Portugal Student Visa

Portugal is a developed country with a progressing economy, high living standards, and pacific and flexible nation. Its exceptional living standards and high quality of education at affordable cost attract students from worldwide. Every year almost 50,000 international students choose to study in Portugal.

In Portugal, along with your study, you can enjoy historic sites, breath-taking mountains, scenic beaches, the existing culture, and dazzling nightlife.

It will be a diversified and exciting place for your higher education. There are a lot of public and private universities in Portugal which focus more on practical practices than theoretical. To study in Portugal, you need to check whether you need a student visa or not.

Who does not need a Portugal Student Visa?

It depends on your nationality, whether you need to get a Portugal Student visa or not. As you may already know, Portugal is one of the Schengen Area Countries. According to the visa policy of the Schengen area, it allows nationals of various countries to enter Portugal without a visa.

1. For EU/EEA Nationals:

If you are from any EU/EEA country, you do not need a student visa to study in Portugal. You only need to have your valid passport and a European Health Insurance Card to enter Portugal. If the course of study is more than 90-days, you have to apply for a certificate of registration at the local city council office just after your arrival in Portugal.

2. For Non-EU/EEA Nationals:

If you are a Non-EU/EEA citizen and want to study in Portugal, you will require both a Portugal Student visa as well as a residence permit for the duration of your studies. 

How to get a Portugal Student Visa?

To study in Portugal, if you are a Non-EU/EEA resident, all you need to apply for a Long Term Portugal Student Visa (Type D). It will allow you to enter Portugal for study purposes with a stay of more than 90-days.

Before applying for a Portugal Student Visa, you must have an acceptance letter from the chosen educational institution in Portugal. To live and study in Portugal until your study period, you also need to apply for a residence permit just after you arrive in Portugal with Portugal Student Visa. 

Note that if your course of study is not more than 90-days, you can also apply for a Short-Stay Visa (Type C).

What will be the required documents for a Portugal Student Visa?

You will need to have the following documents to get a Long-Term student visa for Portugal.

1. Completed Portugal Student Visa Application Form

2. Valid passport 

3. Passport-sized photos 

4. An acceptance letter from a Portuguese higher educational institution

5. Proof that you have enough financial funds

6. A document of travel itinerary to Portugal

7. Proof that shows language proficiency

8. Proof of accommodation in Portugal

9. Travel insurance document

10. A receipt of a visa application fee payment (up to 170 EUR)

Requirements for Short-Term Visa (type C):

You need the following documents to get a short stay visa for Portugal.

1. Valid passport or a travel document

2. Evidence of enough financial resources

3. Proof of accommodation in Portugal

4. Passport-sized photos (Two)

5. Medical insurance document

6. Travel itinerary

7. An acceptance letter from an educational institution in Portugal

8. A receipt to prove payment of visa processing fee

9. Criminal record certificate from native country

What will be the processing time for a Portugal Student Visa?

The long-term student visa for Portugal will take up to 2-3 months for processing.

How to get a Residence Permit for Portugal?

Once you enter Portugal with your valid visa, you will need to apply for a residence permit only if you are a citizen of any Non-EU/EEA state. The Portugal residence permit for students will be valid for a year. After one year, you can renew it for up to five years. 

You need the following documents to get a residence permit.

• Completed application form
• Valid passport 
• Passport-sized photos (Two)
• Proof that shows you have enough financial means 
• Proof of accommodation in Portugal
• Medical insurance document
• Proof of registration at a chosen Portuguese higher educational institution
• Proof of tuition fees payment

Can you work in Portugal while studying?

If you are an EU/EEA country, you are allowed to work in Portugal without any restrictions or time limits. But if you are a Non-EU/EEA national, you can work for up to 20 hours a week only if you have a residence permit. You are allowed to work full time during your vacations.

Is it expensive to study in Portugal?

Portugal is less costly for living and studying as compared to many other European countries. The Average cost of studying at the public university in Portugal for a Bachelor's and Masters's programs is about €1,250 per year, and for PhDs, it will be from €2,500 to 3,000 per year.

Some of the Best universities in Portugal

Where to study in Portugal? Here are some of the best universities in Portugal

1. Universidade de Aveiro

2. University of Coimbra

3. University of Lisbon

4. University of Porto

5. Universidade Nova de Lisboa