The Portugal Visa requirements largely depend on the type of visa you are applying for. However, there is usually a standard set of documents that everyone has to submit, such as the passport, pictures, travel insurance and application form.
Portugal Visa Requirements
The required documents you have to submit when you apply for a Portugal visa are:
- Your passport.
- The Portugal Visa Application Form.
- Passport-size pictures
- Travel health insurance.
- Your travel itinerary.
- Payment of Portugal Visa Fee.
- Means of subsistence.
- Letter of Invitation
- Employment status documents
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
- Cover letter
Passport
When you apply for the Portugal visa, your passport must be valid for at least another three months after you intend to return home. Be aware that an expired passport, might cause the cancelation of your visa and travel. It should have at least two blank pages for the visa to be affixed.
You may also be asked to provide photocopies of the used pages on your passport (i.e. previous visas and entry stamps as well as the personal information page).
Portugal Visa Application Form
The Application Form is one of the main Portugal Visa requirements. Every applicant has to fill in and sign the form individually, even when travelling as a group. For minors, the parent or legal guardian has to sign.
The Application form requires information such as your name, nationality, date of birth, the purpose of travel, passport number, contact details, etc.
You can download the form from the Portuguese MFA website (here).
Pictures
Along with the Visa Application Form, you also have to attach at least one picture of yourself. The picture has to fall in line with Portugal Visa photo requirements:
- Dimensions: 35x40mm dimensions
- It must have a white background
- It must have been taken recently (within the last three months)
- Your entire face must be fully visible
- The picture must be of high quality (no blurriness, over-exposure, damage, etc.)
- No sunglasses or prescription glasses with tinted lenses, large frames, etc.
- No hats or hair accessories. Head coverings for religious purposes are allowed, as long as it does not cover your face at all.
Travel Health Insurance
Another non-disputable Portugal Visa requirement is having travel health insurance. Since Portugal is part of the Schengen Area, your travel insurance has to be consistent with Schengen requirements:
- It must cover a minimum of €30,000 for medical emergencies and evacuation
- It must be valid in the whole Schengen Zone
- It must be valid for the entire duration of your stay
Travel Itinerary
You have to submit a detailed travel plan to and from Portugal or any other Schengen countries, including flight tickets, hotel bookings, tour packages, etc. This is called the flight itinerary for Schengen Visa.
You do not need to necessarily pay for the flight tickets before you receive the visa – you must just book the flight.
Payment of Portugal Visa Fee
When you apply for a Portugal Visa, you have to pay a visa processing fee. Once you pay it, you will receive a receipt – save that and submit it along with your other documents.
Means of Subsistence
You must be able to prove to the Portuguese Embassy that you can sustain yourself financially while you are in Portugal. So, you should submit your bank statements proving you have about 40€/day for every day of your trip.
If you do not have this amount of money, then another option is to have a guarantor. For example, if you are visiting friends or family who live in Portugal, they can write a Letter of Invitation for you, where they state that they will help you financially during your visit.
Letter of Invitation
You need a Letter of Invitation for your Portugal Visa only if you are travelling to visit family members/friends or for business purposes. So:
- If you will visit your family/friends, you must submit:
- Invitation Letter for Visa Application. The person you are visiting should write and sign this.
- A copy of your family member or friend’s passport or Portugal residence permit
- If you are travelling for business, you must submit:
- A Letter of Invitation from the company in Portugal which you will visit. The letter has to state the duration and purpose of your travel.
- A Letter from the company you work in. Your employer must also write a letter, stating the nature of business you will conduct as well as the relationship between two companies.
- If required: Both companies may also need to submit their company registration numbers or other relevant documents.
Employment Status Documents
Depending on the status of your employment, you need the following documents when applying for a Portugal Visa:
- If you are employed:
- Your work contract
- Permission for work leave/vacation from your employer
- Bank statements for the last three months
- If you are self-employed:
- Certificate of business registration
- Bank statements from the last three months
- If you are a student: A Certificate or Letter from your university, college, or school
- If you are retired: Your Certificate of Retirement
Proof of Accommodation
Another main requirement for the Portugal Visa is proof of accommodation. Depending on where you are staying, this can be:
- Hotel reservation, Airbnb booking, or rental agreement.
- Invitation Letter from a friend or family member confirming that you will stay with them.
Cover Letter
Some Portugal Embassies may also ask you to write a Cover Letter for the visa application. In in, you have to introduce yourself and state your employment status, explain why you want to travel to Portugal, write a detailed itinerary of your activities, and state whether you intend to travel to another Schengen country other than Portugal.
Portugal Visa Requirements for Minors
If a minor (child under the age of 18) is travelling to Portugal alone, they need the following documents along with the visa application:
- Birth certificate.
- Letter of Consent to travel. The parents or legal guardians of the child must write a letter, consenting to the child travelling alone and sign it.
- Copies of the passports of both parents or legal guardians.
If both parents/guardians have custody of the child, both must sign the letter and submit the passports. If only one parent/guardian has custody of the child, they must sign as well as present documentary evidence justifying the sole custody.
Portugal Visa Requirements for Specific Visa Types
If you apply for a long-term visa for Portugal, such as for work or studying, then you will need to submit documentation related to your purpose of travel. For example:
- For a Student Visa, you will need:
- Letter of Acceptance from your university
- proof you have enough money live in Portugal during your studies
- Proof you have accommodation in Portugal
- For a Portugal Work Visa, you will need:
- The Work Contract from your employer in Portugal
- Proof you have a place of residence in Portugal
- Proof of your income
- Proof of previous academic and professional achievements
- For a Portugal Family Reunification Visa, you will need:
- Proof of family relations: Marriage or birth certificate/s as applicable
- Proof that your spouse/family member in Portugal can maintain you financially
- Proof your partner/family member can accommodate you in their residence
- For a Portugal Retirement Visa, you will need:
- Proof of income, such as from pensions, savings, etc.
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal.
Where Should I Submit the Portugal Visa Required Documents?
You should submit the documents for a Portugal Visa application to the nearest Portuguese Embassy. In countries where there is no Portuguese diplomatic representation, then you can submit your documents to the following locations, as applicable:
- A Visa Application Center. Sometimes, even if there is a Portugal Embassy they will outsource visa applications to a private company. Then, the VAC forwards the completed application to the Embassy or Consulate.
- The Portugal Embassy in a neighbouring country.
- The Embassy of another Schengen country, who is in charge of accepting visa applications for Portugal.
Do You Need to Translate the Documents for a Portugal Visa?
If the documents you need to submit for the Portugal Visa application are not in English or Portuguese, then you must have them translated by a certified translator.
Do You Need to Legalize the Documents for a Portugal Visa?
Yes, you may need to legalize several documents for your Portugal Visa application, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, etc. There are ways in which you can legalize documents:
- Through an Apostille Stamp. If you are from a country which is part of the Hague Convention, then a simple Apostille Stamp is enough to make the documents valid for use in Portugal and other Hague Convention countries as well. The location of where you can obtain an Apostille is different in every country, but you may be able to get it at the Ministry of Internal or External Affairs.
- Through the Portuguese Embassy. If you are from a country that is not included in the Hague Convention, then you will have to contact the Portuguese Embassy to learn how to legalize the documents.