Portugal: visa, passport and entry requirements

Entry document

• ✓Passport
• ✕National ID card

Passport validity
at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area

Your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area. have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue). You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has either been reported lost or stolen or is damaged. — The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) will register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photo. There is no cost for EES registration. On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk. You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken. Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. If you are long-term resident in a Schengen country, you are exempt from EES in all Schengen countries. If you believe you have been incorrectly entered into EES or your record of time spent in the Schengen area is incorrect, approach border officials when you next cross the Schengen border and request a correction. If you are exempt, carry documentation confirming your status. If you believe your time spent in the Schengen area has been recorded incorrectly, raise this with border officials and be prepared to provide supporting evidence if requested. Prior to travelling to Portugal, you can use the EU’s Travel to Europe mobile application to complete an entry questionnaire. The application is optional, but it can help you save time and speed up border checks.

Visa

Not required

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Portugal, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel as a tourist to visit family or friends to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events for short-term studies or training. The requirements for working in Portugal are different. If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years. At Portuguese border control you may need to show: an onward or return ticket proof you have enough money for your visit. If you’re visiting Portugal and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to AIMA using their contact form (access is only available to users in Portugal). — up to 90 days in any 180-day period