About Portugal
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal was at the forefront of European exploration. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, Portuguese Repblica Portuguesa, is a country in southwestern Europe located on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal then turned to the sea and, following Henry the Navigator’s establishment of a navigation school at Sagres, eventually established a vast overseas empire that would become Europe’s largest and richest. According to the 2011 census, 81 percent of Portuguese people are Catholic. Pastries called nun’s belly (barrigas de freira), angel’s double chin (papos de anjo), and fat from heaven (toucinho do céu) are famous in Portugal.In Lisbon, the Tagus River is crossed by the six-lane, cable-stayed Vasco de Gama Bridge. The bridge is 12 kilometers long and allows long-distance traffic to completely bypass the city.
The Douro Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s oldest established wine-producing regions. Renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, and solar power provided 70% of its energy. Because of an underwater canyon in Portugal, this section of the Portuguese coastline is the world’s largest wave generator.
Download the visa form here.
Types of Visa
Long-stay visas, which is in accordance with existing domestic law, can be either temporary or for residency authorization purposes, depending on the duration of the stay and granting the visa holder authorization to stay in the country for a variety of reasons, including study, internship, work, and medical treatment.
Temporary visa
Permit entry and stay in Portugal for no more than a year. Temporary stay visas are valid for the duration of the stay and permit multiple entries.
Documents required
- Passport or other travel documents valid for an additional three months after the intended stay;
- Two identical passport photos, both current and in good condition, allowing proper identification;
- Return Ticket
- When the applicant is of a different nationality than that of the country where the visa is being requested, a document certifying the third-country national is required.
- Valid travel insurance that covers necessary medical expenses, such as emergency assistance and repatriation;
- Form authorizing Immigration and Border Services (SEF) access to Portuguese criminal records;
- For more than one year, a criminal record from the country of origin or residence (minors under the age of 16 are exempt from producing any criminal record-related document);
- Accommodation proof;
- Evidence of means of subsistence, as required by law
- A statement of responsibility signed by a Portuguese national or a foreign national legally resident in Portugal can serve as proof of subsistence.
Types of temporary visa
- Temporary stay visa for seasonal work of more than 90 days with the purpose of Subordinate seasonal work.
Documents required
A. Should have a Work contract or valid work offer for seasonal work with a temporary work company or an employer-based in Portuguese territory, identifying the location, time, type of work, duration, salary, and paid vacation.
B. Return ticket
- Temporary work visa for self-employment with the purpose of Independent work
Documents required
A. Work contract or service agreement in the context of self-employed and temporary work activity.
B. When the referred profession is subject to special qualification in Portugal, a statement issued by the competent institution verifying compliance with necessary professional requisites is required.
- Temporary stay visa for less than a year for scientific research, higher education professorial activity, or highly qualified activity with the purpose of the Highly qualified activity.
- Work contract or confirmation of employment offer, service agreement, or service agreement offer for academic teaching or highly qualified activity in Portugal.
- Admission to collaborate with the research center, duly recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science, namely via a work contract or confirmation of employment offer, service agreement or service agreement offer, or scientific research scholarship.
- Temporary stay visa for less than a year for scientific research, higher education professorial activity, or highly qualified activity with the purpose of Professorial activity.
- A visa for a short-term stay in order to participate in amateur sports with the purpose of Amateur sports activity.
- Temporary stay visa for WTO members for the purpose of transferring workers, providing services, or receiving professional training with the purpose of Transfer of employees or service providers when the applicant has worked for more than a year
- Moreover Temporary stay visa for less than a year for scientific research, higher education professorial activity, or highly qualified activity with the purpose of Showing business and performing artists.
- Also Temporary stay visa for less than a year for scientific research, higher education professorial activity, or highly qualified activity with the purpose of investigation.
Study visa
1 Next Temporary stay visa for periods of more than three months for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, and volunteer work, as well as commitments under international agreements or conventions with the purpose of Secondary Education, Bachelor’s, Master’s Ph.D., Post-Doc, Mobility program / Exchange program.
Professional training, internship, or volunteer work visa
- However, Temporary stay visa for WTO members for the purpose of transferring workers, providing services, or receiving professional training with the purpose of Transfer of workers or service providers after the applicant has been on the job for more than a year.
- Moreover, Temporary stay visa for periods of more than three months for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, and volunteer work, as well as commitments under international agreements or conventions with the purpose of Transfer of workers or service providers after the applicant who has worked for more than a year.
- Moreover, Temporary stay visa for periods of more than three months for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internships, and volunteer work, as well as commitments under international agreements or conventions with the purpose of Volunteer Work.
- Visa for a short-term stay in order to attend courses at an educational or professional training institution with the purpose of Professional training.
Health visa
- A visa for a short-term stay in order to receive medical treatment with the purpose of Medical treatment.
- A temporary stay visa is granted to accompany a family member who is undergoing medical treatment with the purpose of Accompanying a family member who is receiving medical treatment.
Documents for Medical visa
- Medical report
- Must carry a Document certifying inpatient or outpatient care issued by a public health establishment or an officially recognized health establishment;
- Patients traveling under Cooperation Agreements must produce a document issued by a medical committee as well as a medical appointment.
Youth Mobility
Temporary stay visa for periods of more than three months for study programs, student exchange, training, unpaid internship, and volunteer work, as well as commitments under international agreements or conventions with the purpose of Work and vacation / Exchange in accordance with international treaties.
Retired visa
In exceptional and duly justified cases, a temporary stay visa for periods of more than three months may be granted with the purpose of People living on their own income or for retired people.
Religion visa
In exceptional and duly justified cases, a temporary stay visa for periods of more than three months may be granted with the purpose of Religious education in a religious congregation or Religious student enrolled in a recognized educational institution.
Residency visa
Allows for two entries and is valid for four months. During that time, the holder of a residency visa must apply to Immigration and Border Services for a residency permit (SEF).
Types of Residency Visa
- Residency visa for the purpose of subordinate work
- Residency visa for self-employment or entrepreneurs
- Residency visa for higher education teaching, highly qualified activity or cultural purposes, or highly qualified subordinate activity.
Study and research work
Visa for research, study, high school student exchange, internship, and volunteer work with the purpose of Secondary education, Research, Mobility program / Exchange program, A religious person who is enrolled in a recognized educational institution.
Documents required
- contract or agreement with the research center or university, letter of acceptance by the research center or university scholarship or research stipend or statement of responsibility signed by the research center or university to cover admission and living costs
Professional training, Unpaid internship, Volunteer work visa
Visa for research, study, high school student exchange, internship, and volunteer work.
High School documents
Admission or eligibility for admission is certified by a document issued by the higher education institution. When receiving a scholarship, this document is not required.
Family regrouping
Residency visa for the purpose of family reunification with the purpose of Family regrouping (prior SEF consent required).
Documents required
- Immigration and Border Services (SEF) notification of family reunification authorization;
- Birth or marriage certificates are acceptable forms of proof of family relationships.
- Minors and people who are unable to travel must have a travel authorization signed by their parents or legal guardians.
Fixed Residency
Residency visa for retirement, religious purposes, or for people living on their own income with the purpose of retiring, People living on their own income, Religious education in religious congregations.
Religious visa documents
Certificate from the church or congregation to which they belong, provided that church or congregation is recognized by the Portuguese legal system.
Retired Visa Documents
Document certifying the amount of retirement.
People living on their own income
Revenue from movable and immovable property; intellectual or financial assets are certified in this document.
Documents for a residency visa
- Passport or other travel documents valid for at least three months after the duration of the stay;
- Two passport photos that are current and of sufficient quality to identify the applicant;
- Valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses, including medical emergencies and repatriation;
- When applying for a visa in a country where you are not of the same nationality as the applicant, you must provide proof that you are in a regular situation.
- Immigration and Border Services (SEF) requests a criminal record check for residency visa;
- Criminal record certificate from the applicant’s country of origin or country of residence for more than a year (children under the age of 16 are exempt from producing a criminal record);
- Proof of accommodation;
- Proof of legal means of subsistence;
- Proof of subsistence can be provided by a statement of responsibility signed by a Portuguese national or a foreign national legally residing in Portugal.
How and where to get a criminal record for the travel?
Online request
It’s easy to request a certificate online here
By visiting the location
- at the reception desks of the Criminal Identification Services
- District court secretariats’ central units or proximity courts
- at Citizen Bureaus and Citizen Spaces that offer this service
- at the Azores Autonomous Region’s Bureaus of the Integrated Network of Citizen Support
By email or post (only for citizens who are living abroad)
If you live in another country, send the request using one of the following methods:
- by email sicrim@dgaj.mj.pt
- by post, to the below address:
Criminal Identification Services’ Management (DSIC)
Av. D. João II, no. 1.08.01 E, Piso 13º
Campus de Justiça, Parque das Nações
1990-097 Lisbon, Portugal
Cost of Visa
- Portugal visas for adult travelers is 60 Euros
- Portugal visas for children (6 – 12 years) 35 Euros
- Portugal visas for children (under 6 years) Free
What is the processing time
Under normal circumstances, the entire process of obtaining a Portugal Schengen visa should take about 15 days. During peak season, the process may take up to 30 days. In exceptional circumstances, it could take up to 60 days.
Places to visit in Portugal
1. Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, is one of Europe’s most enticing cities. Set on the banks of the Tagus River, this vibrant Atlantic port is spread across a series of hills that emphasize its spectacular waterfront location.
Lisbon
2. Porto
Oporto (or “Porto”), Portugal’s second-largest city, offers visitors a very different experience than the capital.
Porto
3. Évora
Évora, deep in the heart of the Alentejo, is one of Portugal’s most enticing destinations. Évora, known for its amazing collection of well-preserved monuments, deserves careful and unhurried examination.
Evora
4. Óbidos
A collection of whitewashed cottages, cafés, and handicraft shops line a series of narrow, cobbled streets that are completely surrounded by sturdy medieval walls.
obidos
5. Tavira
Tavira is cited in many guidebooks as the most captivating town in the Algarve, and it certainly ticks all the scenic boxes. With a Roman footbridge connecting one side to the other, the Rio Gilo smiles through this pleasantly laid-back town.
Tavira