Portugal student visa: Complete guide 2026

What Is the Portugal Student Visa?

The Portugal Student Visa is a national residence visa for study, issued by a Portuguese consulate. It allows non-EU/EEA nationals to enter Portugal for a program lasting longer than 90 days, and is valid for four months with two entries.

The visa is an entry document, not an authorization to stay. Within its validity, you must apply for a residence permit, which is what allows you to remain for your studies. Applications are submitted to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), Portugal's immigration authority.

Who Is It For?

• Nationality: Non-EU/EEA nationals.

  
  

• Study program: Admission to a Portuguese higher education institution, confirmed by an acceptance letter. Secondary education, vocational courses, and recognized exchange or training programs qualify under a separate permit category.

  
  

• Financial means: Funds equal to Portugal's guaranteed minimum monthly wage, EUR 920 in 2026, covering twelve months. The amount is halved if you can show your accommodation is secured, and reduced by up to 90 percent if your meals are covered as well. Students holding a scholarship are exempt from proving this, as are nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries admitted to a Portuguese higher education institution.

What the Visa Allows

• Residency: The residence visa covers entry and four months in Portugal. Your residence permit is then issued for three years, or for the length of your program if that is shorter, and can be renewed for the same period.

  
  

• Work: You can work alongside your studies, whether employed or self-employed, without a separate work permit. No limit is set on your hours, but the work must remain secondary to your studies. Before starting a job, you must notify AIMA, providing your employment contract and proof of registration with social security.

  
  

• Family: You can bring family members to Portugal once you hold your residence permit. You submit the family reunification request to AIMA, and once it is approved, relatives abroad apply for their own visa. Relatives already in Portugal apply to AIMA directly.

  
  

• Travel: The residence permit allows you to travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

  
  

• After graduation: Graduates of a master's degree or a doctoral degree can remain in Portugal for up to a year to look for work or start a business, by applying for a separate residence permit. Graduates of a bachelor's degree can also stay in Portugal, but only with a job offer already in place.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

Foreign documents must be legalized with an apostille or by a Portuguese consulate. Documents in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish are accepted as they are; documents in any other language require a certified translation into Portuguese.

• Application form: The residence visa application, completed and signed.

  
  

• Passport: Valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay, with a photocopy of the biographical page. Presented again at the permit stage.

  
  

• Passport-style photos: Two recent color photos.

  
  

• Acceptance letter: Proof that you have been admitted to a Portuguese higher education institution.

  
  

• Proof of financial means: Evidence that you hold the required funds, such as bank statements, a scholarship award, or a signed undertaking of support from a sponsor. Proof that your accommodation or meals are already covered reduces the amount you must show.

  
  

• Travel insurance: A policy covering urgent medical care and repatriation, valid for the four months of the visa.

  
  

• Criminal record certificate: Issued by the country of your nationality, or by the country where you lived for more than a year before moving to Portugal. Applicants under 16 are exempt. Presented again at the permit stage.

  
  

• Proof of accommodation (for the permit): Evidence of where you are living in Portugal, such as a rental contract or a declaration from your landlord.

  
  

• Proof of enrollment (for the permit): Confirmation that you have enrolled at the institution, together with proof of any tuition you have paid.

  
  

• Health coverage (for the permit): Health insurance, or proof that you are registered with the Portuguese National Health Service.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Secure admission

Apply to a Portuguese higher education institution and obtain your acceptance letter.

Step 2: Get your tax number

Obtain a Portuguese tax number (NIF). You can request it from a Portuguese consulate before you travel, or from a tax office once you are in Portugal. You will need it throughout, including to rent accommodation and to apply for your residence permit. Obtaining it is free.

Step 3: Apply for the residence visa

Book an appointment at the Portuguese consulate responsible for your area, then submit your application and documents in person. A decision normally takes 60 to 90 days.

Step 4: Travel to Portugal

Your visa is only the entry document; the permit that lets you stay is issued in Portugal by AIMA. When the visa is granted, an appointment with AIMA is booked for you automatically, falling within the visa's four months. Enter Portugal in time to attend it.

Step 5: Apply for your residence permit

Attend your AIMA appointment, where your biometric data is collected, and bring the documents marked for the permit stage. AIMA has 90 days to decide a first application. Your residence card must then be collected in person; it is not posted to you.

Step 6: Register with the health service

Once your permit is issued, register with the Portuguese National Health Service to receive a patient number. This gives you access to public healthcare, in place of the travel insurance that covered your visa period.

Costs and Fees

The fee for processing a residence visa application is EUR 110, the same for every nationality, and is non-refundable. Holders of scholarships awarded by the Portuguese State are exempt, as are applicants coming for highly qualified research.

At AIMA, receiving and assessing your residence permit application costs EUR 133, and the permit itself is EUR 307.20.

Good to Know

You may not need to prove financial means: Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries admitted to a Portuguese higher education institution are exempt, as are students holding a scholarship.

Notify AIMA before you start working: Working without notifying AIMA can jeopardize the renewal of your residence permit, even though the work itself is permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the residence permit without a visa?

In some cases, yes. A higher education student who entered Portugal legally and meets the other conditions can be granted a residence permit without holding a residence visa.

What happens if I change institutions?

You must inform AIMA. The permit is tied to your enrollment, so AIMA needs to know if your program or institution changes.

Can I stay in Portugal after I finish my degree?

Yes. If you completed a master's degree or a doctoral degree, you can apply to AIMA for a new residence permit, valid for up to a year, that lets you look for work or start a business. You do not need a new visa for it. You apply with proof that you completed your studies and a declaration of what you intend to do with the year.

Does studying count toward permanent residence?

Yes, and in full. Permanent residence requires five years of temporary residence, and your years as a student count the same as any other.