treatment visas, youth mobility visas and religious purposes visas.

• Long Stay National Visas (Residency Visas/D visas) allow two entries and are valid for 120 days. They give foreigners the right to enter Portugal and request a residency permit with the Immigration and Border Services (SEF).
  
  If, during the 120 days, the foreign citizen does not manage to get a residence permit card, the Portugal residency visa can be extended for another 90 days.

• Job Seeker Visas are single-entry visas that entitle their holders to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for a job. The maximum validity of the job seeker visa is 120 days, but it can be extended for another 60 days.
  
  Portugal job seeker visa allows its holder to carry out a subordinate work activity until the expiration or until the residence permit is granted.

Documents required for a Schengen C visa to Portugal 

For applying for a short-stay Schengen visa to Portugal, the following documentation is required:

• a filled-out and signed visa application form;
• biometric data (for applicants older than 12) – 10 fingerprints and a photo;
• two passport-type photos in colour 35×45 mm;
• international passport or another valid travel document, the validity of which must expire no earlier than three months after the expiration of the requested visa;
• a photocopy of prior passport and visas;
• travel medical insurance, which expires no earlier than the term of the visit on the requested visa, is valid on the territory of the Schengen countries and has a coverage limit of at least €30,000;
• travel reservation (return ticket);
• proof of payment of the visa fees;
• proof of the funds during your stay in Portugal. The amount for each day of stay in Portugal is €40, and for the first day of visit – €75. You may provide a bank statement with the balance of money in the account;
• economic and work conditions: work certificate and salary, as well as three last bank transcripts (proof of means of subsistence), covering the entire stay and return to the country of origin.
• proof of accommodation, for example, a hotel reservation;
• if staying with a family member, proof of family relationship is required, and proof of housing conditions may be requested. If the person signing the term of responsibility is not a Portuguese national, evidence of being legally in Portugal is required;
• for business purposes, an invitation clarifying the purpose of travelling and date of arrival and departure, as well as the host organisation and person responsible;
• for participation in political, economic, scientific, cultural, sports or religious events, proof of attendance is required, registration or entry ticket; 
• for journeys undertaken for medical reasons: an official document of the medical institution confirming the necessity for medical care in that institution and proof of sufficient financial means to pay for the medical treatment; 
• entry visa for the destination country (if applicable);

A separate visa application is made for a minor child. The parent must fill out a questionnaire for the child and attach copies of the passport, photo, and birth certificate.

A travel authorization of one or both parents or a court order will be required if one or both parents are not accompanying the child on the trip. You should also have proof of the availability of funds for the child’s travel – for example, a statement from the bank account of the accompanying person.

Reasons for Portugal Schengen visa refusal

A variety of reasons can lead to the refusal of a visa application. The most common reason is an incomplete package of documents. Other possible reasons for rejection might be past violations of the visa regime, false documents, not enough money in the bank account, no return ticket, past criminal offences, etc.

Applicants can appeal the denial to grant a visa. Firstly, within 15 days following acknowledgement of refusal, they can issue a complaint against the issuer of the refusal. Within 30 days following notification, they can appeal the decision of rejection to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Applicants can also bring an action to a competent court within three months of notification of refusal, requesting the overruling of the refusal and the granting of the required lawful act.

The state fee of €75 is paid for the administrative costs of handling each appeal procedure, for the use of the administrative guarantee to contest a visa application decision, except for applications resulting from authorizations for family reunification.

Types of Portugal Residency D visas 

A foreigner can get a Portugal residency visa for different purposes, such as employment, study, research, internship, volunteer work, family reunification, etc.

Portugal Business Visa. There are two options available for entrepreneurs willing to invest in a business in Portugal: the Startup Visa for individuals launching innovative projects and the D2 Visa for other types of businesses.

Although neither of the options requires a minimum investment amount, the entrepreneurs are expected to have rented or owned accommodation in Portugal and enough money for everyday expenses. For instance, to be able to apply for a Startup Visa, an applicant must have at least €5,200 in their bank account.

Portugal Work Visa. Two types of visas are available for foreigners working for Portuguese companies – D1 and D3. To be granted a D1 visa, applicants must show a work contract for at least a year and proof of accommodation. Higher education is not required for the D1 visa.

The D3, or HQA, visa is given to highly qualified professionals with higher education in specific fields. Usually, this includes IT professionals, managers, engineers, doctors and scientists. Applicants for a D3 visa must provide a contract of employment with a salary of at least €1,450.

Portugal visa for professional training, internship, or volunteer work. Foreign nationals who have an agreement with a Portuguese institution about professional training, volunteer work or an unpaid internship are eligible to apply for a special type of visa. The participants in the high school student exchange programs are also included.

In addition to an invitation letter from a Portuguese institution, applicants must also show proof of accommodation and their ability to pay for living expenses.

Portugal Student Visa. Foreign researchers or international Portuguese university students may apply for a residency visa. Anyone who already has the offer to enrol in a bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral program is eligible to apply.

Aside from a letter from a university or research institution, applicants must provide proof of accommodation and sufficient funds to support themselves while living in Portugal.

Portugal Retirement or Passive Income Visa. A D7 visa can be obtained by foreigners who have a stable passive income. Almost any legal income earned remotely from sources outside Portugal qualifies as passive income. It includes salary from a remote job, pension, rental payments, interest, royalties, etc.

The income should be at least equal to the minimum wage in Portugal. The threshold changes every year. In 2023, it is €760 a month.

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa. Those who work remotely and earn at least €3,040 a month are eligible for a Digital Nomad visa. Temporary-stay Digital Nomad visa allows staying in Portugal for up to a year. 

With a long-term Digital Nomad visa, one can get a residence permit and stay in the country for as long as it is valid. Typically, this visa allows the holder to obtain a residence permit for two years, but it may be renewed later.

Portugal visa for family reunification. Members of the immediate family of Portugal citizens and residents can obtain a residency visa. This includes the spouse, dependent children, parents and siblings of the resident or citizen.

To apply for this type of visa, applicants must submit proof of their relationship to a Portuguese national or resident, for example, a marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers, or a copy of the custody decision.

Moreover, Portuguese citizens who wish to provide residence permits to their relatives must present evidence of suitable accommodation for everyone and sufficient funds to support their family members.

How to enter Portugal without a visa

You can visit Portugal without a visa with a residence permit or citizenship of one of the EU countries or a country with an agreement on visa-free entry with the EU.

Through an investment program, one can obtain a European residence permit. Participants invest in real estate or the economy of the country. Such programs exist in Greece, Spain, and Malta. The status of an EU resident allows you to travel to the Schengen states, including Portugal, visa-free.

Frequently Asked Questions