Portugal Visa from UK – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Portuguese Schengen Visa

Portugal is a lovely European country and wherever you go, you won’t have far to find something to keep you amused. If you’re into history and incredible views, Lisbon, Sintra and Porto are your best bets. There are hundreds of beaches to choose from and some of the best lie on Portugal’s southern coast. For nightlife, party the night away in Albufeira and, for something a little less hectic, relax in the Douro Valley. In this article learn more about how to apply for Portugal visa at the Portuguese consulate in UK, London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Portugal visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Portugal visa application center, flight itinerary for Portugal visa, hotel bookings for Portugal visa, Schengen travel insurance for Portugal visa application, and Portugal Visa Application Process at the London, Edinburgh and Manchester embassy.

Portugal Schengen Visa

In 2018, embassies and consulates around the world received 266,516 Portugal Schengen visas and rejected 44,179 of them. The Consulate of Portugal in London received 4,793 applications and rejected 29. The Consulate General of Portugal in Manchester received 1,855 applications and rejected 38.

Applying for a Portugal Schengen Visa from the United Kingdom

If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, you do NOT need to apply for a visa for Portugal. However, if you are not a British citizen, but you are permanently living in the UK, you DO need to apply for a visa to be able to enter and stay in Portugal.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Portuguese embassy and consulate. If you are from any of the following counties in the UK, you come under the jurisdiction of the Consulate of Portugal in London:

1. Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, City of London, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Suffolk, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, Isles of Bermudas, Isles of Canal (Jersey e Guernsey), Isle of Ely, Isle of Scilly, Isle of Wight, Kent, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Soke of Peterborough, Somerset, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, West Suffolk, West Sussex, Wiltshire

In this case, you will submit your visa application to VFS Global in London.

If you are from any of the following UK counties, you come under the jurisdiction of the Consulate of Portugal in Manchester:

1. Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumberland, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham (County Durham), Greater Manchester, Hereford and Worcester, Herefordshire, Humberside, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire – Parts of Holland, Lincolnshire – Parts of Kesteven, Lincolnshire – Parts of Lindsey, Merseyside, North Humberside, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Humberside, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Westmorl and Worcestershire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire – East Riding, Yorkshire – North Riding, Yorkshire – West Riding
2. Northern Ireland: Antrim Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone
3. Scotland: All the Scottish counties

In this case, you will submit your visa application to VFS Global in Manchester or Edinburgh

Types of Portugal Schengen Visas Offered in the United Kingdom

There are different types of visas for Portugal and the one you need to apply for depends on the length and purpose of your trip:

1. Schengen visa – valid for a maximum of 90 days for tourism, family visit, business, seasonal work and transit. This visa allows single, double or multiple entries into Portugal
2. National visa – valid for stays exceeding 90 days for study, internship, work, medical treatment, religious reasons etc

There are 2 types of National visas:

1. Temporary stay visas – you are permitted to enter and stay in Portugal for less than a year. This visa allows multiple entries within the dates of the visa
2. Residency visas – valid for 4 months and during this time, you must request a residency permit from the Immigration and Border Services (SEF). This visa allows double entry into Portugal

Portugal Schengen Visa Application Process 

Visa applications are processed within 3 weeks, so you should aim to apply at least 3 weeks ahead of your departure date. Don’t leave it too late, otherwise, there may not be enough time for your application to be processed. Some applications take longer than others, so you should apply well in advance. You may apply up to 90 days ahead.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your visa:

Step 1: Make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below:

You need to make an appointment in order to submit your application to VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Schedule an appointment”
2. Scroll down and click on the correct link for London, Manchester or Edinburgh
3. Create a new account if you are have never used this system before
4. Log in with your email and password
5. Complete the appointment booking process
6. You will receive an email confirming your appointment and including an appointment letter
7. Print the appointment letter because you need to take it to your appointment at VFS

If you wish to remain in Portugal for longer than 90 days and you are applying for a Temporary Stay or Residency Visa, please send an e-mail: consulado.manchester@mne.pt to the Consulate General in Manchester with the following details:

1. Name
2. Date of birth
3. Nationality
4. Expiry date on  your passport
5. Expiry date on your UK residence card
6. Full address in the United Kingdom
   Phone number
7. Estimated date of arrival in Portugal
8. Reason why you to wish to stay in Portugal for longer than 90 days

The consulate will get back to and tell you what you need to do.

Step 2: Complete your application

The next step is to complete your visa application form. For Schengen visas, go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Visa types” and choose the one you are applying for:

Then, click on: “Application form” and you will find the link for the application form:

For National visas, go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Portugal and click on: “National visas: and “Forms”:

Step 3: Prepare your documents

You should be aware of what documents are required for the type of visa you are applying for. You can find this information on VFS Global’s website for Schengen visas and the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Portugal for National visas.

It’s advisable to check this information before you prepare your documents, so you don’t miss anything.

Don’t forget to provide originals and photocopies of everything.

Documents include:

1. Fully completed and signed application form (For minors and incapacitated forms should be signed the legal guardian)
2. Passport photograph (2 for National visa applications)
3. Authentic and valid (over 3 months after date of exit) travel document/passport. Must have been issued in the last 10 years and it must have 2 free pages (for the visa to be attached)
4. Photocopy of prior passport and visas (if applicable)
5. Evidence that you have ties to the UK and will return there before the visa expires
6. UK residency permit
7. Travel reservation (return ticket). Note that Embassies in UK may require actual fully paid tickets for the visa application and not the flight reservation based on the jurisdiction you live in. So double check the embassy requirements within your jurisdiction before submitting the documents for visa application.
8. Schengen Travel medical insurance for at least €30,000 to cover medical expenses and repatriation and valid for the whole of the Schengen area
9. Economic and work conditions: work certificate and salary, as well as last 3 bank statements
10. Proof of means of subsistence covering the entire stay and return to country of origin
11. Travel authorization for minors or court decision (when applicable)
12. Hotel reservation or invitation letter with your host’s ID
13. If staying with a family member, proof of family relationship is required (birth/marriage certificate) and proof of housing conditions may be requested. If the person signing the term of responsibility is not a Portuguese national, proof of legal residency in Portugal is required
14. For business purposes, an invitation clarifying the purpose of traveling and date of arrival and departure, as well as host organization and person responsible
15. For participation in political, economic, scientific, cultural, sport or religious events, proof of attendance is required, registration or entry ticket
16. Entry visa for the final destination country (if applicable)
17. Letter from your employer stating the reason and length of your trip
18. Business registration (self-employed)
19. Proof of work permit/employment contract
20. Evidence of enrollment and acceptance letter from Portuguese university

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment:

1. You will need to show your appointment confirmation letter at reception
2. You will be issued a token and directed to the waiting area
3. You will next be called to our submission counter where your application and supporting documents will be examined
4. Your biometric information will be taken and your photograph and passport checked for validity
5. You will be issued a receipt for the fees and service charge paid

After you have submitted your application to VFS Global, they will send it to the consulate for processing. You may be called for an interview if the consulate wants further information about anything you have stated in your application.

They may ask you questions like:

1. What do you know about Portugal or the EU?
2. Are you going there with anyone else?
3. How will you pay for your trip?
4. Can you show me your bank statements?
5. What do you do in the UK?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Portugal Visa Fee

You can pay the fee in cash (except in Manchester and Edinburgh), credit/debit card or postal order payable to “Portugal Visa Application Centre”. VFS Global also charge a service fee of £25.88. These fees are non-refundable.

Step 5: Receive your visa

You may track your application after you have submitted it.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Track your application”:
2. Click on the tracking link:
3. Enter your reference number and date of birth:

When the consulate has reached a decision about your visa, your passport will be returned to VFS Global.

For applications submitted in Manchester and Edinburgh, passports will be returned via DX Securemail Courier at a cost of £14.95 per envelope. You are not able to collect your passport from these offices as this service is not available.

For applications submitted in London, your passport may be collected in person or have it returned via DX Securemail.

If your visa has been approved, you will find it inside your passport. If it has been rejected, it would have been for a specific reason.

Common rejection reasons include:

1. Birth/marriage certificate missing – when you apply for a Schengen or National visa, you may have to prove relationships with family members. This is why it is important to provide a birth or marriage certificate if it is required to do so
2. Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip and you must provide evidence that you can do so, for the entire duration of your trip AND your return to the UK
3. Invalid/damaged passport – if your passport is invalid (see above requirements) and/or damaged (loose or missing pages), you must get a new one before you apply for your visa
4. You have already stayed 90 days in the Schengen area – you are only permitted to stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period

Contact details for VFS Global in London

Address: 66 Wilson Street, London, EC2A 2BT

Telephone: 0871 376 2101 from 8.30 am – 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.30 (Monday to Friday)

Email: info.schengen@vfshelpline.com

Passport collection hours: Monday to Friday, 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm

Passport submissions: Appointment only

Contact details for VFS Global in Manchester

Address: 50 Devonshire Street North, Manchester, M12 6JH

Telephone: 0871 376 2101 from 8.30 am – 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.30 (Monday to Friday)

Email: info.schengen@vfshelpline.com

Please allow an additional 2 – 3 days minimum for your application to be processed if submitting in Manchester

Contact details for VFS Global in Edinburgh

Address: 1 Rennie’s Isle, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QT

Telephone: 0871 376 2101 from 8.30 am – 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.30 (Monday to Friday)

Email: info.schengen@vfshelpline.com

Please allow an additional 2 – 3 days minimum for your application to be processed if submitting in Edinburgh

Contact details for the Consulate General of Portugal in London

Address: 3 Portland Place, London, W1B 1HR

Telephone: +(44) (0) 207 291 37 70 (Please direct all visa enquiries to VFS Global)

Fax: +(44) (0) 207 291 37 99

Email: cglondres@mne.pt

Contact details for the Consulate General of Portugal in Manchester

Address: 1 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3BE

Telephone: +(44) (0)161 236 09 90

Fax: +(44) (0)161 236 20 64

Email: consulado.manchester@mne.pt

Conclusion

In summary, there are just 5 easy steps to apply for your Portugal visa before you are ready to depart on your wonderful adventure:

1. Make an appointment
2. Complete your application
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

Apply Schengen Visa From UK

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Apply Germany Visa From UK

Apply Spain Visa From UK

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Apply Greece Visa From UK