Portugal is one of the most sought-after countries for many people living in the UK. Recently, the country has also been making quite a buzz in Spanish-speaking countries as well. The Portuguese Embassy/Consulate in London states that it has processed more than 38,000 visa applications from residents of the United Kingdom in 2015. That is an impressive number and is bound to get more impressive with increasing demand for Portuguese visas on behalf of UK citizens.

If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom and have always wanted to visit the beautiful country of Portugal, you may only need a short term tourist visa. If you plan on staying in Portugal longer than 90 days, then you may need a Portuguese residence permit or Portuguese permanent residency. There are many different types of visas and permits available and each is defined by the purpose of your visit to Portugal. If you want to study at an educational institution or work on a long-term contract then a student or work visa will be the right choice for your situation. You may also want to look into how you can obtain Portuguese permanent residency if you live in the UK full time and hold onto your British citizenship. There are many good reasons why someone would want to live permanently in Portugal, including the climate, great beaches, low cost of living, excellent healthcare system and strong economy.

Portugal Visa For Uk Residents

Living in Europe is not just enjoyable but can be very comfortable as well . The word ‘Portugal’ tends to attract attention from people who are intrigued with its historical background and tales of pirates and adventurers. The country is situated at western most tip of the continent and has a coastline of over 800kms.

Portugal Visa Application and Entry Requirements

Portugal, the westernmost sovereign state in Europe, is also one of the oldest states in the old continent. It has a population of 10,291,027 and an area of 92,212 km2.

The Portuguese Republic is a developed country with a high-income advanced economy and high living standards. The country has a mesmerizing architecture marked by its history of invasions.

Portugal is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, as well as the Schengen Zone. It joined the latter in 1995, thus abolishing its borders with the rest of the member states.

Since then, travellers can apply for a Portuguese Schengen Visa. They can also enter the territory of Portugal and the whole Schengen holding a short-stay visa to Portugal.

Fun fact: The oldest bookshop in the world is in Portugal!

Portugal Entry Restrictions in Response to Coronavirus

Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, Italy and the rest of the EU/Schengen Area members imposed an EU-wide entry ban on third-country nationals in mid-March 2020, on the recommendation of the EU Commission. In addition, entry restrictions to Italy are frequently changing based on the COVID-19 situation in other countries.

Read “A Complete Guide to Travelling to Portugal Amid COVID-19” to get the latest updates regarding Portugal travel & entry restrictions and other measures imposed by Italian authorities.

Portugal Entry Requirements

The documents you have to present at the Portuguese port of entry depend on your nationality. If you are an EEA national, you will only need an identification document, to enter Portugal.

At the same time, if you are a non-EEA traveller wishing to visit Portugal you will need to present the following when you show up at the Portuguese port of entry:

• A valid passport or travel document. Valid for at least three more months beyond your planned date of exit from Schengen, and issued within the last 10 years.
• A visa – if you are subject to the Portuguese visa regime.

*British passport holders are exempt from the criteria of passport validity and issuance date.

Aside from these documents, the Portuguese border officer may ask you a few questions about your trip to Portugal like:

• What is your purpose of visiting Portugal?
• How long do you intend to stay in Portugal?
• Where are you going to stay in Portugal? Etc.

You may be asked for documents to support your answers, such as an invitation letter by a Portuguese host, proof of lodging or a round-trip ticket. For more information in this regard, contact the local consular services of Portuguese in your home country.

Keep in mind that the border police holds the final decision if you shall be permitted to enter Portugal or not. If the Portuguese border officer concludes that you are no risk for Portugal, upon checking your documents, you will be permitted to enter Portugal, and thus the Schengen territory.

Please, make sure that the Portuguese border officer stamps your passport when you enter Portugal. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Portugal.

Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Portugal?

Due to the Schengen visa policies, part of which Portugal is, you will need a visa to enter this country or any other in the Schengen zone, if:

• You are a national of a third-world country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states
• You are a national of a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Portugal or any other Schengen country.

What Documents Are Required for a Portugal Schengen Visa Application?

According to the Portugal visa requirements, you will need to submit some mandatory documents as part of your short-term Portuguese Visa application at the Portugal embassy/consulate in your country of residence. These documents are as follows:

• Portuguese visa application form. Complete the visa application form with all required information, print it and then sign it at the end. Here you can learn more How to Fill-in a Portuguese Schengen Visa Application Form without any mistakes.
• Two passport photos. The photos should be identical and comply with the photograph requirements for the Portuguese Schengen visa application.
• Your valid passport.
  • Two blank pages in order to affix the visa
  • Is not older than 10 years,
  • Has a validity of at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Portugal and the whole territory of Schengen.
• Copies of your previous visas. If you have ever held a visa issued by any world country, submit copies of them.
• Portugal Travel Health Insurance. Confirmation that you have travel insurance for Portugal and the whole territory of Schengen, with a minimum 30,000 € coverage of medical emergencies.

Travel medical insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Portugal that fulfil the Portuguese Visa requirements can be purchased online from Europ Assistance or AXA Assistance. Travel insurance policies issued by both companies are accepted by the Portuguese authorities worldwide. 

• Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A document that shows you have a booked flight, to enter and leave Portugal. This document should specify flight numbers, dates, and your details.
• Proof of accommodation. I.e. a hotel reservation.
• Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Portugal
• A cover letter. A personal letter in which you explain why you are applying to visit Portugal, how long you plan to stay, when will you leave and other details.
• Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.

Additional Portuguese Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status

The Portugal embassy/consulate wants you to submit several other documents depending on your occupational status. These documents are as follows:

If employed:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form

If self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

If retired:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If a student:

• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university
• Advertisements

If applicable:

• Proof of regular income generated by a property, for the last 6 months

Additional Portuguese Visa Requirements for Minors

Minors applying to get a short-stay visa to Portugal, or parents applying for their minor child to get a visa, will need to complete the following additional Portuguese Visa Requirements in their application file:

• Birth certificate of the minor travelling to Portugal.
• Portugal application form signed by both parents.
• Family court order. In cases where only one parent has full custody of the child.
• Certified copies of ID/passport of both parents
• If the minor will be travelling alone with another person:
  • An original and copy of the accompanying person’s passport page containing the holder’s data, and expiry date, a recent photograph and a valid visa copy.
  • A notarized parental authorization to travel to Portugal, signed by both parents/guardians

*Note: When applying at the Portuguese embassy/consulate in the home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their underage children.