Eligibility for the Portugal tourist visa

• You need to hold a valid Passport of 3 months from your intended date of exit from Portugal.

• 2 Blank pages in Passport.

• You need to prove the purpose of your visit to Portugal.

• You need to prove you hold sufficient funds to cover your stay in Portugal.

• You need to prove economic & social ties in your home country.

• You need to return to your home country before the visa expires.

How to apply for a Portugal tourist visa?

• The tourist visa for Portugal allows you to visit as a tourist and to meet your family & friends. The Visa process is an offline process. The applicant is required to visit the center for submission of the documents and biometrics and the visa received will be stamped on the passport.

• If asked by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa, or Embassy of Portugal, New Delhi applicants may be required to submit additional documents.

• If while applying for a Portugal visa you haven’t traveled to the Schengen region within 3 years or you are traveling for the first time you may be called for an interview at the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa

• The interview can take place before you receive the visa or after the trip to Portugal. Interview details will be mentioned on the visa if the interview is after the trip.

• If the interview is to be scheduled before the travel VAC center will help in scheduling the appointment. It happens mostly when you have no travel to Schengen within the last 3 years of the submission of the application.

• On the scheduled appointment day you have to visit the VFS center submit the documents as per the checklist, biometrics, and make the payment for visa processing. VFS Fees are to be paid while taking an online appointment and Consulate charges are to be paid at the center.

• If you fail to appear at the VFS center on the scheduled appointment date VFS fees will not be refunded and will be considered as no show.

• Children below 12 years are not required to give biometrics. Applicants who have visited Schengen Areas in the last 36 months do not require to give biometrics.

Process for Portugal Tourist Visa

• Portugal tourist visa offers offline services by submitting the passport and the required documents at the VFS center and if required, attending the interview.

• While preparing for the application it is always advisable to take the guidance and support of the travel agent to avoid delays or rejections.

• For taking the appointment you need to complete the online application form for applicants who come under Goa jurisdiction. You must make sure the date on the visa application form must be the same as the date of appointment at the VFS center.

• Once you have decided on the itinerary and travel dates you need to start collecting the documents. If you have an invite you need to collect those documents in advance as it will be required for filling up the online form & to prepare a cover letter.

• The visa form for a tourist visa is filled online. All the details in the form must be filled to the best of their knowledge.

• The cover letter must have all the details regards to the purpose of your travel, employment details, and who will bear the expenses of the trip. Inviter’s details if you have an invite. If you are traveling with the family then the Name of all the travelers and relation and Passport Number is mandatory.

• The invitation letter must have inviter’s Name, Passport Number, Contact Number, Mail Id, and place of residence in Portugal. Inviter must mention the Name, Passport Number, and relation to the invitee in the letter.

• The invitation letter must be in original stamped and signed by an advocate in Portugal.

• Once all the documents are arranged you need to schedule an appointment at the nearby VFS center.

• On the day of the appointment, you must reach at least 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment time.

• At the center, the VFS representative will be collecting the documents, guiding you for biometrics, and payment.

• At the counter, you need to submit the documents to make payment and then proceed for the biometrics process. Once this process gets over you will be handed over a payment receipt with reference number, your name & passport number which is to be preserved for further communication.

• If you are required to attend the interview then it will be scheduled by the VAC when you submit the documents.

• Payment has to be made in cash or by card at the counter. Payment made at the center will be Consulate Fees. VFS charges are to be online while taking the appointment.

• The processing time for the visa is 12-15 days. You can track your application online by visiting the VFS website with the help of the reference number or call them and check it.

• Once the passport is ready for collection you need to carry the original receipt given by the center and one Xerox of government ID proof of the applicant.

• You can opt for courier service by paying the charges if you do not wish to revisit the center.

Visa if approved will be valid for 90 days or as per the conditions mentioned on the visa.

Documents required for the Portugal tourist visa

Mandatory documents

• Original Passport
• Visa Form
• Document Checklist
• Appointment letter
• Photo
• Cover Letter
• Air Tickets
• Internal travel tickets (if applicable)
• Hotel Accommodation
• Bank Statement
• Income Tax Returns
• Travel Insurance

Employed

• Appointment letter/ Offer letter
• Leave letter with the designation, current profile, days of leaves sanctioned, place of residence in India, the purpose of visit, and name and address of host/hotel accommodation in Portugal. It must be in original with stamp & signature of the Head of the Department.
• Salary Slips & Bank Statement of the last 3 months and 6 months respectively.

Self Employed

• Company Registration Papers
• In case of partners, the letter from another partner with the designation, days of leaves sanctioned, place of residence in India, the purpose of visit, and name and address of host/hotel accommodation in Portugal. The letter must be in original with signature & stamp of another partner.
• With no business partners a letter on the company letterhead mentioning your designation and “there are no higher authorities to sanction leaves as the owner of the organization”, the purpose of visit, stay period, name & address of host/hotel accommodation in Portugal. The letter must be original with stamp & signature.
• GST Certificate
• Company Bank Statement
• Company Income Tax Returns

Student

• School/College ID card
• Current Academic Year fee receipt or,
• Bonafide Certificate

Retired

• Pension Bank Statement
• Proof of regular income.

Sponsored Trip

• Notarized Sponsorship Letter on INR 100 stamp paper with sponsors’ government ID to be notarized.
• Sponsor’s Passport Copy
• Sponsor’s Bank Statement
• Sponsor’s Income Tax Returns

Inviter’s Documents

• Invitation letter in original
• Inviter’s Passport copy
• Valid Residential Permit card
• Inviter’s Residence proof and rent receipt of 3 months.
• Inviter’s Employment proof – Salary slips & Tax Papers for 3 months & 3 years respectively.

Additional documents may be asked by the Portugal Consulate apart from listed in the checklist.

Processing Time

• Turnaround time of the application and processing is the consulate’s discretion. Processing time for the application is 12-15 days however it may differ based on the application.
• It is advisable to submit documents are per the checklist to avoid delays & rejection.
• Consulate accepts application 90 days before your intended travel date.