| If you’re an international student planning to study in Portugal, you’re probably wondering whether you’ll need to get a student visa for Portugal, and which type if you do need one. The answer to all of this is: It depends!
Depending on where you’re travelling from, you may or may not require a visa to be able to study. Also, the length of your course will show you which type of Portuguese visa you’ll need if you do have to apply for one.
If you’re from an EU or EEA country and want to go to uni in Portugal we have good news for you! You don’t need a Portugal student visa to be able to study, whether you’re doing a short 3 month course or 3 year degree. Students from these countries also won’t need to apply for a visa:
- Andorra
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
When it comes to a short-term study visa, they are typically only required for those who need a Portugal Schengen visa. Even then, there are some non-EU countries who won’t require a visa for staying up to 3 months, as long as your passport is valid for at least 6 months. These include:
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- USA
If you’re a non-EU resident who is planning to stay in Portugal for more than 3 months, you’ll likely need to apply for a Portugal student visa and then a resident permit.
Steps For Applying For A Portuguese Student Visa
Getting ready for student life is an exciting step towards a new adventure! However if you’re an international student preparing to study in a different country, you may feel overwhelmed with all the different documents, applications and other official things you need to do before you can move.
One of the most important applications you’ll need to do is for your Portugal student visa. Don’t worry though, we want to help make your student experience as stress-free as possible which is why we’ve outlined the steps you need to take to begin your Portuguese visa application:
- Apply to the Portuguese university you want to study at.
- Get accepted and receive your acceptance letter, which is required for the visa application.
- Apply for your student visa at either the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your home country. You should try to request your study visa at least 2 months before you plan to travel to Portugal. When you’re at the consulate, someone will be able to answer any questions you have about your Portuguese visa, including whether you need a visa, the type of visa you need, any specific documents and how long the visa application process will take for your country.
- Residence permits must be applied for upon arrival in Portugal if your course is longer than 3 months. You can complete an application at the local city council hall.
It’s important to remember that there are no specific language requirements for getting your Portugal study visa, because it’s a requirement for all Portuguese university admissions. If you’re studying an English-taught programme at a Portuguese university, you must pass one of the following tests:
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS academic
- C1 Advanced
TOP TIP: While you don’t need to be fluent in Portuguese to get your student visa, being able to speak Portuguese conversationally will benefit your visa application!
Portugal Student Visa Checklist
Whether you’re applying for a short-term student visa for Portugal, or a student resident visa, you’ll need to go through a detailed application process and provide a number of personal documents, from your passport to health insurance.
Trying to remember all the documents and forms you need in order to apply for your Portugal student visa may seem overwhelming, but we’re here to help! We’ve put together a Portugal student visa checklist for you to follow to ensure you have a hassle-free experience:
- Application form – Ensure that you’ve completed every part of the application and then double check to make sure there are no errors as this could lead to delays in receiving your Portugal student visa, or it being rejected
- Passport – You need a passport or another document used for travelling that will be valid for more than 3 months after the visa and has at least one blank visa page left
- Coloured passport photo
- Vaccination records
- Proof of payment – This is a proof of payment for the university application fee
- Acceptance letter from your university
- Portugal student visa proof of funds – Students must be able to show that they meet the financial requirements to demonstrate they can fund studying in Portugal
- Proof of health insurance
- Valid travel ticket – You can either provide a travel ticket, or a confirmation of your travel reservation to Portugal
- Proof of accommodation
- Any criminal record history – As part of your Portugal student visa requirements, you must declare any convictions or criminal record history
Even once you’ve received your Portuguese visa, It’s important that you keep your own copies of all of the documents for your own reference in case they’re needed again in the future.
Applying For A Residence Card in Portugal
| If you’re planning on staying in Portugal for more than 12 months, you’ll need more than a Portugal student visa. To be allowed to stay longer, you’ll need to apply for a residence card within 4 months of your arrival into Portugal. You can do this easily at a local city council hall through the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF).
If you’re wondering what documents you’ll need for this application, we’ve got you covered! Here is what you’ll need to apply for your residence card so that you can live your ultimate student life in Portugal for more than a year:
- Application form
- Valid passport and a photocopy
- Two identical and recent passport photos
- Proof of funds (income or financial independence)
- Proof of accommodation
It may seem daunting that you’ll have to decide whether you plan on staying in Portugal for more than a year, only 4 months into your stay. Don’t worry though, many universities offer advice and guidance on student visas in Portugal. Plus, there are so many brilliant societies and groups formed at uni for international students to support each other, so you won’t be alone!
How Much is a Portugal Student Visa?
You might be wondering, how much does a Portugal student visa cost? As a student, budgeting is really important as it helps you keep track of your money and makes sure you can afford to live the ultimate student life without breaking the bank. Your Portugal visa will be one of things you need to factor into your student budget before you even move to Portugal.
When you apply for your Portuguese visa, any fees must be paid at the Embassy/consulate. If you’re applying for a resident permit, that must be paid to the SEF.
So, how much does a Portugal student visa cost? Fees will vary from country to country, but for a student visa in Portugal, you can expect to pay around €90 for the Embassy/consulate fee. When it comes to your residence permit, to submit your application at the SEF you can expect to pay around €83, and to receive the permit around €72.
It’s also important to remember that a Portugal student visa has financial requirements which means that, although you won’t be expected to pay this money, you must have a certain amount of evidence to prove that you’ve got enough money to live and study in Portugal. It’s important to keep this in mind when budgeting and planning because you can use scholarships, student loans and other forms of income as your Portugal student visa proof of funds!
How Long Is A Portuguese Student Visa Valid For?
We’ve talked a lot about visas and resident permits, from application processes to costs. Now, let’s talk about how long your Portuguese visa will be valid for.
A Portugal student visa is valid for only 3 months. At the end of the 3 months, you’ll be expected to have a residence permit if you’re planning on staying for longer, or your right to study in Portugal may be revoked. Your residence permit is valid for 12 months but it can be renewed each year until you’ve finished your studies in Portugal.
Can You Work in Portugal As An International Student?
| As a student, there are plenty of ways to stretch your budget further. One of the main ways that you may do this is by getting a part-time job alongside your studies. As an international student, you might be wondering if you’re allowed to work with a Portuguese visa. The answer to this depends on the type of student visa you have and where you’re travelling from!
If you’re only in Portugal for a short course and are staying in Portugal on a Schengen visa, you will not be allowed to work. This is because you must have a resident permit to be allowed to work.
So, what if you’ve got a resident permit? With a resident permit, you’ll be able to get a job alongside your degree. However, how much time you’re allowed to spend working depends on which country you’ve travelled from. Students from the EU/EEA are allowed to work in Portugal without any time limit restrictions, so you can work as many or as few hours as you’d like. If you’re from outside of the EU/EEA, you’re still allowed to have a job but can only do part-time work up to 20 hours a week, or full-time employment ONLY during vacation periods.
Need to find Student Accommodation in Portugal?
Understanding Portugal student visa financial requirements, application processes and resident permits may feel overwhelming at times, especially if you’ve never applied for a Portuguese visa before. However, if you follow our Portugal student visa checklist and take time to learn about each step of the process, you’ll fly through your application and be studying in Portugal in no time at all!
Are you an international student who’s still looking for the perfect student accommodation in Portugal?
At Nido, we provide stylish student accommodation in Lisbon and Porto. Wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do which is why we pride ourselves on our fantastic social areas, yoga and wellness rooms, and study spaces! We believe student accommodation is more than just a room to sleep in, it’s a social hub and somewhere that you can create your ideal study-life balance.
We can also support you with your Portugal student visa application as we can provide proof of accommodation. At Nido, we’re all about making student life hassle-free which is why you’ll be surrounded by people in similar situations to you, and enjoy all inclusive bills so you don’t have to organise utility payments yourself.Doesn’t that sound ideal? Book a tour of our Portugal student accommodation today to see more of what we have to offer. If you have any questions, get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to answer! |
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