Portugal Schengen Visa

Portugal is a popular holiday destination for many travellers across the globe. It is known for its beautiful castles, stunning nature, rich food scene, and numerous cultural opportunities.

For many international visitors planning on travelling to Portugal, it is necessary to obtain a Schengen visa. This is a Short-Stay visa which allows visits of up to 90 days during any given 180-day period.

A Schengen visa allows you to travel not only to Portugal but to each of the following countries:

When applying for a Schengen visa, you should, when possible, apply to the country which will be your main destination during your travels. If you will spend the majority of your trip in Portugal, for instance, you should apply for your visa via Portugal. In situations where there is no clear main destination of your stay – for example if you will spend identical periods of time in each Schengen country you are visiting – you should instead apply for a Schengen visa via the first Schengen country which you will visit during your travels.

Note that, if you are a UK citizen, you will not require a visa in order to visit Portugal for up to 90 days. If you wish to visit for longer than that, however, you will need to obtain the relevant visa. If you are a citizen of an EU member state, you will not require a visa to visit Portugal for any period of time.

Page Contents

• • Overview of Schengen Visa for Portugal
  • Eligibility for Portugal Schengen Visa
  • How to Submit a Portugal Tourist Visa Application
  • What Documents Will I Require?
  • Is my Portugal Schengen Visa Valid to Travel to Other Countries?
  • Processing Time for a Portugal Schengen visa
  • Cost of Applying for a Portugal Schengen visa
  • Which Countries’ Nationals Require a Schengen visa to Visit Portugal?
  • Can I Extend my Schengen Visa?
  • What If My Application is Rejected?
  • How Can Total Law Help?
  • Frequently Asked Questions

If you need a visa in order to enter Portugal and are visiting for a period of up to 90 days, it is likely that you will need to apply for a Schengen visa. The following reasons for travel are covered by the Schengen visa:

• Conducting business activities (e.g. meetings and interviews)
• Visiting family or friends within Portugal
• Travelling Portugal

For individuals applying for a Schengen visa from the UK, you will need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

• Have a valid travel document (e.g. passport)
• Have legal immigration status in the UK
• Be able to provide details of your planned activities once in Portugal
• Have evidence of your intention to leave the Schengen Area once your visa expires (e.g. return flights to the UK)
• Have valid travel medical insurance

When applying for a Portugal Schengen visa, there are a number of steps which you will need to complete. These are generally as follows:

Step 1: Complete the application form and gather the necessary supporting documents

Step 2: Book a Portugal visa appointment with your local Portuguese embassy or consulate. In the UK, these can be found in London, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh, Hamilton, and St. Helier (Jersey).

Note that the visa application centre which you should use will depend on your particular county of residence. For more information on the centre which you should apply via, contact Total Law today.

Step 3: Once you have completed the necessary steps, you will now need to wait for your application to be processed.

In the event that your application is successful, you will be granted a visa which you can use to enter the Schengen Area, including Portugal. If your application is unsuccessful, you will generally be given the option of appealing.

However, note that being granted a Schengen visa is not a guarantee that you will be granted entry into the Schengen Area. This will be at the discretion of the immigration officers with whom you interact at the point of entry.

When applying for a Portugal Schengen visa, there are a number of documents which you will need to provide in support of your application. These are generally as follows:

• Completed application form
• Passport photo
• Valid passport or equivalent travel document
• Return ticket of travel (e.g. round trip flight tickets)
• Medical travel insurance
• Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself and any dependants also travelling with you for the duration of your stay
• Proof of accommodation during your stay
• Proof of family relationship to any family members with whom you plan to stay
• Details of any business activity planned for your trip (e..g attendance at meetings, conferences, or interviews), where applicable
• In the case of travelling in order to receive medical treatment, details of the medical care which you will receive and confirmation of its necessity

It is important that you submit all of the required documentation in order to maximise your chances of a successful application.

Yes, your Schengen visa is valid for travel to other countries within the Schengen Area.

Specifically, your Schengen visa will allow you to visit the following countries:

Note that not all countries within the EU are in the Schengen Area. Ireland is not included in the Schengen Area, for instance, meaning that you will require a separate Irish visa in order to visit Ireland during your travels.

In general, Portugal visa applications submitted from the UK take at least 2 weeks to be processed. However, this waiting period can vary depending on factors like how many other applications are simultaneously being processed and whether the original application contains any errors or is missing any information.

In order to minimise delays, it is important to ensure that your original application is submitted correctly and thoroughly and that any additional information which is requested is provided as quickly as possible.

When applying for a Portugal Schengen visa, you will need to pay an application fee. In general, this is €80. A reduced fee of €40 is charged in the case of children between 6 and 12 years old.

For countries with whom the EU has facilitation agreements, a reduced fee of €35 is charged, as in the case of Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, and Ukraine, for example. In the case of Cabo Verde, with whom the EU also has a facilitation agreement, a fee of €60 is charged in the case of adult applicants and €30 in the case of child applicants.

In some cases, applicants also choose to pay for legal assistance with their applications.

Contact Total Law today to learn more about the pricing of our different packages and to get started with organising your own visit to Portugal.

In general, citizens of the following countries will require a Short-Stay visa in order to visit Portugal.

Note that specific entry requirements vary from country to country. As such, it is important to check the visa requirements which apply to you before starting your journey.

In general, it is not possible to extend your Schengen visa except in the case of exceptional circumstances: if you become medically unable to travel, for example. This is because the Schengen visa is intended as a Short-Stay visa, designed for stays of up to 90 days.

In the event that you wish to visit Portugal, or another Schengen country, for over 90 days, you should instead apply for a more appropriate visa, such as a Work or Study visa, depending on your reasons for visiting Portugal.

For more information on the visa which is most appropriate for your particular circumstances, contact Total Law today.

In the event that your visa application is unsuccessful, you will be informed of the reason(s) why. You will also be provided with information on how to submit an appeal.

In general, you will need to pay an administrative fee of €75 when submitting an appeal against your Schengen visa rejection.

You can also submit a new application, provided that you are able to address the reasons for the initial rejection. Failure to do so is likely to lead to a repeat unsuccessful application attempt.