Portugal Study Visa – Eligibility, Application, and Cost

Portugal is known for its beaches, gastronomy, and gorgeous countryside, and it is located in Southern Europe. The country is Europe’s oldest nation and has an excellent academic record, low tuition cost and high student satisfaction rate. If you wish to visit Portugal or pursue your studies, you should be aware of the requirements and procedures. We have provided each and every piece of information regarding the Portugal Study Visa.

Portugal Visa

There are various sorts of visas that will apply to your trip to Portugal, depending on the reason for your visit. You will need to apply for a different Portuguese Schengen Visa depending on whether you intend to visit, study, or work in Portugal permanently. A Schengen visa for Portugal is a unique type of visa that permits you to travel between all Schengen nations, including Portugal, for up to 90 days. This is a traveller’s dream, as you can visit any of the other 25 Schengen nations, as well as Portugal, with just one visa. It is referred to as the “golden visa” of Portugal.

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Eligibility to Apply For a Portugal Visa

Listed below are the eligibility criteria for applying for the Portugal Visa.

• A valid passport with a validity of three months longer than the period of the Visa you are applying for.
• If you have any old passports, bring them with you.
• Two passport-size photographs.
• A copy of your completed and signed application form.
• Proof of hotel reservations, travel reservations, and a detailed itinerary of your activities in Poland for the duration of your visit.
• A duplicate of the tour ticket
• Evidence of sufficient funds to support your journey and stay in the country.
• Valid medical insurance with a 30,000-pound coverage limit.
• Cover letter stating the reason for your trip to Portugal as well as your itinerary.
• Proof of lodging for the duration of the stay.
• Validation of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, etc.)
• The address and phone number of the family member or sponsor are included in the invitation letter.
• Bank statement from the previous six months.

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Application Process For Portugal Visa

The following is the method for applying for a short-term Portugal Visa:

• You must first determine where you must submit your application for a Portugal Visa.
  • It could be the embassy or consulate of Portugal in your home country.
  • It could potentially be a Visa application facility that has been approved to process Visa applications by Portugal.
  • It might also be an embassy or consulate of any other Schengen nation that Portugal has permitted to handle Visa applications.

• Depending on the reason for your visit to Portugal, you will need to choose the appropriate type of Visa.
• Compile all of the documents listed above to meet the requirements of the Portugal embassy or consulate in your place of residency.
• Make an appointment to get your Visa processed at the Portugal embassy or consulate.
• As scheduled, attend the Visa interview at the Portugal embassy or consulate.

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Portugal Visa Fees

Entry	Purpose	Stay Duration	Validity	Fees(INR)
Multiple entries Normal	Religious	90 days	3 months	6806.0
Multiple entries Normal	Business	90 days	3 months	9355.0
Multiple entries Normal	Study	90 days	3 months	6806.0
Multiple entries Normal	Work	90 days	3 months	6806.0
Multiple entries Normal	Scientist	90 days	3 months	6806.0
Multiple entries Normal	Dependant	90 days	3 months	6806.0
Multiple entries Normal	Scientist	90 days	3 months	6806.0
Multiple entries Normal	Tourist	90 days	3 months	9355.0

Processing Time For Portugal Visa

The length of time it takes to process your application is determined by the type of permit, the validity of the Visa, the number of applications received at the embassy, and your previous travel history. Your application will typically be processed in 15 working days. However, because this can take a long time, it is recommended that you apply for the Visa well ahead of time.

Portugal Student Visa

If you are accepted into a Portuguese higher education institution, you will almost certainly need to apply for a Portugal study Visa.

Studying in Portugal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a beautiful sunny nation rich in culture and history, meet new people, and receive a high-quality education. Furthermore, Portugal has one of the lowest living expenditures in Western Europe.

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Eligibility For Portugal Student Visa 

You must submit the following documents when applying for a Portugal Study Visa:

• A passport must be valid (or a travel document).
• From your university, a letter of acceptance.
• You’ll need proof that you’ve paid your tuition. Submit a confirmation document from your university if you have a scholarship.
• Taken recently, two passport-size photos. 
• Form for applying for a Student Visa in Portugal. This is normally provided by the Embassy.
• You must show proof that you have the financial resources to support your stay. Bank statements, a scholarship, proof of financial aid, or proof of sponsorship can all be used.
• Proof that you have a place to stay in Portugal. This could be a rental agreement, university housing (dorms), or a letter of invitation from a family member or friend who will be living with you in Portugal.
• A Certificate of Criminal Records is a document that contains information about a person’s criminal
• A copy of your Schengen travel health insurance is required. You will also need to obtain enough health insurance from a private firm once you are in Portugal.

Application Process

To apply for a Portugal study Visa, you must contact the Portuguese Embassy in your country of residence. The Letter of Acceptance from your university should already be in your possession. The application process is summarised as follows:

• Obtain your university’s Letter of Acceptance.
• Determine where you should send your application. You can learn more by visiting the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
• Make an appointment with the Embassy for an interview.
• Fill out the application for a Student Visa in Portugal.
• Gather all of the required documents for the application.
• Pay the requisite fee for a student Visa. The Embassy should once again advise you about the payment method (online, via bank transfer, cash, etc).
• You must submit the relevant documentation on the day of your appointment. You may be able to mail the documents instead of the Embassy being in another country.
• Allow for the processing of the Visa application.
• You can travel to Portugal once you receive your Visa.
• You must make an appointment with the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) to obtain your residence permit once you arrive. The residence permit allows you to stay in Portugal for the duration of your studies, however, it may need to be renewed after a year.

Fees

You must pay a Visa fee at the Embassy as well as a residency permit from the SEF when applying for a Portugal Study Visa:

• Embassy fee – €90 (7,767 INR).
• To submit the application for a residence permit at the SEF – €83 (7,163 INR).
• The cost of obtaining a residency permit from the SEF is €72 (6,214 INR).

Processing Time

A student Visa can take anything from a few weeks to three months to process, depending on your country of residency, the specific Embassy, and whether your application is complete. As soon as you receive your admission letter from the university, begin the application procedure.

Are Family Members Permitted on Employee’s Work Visa?

If you are in Portugal on a student visa, you are permitted to bring dependent family members with you. You must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to support them as well as yourself. The following family members are eligible for a family visa:

• Your registered/domestic partner or spouse.
• Your dependent children (including adopted children).
• Your adult (unmarried) children who are financially reliant on you due to an illness or handicap.

Your family members may apply with you and travel to Portugal with you, or they may apply after you have arrived in Portugal.

Can You Stay in Portugal After Your Studies?

You can only stay in Portugal after finishing your education if you receive a job offer. To move from a student residence permit to a working residence permit, you and your employer must meet the conditions for a Portugal work visa.

If you find work, you must apply for a work visa before your student visa ends. If you submit your application within 30 days of the expiration of your student visa, the SEF will not accept it. If your visa expires, you must return home and apply for a work visa from your native country.

Does a Student Visa Lead to Permanent Residency in Portugal?

Your time as a student in Portugal does not count towards permanent residency. To become a permanent resident, you must first obtain a job offer as a highly qualified worker and then switch to a (temporary) work visa (Work Visa), which is valid for one year and can be renewed for up to five years. You can apply for permanent residency after five years of working on a temporary residence permit.

Can You Work with a Portugal Student Visa?

Yes, if you have a study visa in Portugal, you can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during semester breaks and holidays. You cannot work if you are on a short course (up to three months) and only hold a Schengen visa.

Interview Questions for Portugal Student Visa

What’s your educational background? Do you intend to study in one of the Schengen nations?

Mention your highest level of education. If you intend to study in a Schengen nation, specify the course you want to take, the country you want to study in, and the year you want to apply for the course.

Do You Have Any Awards Or Scholarships?

If you answered yes, you should describe the scholarship, its term, and the sponsoring institute. All information about the scholarship should be laid out on the table. This will demonstrate to the authorities your excellence or any further financial assistance you may receive throughout your stay in Europe.

Why Did You Pick This University Or This Programme?

The question is intended to elicit any shortlisting factors you used to choose the course and university. While answering, you should thoroughly prepare the answer, including details about the course, its implications for your career, university infrastructure, and so on.

Any Plans For Future Studies?

If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you can say whether you intend to pursue a master’s degree at home or abroad. Similarly, if you have a Master’s degree, you may be questioned about your doctorate interests. You should be clear about your future study plans, and if you want to continue your studies in the same country, you should indicate this in the interview.

Have You Applied To Any Other University? Did You Get Admission In Other Universities?

Answer this question honestly. You may have applied to several universities to further your education, and you should make your whole list available to the authorities. Hide any information and your application will be rejected. The embassy’s officials can monitor your application status in various universities at any moment.

For more part-time job options, you can read a blog on part-time jobs in Europe.

FAQs

Hope this blog helped you explore everything about the Portugal Student Visa. Want to study abroad, but are not sure how to get a Visa? To clear up any issues, contact our specialists at Leverage Edu and schedule a free consultation today!