●Do I Need a Visa to Visit Portugal?

If you are from one of the countries which have a visa-free agreement with Schengen, such as the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and most European countries, then you can visit Portugal visa-free for up to 90 days. You only need to apply for a visa in the following scenarios:

• If you are from a country that does not have a visa-free agreement with Schengen.
• If you will stay in Portugal for more than three months

●Portugal Schengen Visa

If you want to visit Portugal for a short period of time (and you are from one of the visa-required countries) you will have to apply for a Portugal Schengen Visa. You can get a Portugal Schengen Visa for short-term visits, such as for tourism, business, family visit, etc.

Portugal is part of the Schengen Area, along with 28 other European countries. These countries have established free travel within their borders and have a common visa, known as the Schengen Visa. This means that if you get a visa for any Schengen country, such as Portugal, you can travel to the other countries in the Schengen Agreement as well.

If you want to go to Portugal for a longer period of time (e.g. if you will work or study there), then you need a Portugal National Visa, not the Schengen Visa.

●Portugal Visa Requirements

The documents you have to submit for a Portugal Visa application are:

• Your passport. It must be valid for at least another three months starting from the day you depart Portugal or the Schengen Area.
• The Portugal Visa Application Form. You can download the form from the Portuguese MFA website (here).
• Passport-size pictures, in line with Portugal requirements.
  • They must be taken recently
  • They must have a white background.
  • Your face must be entirely visible.
• Travel health insurance, in line with Schengen requirements.
  • It must be valid in all the Schengen Area.
  • Must cover at least €30,000 of medical emergencies and evacuation.
• Proof you have paid the Portugal Visa Fee.
• Your travel itinerary. You do not necessarily need to pay for the flight tickets, simply book them.
• Portugal Visa Cover Letter. It must detail your reason for travelling, the dates of arrival and departure, if you will travel to another Schengen country, your planned activities, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds. You must be able to prove that you can sustain yourself financially for the duration of your trip.
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal. This can be a hotel reservation or a letter of invitation (if you are visiting friends or relatives).
• If you are employed:
  • Proof of employment – work contract if you have an employer or a certificate of business registration if you own a business or are self-employed
  • Work leave (if you have an employer).
  • Bank statements from the last three months
• If you are a student: A certificate of enrollment from your university or school.
• If you are retired: Your pension certificate.
• Requirements for minors travelling alone:
  • Birth certificate of the minor
  • Copy of the passports of the parents or legal guardians.
  • Letter of consent signed from the parents or legal guardians
• If you travelling to Portugal to visit relatives or friends:
  • Letter of Invitation from your family member or friend.
• If you are travelling for business purposes:
  • Letter of Invitation from the company in Portugal. The letter has to state the duration and purpose of your trip.
  • Letter from your company, stating the relations between the two companies.

Document guidelines:

• All documents have to be in English or Portuguese. If they are not, you must have them translated by a certified translator.
• Any civil documents, such as birth certificates, have to be legalized by an Apostille Stamp or by the Portuguese Embassy.

 

●How to Apply for a Portugal Visa?

To apply for a Portugal visa, you have to:

1. Download and complete the Portugal Visa Application Form. You can find and download the Application Form on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
2. Gather the required documents for a Portugal Visa. See Portugal Visa Requirements above.
3. Submit the documents. Depending on where you live, you may have to submit the documents at the Portugal Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Application Center.
4. Pay the Portugal Visa fee.
5. Wait for the visa to be processed. This usually takes about 15 days, but it may take longer depending on your situation.
6. Collect the visa. Depending on where and how you applied, you will learn whether your application was positive, and you have to go pick up your passport, where the visa will be affixed.
7. Travel to Portugal. Once you have the visa, you can travel to Portugal.

 

Please note the information above is just for your reference. For the detailed information, please check with local embassy in your country or visit https://visaguide.world/europe/portugal-visa/

 

NOTICE: Should your application be denied, the organizing committee cannot change the decision of visa officer, nor will ICKEM 2025 engage in discussion or correspondence with the visa application center on behalf of the applicant. The registration fee CANNOT be refunded when the VISA application of individual being denied.