Portugal Student Visa - Definitive Guide

A Portugal student visa for Indian students is also available. There are several formalities that are to be fulfilled in the process of obtaining one. The holder of a student permit is allowed to pursue a course of their choice, it could be a short term course or a long term course. The holder can also roam across the country for leisure and tourism. Working in the country on this permit is also allowed except, the work should not interfere with your studies.

In order to obtain a Portugal study visa from India, it is necessary that you meet the eligibility criteria. These are the parameters put forth by the Portuguese Embassy to help determine the candidature of the applicant. The Portugal student visa process is mainly offline. It can be understood in detail as follows:

1. Start by filling out the online Portugal student visa application.
2. Print the application form and attach recent photographs as well.
3. Collect all the required documents as per the provided checklist.
4. Submit the documents and the application form to the Portuguese Embassy.
5. Attend an interview with the Consular Officer.
6. Pay the required fee at the time of submission.

When you are filling out the Portugal student visa application, it is crucial that you carry out the complete procedure with absolute care. The information provided in the application form should match the details in the passport and other kinds of documentary proof that is being provided. If there is any kind of information that is incorrect or unverifiable, there are chances that the visa application may get rejected. There are several other causes of a visa refusal. A visa rejection can affect your future applications for getting a visa for Portugal or to any other country. It is, therefore, recommended that you acquire visa consultation to minimise the chances of a visa rejection.

Eligibility criteria are the parameters that are to be met at the time of applying for a visa. There are certain such criteria that are to be met by the applicant when obtaining a Portugal study visa. These are listed as follows:

• You must have confirmed admission in Portugal
1. You must have applied to the institution or the university you are looking forward to acquiring the course.
2. Your admission must be confirmed and you must have the necessary documentary proof of the same.
3. Other valid documents, educational and others should be made available.
4. The educational documents must be verifiable.
5. You should have proof of your previous highest education degree.

• You must meet the health requirements
1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Portugal.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.

• You must meet the character requirements
  1. You must be visiting with education as your primary purpose.
  2. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind studying in Portugal.
  3. You need to provide relevant documentary proof for the same as well in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

• You must have sufficient funds
  1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Portugal.
  2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.
  3. If you have a sponsor, evidence of their financial stability must be made available and should be sufficient to support your education.
  4. The guarantor documents should also be legitimate and submitted at the time of application.

The documents required for obtaining a Portugal study permit may differ as per the case. Given below are the common Portugal student visa requirements that are applicable to the majority of the cases:

• A valid passport with at least 2 blank pages
• A completed Portugal student visa application form
• Recent photographs
• Proof of payment of the application fee - up to 170 EUR
• Letter of acceptance from the university/institution you have applied
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Proof of accommodation
• Travel insurance
• Confirmed flight ticket

Note: Some necessary documents are to be translated into Spanish and legalized, as per the requirement of the Consulate.

• Two copies must be provided
• 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair is permitted

The validity of a Portugal study permit is up to 1 year maximum. The visa can be extended as per the course that is being acquired by the applicant. For short term courses, the validity varies from 3 months to 6 months.

The Portugal student visa cost is variable and can change as per the type of visa and the kinds of services available. It also varies according to the changes in the currency exchange rates. As a result, you are expected to check the exact amount while applying. It is to be paid to the embassy at the time of submission of the documents and the application form.

The processing time required for the issuance of a Portugal study visa is about 60 days. There are certain factors that can change the required processing time including the workload at the embassy, the available staff at the embassy office, the validity required and other such reasons. At times, the processing time may even go up to 90 days in such cases.

When the documents have been submitted, there are a few things that you need to note -

• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application. The visa is fee is non-refundable.
• When the form is submitted along with the fees, the visa will be mailed to you on your registered address or can be collected by yourself from the embassy or the respective Consular section.
• It is also important to take into consideration that having a visa does not guarantee you entry into the country. If there is any kind of issue found with your visa or yourself, there are chances that you may be asked to return to your native country.

In order to check the status of your Portugal study visa, you can contact the embassy. Else, if you have applied through a visa agency, you can also check the status on their website or by calling them.

After you have received the visa, there are a few things that you need to note. Some of the pointers are as follows:

• Before you travel
  1. Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
  2. You should travel to Portugal within the validity of your visa.
  3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
  4. Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
  1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
  2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
  3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
  4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

• When you enter Portugal
  1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of activities that are not permitted to a non-Portuguese resident. You may get into trouble otherwise.
  2. You can study, work as well as tour the country on this visa.
  3. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
  4. Apply for an extension within the validity of the permit.