Portugal Schengen Visa Appointment: A How-To Guide

If you reside in a country where you do not enjoy the benefit of visa-free travel to one of the Schengen countries, like Portugal, you will need to apply for a Schengen Visa and schedule a Schengen Visa Appointment. In this quick guide, we will explain how you can schedule a Schengen Visa Appointment for Portugal.

Many countries have the benefit of traveling to Portugal visa-free. If your country does not have any visa-free agreements with Portugal, you need to apply for a specific visa. A Portugal Schengen Visa will allow you entry to Portugal for 90 days. The purpose of a Schengen Visa is to allow the holder to enter Portugal for reasons including traveling, business trips, and so on.

Step 1 - Ensure That You Meet The Minimum Visa Requirements

Before you start your application process and book your visa appointment, you will need to check that you meet all the visa requirements of a Portugal Schengen Visa.

The visa requirements are as follow:

• Your passport needs to have a validity of at least 3 months. Also, your passport will need to have 2 blank pages for your Schengen Visa.

• You'll need to present copies of your previous visas.

• 2 recent colored passport photos.

• Travel insurance/medical insurance that provides coverage across the EU.

• Return tickets to prove that you will be traveling back to your country of origin after your trip.

• A clean criminal record.

• A Portugal Schengen Visa cover letter that includes information on the purpose of your trip, arrival date, departure date, and so on.

• Proof that you can provide for yourself financially during your stay in Portugal. If you are self-employed you will need to submit certain documents that prove you have sufficient funds for your trip.

• Proof of accommodation. It can include hotel bookings, letters of invitation from friends or family members who reside in Portugal, or Airbnb reservations.

Note that all the documents you provide should be in English. We recommend that you make copies of all your documents as you will need to submit them again during your Schengen Visa appointment.

If the visa type you apply for requires marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc, you will need to get those documents legally verified and certified.

Step 2 - Start your application

The first thing you need to do is fill out the application form. You can head over to your nearest Portugal Consulate/Embassy and collect an application form, or you can fill out the application online.

Your application form should look something like this:

Complete the form and ensure the information you provide matches the information on your travel document.

Step 3 - Collect All Your Documents

Start collecting all the documents for your Schengen visa application. Be sure to gather all your required documents before you make your Schengen Visa Appointment. You will need to submit copies of these documents during your visa appointment. Your application will be denied if you do not provide all the required documents.

After these three steps, you are ready to make your Schengen Visa Appointment.

You will need to make an appointment at your nearest Portugal Embassy or Consulate.

If you do not know where your nearest Portuguese Consulate is, you can check here to find your nearest Portugal Embassy/Consulate.

Select the continent of your home country. In this example, we will use the United States Of America.

Select the letter of your home country.

Under the United States Of America, you will see all the Consulate General of Portugal Available in the US. Choose the Consulate you prefer. In this example, we chose the Consulate General of Portugal in New York.

You will be redirected to a page specific to the Consulate you selected. In this case, the Consulate General of Portugal in New york. Here you can find additional information - such as related news in Portugal, announcements of visa changes, etc.

There is also a guide available that will walk you through the process of booking your appointment online.

Once you have made your Schengen Visa Appointment, start preparing all the documents you need.

The documents presented during your appointment include:

• Your Schengen Visa Application form

• Valid Passport

• Passport photos

• Travel insurance or medical insurance

• Proof of accommodation

• Proof of sufficient funds

• Travel itinerary

• Clean criminal record

• Any other documents that may support the purpose of your trip. It could be a return ticket, planned activities, etc.

Once you arrive at the Portuguese Consulate for your appointment, you can expect the following:

An In-Person Interview With One Of The Portuguese Consulate Officials

You will attend an in-person interview with one of the Consulate officials. The purpose of this interview is for the interviewer to determine if you are eligible for a Portugal Schengen Visa. The interviewer will ask a few simple questions about the purpose of your visit to Portugal. Answer these questions as honestly as possible and to the best of your ability.

Pro tip: Before traveling to your Schengen Visa appointment, ensure that you are well prepared. Dress appropriately, have your documents at hand and do not be late.

Submit Your Documents

During your interview, present the required documents for your trip. If you do not have these documents or some of the documents are missing, the interviewer may be inclined to deny your Schengen Visa.

Pro tip: Bring along any supporting documents that will help prove the purpose of your trip. It can include invitational letters, 3-month bank statements, flight itineraries, and so on.

Pay Your Application Fee

Now you need to pay the fees for your Schengen Visa application. Note that paying your fees does not guarantee a Schengen Visa. These fees are used as payment for the consideration of your application.

Provide Your Biometric Information

After your interview, you are requested to give your biometric information. It includes your fingerprints, digital photographs, etc.

Once you have submitted your application and attended your appointment, all you have to do is wait for the final decision. It may take up to 15 days. After the Consulate has reached a final decision, they will inform you. All you need to do now is head over to the Consulate to retrieve your passport and new visa.

Check out the Atlys community discussion forum for more questions.