HOW TO APPLY FOR A TOURIST OR A VISIT VISA TO PORTUGAL
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One of Europe’s oldest countries, Portugal is known for its world-class golf courses, surfing spots, charming coasts, and the homegrown musical genre, the enchanting fado.
We almost forgot to mention—this small country in the south westernmost part of Europe is also known for soccer (Cristiano Ronaldo is their most famous soccer import), pastel de nada, and port wine.
Portugal promises all kinds of adventure one could think of, with its beautiful natural features, historical places, exquisite cuisine, and fascinating culture that has been influenced by different customs and traditions of other cultures.
Whether you have plans of coming to Portugal as a curious tourist or to visit a family or significant someone, you will need a Schengen visa.
For Philippine Passport Holders, you need a Schengen visa to enter Portugal. Since there is no Portuguese Embassy in the Philippines, the Greek Embassy has been given the authority to issue visas on their behalf. Here are the things you need to know about obtaining a tourist or visit visa to Portugal.
Who is eligible to apply for a Portugal short-term visa?
In order to enter Portugal (and any other countries in the Schengen zone), you first need to secure a Schengen Visa.
The Schengen Visa is, as the name implies, a visa for the Schengen Area, which consists of most of the European Economic Area (26 states in total), plus several other adjacent countries (see the complete list of EU Schengen and non-EU Schengen states here).
The visa allows visitors to stay in the Schengen Area for as long as 90 days within a 180-day period. This means that within the period of 180 days, the visa holder can enter a Schengen state (Portugal, in this case), stay and then exit, all for 90 days total starting from the date of entry to the date of exit. This 90-day stay may start and end anytime within the dates stipulated in the visa validity period (180 days).
- Your main destination – Sa Portugal lang kayo pupunta and will not visit any other country.
- You will stay the longest in Portugal. You have plans of visiting other Schengen countries, but Portugal is where you will be staying the longest. Example: You will stay in Portugal for 25 days before making a 5-day side trip to Spain for a week before returning to your country.
- The main purpose of your travel is in Portugal. You have plans of visiting other Schengen countries, but the most essential purpose of your travel is in Portugal. Example: You will attend a 3-week short course in Lisbon, but you are planning to visit France and then Spain on the two weekends that you are free.
- Portugal is your port of entry. You have plans of visiting multiple Schengen countries for the same number of days, but Portugal is your first point of entry.
Important Documents to Prepare
First things first—you need documents to support your visa application! For this, you will need to prepare these documents:
1. A duly accomplished and signed Visa application form. Download the form here.
2. Two current biometrical passport photos (35-45 mm width)– have your passport photo taken. The embassy is very strict on their photo specifications. Fortunately, they have a page on their official website dedicated to explaining this. Bring at least two copies or more, just in case. One photo should be glued to the application form. The second photo will be returned to you.
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or contact lenses, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
- The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows).
After which, paste your photo on each of the electronic visa form that you completed online (1 original and 1 photocopy of the form).
3. Original Passport and a Photocopy of it as well as the Bio Page– The embassy requires that your passport is valid for at least another three months on the date the visa application is submitted. It also must have two empty pages for them to stamp your passport. If you have renewed your passport, bring your old one/s with you. These are needed especially if you have previous overseas trips.
4. Proof of travel/ Travel plan (travel destination, route, proof of accommodation, and itinerary) – Travel plan indicating your destination (in this case, Portugal), route, proof of accommodation (hotel or apartment booking), and a round-trip flight reservation with dates and flight numbers showing the entry and exit from Portugal. Reservation ONLY. Do not pay for your flight reservations until your visa is approved. You can avail of my services for a dummy ticket so that I can assist you with your flight reservations. Get a flight reservation here.
As you are only applying for a visa with no absolute assurance it will be approved, you do not need to pay for the flight ticket just yet. You are basically only showing them that a flight itinerary from the Philippines to Portugal exists on your chosen travel date.
- A cover letter addressed to the Portuguese Embassy Consul. If you are a first-time traveler to Portugal, please submit an informal declaration through a cover letter explaining your willingness to return to the Philippines before the expiration of your visa: What exactly will be an incentive for you to return to the Philippines, and can you submit proofs for these circumstances?
- Your day-to-day itinerary – be specific in indicating the place you will visit and the tours you will join or take. A good convincing itinerary requires planning and time to create. If you need help how to create one, watch my video: https://youtu.be/kME1VdZdRiw.
5. Proof of accommodation or Hotel reservations – you would need to show hotel bookings, but this does not mean that you must pay for your hotel reservations this early.
If applying for a tourist visa: You will need a cover letter addressed to the Embassy of Greece Manila (authorized to handle visa application on Portugal’s behalf since is no Portuguese Embassy in the Philippines).
In the cover letter, explain your day-to-day itinerary and outline every specific activity you are planning to take—places to go, tours to join, people to meet/visit, etc.
Also, through this cover letter, submit an informal declaration explaining your intention to return to the Philippines before your visa expires.
If applying for a visit visa: You will need proof of relationship with your host, partner, or sponsor—how are you related to the person you are visiting? Proofs in the form of Birth certificates, marriage certificates, written correspondence between you and your sponsor (screenshots of video calls and chats), and any other evidence of your relationship with your sponsor, such as photos together, are acceptable.
Equally important is the invitation letter written by the host or your partner based in Portugal. In this letter, the host or your partner must indicate the exact address where the host resides, as well as the purpose and full duration of your visit to your host’s country.
7. Proof of vaccination– As most European countries have decided to welcome vaccinated travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This means that the following vaccines are accepted in Portugal:
8. Proof of Funds or Financial Capacity – these documents are necessary to prove that you can either support yourself or your sponsor can cover your expenses financially during the whole duration of your travel.
- If applying as a Tourist or as a Visitor without a Sponsor – this means that you will cover all your expenses during the entire duration of your travel.
- Bank statements – must show records of the past six months. A bank statement shows your transactions in your account at a specific period. It will show debits (withdrawals, payments, taxes, service fees) and credits (deposits, interest earned.) Bank Statements can also be seen online especially if you have a registered account. There is no signature for the manager or a bank officer.
- Bank Certificate – it is a confirmation by the branch manager or a bank officer that you have an existing account in their bank. It shows the account number, the type, and other details such as the opening date of your account, your account balance as of the date of request, and your average daily balance.
- Other proof of income (supporting documents) – although it is not really required, you can submit invoices and pay slip equivalent to prove that you earn enough to support this trip financially.
Important (for non-sponsored): Means of Subsistence for PortugalThe European Commission states that foreign nationals who wish to enter the territory of Portugal need to attest owning 40€/day when applying for a Portugal Visa to the Portugal Embassy or Consulate.
- If applying as a Tourist or as a Visitor with a Sponsor – this means that your host and/or sponsor (family, friend, partner, or fiancé) pledges to take full responsibility to cover all the expenses that you will incur during the whole duration of your travel.
- If applying as a Tourist or as a Visitor without a Sponsor – this means that you will cover all your expenses during the entire duration of your travel.
If you maintain a bank account for a long time, better maintain it. Kahit na may sponsor ka, of course, plus points pa din sa visa application mo if idadagdag mo din bank statements mo, payslips from our employer, and other proof na financially capable ka din and most importantly, it proves deep rootedness as well.
Sponsorship Letter which should state the fact that he/ she is inviting you to come over, your relationship with each other, and that he/ she is willing to sponsor you during your trip. Of course, it needs to have documentary proof.
Original Affidavit of Support, legalized by the Portuguese municipality (through Notarization) where the sponsor is registered and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in Portugal
The sponsor’s copies of: passport including the biodata page and travel history (passport stamps) and ID Card or Resident ID card
Recent proof of income of the sponsor (3 last months’ salary slips, etc.)
Proof of relationship with the sponsor (pictures together, Birth or Marriage certificate, and screenshot of chat conversations)
To know more about additional requirements that you would need from your sponsor, check out my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/SEad8VHVkLk
9. Proof of Civil Status – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate of the spouse, etc. These documents must be issued on security paper (SECPA) by the Philippine Statistics Authority, see http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph.
Note: The birth certificate does not need to be authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
10. Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines – Evidence of deep-rootedness a.k.a. strong family and social ties to your home country, is one of the most critical requirements when applying for a Schengen Visa. It is what the Consul will look for in your visa application. So how do you prove that you are firmly established in the Philippines and that you will go back to your home country?
- For Employees:
- Employment or Work contract and bank account statements or payslips showing the transfer of your last six-monthly salaries
- Certificate of Employment which should include the employer’s full name, complete address, telephone number with area code, details regarding the position, income, and employment duration
- Approved letter of approved leave signed by your employer (Leave of Absence letter)
- Optional: Signed No Objection Certificate which states that your employer has no objection for you to travel to Portugal and that they have approved your leave request
- Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
- Optional Supporting Documents:
› Government Mandated Contributions – SSS, Pag-ibig, Philhealth Contributions
› If with existing loan – SSS Loan or Pag-ibig Salary loan
- For Employees:
- For Self-Employed:
- DTI Business Name Registration Certificate
- Barangay Business Clearance
- Mayor’s Business Permit from your Municipality where the business address has been registered
- Business activity of your company for the last 6 months – invoices and bank transactions
- Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
- For Self-Employed:
- For Retirees:
- Pension statement for the last 6 months
- Retirement Certification
- For Retirees:
- Others (No work, No Business, etc.): Family as Proof of Rootedness:
- For Solo parents:
› A copy of your birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
› A copy of your child/children’s birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
› Solo parent ID
› Barangay Certification as Solo parent
› Notarized Affidavit of Solo Parent with Undertaking
› Money remittances to support your dependents - For those who are supporting or watching over the health/well-being of the family:
› A copy of my parent’s birth certificates- PSA Authenticated
› If parents are already Senior Citizens: a copy of their Senior Citizen ID and Barangay Certification as Senior Citizens
› If parents have sickness/ illness: Medical history of parents (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
- For Solo parents:
- Others (No work, No Business, etc.): Family as Proof of Rootedness:
- For Minors
- Affidavit of Support by parents or Legal Guardian with their proof of means
- Proof of Enrollment and certificate of leave of absence
- For Minors
Helpful tips: Additional document requirements for a minor: https://youtu.be/aVUq5nbmQig
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Apply for a Schengen Visa to Portugal
Since there’s no Embassy of Portugal in the Philippines, you may apply through the Greek Embassy, which is authorized to process Portugal Schengen visas.
STEP 1: Fill out the visa application form and complete all the necessary requirements. Gather all your documents (double-check to be sure everything is complete and properly filled out) and put them in a brown envelope. Write your complete name and contact number in bold letters on the upper left side of the envelope.
STEP 2: Request an appointment by sending an email to the Greek Embassy at visa.man@mfa.gr. Follow the format below:
- Preferred Date: (DD MMMM YYYY)
- Name of Applicant: (Last Name, First Name)
- Passport No.:
- Contact Tel.:
- Type of Visa: Short-term Schengen Visa
- Main Country of Destination: Portugal
- Expected Date of Departure: (DD MMMM YYYY)
STEP 3: Wait for the embassy’s reply and note down the approved appointment schedule. If your preferred date is not available, the embassy will select the closest possible slot.
STEP 4: Once your appointment has been confirmed, submit your requirements at the Greek Embassy. Make sure you arrive on time, with all your documents in tow. Your fingerprints will be taken when you submit your application; these will remain valid for 5 years. You will be charged a fee for your application (Php4,400).
Normally, there is no need for interviews especially if you wrote a really good and detailed cover letter (so you have to make sure every essential piece of information is stated in your cover letter). However, you may be asked to come for an interview if they see something in your application that needs clarification.
STEP 5: Wait for the result and collect your passport. You will be notified when your passport is ready for collection from the visa center where you applied.
Visa processing typically takes 15 days; sometimes, it can be shorter than that. There were also times when it can take as long as one month or more, especially in cases where they ask for more documentation and verification. Put this in mind when lodging your application; to be safe, apply for the visa one month or more before your intended travel date. Plan accordingly.
Quick Facts
- Validity of Visa : Short-stay Schengen visas allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days every six-month period
- Processing time: The average processing time is 2 weeks, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, where visa staff work on a skeletal schedule, it may take between 2 to 4 weeks.
- Where to lodge your application:
- Embassy of Greece in Manila
- Address: Unit 701, SEDCCO 1 Building, 120 Rada Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila
- Telephone Number: +63 (2) 8817 4444 or 8817 3417
- E-mail address: gremb.man@mfa.gr
Visa applications: Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 12:00
Visa pick-up and walk-in inquiries: Monday to Friday, 14:30 to 15:30
- Embassy of Greece in Manila
- Visa and Service Fees:
- For adults: Php 4,560 (as of April 2021)
- For minors: Php 2,200
- For children 0-12 years old: FREE
Recap and Tips
So, that’s it! I hope that I was able to guide you on how to apply for a Schengen Visa to Portuga with your Philippine Passport. If you ever need help, you can avail my visa application bundle, and I will be glad to help you through the process!
