Nationals of non-Schengen countries who do not benefit from a visa exemption must obtain a visa before entering Portugal. The type of visa required depends on the duration of the stay and the purpose of travel.
The short-stay Schengen visa, also called type C visa, is intended for people travelling to Portugal for tourism, business, family, medical or short-term study purposes. It allows the holder to stay in Portugal and the other Schengen member states for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
The long-stay visa, or national visa (type D), is for people wishing to reside in Portugal for more than 90 days. It is issued, in particular, for family reunification, paid or self-employed work, studies, scientific research or any other purpose provided for by Portuguese law.
The transit visa is intended for travellers whose final destination is outside the Schengen area and who make a stopover in a Portuguese airport. Whether it is required depends on the traveller nationality and itinerary conditions.
Visa applications may be submitted at the earliest six months before the planned travel date and, as a general rule, no later than thirty days before departure. To avoid any delay or unexpected issue in processing the file, it is strongly recommended to begin the steps as early as possible.