You might worry about the Portugal visa online application if you plan on traveling to the country in the near future. Portugal is one of Europe’s warmest countries with a Mediterranean climate. You’ll love how this country has a vast number of attractions. Portugal also has a booming economy with a high quality of living. That said, let’s talk about the complete steps you’ll go through when embarking on the Portugal Visa Online application.
3 Ways to Undergo your Portugal Visa Online Application
Generally, you have three ways to apply for your Portugal visa online application. You can use a visa service which handles it on your behalf, or apply in person at Portugal’s embassies and consulates in diverse countries.
Private company office
This involves using a visa agency that will handle most of your visa application requirements on your behalf. They are especially advantageous when seeking to get your Portuguese tax number or securing an accommodation.
However, these agencies also require paying a considerable fee. Beyond that look out for scam agencies as they are widespread. It’s best to check their accreditation status by calling your local embassy or you can also check here for the official list of external service providers across different countries. The list covers over 89 countries.
Applying in person
You can also apply in person at the Portugal embassies and consulates around your locality. Usually, these embassies are located in your country’s capital alongside its biggest cities. You can also search quickly by writing on Google “Portugal embassy” followed by your city (or the capital city of your country). Go to this page to find the embassies and consular offices in your region.
Consular representations
Some regions have consular representations of European Union countries. These are available, where there is no Portuguese consular office.
Furthermore, Portugal has a dedicated e-visa portal where you can see your submitted forms. You cannot register here but you edit your personal data, fill out a questionnaire to determine the visa you need, and attach documents to your already completed and submitted visa application. To access this portal, you’ll need the credentials you were given when you requested the visa.
Eligibility Criteria
Next, you need to figure out the type of visa you want to use to make your trip to Portugal. Let’s talk about the eligibility for the different visa types to Portugal.
Portuguese Short-stay visa (Schengen visa).
The Portuguese Short-stay visa is for people looking to stay in Portugal for up to 90 days( in 180 days).
This visa is the ideal choice for those looking to have their vacations in Portugal. Generally, getting this visa also means you can visit the entire EEA region during your 90 days.
This is of course one of the fabulous reasons why the European Union brings tons of advantages to visitors and residents. And it’s also the reason this visa is also called the Portugal Schengen visa.
Nevertheless, think of this visa as a category. So under the Portuguese short-stay visa, you can pick a short-stay visa for family visits, business, tourism, and more.
That said, some countries can also visit Portugal for up to 90 days without applying for a short-stay visa. These countries are those with a visa-free agreement with Schengen. Some of them include the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In contrast, the following countries must apply for a Portugal Tourist visa when visiting for 90-days.
- Albania
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Algeria
- Belarus
- Bangladesh
- China
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Colombia
- Egypt
- Ecuador
- CID
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Frandesspas Document
- Iraq
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Kosovo
- Libya
- Lebanon
- North Korea
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Oman
- Philippines
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Tunisia
- Sierra Leone
- Saudi Arabia
- Sri Lanka
- Somalia
- Surinam
- Sudan
- United Arab Emirates
- Syria
- Yemen
- Vietnam
- Zimbabwe
- Zambia
Airport transit visa
This visa allows travelers through a Portuguese airport without entering the Schengen area. Often, you’ll need to submit your travel documents, onward travel tickets, and the final destination (if required). Generally, you need the Airport transit visa, if you are from the following countries and will be changing flights in a Portuguese airport:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Senegal
- Somalia
Residence Visas
If you want to stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days, you need the Portugal National visa. This is a different category of visas than the Portuguese Schengen visa.
Work visa
The Portuguese work visa is also a preferred option for many expats. However, you need to be in the right industry to access this visa. Plus, your employer has to be willing to advertise for the job in Portugal for 30 days before hiring you alongside going through a hurdle of paperwork as well.
After the advertisement for 30 days, the employer can get a declaration from the IERP to prove they have done so and were unable to find a suitable candidate locally. Then, they will provide a signed employment contract, which you’ll submit alongside 1 year of travel insurance, police clearance, medical checks, and so on for your Portugal visa application.
Study visa
The Study visa is for international students who wish to pursue their studies at a recognized education institution in Portugal. You’ll have to provide proof of acceptance from a chosen institution
D7 passive income visa
The D7 passive income visa applies to anyone who can demonstrate that they can receive a monthly passive income exceeding €705 (single) or €1057 (couple). You’ll also need to provide a tax residence certificate from the country where the income originates. Read this article to explore how to open a bank account for the Portuguese D7 income visa.
Family reunification visa
This visa category enables family members of Portuguese citizens or legal residents to join them. To apply, you’ll need proof of family relationship such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other relevant documents.
General Requirements for the Visa Application in Portugal
- Completely blank visa page for the Portugal visa, and your passport to satisfy the requirement of the Portugal Embassy you are using.
- A stamp on your present passport
- Portugal visa cover letter. This must detail the reason why you want to travel. It must also include the dates of your arrival and departure. It should also include details about if you wish to travel to another Schengen country and your planned activities.
- A copy of your fully paid travel receipts
- A copy of your accommodation details while in Portugal together with the originals (for a longer-term visa, you need a finalized 1-year rental agreement). If you’re staying with friends or relatives, it must include a letter of invitation.
- A copy of your bank statement together with the original (it should meet the minimum required amount of money you need to have per your visa)
- Travel health insurance in line with Schengen requirements. Hence, it must be valid in the Schengen area. It must also cover at least €30,000 for medical emergencies and evacuation.
- Completed and signed visa application for Portugal (You can download the form here)
- Money to pay for Portugal embassy fees and office handling fees.
- Passport-size pictures in line with Portugal’s requirements. These photos must have been taken recently. They must have a white background, and your face must be entirely visible.
- If you’re employed. It must include your work contract that you have an employer or a certificate of business registration if you own a business. It must also include your work leave if you have an employer and bank statements from the last three months.
- If you are a student: it must include a certificate of enrollment from your University or school.
- If you’re retired: your pension certificate
- Additionally, minors require their birth certificate, a copy of their passport, and those of their parents and legal guardians.
Other Requirements Depending on your Visa Category
- An original and copy of your college or employment letter (also depending on your visa type)
- Original or copy of your 3 payslips
- Go along with 2 photocopies on separate sheets (without back) of each document you intend to legalize.
- Completed and signed private office case sheet along with their terms and conditions
- Marriage and birth certificates are to also be notarized by the noted embassy of the foreign national
- For business trips, you’ll also need an invitation clarifying the reason for your trip, including arrival and departure dates, as well as a precise indication of the host entry and the name of the person responsible for making the invitation.
- In case of participating in political, economic, scientific culture, sports, or religious events, you need to prove your participation through your registration or entry ticket.
- For trips made for medical reasons, you need an official document from a healthcare establishment to prove the need for medical care and proof of sufficient means of subsistence to pay for medical treatment.
Other Guidelines
All documents must be in Portuguese or English. If they are not, then they must be translated by a certified translator.
All civil documents such as birth certificates must be legalized by an Apostille Stamp or by the Portuguese Embassy.
Also, note that your visa does not give you automatic guaranteed entry into Portugal. At the border or any other checkpoint, you might be asked to present some of the documentation you previously provided to prove that you deserve entry into Portugal.
This often includes proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay (and return journey for a short-term visa).
Steps to Apply for the Portugal Visa
- Download and complete the Portugal Visa Application Form. Make sure you read and answer every question there correctly and without errors. You can download the Application Form on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
- Gather all the required documents for a Portugal visa. Follow the requirements and ensure to leave no document out. Although our list is as exhaustive as possible. You should also check the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for any additional requirements.
- Submit your document: Depending on your location, you can submit the documents at the Portugal Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Application Center.
- Pay the Portugal visa fee.
- Wait for the visa to the processed. Often it takes anywhere from 15 days to three months.
- Wait for the Portuguese authorities to review your application. They may contact you if they require additional information. Your consulate may also 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.
- Depending on where and how you applied for your visa, you’ll receive a confirmation that you’ve been approved to travel to Portugal.
How much does the Portugal visa online application cost?
Short-term visa fee
Usually, the Portugal short-term visa costs about 80€. It’s free of charge for children under the age of six (at the date of submission of the visa request). It’s also free for students, teachers, researchers, representatives of non-profit organizations up to 25 years old, and family members of nationals of Member States of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
Additionally, the price is different for various age groups:
- Adults and children over 12 – 80€
- Children between 6 and 12 – 40€
- Children under 6 – free of charge
- Citizens of Azerbaijan and Russia (adults and children over 12) – 35€
When to Submit your Portugal Visa Application?
When you wish to submit the completed Portugal visa application, remember that you must submit it at least two weeks before you intend to depart. The earliest when the Portuguese Embassy will accept your application is three months before your trip. Ideally, give it longer than two weeks, if you do not want your plans to be distributed by a delay in visa processing.
How to Collect your Visa after Submission?
The Portuguese authorities will inform you of their decision via email or post. If your application is approved, you will receive instructions on how to collect your visa (which may involve visiting a Portuguese embassy or consulate). You should also give ample time before making your Portugal visa application. It should be done between 15 days to 6 months.
