Portugal Visa - Definitive Guide

Portuguese visa is an endorsement that lets you enter the nation and stay there for a certain period of time. Nationals of other Schengen countries and visa-exempt nations do not require the permit. Being issued as a single-entry type, double-entry, or even multiple-entries, this can have stay durations as per the individual types. 

The application for the Portugal visa from India can be quite complex for someone new. The application process is dependent on the jurisdiction. Either way, the Portuguese mission in India has outsourced the application to the VACs (Visa Application Centre).

Applications of people with state of residence in Goa, Maharashtra, UTs of Daman & Diu and  Dadra & Nagar Haveli can apply to the Consulate of Portugal in Goa. All other states will be directing their application to the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi. 

Before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible for the particular category you are applying for. You must then obtain all the necessary documents for the visa. After this, you may proceed to make the application as follows - 

At Consulate General of Portugal in Goa -

1. Visit the online visa application portal of the Portuguese Republic. 
2. In the application form, choose the consular post as the ‘consulate general of Portugal in Goa’.
3. Fill in the rest of the Portugal visa online application form with all the relevant details. 
4. Choose your required consulate appointment time and date on the same application form. If you belong to Maharashtra, you can schedule the appointment at a VAC in Mumbai or Pune by visiting their website. Note that this date must be the same as the one mentioned during your online application.
5. Visit the respective appointment centre with the print out of the completed application form, booking confirmation, and the documents. You will also have to provide your biometrics and pay the fees as well. 

At the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi -

1. Visit the website of the embassy of Portugal and download the visa application form.
2. Fill in the Portugal visa application form with all the relevant details. 
3. Proceed to book your appointment at one of the VACs located across India. You can do this by visiting their website.
4. Visit the appointment centre with the application form, appointment confirmation, and the documents. You must provide your biometrics as well as pay the fees. 

Note that if you have submitted your biometrics for a Schengen permit in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. Also, keep in mind that you must not submit any fake documents or false information. Doing so can get you a visa rejection. 

Based on the purpose of the visit, and the duration of stay, the Portuguese permits can be classified into the following - 

• Airport Transit - This type of permit is issued for people who have to pass through Portugal on a transit.
• Short Term Schengen - Also known as the Portugal Schengen visa, this type is issued for a short period of time with a stay duration of a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period. Based on the purpose of the visit, these can further be classified as the following - 

• 1. Tourist - This type of permit is issued for people whose main purpose for the visit is to take part in tourist activities in the country.
  2. Business -This allows you to travel to Portugal to take part in business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, etc.
  3. Friends/Family Visit - This is issued for people who have been invited to visit their family members or friends living in the country.
• Long Term - This is more commonly known as the Portugal national visa and is issued for periods longer than 90 days, up to 365 days. Based on the purpose, these can also be classified as the following- 
  1. Work - This is granted for people who are entering Portugal to engage in work-related activities.
  2. Study - This is issued for students visiting Portugal to take part in studies that last longer than 90 days. 
  3. Family Reunion - This is for people who are visiting their family who is settled in Portugal and staying with them. 

As per the requirements, the following are the general documents requirements for Portugal student visa, you must provide in order to be able to apply for a visa. Note that apart from these, there will documents that are specific to the exact visa you are applying for. 

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must contain at least 2 blank pages.
  2. It should not be older than 10 years.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.
• A covering letter - 
  1. This must include the applicant's details.
  2. It should clearly mention the source of funds.
  3. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  4. It should be signed by the applicant and addressed to the Embassy/consulate of Portugal.

• Flight reservation for round trip
• Proof of accommodation - hotel bookings/invitation to stay/residence bookings, etc 
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros

• Proof of occupation - 

Proof of occupation such as employment letter, Copy of business license, etc

• Financial documents -

Financial documents such as bank statements of past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

• Dimensions: 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 glasses
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The processing time for the application is dependent on the type of the permit, the validity of the visa,  the number of applications at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. Normally, it takes around 15 working days to process your application. However, this can sometimes take much longer, and as a result, it is suggested that you apply for the visa well in advance. 

The Portugal Schengen visa fees for Indian citizens is dependent on the type of the permit. It can also vary depending upon the currency exchange rates. Apart from the application fee, there will be biometric charges, delivery charges, as well as any service charges levied by the VAC. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting the application.

You can do the Portugal Visa status check online by visiting the online portal of the Portuguese embassy and logging in using the username and password provided during application. If you have applied at a VAC, you can check the Portugal visa application status by entering your reference number and date of birth here. 

The application for the Portuguese permit is based on the jurisdiction. If your state of residence (state you have been residing in the past 6 months) is Maharashtra, Goa, or the UTs of Daman & Diu or Dadra & Nagar Haveli, you must lodge your application at the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa. Alternately, if you belong to Maharashtra, you can avail the services of a VACs in Mumbai and Pune as well. However, your application will be processed by the consulate in Goa.

If you are from the rest of the states and UTs in the country, you must apply it at the Embassy of Portugal in New Delhi. You can apply it through the VACs located across India as per their jurisdiction.