Visas & Documents

Common Types of Visas

Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland only need a valid identity card/passport to enter Portugal.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and EEA and plan to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, you must apply for a temporary entry visa before travelling. Depending on the purpose and duration of your stay, different requirements may apply. These visas are valid for stays of up to one year and usually allow multiple entries into Portugal. For longer stays, you must apply for a residence permit after arrival. More info here.

Study Visa

For students and exchange programme participants.

To study in higher education, you must:

Be admitted to a higher education institution.
Provide proof of acceptance from the institution.
Have sufficient financial means.

Valid for the duration of the study programme, up to one year.

Traineeship/Internship Visa

For trainees and interns undertaking a traineeship or internship.

To undertake a training period, you must:

Provide information about the framework and programme.
Have a traineeship or internship agreement.

Valid between 3 months and 2 years.

Research Visa

For PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and academic professionals.

You must meet one of the following requirements:

Have a work contract or hosting agreement with a research centre or higher education institution.
Provide proof of acceptance and a scholarship or research grant.
Submit a term of responsibility guaranteeing admission and accommodation expenses.

Valid for the duration of the research activity, up to one year.

Visa & Residence Permit

How to Apply

You must apply through the Portuguese consulate or embassy in your country of residence.

Requests for information and/or visa applications should be made to the Portuguese Embassies or Consulates of the respective area of residence.

Required documents typically include:

Valid passport
Acceptance letter or invitation from a Portuguese institution
Proof of accommodation
Proof of financial means (recommended minimum: around €870 per month)
Valid health or travel insurance
Criminal record certificate (depending on your country of origin)
Authenticated and translated academic documents

Visa applications may take between 1 and 3 months. It is strongly advised to apply well in advance of your intended arrival date.

After arrival - Residence Permit

Once in Portugal, you must apply for a residence permit with AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, which replaced SEF.

You must book an appointment and submit documentation similar to your visa application.
As of April 2025, only complete applications are accepted.
Due to high demand, scheduling can take several weeks or months.

Useful resources:
– AIMA – Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Tax Identification Number (NIF)

Required for opening a bank account, renting accommodation, or signing up for services such as mobile phone plans.

You can obtain a NIF at a local Finanças (tax office) by presenting your passport. Some universities and relocation services can assist with this process.

Public Health Registration (Número de Utente)

– Non-EU citizens must show proof of private or travel insurance when applying for the residence permit. After legalising your stay, you may register with the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) at a local health centre to obtain a Número de Utente.

– EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for access to the SNS but may wish to purchase additional private coverage.

– Citizens from some countries, such as Brazil, may use agreements like the CDAM to access Portuguese healthcare under special conditions.

Health Insurance

Mandatory for the visa application process. Must be valid for your entire stay in Portugal and preferably include repatriation coverage.

Even with access to public healthcare, international students are encouraged to maintain private insurance

Academic Recognition  & Equivalency

If you hold a foreign qualification and wish to have its legal validity recognised in Portugal, you may need to go through a formal recognition or equivalency process.

The procedures and requirements vary depending on the level of education and the purpose of the recognition.

Secondary Education

If you need to validate foreign school qualifications at primary or secondary level in Portugal, you must apply for an equivalency process regulated by the Diroectorate-General for Education (DGE).

Equivalency grants full legal recognition of your school qualifications in Portugal, allowing you to:

Continue your studies within the Portuguese education system
Use your qualification for official purposes

Public primary or secondary schools
Private schools with pedagogical autonomy

Applicants residing outside Portugal should apply through DGE.

Official application form
Certified copies of diplomas and academic records
Apostille (Hague Convention) or consular legalisation, depending on your country.
Official translation into Portuguese (if the documents are in a foreign language).

Documents must clearly indicate

Completed school years
Study programme
Final grades and grading scale

Free of charge
Average processing time: up to 30 days (after submission of complete documentation)

More info:

www.dge.mec.pt/faq-equivalence-foreign-qualifications

Higher Education Degrees

There are three types of recognition for higher education degrees – Automatic, Level, and Specific – all of which have the same legal validity but are designed for different purposes. You should choose the option that best aligns with your goals.

The application must be submitted through the Institute for Higher Education, I.P. (IES), previous Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES) online portal.

Automatic Recognition – For degrees from specific countries/institutions listed by IES, previous DGES. Recognises the level of the degree.
Level Recognition – Confirms that your degree corresponds to a Portuguese academic level (e.g. Bachelor, Master, PhD).
Specific Recognition – Provides full recognition of the degree, field of study, and academic content (e.g. “Bachelor in Biology”).

For most jobs (in non-regulated professions): Automatic or Level Recognition is usually sufficient.

For regulated professions (e.g. medicine, engineering): Specific Recognition may be required, along with additional professional accreditation.

You should confirm the requirements with the relevant professional authority.

Diploma or degree certificate
Academic transcripts
Additional documents may be required depending on the type of recognition
An official Portuguese translation may be required if the documents are not in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish.

The process may take between 30 and 90 days
The process may take between 30 and 90 days Fees start at €32 and may vary depending on the type of recognition.

More information about higher education, Degree and Diploma Recognition:

www.dges.gov.pt