Portugal Visas for Latin Americans

Latin Americans can enter Portugal with a short-stay Schengen visa, a temporary stay visa, a residency visa, or a job seeker visa. The right visa for your trip will depend on your circumstances, the length of your trip, and how you plan to spend your time in Portugal.

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Are you a Latin American making plans to live in Portugal? Are you unsure which visa is the right choice for your trip? This guide from the insurance experts at Pacific Prime will help you understand the available visas in Portugal.

We will share a summary of each visa type, explain how to apply for these visas, outline Portugal’s health insurance requirements, and provide other important visa information. Keep reading to learn more, or click here for a free health insurance quote!

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Portugal Visa Types Available for Latin Americans

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The visas available for Latin Americans in Portugal include a short-stay Schengen visa, a temporary stay visa, a residency visa, and a job seeker visa. A temporary stay visa, a residency visa, and a job seeker visa are also known as Portuguese national visas.

Both temporary stay and residency visas have specific requirements depending on the circumstances of your stay in Portugal.

Short-Stay Schengen Visas for Latin Americans in Portugal

A short-stay Schengen visa allows Latin Americans to stay in Portugal for up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen Area. The Schengen area is a zone in Europe comprising 27 European countries, allowing for free movement of people between the member countries.

Not every Latin American will need a Schengen visa, as some Latin Americans with specific nationalities are exempt from the visa requirement. Latin Americans from the following countries will not need a short-stay Schengen visa:

Argentina
Chile
Brazil
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Grenada
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

Temporary Stay Visas for Latin Americans in Portugal

Latin Americans can apply for temporary stay visas, which allow them to stay in Portugal for less than a year. These visas are valid for the entire duration and allow each visa holder multiple entries. The documentation necessary for a temporary stay visa depends on the circumstances.

Latin Americans can apply for a temporary stay visa in Portugal for the following purposes:

Medical treatment
To accompany a family member going under medical treatment
Transfer of nationals to state parties to the World Trade Organization (WTO), for service providing or professional training purposes
Independent work purposes
Programs of study in a certified institution, student exchange, unpaid professional internship, volunteer work, or pursuant to WTO obligations, or those arising from conventions and international agreements to which Portugal is a state party
Periods of over three months for Portuguese Citizens’ Family Members
Seasonal work purposes for a period of over 90 days (up to 270 days)
Academic or professional training purposes
To accompany a family member holding a temporary stay visa
Exercise of a professional activity done remotely, such as digital nomads

Residency Visas for Latin Americans in Portugal

Latin American expats can apply for residency visas, which allow two entries into Portugal and remain valid for a period of four months. During the four-month period, the visa holder is required to apply for a residency permit with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).

Latin Americans can apply for a temporary stay visa in Portugal for the following purposes:

Subordinate work activity
Independent work activity or migrant entrepreneur
Teaching purposes, a highly qualified or cultural activity, or a highly qualified subordinate activity
Research, study, higher education students exchange, internships, and volunteer work
Family reunification
Fixed residency for retirement purposes, religious purposes, or people living on individual revenues
To accompany a family member applying for a residence visa
Exercise of a professional activity done remotely, such as digital nomads

Job Seeker Visas for Latin Americans in Portugal

Latin Americans can enter Portugal on a job seeker visa, which allows expats to enter and remain in Portugal for the purpose of looking for a job. Once a job is secured, the visa authorizes the visa holder to carry out the job until the work expires or a residence permit is granted.

A job seeker visa is granted for a period of 120 days, is renewable for another 60 days, and allows one singular entry into Portugal. If the 120 days expire and you haven’t found a job and you haven’t started the residence permit process, then you will be required to leave Portugal.

You may apply for a new job seeker visa later, but it must be one year after the old visa has expired.

To extend your current job seeker visa, you must show proof that you’re registered with the IEFP (Employment and Vocational Training Institute) in Portugal and provide a written statement saying why your conditions haven’t changed.

How to Apply for a Portugal Visa as a Latin American

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Latin Americans can apply for a Portuguese visa by following these steps: filling out a visa application and collecting the necessary documentation, paying the visa fees, booking and attending an appointment at their local Portuguese consulate, and collecting their visa.

The exact specifics of your application process will differ depending on which visa type you choose. In most cases, these are the steps you will follow.

1. Fill Out A Visa Application and Collect Necessary Documents

The first part of the application process is downloading, completing, and printing out the visa application form. Once you have the form, you will need to collect your necessary documents. You will need both the completed form and your documents when you go on to the next step.

The documents you need will vary greatly depending on the type of visa you choose. Every visa type will need a valid passport and passport photos, proof of travel medical insurance coverage, and long-term visas will require proof of financial means.

A more comprehensive list of general documentation needed is:

A filled-out and signed visa application
Two recent passport-type photos
A passport with validity for three months after the estimated date of return
Photocopy of passport
Proof of valid medical travel insurance coverage

For more on documentation requirements by visa type, click the links below to visit the Portugal Ministry of Foreign Affairs website:

2. Pay Visa Fees

Latin American applicants will be required to pay a visa fee when applying for a Portugal temporary stay or residency visa, and the amounts vary depending on the type of visa and the applicant.

Here are some visa fees based on the type of visa:

Short-stay Schengen visa fee: €90 (USD $105.51)
Temporary stay, residency, and job seeker visa fee: €110 (USD $128.96)

Some visa applicants are exempt from paying a visa fee. The following categories are exempt from paying a visa fee for a Portuguese national visa:

Children below the age of six
Descendants of citizens holding a residency permit, under family reunification clauses
Foreign nationals with a study scholarship granted by Portugal
Visitors coming to Portugal for highly qualified research activity purposes (residency and temporary stay)
Patients and accompanying persons travelling under Cooperation Agreements in the Field of Health with Portugal

The following categories are exempt from paying a visa fee for a short-stay Schengen visa:

Children below the age of six (at the date of filing of the visa application)
Students and teachers/professors travelling for training or study purposes
Researchers travelling for scientific research purposes
Representatives of non-profit organizations under 25 years of age attending seminars, conferences, or cultural/sports events organized by non-profit organizations
Family members of EU Member States nationals, EEA countries, Swiss nationals, and family members of UK nationals under the Withdrawal Agreement

Children over six and under 12 years of age applying for a short-stay Schengen visa can qualify for a reduced visa fee of €45 (USD $52.75).

3. Book and Attend Your Visa Appointment

Latin American applicants will need to book and attend their visa appointment at their local Portugal embassy or consulate as the next step of their Portugal visa application process.

Make sure to bring all of your documents and your completed visa application form to the consulate or embassy. You will have your fingerprints and photograph taken when you arrive at your appointment.

Once your appointment is finished, you will wait to hear if your application has been accepted or denied.

4. Collect Your Visa

Once your visa has been authorized, you will need to return to the Portugal embassy or consulate for your visa. If you do not collect it within 90 days, you will be asked to start your visa application process all over again, including payment of your fees.

Portugal Visa Processing Times for Latin Americans

The processing time of a Portugal visa varies and ranges from 15 days to three months. The exact processing time depends on the type of visa, the volume of visa applications, specific embassy locations, and whether there are issues with the application.

Because of the possibility of an extended processing time, Latin Americans are recommended to apply for their Portugal visa well in advance. This is especially true for long-term visa applicants.

Medical Insurance Requirements for Latin Americans with Portugal Visas

Medical travel insurance or short-term health insurance coverage is required for both a short-stay visa in Portugal and any long-term visa. The insurance must be valid for the entire duration of the stay in Portugal. The insurance coverage must be valid in Portugal as well.

The medical insurance plan must cover medical expenses, including those of medical repatriation, medical emergency, and/or hospital emergency. The minimum required coverage is €30,000 (USD $35,167).

There are a few exceptions to this requirement, with the following being exempt from providing insurance:

Holders of diplomatic passports
Family members of EU Member States citizens or Swiss citizens
Airport transit visa applicants
Visa applicants in certain professional categories, such as maritime professions, who are already covered by the required professional insurance.

Latin Americans can purchase medical travel insurance from an insurance broker like Pacific Prime who can act as an intermediary between the client and the insurance companies. Use Pacific Prime’s free quote tool to begin comparing travel insurance on your own.

Or if you’d like to read more about travel and health insurance for Portugal, read our article, Top 10 Portugal Health Insurance Companies.

Tips for a Smooth Portugal Visa Process for Latin Americans

Tips Latin Americans can follow to ensure their visa process goes smoothly include doing thorough research, sending only complete and correct documents, and booking their appointment early.

Do Thorough Research: Take your time researching the visa types in Portugal via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and determining which you are going to apply for. Once you have decided on the visa you like, make sure you understand the eligibility requirements for the visa.
Send Complete and Correct Documents: Only send complete and correct documents to your local consulate or embassy, as incorrect documentation can slow down the visa process significantly.
Book Your Appointment Early: Processing times at consulates can be slow, so make sure to book your appointment early to ensure you have plenty of time for your visa to be processed. Try not to book your appointment around holidays as well, as the process may slow down around holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do Latin Americans need a visa to travel to Portugal?

Latin Americans will need a visa to travel to Portugal. Some nationalities in Latin America are exempt from needing a short-stay Schengen visa, but every Latin American will need to apply for a national visa.

Can Latin Americans work in Portugal without a visa?

Latin Americans will need a visa to work in Portugal. They can work through a national visa, as short-stay Schengen visas generally do not allow employment unless applying for a short-stay Schengen visa for seasonal work.

Can Latin Americans bring their family with them to Portugal?

Latin Americans can bring their family with them to Portugal, as long as they apply for the correct visa. Children under age six do not have to pay any visa fees for their applications.

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Latin Americans can apply for a short-stay Schengen visa or a national visa for their stay in Portugal. There are different eligibility requirements and rules for each visa, so Latin American applicants should take their time when deciding on the right visa for them.

Ready to shop for medical insurance to fulfill the Portugal visa requirements? Let the insurance experts at Pacific Prime help you find the right fit for you. As a global health insurance broker who specializes in expat health insurance, Pacific Prime can offer a wealth of professional expertise.

Contact Pacific Prime to discuss, free of charge, a range of Portugal health insurance services available for you, your loved ones, or your group. To get a no-obligation, free price comparison quote, visit our website today!

If you enjoyed this article, check out our other articles on similar topics like Portugal Visas for Americans and Portugal’s Golden Visa vs. Digital Nomad Visa: Which is Right for You?

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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.