This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, Solicitor and Regulated Immigration Advisor, to ensure accuracy with current UK immigration policy.
Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
Portugal is a beautiful country located in southwestern Europe. It is a member of the Schengen Area, which means that a Schengen visa allows you to travel to Portugal and any of the other 27 Schengen countries without having to go through border control again.
The current appointment waiting times for a Schengen visa to Portugal vary depending on the country where you are applying. In some countries, you can get an appointment within a few weeks, while in others it can take several months. We advise that you apply as soon as possible to avoid any complications or delays with your Portuguese visa.
A ‘Portugal Visa’ is more commonly known as a Schengen visa. It allows a person to travel to any country in the Schengen Area. For stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.
The Schengen area consists of 27 European countries. The area acts as a single jurisdiction for international travel with a common visa policy.
Nationals of some countries, which have not yet reached a liberalization agreement will need to obtain this travel authorization before arrival in Europe.
Citizens of most countries need a Schengen visa to travel to Portugal. However, there are some exceptions, such as citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia who can visit Portugal for up to 90 days without a visa.
If you are subject to visa requirements, you should apply online well in advance of your intended travel.
You must apply for a residency permit or national D-Visa, rather than a Portugal Schengen Visa if you plan to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days.
Your long-stay visa must be for a period of three months to one year, regardless of the length of your anticipated stay. You must apply for a residence permit at a prefecture in order to prolong your stay beyond the duration of your visa.
The long-stay visa is comparable to a Schengen visa throughout its validity term, allowing you to travel and remain in the Schengen Area outside of Portugal for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, under the same circumstances as if you had a Schengen visa.
If you are a citizen of a country that can visit the Schengen zone without a visa, then you may travel visa-free and apply for your national visa / residence permit from within the country you wish to stay in long-term.
Once you have completed the online form and submitted your details, your information will be reviewed and your application will enter processing. First of all, any mistakes or un-clear information will be clarified or corrected to ensure no issues during your application.
An appointment must be scheduled to lodge your application, but first we will check the availability and advise accordingly. You must gather a selection of required documentation to prove you have sufficient financial means to support yourself, as well as evidence of your accomodation and flights to and from the country.
Because interview wait periods vary by location, season, and visa type, you should apply for your visa as soon as possible.
You can choose the following options for the number of entries you require for your travel:
Once you have completed the online form and submitted your details, your information will be reviewed and your application will enter processing. First of all, any mistakes or un-clear information will be clarified or corrected to ensure no issues during your application.
An appointment must be scheduled to lodge your application, but first we will check the availability and advise accordingly. You must gather a selection of required documentation to prove you have sufficient financial means to support yourself, as well as evidence of your accomodation and flights to and from the country.
Because interview wait periods vary by location, season, and visa type, you should apply for your visa as soon as possible. Examine the appointment wait time at the consular representation of Portugal in your country.
A Portugal Schengen visa enables a foreign person to go to a Schengen port-of-entry (usually an airport) and request to be granted permission to enter the country. We can ensure your visa application goes smoothly, however, entrance to the Schengen zone is not guaranteed by an approved visa.
A Visa is required for any third national wishing to enter Portugal or any other Schengen country. It could be a short-stay Schengen C-visa for stays of up to 90 days or a national D-visa / residence permit for longer stays in Portugal.
Any British citizen with a full British passport or a BOTC, BOC, BPP, or BS passport can enter Portugal visa-free. To travel to Portugal, however, many non-EU citizens who reside in the United Kingdom are still required to obtain a Schengen visa.
In recent years, as a result of visa liberalisation policies for non-EU nations, the number of countries whose citizens require visas to enter Europe has decreased slightly.
From 2024 onwards, travelers who currently do not require a Portugal visa will require an ETIAS instead.
This depends on a number of things such as whether or not you have had a Schengen visa in the past or how many countries you intend to visit. Generally your first Schengen visa will be issued for the duration of your stay. Future Visa Applications may be granted for multiple entry for a number of years.
There are 27 Schengen members states in Europe. You can see the full list of countries in the Schengen zone in our resources section.
You can expect an update on your application within 3 days of submission. You can choose express processing at checkout for a response within 24 hours.
Once you attend your appointment, your visa can take up to 15 working days to be processed by the Embassy.
If your Schengen visa application is denied, you will receive a letter explaining the reason for the denial. You may be able to appeal the decision, but the chances of success are slim. If your application is denied, you will not be able to travel to Portugal or any of the other Schengen countries.
The processing time for a Schengen visa for Portugal varies depending on the country where you are applying. In some countries, it can take a few weeks, while in others it can take several months. Which is why we encourage applying as far in advance as you can
Yes.
Portugal is one of the 27 member states of the Schengen Agreement. With a valid Schengen visa you can visit Portugal for up to 90 days.
This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, Solicitor and Regulated Immigration Advisor, to ensure accuracy with current UK immigration policy.