Planning to study in Portugal? This guide explains student visa and residence permit requirements for degree courses, including documents, costs and how to apply.
Portugal is an attractive country not just for its education system, but for its active lifestyle and accessible living costs.
Who needs a student visa for Portugal?
Before you apply to a polytechnic or university degree course in Portugal you should check if you need a student visa and learn about the steps you should take to get it.
- If you've decided to study abroad in Portugal and are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, good news! You won’t need a Portuguese student visa. The same thing applies for students from Andorra and Switzerland.
- For all the other international students, check whether you need a visa for your nationality and study period before following the next steps.
Apply to a Portuguese university and get your acceptance letter
If you’re still not sure where you want to study in Portugal, you will have to decide before you can start your student visa application process. After being accepted at a Portuguese university, you’ll get an acceptance letter required for the visa application.
Choose the right Portuguese study visa
For study purposes, you can apply for one of the following visas for Portugal:
Visa type | Study duration | Who needs it? |
Residence visa + residence permit | More than 1 year | Students enrolling in a full academic degree programme. |
Temporary-stay visa | More than 90 days, up to 1 year | Students undertaking eligible short-term study or training. |
Short-stay Schengen visa | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period | Students on short study visits, depending on their nationality. |
Turismo de Portugal’s official visa overview explains the distinction between temporary stays and residence.
Documents required for a Portuguese student visa
Follow the checklist of the Portuguese consular post responsible for your place of legal residence. Depending on your route, it normally includes:
- Completed application form
- Recent passport photographs in the number and format required by your consulate
- A valid passport meeting your consulate’s validity and blank-page requirements
- Letter of acceptance from the university/polytechnics you applied to
- Proof of financial resources to support yourself during your stay in Portugal
- Proof of health insurance coverage (Learn more about international student insurance for students studying in Portugal)
- A travel itinerary or reservation, including evidence of return travel where required
- Confirmed accommodation arrangements
- Criminal record certificates and authorisation for the Portuguese criminal-record check, where required
Language requirements for studying in Portugal
To complete a degree in Portugal, you will need to meet the language requirements of your programme. You do not automatically need to speak both English and Portuguese.
Language requirements are normally assessed by the Portuguese university. Follow the consulate’s checklist and provide any evidence it requests; do not assume language documents can never be required.
For English-taught programmes at Portuguese universities, check which English language tests and exemptions your institution accepts. Examples to check include:
Visa costs and proof of funds
You'll need proof that you paid the application fee. Standard national fees listed by Turismo de Portugal are:
- €75 for a temporary-stay visa;
- €90 for a residence visa.
Exemptions and service charges may apply; residence permit fees are separate.
When and where to apply for your Portuguese student visa
- Apply for the student visa at the Portuguese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence. They can also provide more information about:
- whether you need a visa or not
- the type of visa you need
- the visa documents you need
- the length of the visa application process
- Find out where is the Portugal consulate in your country.
- Schedule a visa appointment using the procedure published by the Portuguese embassy or its application centre.
- Try to schedule the appointment as soon as possible. Residence visa decisions normally have a 60-day legal period; appointments and additional checks can add time. Confirm current processing times with your consulate.
Tip: Double-check all the requirements and make sure you have all the documents before submitting them. Keep copies of your files, as you may need some of the documents.
Residence formalities after arrival in Portugal
Students entering on a residence visa must apply for a residence permit through AIMA during the validity of their visa, normally four months. This is different from the municipal registration procedure for EU/EEA, Andorran and Swiss citizens.
AIMA’s higher-education guidance explains the appointment and residence permit requirements. The standard higher-education permit is valid for three years, or the programme’s duration if shorter, subject to eligibility.
Documents required for a residence permit:
- Application form
- Valid passport plus one photocopy
- Recent passport photos if requested; biometric details are collected as instructed by AIMA
- Proof of income/financial independence
- Proof of accommodation
Also provide enrolment, any required tuition-payment evidence and health cover. Under AIMA’s registration rules for European citizens, EU/EEA, Andorran and Swiss students staying more than three months request a municipal registration certificate within the following 30 days.
Working in Portugal as an international student
EU/EEA and Swiss students are allowed to work in Portugal without a student work permit. Students from outside these countries who hold a study residence permit can take up employed or self-employed work alongside their studies, subject to AIMA’s conditions.
Universities and study options in Portugal
Students who seek an academic degree can enrol at a university while students that aim for a technical specialisation have the chance to earn a degree from polytechnic institutes.
- Instituto Superior Tecnico
- Catholic University of Portugal
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa
- University of Coimbra
- University of Lisbon
- University of Porto
Read more specific information about applying for the Portugal visa for students from India and the U.S.A.
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