Portugal Visit Visa From Pakistan

Pakistan is a non-EEA country and so there are two types of visa available for those wishing to visit Portugal for tourism or travel purposes. Each is defined by the intended duration of stay in the country. These are:

• Schengen visa (short-stay of up to 90 days in Portugal and any other Schengen Area state)
• National Long-Term visa (stay of 90 days or longer in Portugal; split by two further visa types of stays up to a year or over a year).

Both visas are only suited to those visiting Portugal for one or more of the following:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Business purposes (that do not involve being employed within Portugal itself)
• Meetings (that do not involve being employed within Portugal itself)
• Private medical treatments.

None of these visa types support Pakistani citizens through being employed within, or studying within, Portugal and such permissions must be sought separately.

Most Pakistanis visiting Portugal do so for a period of 90 days or less and so obtain a Schengen visa for travel. This visa type allows the holder to travel not just into and around Portugal, but also into all Schengen Area states for up to 90 days.

It is commonly assumed that all European Union countries are members of the Schengen Area, however, this is not quite the case. As of September 2023, the Schengen states, and therefore those that visa holders are able to travel around, are: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Three microstates within the continent of Europe – Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City – are technically not members of the Schengen Zone but maintain open borders with their neighbours and so are accessible by those already operating on free travel movement within the Area.

Page Contents

• Do Pakistani Citizens need a visa to travel to Portugal?
• How Do I Apply For A Portugal Schengen Visa From Pakistan?
• Portugal Schengen Visa Processing Time
• Can a Schengen Visa Be Refused?
• Extending Schengen Visa From Portugal: What Are The Options
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Entering Portugal From Pakistan: All Visa Types

As Pakistan is not a member of the EEA (European Economic Area) or EU (European Union), nationals must apply for a visa or permit in order to visit the country. There are a variety of visas available, each designed for a different purpose of visit.

This article is focused on the Schengen visa, which is a tourist visa applicable for stays up to 90 days. However, the following visa types are available:

• Portuguese work permit – allowing holders to be employed within the country on either a short- or long-term basis. There are various categories and durations of work permits available for those attending the country on a professional basis
• Family of EU/EEA/Swiss national visa – allowing those with family members residing in or citizens of Portugal to visit them on a long-term basis
• Study/research/internship visa – allowing holders to study or work within Portugal in an educational or academic capacity
• Medical purpose visa – allowing holders to stay within Portugal to receive medical care within the country on a long-term basis or to accompany/care for someone who is receiving such medical care
• Amateur sports visa – allowing holders to stay within Portugal on a long-term basis for the purposes of playing or facilitating amateur sports
• Family reunification visa – allowing holders to reunite with family members who are already resident in Portugal on a long-term visa.

The immigration services in Portugal reserve the right to remove a valid visa at any time if the holder is found to be present in the country for purposes other than those stipulated under their immigration permissions.

Documents Needed To Apply For A Short-Stay (Schengen) Portugal Visa From Pakistan?

There are various documents that must be submitted along with the application form for a Schengen visa to visit Portugal from Pakistan. The following are required as standard:

• Completed and signed application form, in English or Portuguese. Where the form is for a minor or an incapacitated individual, this must be signed by the relevant parents, guardians or carers
• 1x passport sized and standard photograph, no more than 6 months old
• Pakistani passport, valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from Portugal (or other Schengen state), issued within the last decade and with at least 2 blank pages
• Pakistani identity card (CNIC)
• Flight reservation details
• Confirmed accommodation booking for duration of intended stay
• Travel medical insurance documentation (original) valid for the duration of intended stay
• Proof of financial means – a National Tax Number Certificate (or proof of exemption if applicable); and Federal Board of Revenue acknowledgement of tax returns for the last two fiscal years before the application date
• Bank statements dated and signed for the last 6 months
• Copies of any previous visas granted, or details of previous visas declined.

All documents may be kept by the Portuguese immigration authorities and so if anything needs to be returned, this must be specifically requested. It is recommended, therefore, that certified and notarised copies of documents are sent rather than originals.

If documents are not in English or Portuguese, they must be translated into one of these languages and certified by a qualified translator. The Portuguese immigration authorities reserve the right to request further documentation at any time during the visa application process.

Portugal Visit Visa Fee From Pakistan

Applying for a Schengen short-stay visa to visit Portugal for tourism purposes incurs a fee. This must be paid at the same time as the completed application form is sent, with the application not being processed until the payment sum has cleared.

Firstly, a sum of €38 (PKR 12,008) must be paid in cash to the visa application centre upon attendance. This is an admin fee payable directly to the centre for their role in facilitating the application.

A further visa fee is required for the application processing, and this is paid to the Portuguese authorities. This cost is as follows:

• €80 (PKR 25,280) per applicant aged over 12 years
• €40 (PKR 12,640) per applicant aged between 6-12 years.

Those aged under 6 may apply for free. Further exemptions apply for holders of diplomatic passports, those attending Portugal as a guest of an EU/EEA resident family, and those partaking in scientific research within the European Union.

There may be additional financial costs incurred as a result of the application; for example, for the translation and copying of documents. These fees must be covered by the individual.

All fees are non-refundable, even in the case of a visa application being denied. The payment of a visa fee does not indicate the acceptance of an application.

In Pakistan, all visa applications must be made in person at the Embassy of Portugal in Islamabad. A third-party service provider manages all applications on behalf of the Portuguese immigration authorities.

The process for Pakistani nationals to apply for a Portugal Schengen visa is as follows:

• The applicant (or person applying on behalf of someone else) must email sconsular.islamabad@mne.pt giving details of their name, telephone number, email address and the visa they wish to apply for
• The third party service provider will contact the applicant with an appointment date on which they can attend the Embassy to complete their application
• The applicant must attend the Embassy (or other relevant stipulated venue) on the appointment date with all necessary documents and the visa fee/s required for completion and submission
• Once complete, the applicant will be contacted once the application has been processed. If granted, details of the visa will be included. If rejected, next steps for any appropriate appeal procedures will be supplied.

There are currently no facilities for Pakistani residents to apply for any class of Portuguese visas virtually. All applications must take place in person.

The Portuguese authorities are not obligated to process any Schengen visa application in any set time frame, but do give some guidance on how long it can take. The Embassy of Portugal advises that in usual circumstances, the minimum processing time to be allowed is 15 calendar days – and so applicants should not book travel any sooner than this. If the proof of travel booked submitted is earlier than this, the application will be rejected.

While applicants are able to track the status of their individual visa applications once submitted, there is no publicly available data on how long applications take at any one time. It is advised that on average, Schengen visa applications can take up to 30 working days to process.

The uncertainty around processing times does mean that Portuguese authorities are not able to guarantee the return of passports by any specific travel dates – and so it is always recommended that visa applications are completed and submitted as far in advance as possible.

There are a variety of expedited visa application services advertised online but it is not advised that applicants purchase such services; as none are offered publicly by the Embassy of Portugal in Pakistan. Instead, it is recommended that applicants seek legal advice. Where a visa is required with short notice, the Total Law team can offer advice on how best to proceed. Give us a call on +44 (0)333 305 9375 to discuss your options and the possibility of having a visa granted within your time frame.

As with any visa class or Border Force travel permission, applications for Portuguese Schengen short-stay visas may be refused at the discretion of the relevant authorities.

Most commonly, visas are rejected simply because application forms have been completed incorrectly and/or that documents submitted are incorrect or incomplete. It is imperative, therefore, that applicants ensure that their applications are complete and accurate.

If an application for a Schengen short-stay visa is declined, any instructions on how to take up an appeal will be included with the notice of refusal. If an applicant intends to appeal a visa rejection decision, it is always recommended that they seek specialist legal advice in order to ensure the best possible chance of success. This is an area that Total Law’s team have expertise in. Contact them now on +44 (0)333 305 9375 to discuss the circumstances around your declined visa application.

Once a Pakistani national is in Portugal visiting under a valid Schengen visa, it is technically possible to extend the visa to last for a period over the standardised 90 days – but it is not an easy process. Extensions to Schengen visas will only be granted in exceptional circumstances such as natural disasters, humanitarian issues arising or other ‘force majeure’ situations.

In order to apply for the extension of a Portuguese Schengen visa, the visa holder must apply directly to the Aliens and Borders Services (SFF) while still resident in the country.

The SFF have local offices in most major Portuguese cities. It is advised that visa holders contact the office most local to them by phone and then attend in person to discuss any extension.