Portugal Study Visa From Pakistan
Pakistani nationals, who have been accepted into a higher educational institution in Portugal, can apply for a Portuguese student visa. Depending on the duration of their course, they may be eligible to apply for a temporary residence permit as well.
For more details about study visa options in Portugal, whether you are eligible, how you can apply, and to receive professional advice from our immigration advisers, reach out to our legal team today on +44 (0)333 305 9375.
Overview of Portugal Study Visa
A Portuguese study visa allows visa-required foreign nationals to study in higher educational institutions, enrol for professional courses or training, undertake research, or work as unpaid interns or student volunteers in educational institutions in the country.
EEA (the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Swiss nationals do not require a visa or permit to study or undertake research in Portugal. However, all other foreign national students will need either a short stay visa, if the course duration is less than 90 days, or temporary stay visas for study purposes if the course duration is more than 90 days but less than a year.
If the course duration is more than a year, non-EEA/non-Swiss foreign national students will need to apply for Portuguese temporary residence permits for study purposes, renewable annually.
Non-EEA/non-Swiss researchers, unpaid interns and student volunteers will also have to apply for a short stay visa, temporary stay visa or residence permit, depending on the length of their required stay for the said research, unpaid internship or volunteering activities in any of the officially recognised Portuguese educational institutions.
Page Contents
- Overview of Portugal Study Visa
- Short-Term Portugal Student Visa (Less Than One Year)
- Long-Term Portugal Student Visa (More Than One Year)
- Required Documents for Portuguese Study Visa
- Application Process for a Student Visa/Permit in Portugal
- Processing Time
- Fees
- Student Visa Renewal in Portugal
- What If My Application Has Been Rejected?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Short-Term Portugal Student Visa (Less Than One Year)
Generally speaking, there are two types of short-term visas applicable for foreign national students in Portugal:
- Short stay visa: A Portugal student visa, where the course duration is less than 90 days, such as a short language course or a vocational training programme
- Temporary stay visa: A Portugal student visa for study courses, professional training programmes, student exchanges, unpaid internships, or student volunteering activities, where the duration of such courses, programmes or internships is more than 90 days but less than a year
To be eligible, you must be accepted by an officially recognised Portuguese educational institution or professional training institute before applying for the visa.
You must also meet other specific terms and conditions, such as an absence of any criminal records in your home country or country of residence, sufficient financial means to cover your tuition fees and stay in Portugal etc.
Long-Term Portugal Student Visa (More Than One Year)
To live and study in Portugal for longer than a year, non-EEA/non-Swiss foreign nationals will have to apply for a temporary residence permit, renewable annually for the course duration.
As a Pakistani national seeking to study in Portugal for more than a year, you will first need to apply for a residency visa to travel to the country. This visa is valid for 3-4 months, and the purpose is to allow you to enter Portugal, to apply for a temporary residence permit for study.
After arriving in Portugal, you must apply to the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) for your temporary residence permit, to continue to remain and study in Portugal for the duration of your course. You must apply within the validity period of your residency visa.
A temporary residence permit for study allows non-EEA/non-Swiss foreign nationals to engage in the below mentioned activities in Portugal:
- Higher education (i.e. all graduate and postgraduate level courses)
- Scientific and academic research
- Secondary school education at level 4 or level 5 of the Portuguese National Qualifications Framework (QNQ)
- Professional training courses
- Unpaid student internships
- Student volunteering
Required Documents for Portuguese Study Visa
Overview
In this section, we have provided detailed lists of relevant supporting documents, which are required for both short-term study options (i.e. for short stay visas and temporary stay visas) and long-term study options (i.e. for residency visas to travel to Portugal and temporary residence permits for study).
Do keep in mind that these lists are not exhaustive in nature, and you may be asked for additional documents based on your circumstances during the visa interview as well as by the immigration officer at the port of entry to Portugal.
Furthermore, false or falsified documents, including fake bookings, will lead to visa refusal, and can also have adverse consequences in future. So, it is advisable to consult an immigration lawyer while arranging for the required documentation. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 to speak with our immigration experts.
Supporting Documents for Short Stay Visa or Temporary Stay Visa
- The visa application form, completed and signed
- Passport or additional travel documents, valid for at least three months after the proposed departure date
- Passport photos
- Photocopy of the biometric page of passport
- Previous passport(s), if any
- Photocopy of previous visas
- Reservation of round-trip transport ticket
- Valid travel and medical insurance, to cover necessary medical expenses and any medical emergencies in Portugal
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal
- Letter of acceptance from a Portuguese educational institution
- Proof of funds
- Payment receipt of tuition fees
- Certificate of residency status if you are applying from a different country rather than your home country
- Criminal record certificate from the competent authorities of your home country or of the country where you have been legally residing for past one year, with the Hague Apostille (where applicable) or legalised
Supporting Documents for Residency Visa
- The visa application form, completed and signed
- Passport or additional travel documents, valid for at least three months after the proposed departure date
- Passport photos
- Photocopy of the biometric page of passport
- Previous passport(s), if any
- Photocopy of previous visas
- Valid travel and medical insurance, to cover necessary medical expenses and any medical emergencies
- Proof of accommodation in Portugal (e.g. proofs of university-provided accommodation, a rental contract, an invitation letter from a friend or family member who will provide for your accommodation for the entire length of your course)
- Letter of acceptance from a Portuguese educational institution
- Proof of funds (e.g. bank statements, student scholarships or grants, proofs of sponsorship etc.)
- Payment receipt of tuition fees
- Certificate of residency status if you are applying from a different country rather than your home country
- Criminal record certificate from the competent authorities of your home country or of the country where you have been legally residing for past one year, with the Hague Apostille (where applicable) or legalised
Supporting Documents for Long-Term Student Permit
- Completed and signed application form
- Passport or additional travel documents, valid for the duration of the travel
- A valid residency visa that allowed you to enter Portugal and stay for 3-4 months while applying for your temporary residence permit
- Evidence of registration in a higher education institution in Portugal
- Payment receipt of tuition fees
- Proof of student scholarships/grants/financial aid, if any
- Two recent passport-size photos
- Photocopy of the biometric page of passport
- Health insurance or proof that you are covered by the National Health Service
- Certificate of residency status if you are applying from a different country rather than your home country
- Proof of means of subsistence, in compliance with legal requirements set by the competent government entity
- Proof of accommodation
- Criminal record certificate from the competent authorities of your home country or of the country where you have been legally residing for past one year, with the Hague Apostille (where applicable) or legalised
- A document giving permission to SEF for criminal record enquiry (not required for minors)
- For researchers:
- Contract of employment, contract of services, Scientific Research Scholarship, or Hosting Agreement
- Social security registration or registration within a voluntary social insurance
- For trainees:
- Training contract between a professional training company and the applicant
- For student volunteers:
- Volunteer contract issued by the hosting entity responsible for the volunteer programme, which clearly provides a description of the contents and duration of the programme, schedule, supervision conditions, and a guarantee of covering all food and accommodation expenses, including a minimum amount of allowances or pocket money
- Insurance on civil liability provided by the hosting entity
Your relevant supporting documents must either be in English or in Portuguese language. If they are in a different language, please arrange for certified translated copies to be submitted along with your visa application.
Since Pakistan is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your public documents will not have to be legalised.
Application Process for a Student Visa/Permit in Portugal
Your Portuguese student visa application starts with obtaining the letter of acceptance from the higher educational institution/professional training institute in which you are going to enrol in Portugal.
In addition, if you have applied for and received any student scholarships, grants or financial aid from your institution in Portugal, you must get proof of the same, which you will need to submit along with your visa application.
Once you have completed and signed the relevant visa application form and arranged for all supporting documents, please get in touch with your local Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country of residence, to schedule a visa interview.
For example, Pakistani nationals applying for a Portuguese student visa should get in touch with the Embassy of Portugal in Islamabad. Here’s the full address:
Embassy of Portugal in Pakistan
House 8, street 36, F-7/1
Islamabad
Pakistan
You will also have to pay the visa application fee at this stage. Your concerned embassy or consulate will advise you regarding their acceptable payment methods e.g. bank transfer, cash, cheque, online payment etc.
During your visa interview, you will need to submit your supporting documents. Please note that the visa officer may ask you for additional documents to support your application, depending on your personal circumstances.
Once your visa is approved, you will be able to travel to Portugal. However, please note that a valid travel visa does not automatically allow you to enter Portuguese national territory. The immigration officers at your port of entry will check your documents before allowing you to enter Portugal.
After arriving in Portugal, you will have to schedule an appointment with SEF to get your temporary residence permit, where applicable. This permit will allow you to live and study in Portugal, and is renewable annually, for the duration of your course.
Processing Time
It may take from a few weeks to three months to process your Portuguese student visa. The processing time varies from country to country, and from visa offices to visa offices, often depending on the volume of visa applications being handled by the concerned visa office at the time of your application.
Visa processing may also get delayed if your application form is incomplete or incorrectly filled, or if you have not submitted sufficient documentary evidence supporting your application.
To avoid any unnecessary delay in processing, please pay due diligence while completing the application form and arranging for all relevant supporting documents.
Fees
You will have to pay a visa processing fee of €90 to the embassy/consulate where you have submitted your visa application. This fee may vary depending on your country of residence.
SEF will charge you €83 for processing your temporary residence permit for study purposes. To receive your temporary residence permit from SEF, you will have to pay a fee of €72.
Moreover, if your supporting documents are in any other language than Portuguese or English, you will have to arrange for their certified translated copies. This will incur additional costs, which will vary depending on your country of residence.
Student Visa Renewal in Portugal
If you are a temporary residence permit holder in Portugal for study purposes, you will have to apply to SEF to renew your permit at least 30 days before its expiry. SEF has a pre-booking system for scheduling a date and time for customer service, and you can book your appointment either by phone or online.
A temporary residence permit issued for study purposes is renewable for the duration of your course, provided you continue to meet the other eligibility criteria. Once your course is over, you cannot renew the same nor can you apply for a permanent residence permit in Portugal. You will have to apply for and obtain a job in Portugal if you wish to remain in the country.
What If My Application Has Been Rejected?
There is an appeal mechanism in place, in compliance with Portuguese domestic law, if your student visa application is rejected. You may:
- Lodge a formal complaint at your concerned embassy/consulate. You will have to do so within 15 days from receiving the visa refusal notice
- Appeal at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs within three months’ time after receiving the notice
Alternatively, you can initiate legal action at the Administrative Court of Lisbon Circle within three months of receiving the visa refusal notice.
Please note that the above options are not mutually exclusive. You can appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and depending on the results of such appeal, continue towards legal action in Portugal. However, if you are taking matters to the court, be sure to hire appropriate legal representation in the country.
How Can Total Law Help?
Pakistani nationals wishing to study in Portugal have different visas/permits to choose from depending on the duration of their chosen course – short stay visas (for less than 90 days), temporary stay visas (from 90 days to one year), and temporary residence permits (for more than a year).
The eligibility criteria may slightly vary depending on the type of visa/permit you have chosen, as well as your personal circumstances. Even if you meet the eligibility criteria for your chosen route, it is of utmost importance to fill up the relevant forms correctly and completely, and arrange for any documents you may be asked for, to avoid a visa refusal.
Appealing a Portuguese visa refusal can prove to be a lengthy and expensive process. So, it is advisable that you get the application process and documentation right the first time.
Total Law can help.
You can speak to our team of immigration advisers who have the required expertise to assist you, regardless of your personal circumstances or the complexity of your case.
If you are seeking overall advice with your Portugal student visa application or you would like an immigration lawyer to complete your application on your behalf, we are here for you. Our team also offers document and application checking services if you just need a final check to confirm that your documents and application adhere to SEF regulations.
To know more about the services we provide and how we can help you, please call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 today to speak to our team of legal advisers.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Non-EEA/non-Swiss students, who hold temporary residence permits for study purposes in Portugal, are allowed to bring their dependent family members to live with them in the country, under family reunification principles.
They will, however, have to prove that they have sufficient funds to provide for their family as well as themselves in Portugal.
International students are allowed to bring the below family members to Portugal:
- Spouse/civil partner
- Minor children (both biological and adopted)
- Adult, unmarried children who are financially and socially dependent on parents due to illness or disability
Yes. A Pakistani National studying in Portugal can work on a part-time basis during the semester, for up to 20 hours per week. During semester breaks or holidays, they may work full time.
You must inform SEF before taking up any paid work or independent professional activity in Portugal. In addition, you may be required to pay income tax and social security in Portugal, depending on your remuneration amount.
Moreover, certain student scholarships or grants funding tuition and living costs in Portugal for students may not permit the recipients to work in the country while studying, so it is advisable to check the terms and conditions of such scholarships and grants, where applicable, before taking up any part-time jobs.
Please also note that non-EEA/non-Swiss nationals holding short stay student visas (valid for less than 90 days) are not allowed to work in Portugal.
No. A non-EEA/non-Swiss student cannot apply for a Portuguese permanent residence permit, since their time spent in Portugal as students will not be counted while calculating the length of stay in the country for permanent residency purposes.
If they wish to stay in Portugal when their course is over, they must apply for and obtain a job offer, and then get a temporary residence permit for work. After living and working in Portugal lawfully for five years on temporary residence permit for work purposes, they will be eligible to apply for permanent residence.
There is no language requirement to obtain a student visa or a temporary residence permit for study purposes in Portugal. You will not be required to present any proof of proficiency in Portuguese language.
Of course, if you know the Portuguese language and are confident to converse in the same, you may do so during your visa interview.
Many higher educational institutions in Portugal do not ask for an IELTS score, provided the applicant can prove that they have completed their previous education in English medium. Please check the websites of the concerned educational institutions thoroughly before you apply.