Portugal Visa For Indian Citizens, is a popular topic amongst Indians. but only a few have been able to get it right. If you are wondering whether you can apply for a Portuguese visa from India, then this article on Portugal Visa For Indian Citizens can help you in your decision-making process.

For Indian citizens, Portugal is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. To visit as a tourist, or to do your business, it’s important to know what you need to get a visa; we’ll give a brief overview of the process.

In order to travel to Portugal, Indian citizens need to obtain a Visa for Portugal. The Indian citizens can also choose to apply for a long term stay permit. Portuguese Consulate in Mumbai issues Portugal visa on behalf of the Government of Portugal.

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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 Visa For Indian Citizens

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
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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.

Additional Requirements Based on the Purpose of Entry to Portugal

The reason behind your intended trip to Portugal plays a huge role in the documents you need to submit, to prove that you meet the criteria to be permitted to enter and remain in Portugal for the desired period.

Following find the additional Portugal visa requirements based on your purpose of travelling to Portugal.

Portugal Airport Transit Visa Requirements

If you are travelling to a non-EU/EEA country, but your plane has to land at one of the Portuguese airports, then you may need a Portugal Airport Transit Visa.

Not all nationals of countries under the Schengen visa regime need a Portugal Airport Transit Visa. Check the list of the nationals that need a Portugal Airport Transit Visa, to find out if you need to apply for one.

Required Documents for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa to Portugal

When applying to obtain a Portugal Airport Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to.
The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.

Portugal Transit Visa Requirements

You will have to apply for a Portugal Transit Visa if you are a seafarer that needs to disembark at one of the Portuguese harbours to embark on another vessel that will take you to your non-Schengen destination country, or if you are a seafarer travelling to Portugal.

Required Documents for a Transit Schengen Visa to Portugal

When applying to obtain a Portugal Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

A valid visa (if required) for the final country you are travelling to.
The ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
Original and photocopy of Seaman’s book (required only for seafarers).
Letter from the inviting Shipping Company. Issued by the inviting Shipping Company in Portugal (required only for seafarers).
Employment contract. Contract with the navigation company/ship in order to board the ship (required only for seafarers).

Portugal Tourist Visa Requirements

If you are planning to travel to Portugal for holidays, tourism, entertainment, sightseeing or similar, then you should apply for a Portugal Tourist Visa for short stays. The visa permits you to remain in Portugal for up to 90 days, within six months.

Required Documents for a Tourist Schengen Visa to Portugal

When applying to obtain a Portuguese Tourist visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

Bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
Travel Itinerary. A description of your trip day-to-day for the whole intended duration of your stay in Portugal.
Proof of how you will be financing your trip to Portugal.

Portugal Visitor Visa Requirements

If you have a family member or a friend residing in Portugal, who has invited you to visit them for a period shorter than 90 days, you qualify to apply for a Portuguese Visitor Visa.

Required Documents for a Schengen Visitor Visa to Portugal

When applying to obtain a visa to visit your friends or relatives in Portugal, you must provide the following additional documents:

Travel Itinerary. Detailed day-to-day plan of your trip to Portugal.
Proof of Invitation. By the relative/friend residing in Portugal, inviting you to visit.
- A declaration of support, legalized by a Notary Public in Portugal.
- Invitation letter. The local Municipality in Portugal should attest to this letter, which among others, must also include the period of your stay.
- A copy of the host’s passport’s bio page + host’s permit of stay in Portugal if the host is a non-EU citizen
- Documents confirming host’s address, e.g. utility bill.
- Proof of relationship with the host residing in Portugal.

Portugal Business Visa Requirements

A Portuguese Schengen Business visa is for travellers who need to enter the territory of Portugal for the sole purpose of engaging in business activities, i.e. meetings, contract signing, etc.

Required Documents for a Business Schengen Visa to Portugal

When applying to obtain a Portuguese Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

Letter of invitation or statement of participation by the organization/company in Portugal including details of the event/affiliation and duration.
Confirmed registration for trade fairs or congress
A letter from your employer. In this letter should be stated why you will be travelling to Portugal.
Proof of trip financing. Regarding the applicant’s expenses during their stay in Portugal, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.