Portugal Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Portugal is an EU and Schengen member. Most non-EU travelers need a Schengen visa to visit Portugal for tourism, business, or family visits. A short-stay Schengen visa allows up to 90 days within a 180-day period. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Portugal visa at a glance
- Government fee
- EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- 15 days up to 45 days
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Portugal?
EU/EEA/Schengen nationals can enter Portugal visa-free under freedom of movement. Check the Embassy of Portugal visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
Portugal visa types
- Schengen Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Schengen Business visa
- Business meetings, conferences — Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Schengen Transit visa
- Passing through Portugal to a third country — Per the transit rules
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Remote work / digital nomad stay — Longer stay
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Portugal depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
EU/EEA/Schengen nationals can enter Portugal visa-free under freedom of movement.
Visa-required nationalities need a Schengen Tourist, Business, or Transit visa, or a Digital Nomad Visa for longer stays.
Documents required for a Portugal visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportSchengen Tourist visa / Business visa · 3+ months validity beyond intended departure from the Schengen area, 2+ blank pages, issued within the last 10 years.
- Completed and signed Schengen visa application formSchengen Tourist visa / Business visa · Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
- Recent passport photo (white background, taken within the last 6 months)Schengen Tourist visa / Business visa · Recent passport photo (white background, taken within the last 6 months).
- Travel itinerary covering the entire Schengen staySchengen Tourist visa / Business visa · Travel itinerary covering the entire Schengen stay.
- Proof of accommodation for the entire staySchengen Tourist visa / Business visa · Proof of accommodation for the entire stay.
- Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for medical emergencies, valid for all Schengen statesSchengen Tourist visa / Business visa · Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for medical emergencies, valid for all Schengen states.
- Proof of sufficient financial means for the staySchengen Tourist visa / Business visa · Proof of sufficient financial means for the stay.
- Valid passportSchengen Transit visa · 3+ months validity beyond intended departure from the Schengen area, 2+ blank pages.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit periodSchengen Transit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit period.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodSchengen Transit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
- Visa for final destination if requiredSchengen Transit visa · Visa for final destination if required.
- Valid passportDigital Nomad Visa · 6+ months validity.
- Proof of remote work arrangement or freelance contractsDigital Nomad Visa · Proof of remote work arrangement or freelance contracts.
- Evidence of sufficient income to support your stayDigital Nomad Visa · Evidence of sufficient income to support your stay.
- Health insurance coverage for PortugalDigital Nomad Visa · Health insurance coverage for Portugal.
- Clean criminal record certificateDigital Nomad Visa · Clean criminal record certificate.
Portugal visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Official processing
- 15 days up to 45 days
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Portugal visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Portugal visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Portugal for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Portugal visa above.
Submit your application
in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee. All Schengen Zone visa applications must be submitted by the applicant in person.
Wait for processing
the official ETA is 15 days up to 45 days. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Portugal's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Portugal is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your Schengen visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Portugal visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Portugal visa questions, answered.
More for your Portugal trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.