Portugal Visa From Bahrain

Overview

The Schengen visa is a permit issued to non-EU applicants who want to visit Portugal briefly. The maximum time the Portuguese Embassy can permit you to stay in Portugal with a Schengen visa is 90 days. One of the upsides of this visa is that the holder can visit other Schengen countries around Portugal.

You must apply for a Schengen visa if you want to visit your friend or relative in Portugal.

It is also the visa you need to apply for to visit Portugal for health care, business or religious purposes. You must also apply for a Schengen visa if you have a work or business-related conference in Portugal.

As a Bahraini citizen, you can apply for a Schengen visa to study a course in Portugal that will not take more than 90 days.

You must note that you do not have the right to work, whether paid or volunteer, in Portugal while on the Schengen visa. Doing so will lead to removal and affect your chance of getting another Portugal visa.

It is also vital to note that even though the maximum time you can spend on a Schengen visa is 90 days, you are expected to leave the country once the time approved by the Embassy elapses. Overstaying your approved time will also lead to removal and affect your chances of reentering the Schengen area.

Eligibility Requirements for Schengen Visa Portugal

When applying for a Schengen visa, you are required to submit certain supporting documents that will prove you meet the eligibility criteria:

Bahrain Passport

One of the most important documents you must present when making your Schengen visa application is your Bahain passport. The passport is both a proof of your identity and nationality. Note that your passport must have been issued within the past 10 years and will be valid 3 months after the expiration of your visa. Also, your passport must have a minimum of 2 blank pages where your visa will be attached.

Portugal Visa Application Form

You must fill out the visa application form, sign and attach it to your other supporting documents. If you do not sign the form, your application will be rejected. The form is available for download at the website of Portugal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The E-visa Portugal can also serve as your application form.

Proof of Accommodation

You must prove to the Portuguese Embassy that you have somewhere to stay when you arrive in Portugal. This is typically demonstrated by presenting the following documents:

• Invitation letter from someone living in Portugal. This letter must be signed and notarised. The writer will also add a copy of their ID for validation.
• Receipt of hotel, short-let or Airbnb booking that will last for as long as you stay in Portugal.
• Rental agreement signed by you and a Portuguese property owner, showing you have rented an apartment or house for the duration of your stay.
• Deed of property purchase that shows you have bought a property in Portugal.

Passport Photograph

You have to submit 2 recent digital passports. They must not have been taken later than 6 months. Ensure also that the details of your face are showing clearly in the photograph. If you wear recommended glasses, ensure they do not reflect the camera’s light.

Cover Letter

The Portuguese authorities need to be sure the reason for your visit to Portugal is genuine. So, in your cover letter, you have to specify why you are going to Portugal, the duration of your stay and what you will do in Portugal when you get there.

Proof of Funds

You must also show that you have enough money to take you to Portugal and back. You must also show you have enough money for your living expenses in Portugal without needing the intervention of the Portuguese government. You prove this by showing a bank balance. There is no specified amount you must show; however, it is advisable you have €45-75 to spend daily.

Medical Insurance Policy 

You must have an EU-standard medical insurance policy covering up to €30,000 in medical expenses. If you are going with your family, you must also purchase an insurance policy for each person.

Ties to Bahrain

There has to be proof that something or someone will make you return to Bahrain at your visa’s expiration. You can prove you have ties to your home country by submitting any of the following:

• A letter from your school showing you have a course to complete.
• A business licence which shows you have a business you have to go back to Bahrain to run.
• A letter from work that shows your leave was approved and you are expected to return to work when your holiday expires. This letter must come with the company’s letterhead bearing their contact and address.
• A marriage certificate that shows you have a spouse in Bahrain.
• A birth certificate that shows you have children in Bahrain.
• A flight booking that shows you have paid for your flight to and from Portugal.

Criminal Record Certificate 

You must show you have not been convicted of any criminal offence in your home country or elsewhere. To this effect, you must submit a criminal record certificate from the Bahrain Police. This form should also be obtained from every country you have spent at least 3 months in the past 5 years.

Employment Status

You must show your employment status to get a Schengen visa for Portugal. You can prove your status by submitting any of these documents:

• A letter from your employer showing you are a legitimate employee and stating you will return to Bahrain when your leave is over.
• A proof that you have been paying your tax and business licence.
• A letter from your school that shows you are a student and are expected to come back to Bahrain and finish your studies.
• A bank balance showing how much you have made in the past 6 months.

It is vital to note that the Portuguese Embassy only accepts documents in English or Portuguese. If your documents are not in any of these 2 languages, you must translate and legalise them before submitting them.

Gather Your Documents

The first step you are supposed to take when applying for a visa is to gather your documents. You must ensure you have all the documents you need for your application.

You can use the documents checklist above to gather your documents. Alternatively, you can reach out to IAS for help. They can guide you on what document to submit.  Call us at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.

Complete the Application Form

Download the application form from the website and complete it. Ensure you sign the form before attaching it to your other supporting documents. Applications must be submitted for every individual travelling with you. You can complete the form for minors, the disabled and older people.

Pay Your Visa Fees

You have to pay your visa fees before sending in your application. You can pay the fees online with your credit card, cheque, or money order.

Plan Your Documents Submission

The Portuguese Embassy in Bahrain is honorary and does not have the authority to issue any visa. All applications from Bahrain are directed to the Portuguese Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Embassy itself does not deal directly with applicants.

They outsource the visa applications to the VFS Global visa application centre in Riyadh, located at Makkah Road, Al Hada, Riyadh 12913 8380.

The first step is to go to the VFS Global website to schedule your date of submission. You must submit your document on this date, as the centre does not accept walk-in submissions.

You must also pay a VFS Global Visa Application Centre service charge. This is mandatory, as applications without proof of service charge payment will not be processed.

After the officers in the application centre confirm that your documents are in order, your biometrics will be collected. The only people exempted from submitting their biometrics are children under 12, diplomats and people with disabilities.

Pick Up Your Visa

If the Portuguese Embassy approves your application, the VFS Global visa application centre will notify you in writing. They will also tell you the location of passport and visa pickup.

If you notice delays with your application, you should contact the application centre and not the Embassy.

Overview

There is an opportunity for you, as a Bahraini citizen, to move to Portugal via the golden visa route permanently. The golden visa is a fast track to Portuguese permanent residence and citizenship.

The golden visa is for people who invest a large sum ( €200,000 to €500,000) in Portugal for at least 5 years. When the 5 years end, you can decide to make applications for citizenship, permanent residence or continue with the program.

While other naturalisation routes demand extended minimum stays, the golden visa route requires you to stay for only 7 days at a stretch in 1 year. It also gives you visa-free access to all the Schengen countries for 90 days.

The Portuguese government provided many incentives for golden visa holders. Here are some of them:

Family Reunion

You can take your family from Bahrain to Portugal if your golden visa application is successful. You can bring:

• Your spouse or de facto partner.
•  Your dependent child is still unmarried and has an offer to study in a Portuguese school.
• Your siblings who are your legal ward and are below 18 years old.
• Your wife’s siblings who are your legal wards and are below 18 years old.
• Your parents, if they are 65 and above, depend on you.
• Your spouse’s parents, if they are aged 65 and above, and are dependent on you.

Access to the Schengen Area

You can visit the Schengen area with your family without applying for a visa. You can stay in these countries for a maximum of 90 days.

Route to Citizenship

You can get Portuguese citizenship or permanent residence if you spend 5 years on the golden visa.

Exemption from Taxes

One of the perks of being a golden visa holder is that you will be exempted from taxes if you choose to be an NHR (non-habitual resident). As a NHR, you must spend less than 183 days per year in Portugal.

Again, as an NHR, the taxes you will pay will be 20% instead of 48% on the funds you make in Portugal. If the funds came from abroad, then it would not be taxed at all.

Eligibility Requirements

When you are applying for the golden visa, you have to meet these requirements below:

• You must be at least 18.
• You must have enough funds to cover your living expenses while in Portugal.
• You must have a clean criminal record.
• You must have gotten the funds you used for investment outside of Portugal.
• You must have made an investment worth between €200,000 and €500,000.
• You must have a Portuguese bank account and an NIF number.
• You must show you signed an affidavit agreeing to maintain the investment for at least 5 years.
• You must have medical insurance that covers up to €30,000 in medical expenses.

Valid Investment Routes

Below are the eligible investment routes for the golden visa:

• €500,000 invested in starting a business or company that can employ 10 people permanently.
• €400,000 invested in an existing business that can employ 8 people permanently.
• €200,000 to €400,000 invested in repairing or maintaining a cultural or historical piece or symbol.
• €200,000 to €400,000 invested in engineering, science or tech research in Portugal.

Required Documents

Get these documents ready when applying for the golden visa:

• Valid passport issued no longer than 10 years and valid for up to 3 months after your visa expires.
• Digital passport taken within the past 6 months.
• Affidavit showing your consent to maintain the investment for 5 years.
• Criminal record certificate from Bahrain and any other country you have spent 3 months in the past 5 years.
• Proof you have paid the golden visa fees.
• Marriage and birth certificates if you are going with your family.
• Duly signed Portugal national visa form.

Fees

• €533 for the processing fee.
• €83 for each family member.
• €5325 for the application fee.

Processing Times

It could take up to 2 years to decide on your visa application.

Overview

The D7 visa is for Bahraini citizens who are remote workers, digital nomads, passive income earners, self-employed and freelancers. This visa permits you to work remotely out of Portugal.

Note that your income must be coming outside of Portugal. You are not permitted to take up any employment, even a remote one, from Portugal.

The D7 visa is of 2 types: the temporary stay and the residency visa.

When you apply for a temporary stay visa, you will get a permit that lasts for 1 year. After that, you can apply for an extension for 2 years, which grants you multiple entries. With the visa, you can visit other Schengen countries.

The temporary visa does not allow family reunification. It is also not a pathway to citizenship or permanent residence because you cannot stay in Portugal for up to 5 years with the visa.

If you want a visa that allows family reunification, you must apply for a residency visa. It is also a route to citizenship or permanent residence. The residency visa gives you 2 years of stay with an option to renew for 3. It also allows only 2 entries into Portugal.

When you apply for the D7 visa, you get a permit to enter Portugal for 4 months. You are expected to change this permit to a residence permit that covers the rest of your stay.

Eligibility Requirements

These are the documents you must show the Embassy to prove your eligibility:

• Valid Bahrain passport.
• Digital passport photograph taken no later than 3 months.
• NIF number from Portugal.
• Birth certificate which demonstrates you are at least 18.
• Criminal history certificate from the Police in Bahrain.
• Medical insurance valid throughout the EU, which is worth at least €30,000.
• Marriage and birth certificates if you are travelling with your family.
• Bank account from Portugal.
• Cover letter that explains your reasons for going to Portugal.

Fees

• €75 when applying for the temporary stay visa.
• €90 when applying for the residence visa.
• €320 for the issuance of a residence permit.

Processing Time

You can estimate to wait for 12 to 24 weeks before the Embassy can give a reply to your application.

It takes the SEF 14 days to issue your residence permit.

Processing times are usually longer if the Embassy or visa application centre has too much workload.

All enquiries about the application status must be made to the VFS Global visa application centre instead of the Portuguese Embassy.

Overview

As a Bahraini citizen, you can study or conduct research in Portugal if you have a study visa.

The Portugal study visa is of 2 types: the short-term study visa and the long-term study visa.

If you want to study a course that will take less than 90 days to finish, you must apply for a short-term visa. This visa is valid for 90 days.

If you want to study a course that will take more than 90 days, you must apply for a long-term visa. This visa is valid for 1 year. But it can be extended till you finish your studies.

One of the downsides of the study visa is that it is not a route to citizenship or permanent residence, even if you spend 5 years studying. You have to switch to another visa type to be eligible. However, you can come to Portugal with your spouse and children.

Eligibility Criteria

When you are applying for a student visa, it is required that you present the documents below:

• Admission letter from the Portuguese school you are to be enrolled in.
• Proof you have paid the tuition fee stipulated by the school. If you have funding or sponsorship, you can attach the certificate as proof.
• Proof you can take care of your living expenses in Portugal. You can present a bank statement showing this. Alternatively, you can submit a sponsorship or funding letter.
• Bahrain passport issued within the past 10 years. It must still be valid for 6 months after your visa expires.
• Health insurance policy certificate with at least €30000 value.
• Proof you have a place to stay in Portugal. You can show evidence you rented an apartment, bought a house or booked a hotel. Alternatively, you can provide an invitation letter from someone in Portugal willing to house you for your studies.
• Completed and duly signed national visa application form.
• Digital passport not older than 6 months.
• Criminal record certificate from Bahrain and any other country you spent at least 3 months in the last 5 years.

It is important to note that you must translate and legalise your documents if they are not in Portuguese or English.

Fees

• €75 if you intend to apply for a short-term study visa.
• €90 if you want to apply for a long-term study visa.

If you get to Portugal, you will also need to pay:

• €83 when applying to the SEF for a residence permit.
• €72 upon issuance of the residence permit by the SEF.

Processing Time

You may need to wait 4 to 12 weeks for the Embassy to respond to your application.

Overview

If you have a job offer from a Portuguese-based employer, you can move to Portugal for work. However, you will need to apply for a Portugal work visa.

This visa permits you to work in Portugal for 1 year. It can be extended if your employer wants to keep you in their service.

When you have worked for 5 years, you can convert to a permanent residence permit or citizenship. Upon citizenship, you can apply for your Portuguese passport, giving you visa-free access to over 188 countries.

Your prospective employer is the one who makes the first move for the application. They must apply to the Labour authorities, seeking permission to sponsor you. They have to do this while proving that no one from the EU can do the job you are coming to do.

If the Labour authorities approve his request, you can then go ahead and make your application from your country. If your application is successful, you will get a residence visa, granting you entry into Portugal.

With the visa, you can stay in Portugal for 4 months. Within those 4 months, you are expected to apply to the SEF for the residence visa to be changed to a residence permit.

One of the benefits of this visa is that you can move to Portugal with your family.

The downside is that you are tied to the employer that sponsored you. You cannot change jobs or even locations without the approval of the SEF. Else, you will be removed from the country.

If you are a Bahraini citizen, you can also apply for the Job seeker visa Portugal. This visa is for people who don’t have a job yet but would like one in Portugal. This visa has a 4-month validity. You must get a job or move back to your country within this time.

Eligibility Criteria

To prove to the Embassy that you are eligible to apply for a Portugal work visa, you have to present the documents below:

• Valid Bahrain passport. It must have been issued within the last 10 years and has at least 2 blank pages where your visa will be attached.
• Signed employment contract between you and the Portugal-based employer. This must spell out the terms of your employment, location and pay.
• Recent passport, taken not later than 6 months ago. You must ensure every detail of your face is showing clearly. Medicated glasses should not reflect the light from the camera.
• Medical insurance policy certificate that has a value of at least €30000.
• Marriage certificate if you wish to travel with your spouse.
• Birth certificate of your children if you wish to travel with them.
• Bank statement that shows you have enough money to cater for the daily expenses of living in Portugal.
• Proof you have somewhere to stay in Portugal. You could provide a rental agreement, invitation letter or evidence you purchased a property in Portugal.
• Consent form that shows you permit the SEF to check your criminal history.

Fees

• €90 as the application fee.
• €83 as the residence permit application fee.
• €72 as the residence permit issuance fee.

Processing Time

The SEF could take up to 2 months to give a response to your prospective employer.

The Embassy could take up to 3 months to respond to your application.