Portugal Study Visa from India

Yes. If you’re an Indian citizen, you need a visa to study in Portugal.

If your study course is shorter than 3 months, you must apply for a Portugal Schengen Visa (short-stay student visa), which allows you to travel to Portugal and between all Schengen nations for up to 3 months.

If you have been accepted into a Portuguese higher education course that lasts longer than 3 months and up to 1 year, you will need a temporary-stay type of Portugal Study Visa.

For studies that last longer than 1 year, you will need to apply for a Residence Visa (long-stay student visa) and a Residence Permit.

Page Contents

• Do Indian Citizens Need a Visa to Study in Portugal?
• Portugal Study Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens
• How to Apply for a Portugal Study Visa from India
• What Documents are Required for the Portugal Study Visa?
• Visa Interview for a Portugal Student Visa
• Processing Times for a Portuguese Student Visa
• How Much Does the Portugal Student Visa Cost?
• When does a Portugal Student Visa Expiry?
• Can I Bring Family Members With Me On a Student Visa?
• Is it Possible To Stay in Portugal After My Studies Have Been Completed?
• Can a Student Visa Lead to Permanent Residency in Portugal?
• Can I Work on a Portugal Study Visa?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• FAQs

There are various eligibility criteria that Indian citizens have to meet when applying for a Student Visa to Portugal. You must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be accepted into a recognised educational institution in Portugal and prove it by submitting your acceptance letter
• Hold a valid passport – must expire at least three months after your return home and have at least one blank visa page.
• Have two recent passport photos – according to Portugal picture guidelines
• Proof that you have paid the visa application fee
• Documents proving that you meet the financial requirements for a Portugal Study Visa
• Once you arrive in Portugal, you must get the health insurance required for your stay
• A booked flight ticket
• Proof of travel insurance must cover the whole trip from India to Portugal and back to India.
• Police clearance certificate – issued by the regional Police Department in India or the court.
• Evidence of accommodation in Portugal, such as accommodation from your university.

Before you start your visa application process, you must obtain a letter of acceptance from the Portuguese university you have been enrolled with. The length of your study course will determine the length of the Study Visa you should apply for.

Once you have your acceptance letter, you should contact your nearest Portuguese Embassy or consulate in India to schedule an appointment and begin your visa application. You should do this no more than 6 months and no less than 15 days before your trip.

If you’re applying at the Embassy, you must compile and remember to bring all the documents required for the Study Visa. These documents are necessary to prove that you meet the eligibility criteria.

When you complete your application form and submit all the supporting documents, your visa will be processed by the Portuguese Embassy, consulate or approved facility, depending on where you’ve scheduled the appointment.

To apply for the Portugal Study Visa, you will need to provide the following supporting documents:

• Your completed visa application form
• Two recent passport photographs
• Valid passport with a minimum of two blank pages for the visa stamp
• If you have an old passport, you must also submit it to be able to get the visa stamp
• Letter of acceptance from the college or university
• Proof of health insurance for your stay
• Evidence that you have somewhere to stay while you study in Portugal
• Bank statements to demonstrate that you have sufficient finances to support yourself during your stay
• Evidence showing that you will return to India after completing your study – return ticket and strong ties to India, such as photos showing a genuine connection to family and friends.

One of the essential yet most complicated stages of the Portuguese Student Visa is compiling all the supporting documents required for the visa application. Contact Total Law today to receive reliable information and assistance for your case. Call +44 (0)333 305 9375 or speak to one of Total Law’s advisers online to find out how we can help you.

After the visa interview, your application will enter the processing stage. Usually, the processing time takes up to 30 days; however, if there are any delays or exceptional cases, the visa processing time might take up to 60 days. Therefore, it is recommended to apply well in advance to allow for any delays.

The Portugal Study Visa will be valid for the duration of the study course you have been accepted for; this can be for up to 5 years. Shorter stay visas can be extended.

For example, if the initial duration of your study course is 12 months, you will be required to apply for a Temporary-Stay Student Visa and then extend it if you choose to continue with your course.

Student Visas for Portugal allow you to bring your family members on a Family Visa to stay with you during your studies. However, there are certain requirements that you and your family members must meet to be eligible for a Portuguese Family Visa.

You can bring the following types of family members to join you on a Portuguese Student Visa:

• Spouse or partner
• Children under the age of 21 (including adopted children)
• Dependent Children over the age of 21 – They have to be unmarried and study at a school in Portugal or be dependent on you as a result of an illness or disability
• Dependent parents over the age of 65
• Minor siblings under the age of 21 if they are dependent on you and under your guardianship

Your family members can apply for a Family Visa to travel to Portugal at the same time as you apply for your Student Visa. If they join you after you have already entered Portugal, they will need to apply for a Reunification Visa for Portugal.

Any dependents who have come with you to Portugal or joined you on a Reunification Visa are generally permitted to stay in Portugal for the same length of time as you.

They will also have the same rights as you while they stay in Portugal, such as the right to work or study, attend primary and secondary school, and access Portugal’s healthcare and social security systems.

It is possible to stay in Portugal after your studies have finished only if you have a job offer requiring you to stay. If you find a job while you study, you must apply to switch your study visa to a work visa before your student visa expires. It will be refused if you submit your application less than 30 days before your student visa expires. In this case, you will have to return to India and apply for a work visa from there.

To apply for a Portugal Work Visa, you must also ensure that both you and your employer meet the eligibility criteria specific to the work visa. This means that you must have a job offer from an employer in Portugal. Your employer must then apply for a Work Permit on your behalf. Once you have a Work Permit, you can apply for a Work Visa.

If you are considering what your next step is after studying in Portugal then reach out to Total Law so that we can provide you with details on visa options available to you.

When you’re on a Study Visa in Portugal, you must apply for a Temporary-Residence Permit or a Long Term-Residence Permit, and you would need to renew it every year.

To qualify for a Permanent Residency, however, you must obtain a job offer and switch to a Work Visa. After working for 5 years on a Temporary Residence Permit, you can apply for Permanent Residency.

Once you receive your residence permit for your stay in Portugal, you can work on your Study Visa. You have the right to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester. During the semester breaks and holidays, you are allowed to study full-time.

You are not allowed to work if you are on a short-stay Student Visa (up to 90 days).

Please note that if you work to support your studies, you may be required to pay income tax and social security, depending on how much you earn.

Additionally, if a scholarship or grant funds you, you must check the terms and conditions to see if you are permitted to work.