Portugal Schengen Visa

The Schengen Area, named after the Schengen Agreement, of which Portugal is a signatory country, is the area that have abolished border controls between their common borders. The Schengen Area therefore functions as a though it were a single country for international travel purposes, having adopted a common visa policy. Portugal Schengen visa holders are permitted travel within the area for 90 days on tourism or business purposes.

Belion Partners specialise in assisting investors in Portugal and assist clients with residency and citizenship programmes aimed at investors. A Schengen visa is beneficial for residents and those looking to move to Portugal after Brexit, or whilst waiting for the permanent visa process to complete, especially as investors can encounter difficulties when obtaining a Schengen visa or attempting to move around the EU.

Belion Partners have put together this resource for investors and potential residents to make the process easier for them. Please note, the simplest way to obtain a Portugal Schengen travel visa is through a competent travel agent in the home country. Alternatively, you can do it yourself, as follows.

N.B.: The following information is of a generic nature and does not cover special situations. Furthermore, criteria may vary from diplomatic mission to diplomatic mission and you are therefore advised to check the exact criteria with that in your country.

As a rule, a traveller will need a Type C Visa, which allows for transit and short-term stays in the Schengen Area, having a maximum validity of 90 days per semester and allowing 1, 2 or multiple entries. The regular application fee for this visa is 60 Euros and a reduced or zero-cost fee applies in some special situations.

Portugal Schengen visa applications must be submitted to the diplomatic mission of the country that constitutes the sole destination of the trip or trips; or, if no main destination can be determined, the country whose border the applicant intends to cross in order to enter the Schengen Area.

For example, if your destination is Portugal, you should apply for your visa at the Portuguese diplomatic mission (or at another country’s mission in representation of Portugal) in your area of residence. 

The minimum documentary requirements are as follows:

• Fully completed and duly signed application form.
• Recent passport-type photograph (some missions may require up to 4 photos).
• Original and copy of passport valid for at least 3 months (sometimes up to 6) from the departure date, plus copy of any previous visas.
• Original and copy of airline return ticket or flight booking document.
• Original and copy of hotel booking.
• Original and copy of travel medical insurance policy, valid for the whole Schengen Area for the duration of the trip or trips and having a minimum cover of 30,000 Euros for medical and hospital care plus repatriation for emergency medical reasons.
• Original and copy documentary evidence of employment and salary, or equivalent.
• Original and copy of the latest 3 monthly bank statements (some missions may require up to 6 months), which must prove that the applicant has sufficient financial means to support him/herself for the duration of the trip.

If travelling on business, an invitation letter from an organisation in the host country may also be required for the Portugal Schengen visa. This letter should contain the full name and address of the inviting organisation, the name and position of the person who signs it, plus, as regards the invited person, the name and surname, date of birth, sex, citizenship, passport number, dates and purpose of the trip and number of necessary visits.

Additionally, some diplomatic missions may request any or some of the following:

• A cover letter.
• Original and copy national identity card.
• Original and copy national tax number certificate.
• A letter from your employer or sponsor in your home country stating your position and monthly salary and guaranteeing your return home.
• A recommendation letter from your Chamber of Commerce.
• A copy of your credit card(s).
• A fax from your destination hotel to the diplomatic mission, confirming your booking.
• A fax from your business host in Portugal to the diplomatic mission, copying your invitation letter.