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Emergency numbers in Portugal
Information for motorists
Embassy contacts
Is a visa required to visit Portugal?
If you are a citizen of one of the countries that have a visa-free agreement with Schengen, such as the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and most European countries, then you can visit Portugal without a visa for up to 90 days.
It is necessary to submit documents for a visa only in the following cases:
If you are from a country that does not have a visa-free agreement with Schengen.
If you are staying in Portugal for more than three months.
See a detailed list of who needs a visa to Portugal and who can enter without a visa.
Note that the European Union will not issue Schengen visas to citizens who received Russian passports in the "DPR," "LPR," Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, as well as in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Portugal Schengen visa
If you want to visit Portugal for a short period of time (and you are from one of the countries that require a visa), you will need to apply for a Schengen visa to Portugal. You can get a Portugal Schengen visa for short-term visits such as tourism, business, family visits, etc.
Portugal is part of the Schengen area along with 25 other European countries. These countries have established free movement within their borders and have a common visa, known as the Schengen visa. This means that if you get a visa to any Schengen country, such as Portugal, you can also travel to other Schengen countries.
If you want to go to Portugal for a long period of time (e.g., if you will work or study there), then you need a Portuguese national visa, not a Schengen visa.
Visa requirements for Portugal
Documents that must be submitted to apply for a visa to Portugal:
Your passport. It must be valid for at least another three months from the date of departure from Portugal or the Schengen area.
Application form for a visa to Portugal. You can download the form from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal (here).
Passport-sized photos that meet Schengen requirements:
Must be made recently.
They must have a white background.
Your face must be fully visible.
Medical travel insurance in accordance with Schengen requirements.
It must be valid throughout the Schengen area.
Must cover at least 30,000 euros of emergency medical care and evacuation.
Proof that you have paid the Portugal visa fee.
Your travel itinerary. You don't have to pay for the flights, just book them.
Cover letter for a visa to Portugal. It should detail the reason for the trip, the dates of arrival and departure if you are going to another Schengen country, your planned activities, etc.
Proof of sufficient funds. You must be able to prove that you can support yourself financially for the duration of your trip.
Proof of residence in Portugal. This can be a hotel reservation or an invitation letter (if you are visiting friends or relatives).
If you work:
Proof of employment – employment contract if you have an employer or business registration certificate if you own a business or are self-employed.
Working leave (if you have an employer).
Bank statements for the last three months.
If you are a student: a certificate of enrollment from your university or school.
If you are retired: Your pension certificate.
Requirements for minors traveling alone:
Birth certificate of a minor.
Copy of passports of parents or guardians.
Letter of consent signed by parents or legal guardians.
If you are traveling to Portugal to visit relatives or friends:
Letter of invitation from your family member or friend.
If you are traveling for business purposes:
Letter of invitation from a company in Portugal. The letter must state the duration and purpose of your trip.
A letter from your company stating the relationship between the two companies.
Recommendations for the preparation of documents
All documents must be in English or Portuguese. If this is not the case, they must be translated by a certified translator.
Any civil documents, such as birth certificates, must be legalized with an apostille stamp or by the Portuguese embassy.
How to apply for a visa to Portugal?
To apply for a visa to Portugal, you must:
Collect the necessary documents for obtaining a visa to Portugal. See Portugal visa requirements above.
Apply. Depending on where you live, you may need to submit your documents to a Portuguese embassy, consulate or visa application center.
Pay the Portugal visa fee. The cost of Portugal Schengen visa is 90 euros for adults and 45.00 euros for children between 6-12 years of age. The reduced rate of 35 euros is available for nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus, and the reduced rate of 67.50 euros is available for nationals from Cabo Verde. Schengen Visa is free for children younger than six years of age.
Wait for the visa to be processed. It usually takes about 15 days, but it may take longer depending on your situation.
Pick up a visa. Depending on where and how you applied, you will know if your application was successful and you will have to go to pick up your passport where the visa will be applied.
Trip to Portugal. After receiving the visa, you can travel to Portugal.
If you are from one of the following countries, you will need to apply for an airport transit visa if you will be changing flights at a Portuguese airport, even if you are not leaving the international transit area:
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Democratic Republic of Congo
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
Guinea
Iran
Iraq
Nigeria
Pakistan
Senegal
Somalia
Sri Lanka
You must apply for an airport transit visa by submitting the following documents:
Your valid passport.
Schengen visa application form A.
Two identical photos that meet Schengen requirements.
Confirmation of payment of Schengen visa fees. Issuance of a Schengen transit visa costs 80 euros.
Biometric data. Children, disabled persons and civil servants are exempt from this requirement.
Copies of previous visas, if any.
A personal cover letter addressed to the embassy. You should explain the details of your travel plan regarding when you plan to visit the country, where you will stay and what you will do.
Flight booking.
Visa for the final destination (if a visa is required).
In order to import a dog (or cat or ferret), you will need the following documents:
Animal passport issued by a veterinarian with an up-to-date rabies vaccine.
ISO compliant microchip.
Health certificate completed before the flight.
To find out the full list of requirements for entering Portugal with a pet from your country, follow the link.
Compared to other European countries, Portuguese customs are not considered the strictest. There are no restrictions on the import of currency into the country. The only thing is that the amount over EUR 10,000 must be declared.
If you are interested in what you can import into Portugal by plane, this list includes:
Personal medicines.
Coffee – 500g, tea – 100g.
Perfume 50 ml, toilet water – 250 ml.
Personal belongings, the amount of which does not exceed EUR 430.
Cigarettes 200 pcs. or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco.
Some tourists are concerned about how much alcohol can be brought into Portugal. For travelers over 20, this figure is 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer. The country's customs does not set a certain amount of how much alcohol can be exported from Portugal.
The list of what is prohibited to import into and export from the territory of Portugal can be viewed below:
Antiques, historical values, jewels.
Weapons and ammunition.
Drugs.
Meat and dairy products.
Chocolate.
Potatoes, if you came from EU countries.
Urgent assistance (round the clock) – 115
Ambulance, police, fire service – 112
Reference – 118
To make traveling around Portugal easier, more comfortable and more flexible, you can rent a car to explore the cities and beauty of the country. Just make sure you have a valid driver's license and international driver's license.
To rent a car, you must provide the following documents:
Passport.
A valid native driver's license.
Identification card with name, date of birth and address.
Credit card.
The minimum age for driving a car is 18 years.
The minimum age for renting a car is 23 years.
For more detailed information on driving in Portugal, follow the link.
Started on August 1, 2022 persons who hold a driving licence issued by the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are now able to drive in Portugal without having to change their driving licence for a Portuguese one.
The measure covers the following countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Sao Tome e Principe, Guinea Bissau, and Mozambique, Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the US, Switzerland, and Iceland.
Citizens of all the countries mentioned above can drive in Portugal with their original driving licence even if they hold a Portuguese residence permit.
Embassies of Portugal in different countries of the world by the link
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