Portugal Visas From Italy
Italian citizens are allowed to enter Portugal without a visa for various reasons, such as to study, visit family, for tourism, etc. Non-EU citizens must obtain a Portugal visa to enter the country.
If you need any clarification about obtaining a Portugal visa from Italy or more information about the services we offer, reach out to our team at IAS. Call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us online.
Do Italians Need a Visa To Enter Portugal?
Italian citizens who want to visit Portugal do not need to obtain a visa. This is because Italy is a member state of the Schengen zone. The countries in the Schengen zone have an agreement to allow visa-free movement of their citizens to and from each member state.
However, non-EU citizens who reside in Italy are required to enter Portugal with any of the different Portugal visas. In recent years, Portugal has become one of the best spots for tourism. Thanks to the country’s welcoming culture, pleasant weather, beautiful cities, affordable cost of living, etc.
Many expats continue to troop into Portugal, especially retirees, remote workers and other passive income earners. Most of these expats must obtain a visa as a requirement to enter Portugal for whatever reason that brings them into the country.
Some of these reasons could be for business, tourism, medical treatment, to visit family, for pleasure, etc. Note that if you are a citizen of a country that has a visa-free agreement with Portugal, such as Italy, you will be allowed to visit Portugal without a visa and stay for up to 90 days within 180 days. However, Italians who wish to stay for more than 90 days in Portugal, must obtain a Certificate of Registration from the local Council within the first 30 days of their stay in Portugal.
But if you are not a citizen of Italy, you can apply for a Portugal Schengen visa or any other type of Portugal visa that meets your travel purpose to enter Portugal. To obtain the visa, you must meet all the requirements and pay all Portugal visa fees across your application process.
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Long Stay Portugal Visa Options & Residency
Non-EU citizens in Italy who want to enter Portugal on a long-term basis have some Portugal visa types they can obtain. Some of these visas offer routes to permanent residence or citizenship in Portugal.
If you want to enter Portugal and stay for a long time, there are Long-Stay visas you may choose from. They include:
Golden Visa Portugal
If you are a non-EU national who resides in Italy and wants to enter Portugal on a long-term basis, you can obtain a Portugal Golden visa. This visa is designed for non-EU citizens whose countries do not have visa-free agreements with Portugal.
The Portugal Golden visa allows applicants to invest in Portugal. The Portuguese government developed the Golden visa to lure foreign investors into Portugal.
These investments in Portugal will help to create job opportunities for Portuguese citizens and ultimately help to boost the economy of Portugal. When you invest in Portugal, you are required to maintain the investment for up to 5 years.
You are not required to spend much time in Portugal during those 5 years. You are only expected to spend at least 7 days per year, that is, 35 days in those 5 years in Portugal. When you obtain the Portugal Golden visa, you may qualify for Portuguese permanent residence or citizenship, provided you meet all the requirements.
Non-EU citizens who obtain the Portugal Golden visa can enter other countries in the Schengen zone without an additional visa. Also, your family is allowed to come and stay with you in Portugal with your Portugal Golden visa.
Eligibility for Portugal Golden Visa
If you want to obtain a Portugal Golden visa, you are required to be eligible to apply. The eligibility criteria include:
- Be 18 years old or older.
- You must have the money for your investment.
- The investment must be in Portugal.
- Your investment must be a minimum of about €250,000.
- The investment must be maintained for at least 5 years.
- You must be a non-EU citizen.
- You should have no criminal record.
- Have a NIF number.
- Own a Portuguese bank account.
- Obtain medical insurance worth €30,000.
Requirements for Portugal Golden Visa
There are documents you must provide as a part of your submission to obtain a Portugal Golden visa. Here are the documents:
- Your 2 passport pictures that meet Portugal visa picture criteria.
- Your valid passport. It must have at least 2 blank pages where your visa will be fixed. You must have received it within the last 10 years and should have at least 3 months validity after your exit from Portugal.
- Your Portugal Golden visa application form which you can access at the SEF’s website.
- Criminal record certificate, showing that you have not partaken in any crime in Italy. You must obtain it from the Prosecutor’s Office of the Court in Italy.
- A sworn affidavit, which assures that you will maintain your business in Portugal for at least 5 years.
- ARI payment receipt.
- Proof of medical health insurance that costs a minimum of €30,000.
- Any relevant documents regarding your investment in Portugal.
Processing Time
Applicants for a Portugal Golden visa may wait for 2 years to get a decision on a Portugal Golden visa application.
Fees
The Portugal Golden visa application fee costs about €5,325 but you will pay €2,663 for its renewal. To process your Golden visa application, you are required to pay €533 and pay the same amount upon its renewal. Your individual family members must pay €83 for the processing fee and pay the same amount upon its renewal.
D7 Visa Portugal
Non-EU citizens who reside in Italy may also apply for the Portugal D7 visa if they wish to stay for a long period of time in Portugal. This visa is also called the Retirement visa, Passive Income visa, or Portugal Digital Nomad visa.
The D7 visa is created for retirees, remote workers and other independent income earners who want to move to Portugal to work for employers who are outside the country. Additionally, the income you will earn in your work must be earned from abroad.
If you obtain a Portugal D7 residency visa, you will be allowed to work remotely in Portugal for 2 years, if you are a remote worker. You will be able to renew your residency visa for up to 3 years.
When you have stayed in Portugal for 5 years with your Portugal D7 residency visa. You will qualify for Portugal permanent residency or citizenship, provided you meet the requirements.
Your residency visa will grant you double entry into Portugal. With your Portugal D7 visa, you will be allowed to visit other EU countries without obtaining another visa.
The D7 visa can allow your family members to join you in Portugal. But first, you must prove the relationship between you and them.
Eligibility for a Portugal D7 Visa
Non-EU citizens who reside in Italy can apply for a Portugal D7 Visa if they are eligible. To be eligible for the D7 Portugal visa requirements, you must:
- Own a NIF.
- Own a Portuguese bank account.
- Live in Portugal for a minimum of 16 months within the first 2 years in the country.
- Receive a minimum income of €8,460 per year.
Requirements for a Portugal D7 Visa
Meeting the requirements of a Portugal D7 visa is expected of all applicants. Provide the following for the Portugal D7 visa:
- Two passport photographs. They must meet the Portugal visa application photo standard.
- An application form for your Portugal D7 visa, filled out without errors.
- Your international passport. They must be valid for 6 months after your Portugal D7 visa expires.
- A cover letter. You must provide a cover letter that explains your travel purpose. Also, it has to clearly state which countries in the Schengen region you plan to visit when you enter Portugal.
- Evidence that you earn passive income. Prove that you earn €3,040 in a month, and about €8,460 yearly.
- Proof of having medical health insurance worth €30,000 to cover any unplanned medical expenses during your time in Portugal.
- Criminal record certificate, showing that you do not have a criminal history.
- Proof of accommodation, showing you have a hotel reservation, rental agreement, or any other place to stay in Portugal.
Processing Time
The processing time it takes to get a decision on your Portugal D7 visa is about 90 to 180 days.
Fees
After paying €180 for the Portugal D7 visa application service fee, you are required to pay €320 to the SEF to get your residence permit.
Portugal Study Visa
The Portuguese government created the Study visa to enable international students to enter Portugal for study purposes. The rules applied for the Portugal Study visa depend on your nationality (whether you are from a country that has a visa-free agreement with Portugal or not).
If you’re an Italian who gained admission into a Portuguese educational institution, you are not required to get a Study visa for a course that lasts for 90 days. You are also not required to provide a Study visa even if your course duration is more than 90 days. In this case, what you must do is to register your stay in Portugal with the local authorities.
But if you are a non-EU national resident in Italy, you must obtain a Portugal Study visa to enter Portugal for all study purposes, regardless of the duration of your course (whether on a Short-Term Study, Temporary Study, or Long-Stay Study visa). By default, you must obtain a residence permit if your study course will last for more than 90 days.
Once you are done with your studies in Portugal, you will have a chance to remain in the country. Note that the years you spent on a Study visa do not add up to permanent residency. First, you must have a job offer from an employer in Portugal.
Secondly, you and your employer must meet the requirements for a Work visa in Portugal to enable you to switch from your current student permit to a standard working residence permit. Ensure you apply to switch to a Work visa 30 days before the expiration of your Study visa. The reason is that the SEF will reject your application if it is submitted within the last 30 days validity of your Study visa.
Upon a successful switching to a Work visa (temporary residence permit for work) in Portugal which is valid for 1 year, you will be able to renew it for up to 5 years. After you have spent 5 years in Portugal you will qualify to apply for permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal.
Eligibility for Portugal Study Visa
Before you qualify for a Portugal Study visa as a non-EU citizen, you must provide the following:
- Get your valid passport or travel document.
- Get your 2 passport photographs that meet the criteria of Portugal visa photos.
- Bring a letter of acceptance from your Portuguese educational institution.
- Evidence of paid tuition fees. Bring a scholarship document issued by your school in Portugal if you have one.
- Get your embassy-issued Portugal Study visa application form.
- Provide your bank statements, scholarship, proof of sponsorship, etc. as proof of having enough funds to meet your needs in Portugal.
- Evidence of accommodation. You must prove that you have a place to stay in Portugal such as your dormitory, rental contract or invitation letter from a friend/family member with whom you will reside in Portugal.
- Evidence of travel health insurance worth €30,000.
- Criminal record certificate, showing that you have not engaged in any crimes in Italy. You must obtain it from the Prosecutor’s Office of the Court in Italy.
Processing Time
It usually takes about 3 months for a decision to be made on a Portugal Study visa application.
Fees
A payment of €90 is required of you at the Portugal embassy in Rome, Italy. Upon your entry into Portugal, you must pay €83 to obtain your residence permit and pay €72 to collect the residence permit from the SEF.
Portugal Work Visa
If you’re an Italian citizen, you are not required to apply for a specific visa to work in Portugal. Italian citizens are allowed to visit, study, live and work in Portugal for 90 days without a visa. However, you are required to obtain a Certificate of Registration if you wish to stay for more than 90 days in Portugal.
If you’re a non-EU national, you must obtain a Portugal Work visa to be allowed to work in Portugal. Before you apply for the Portugal Work visa, you must first secure a job in Portugal. Your employer must have advertised the job to Portuguese and other EU nationals for 30 days.
If no one is selected for the job after the advertisement, the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training in Portugal (IEFP) will declare that the job is now open for non-EU nationals. Now, your employer has to apply for a work permit on your behalf from the Portuguese Labour Authorities.
The work permit will explain your job description and the location. If at any point, you wish to change jobs or relocate, you must apply for another work permit. The reason is that your work permit must tally with your job description and location.
At this point, you must apply for a standard Portugal Work visa that grants you a residence permit for an initial 1 year. You can renew this residence permit for up to 5 years and then apply for permanent residency or citizenship. If you wish to enter Portugal to look for employment opportunities, you may explore the Portugal Job Seeker visa route.
If you are highly qualified in your profession, such as an Engineer, Medical Professional, Scientist, etc., you may apply for a Highly Qualified Work Visa. But if you are a professional who has sought-after skills, you may obtain the EU Blue Card. Remember that you must provide required documents to prove your skills, education and experiences.
Eligibility Requirements for Portugal Work Visa
Non-EU residents in Italy must provide the following documents to apply for a Portugal Work visa:
- Valid passport or travel document.
- Two passport photographs in line with the Portuguese visa application guidelines.
- Evidence of enough funds to meet your needs in Portugal.
- Criminal record certificate. Obtain the certificate from the Prosecutor’s Office of the Court, which proves that you have not been convicted of any criminal offence in Italy. The certificate must convince the Portuguese embassy that you will be of good conduct and not cause a threat to public order in Portugal when you enter the country.
- A document that grants the SEF access to go through your criminal record.
- Employment contract.
- Evidence of travel health insurance. It has to be a minimum of €30,000 that is valid across the Schengen area.
- Evidence of accommodation. You must prove that you will not be stranded in Portugal by showing your hotel reservation, rental agreement, or a letter of invitation from a friend or family member who is in Portugal.
- Proof of your legal entry into Portugal such as a visa, if you are in the country.
- Evidence of your legal stay in Portugal such as a residence permit or visa, if you are applying from a different country other than Portugal.
Processing Time
Applicants for the Portugal Work visa are required to wait for about 2 to 3 months to get a decision on the application. You may obtain your work permit from the SEF in 60 days.
Fees
You must pay €90 at the Portuguese embassy in Rome, Italy. On your arrival to Portugal, pay €83 for the residence permit application and pay €72 to get it from the SEF.
Remember that all mentioned required documents for Portugal visas must be translated from Italian or any other language into either Portuguese or English. For your documents to be accepted, it has to be translated by a legalised translator and notarised.
If you need more clarification about the Long-Stay Portugal visa, or any other Portugal visa type residency available to you, IAS can help. We have experienced immigration advisers who can assist you with detailed explanations of issues related to migrating to Portugal from Italy. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us online.
Portugal Residency
The Portugal residency permits are available to foreign nationals who wish to stay longer than 90 days in Portugal or the Schengen zone. It is an official authorisation that allows non-EU citizens to live and work in Portugal.
Your purpose of coming to Portugal and how long you plan to stay will determine the type of residency permit you should obtain. A Portugal residency permit typically lasts for up to 1 year (temporary permit) to 3 years.
You can renew your temporary permit for up to 5 years. After that, you will qualify to switch to a permanent residence permit.
If you want to live indefinitely in Portugal you can obtain a permanent residence permit. But if you do not wish to do so, you may continue to renew your temporary residence permit.
How to Apply for a Permanent Residency Permit
If you are a non-EU citizen who wishes to stay in Portugal for the foreseeable future, you must apply for a permanent residency permit. Here is how to apply:
The Portugal residency permits are available to foreign nationals who wish to stay longer than 90 days in Portugal or the Schengen zone. It is an official authorisation that allows non-EU citizens to live and work in Portugal.
Your purpose of coming to Portugal and how long you plan to stay will determine the type of residency permit you should obtain. A Portugal residency permit typically lasts for up to 1 year (temporary permit) to 3 years.
You can renew your temporary permit for up to 5 years. After that, you will qualify to switch to a permanent residence permit.
If you want to live indefinitely in Portugal you can obtain a permanent residence permit. But if you do not wish to do so, you may continue to renew your temporary residence permit.
How to Apply for a Permanent Residency Permit
If you are a non-EU citizen who wishes to stay in Portugal for the foreseeable future, you must apply for a permanent residency permit. Here is how to apply:
Apply for a Residency Visa
You must first, hold a visa (residency visa) that will allow you to enter Portugal, with which you will apply for a residency permit. The residency visa is usually valid for 3 to 4 months and grants double entry into Portugal. It usually takes 60 days to process the residency visa.
Assemble all the required documents, and your application form, then schedule an appointment with the Portuguese embassy in Rome, Italy. Set this appointment via email or online. Your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) will be taken at the appointment, and you may also be interviewed.
If you are applying to obtain a residence permit for family reunification or work, your family member and employer must first submit an application at the SEF or at the Portuguese Labour Authorities on your behalf. Depending on the type of visa you need, the application requirements usually differ just as a Work visa and Family visa do not have similar requirements.
Apply for the Residence Permit
When you obtain your residency visa, you can enter Portugal and then apply for a residence permit. You must apply for the permit at the SEF in Portugal and obtain your social security number at a registration office.
Note that you only have 120 days (4 months) before your residency visa expires. Therefore you must visit the registration office and the SEF before that period elapses.
Portugal Citizenship
Portugal is one of the most accessible countries to get citizenship. Italian nationals who are qualified can obtain Portuguese citizenship. Portuguese citizens are issued an EU passport that allows them to live and work in the EU and also have a visa-free visit to several countries in Europe.
Because Portugal is an EU country, you can obtain Portuguese citizenship by descent, naturalisation and investment. To obtain Portuguese citizenship by descent you must prove that you have a parent who was a citizen of Portugal. You are allowed to have citizenship by descent traced from the second generation (your grandparents) to you.
You must meet the eligibility requirements to obtain Portuguese citizenship. Your ancestors (your grandparents, and parents) must have maintained their citizenship and not have forfeited it. It costs about €175 to €200 to apply for Portuguese citizenship by descent.
Obtaining Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation requires you to enter Portugal for work and stay for up to 5 years or be married for 3 years. After those years in Portugal, you have to meet other eligibility criteria to obtain Portugal citizenship.
If you want to get Portuguese citizenship by investment, you are required to invest in Portugal to boost the economy of the country. Citizenship by investment, otherwise known as the Portugal Golden visa awards investors an EU passport when they meet all the requirements.
Eligibility Requirements for Portugal Citizenship
As an Italian, you can apply for a Portuguese citizenship if you:
- Were born in Portugal.
- Have Portuguese grandparents or parents.
- Have a Portuguese spouse.
- Have resided in Portugal for 5 years as a legal resident.
Note that the requirements you will be asked to provide to obtain Portuguese citizenship rely on where you were born, the nationality of your family members, how many years you have lived in Portugal, etc.
You will be required to pay €250 to apply for Portuguese nationality. The payment methods include, by cheque or postal order (if you apply by post) and by debit card at the place you will submit your application.
How Can IAS Help?
Italian nationals are not required to obtain a Portugal visa to enter the country for work purposes, unlike non-EU residents in Italy, who are required to meet Portugal National visa requirements before they will be allowed to work in Portugal.
Non-EU nationals resident in Italy are also required to obtain different types of Portugal visas to enter Portugal. They must qualify and meet the requirements of these visas to be allowed into Portugal. Note that the visa you choose to enter Portugal must meet your travel purpose.
Italian nationals can obtain Portuguese citizenship when they meet the mentioned eligibility requirements. If you wish to enter Portugal or obtain Portuguese citizenship from Italy, but do not know how to start. IAS can help.
We have professional, experienced immigration advisers who are always available to assist you. We have helped applicants to enter Portugal for various purposes. We can assist you in assembling your supporting documents and advise you throughout your visa application process.
If you need more information about how to begin your application or other services we offer. Contact our team at IAS today, call us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.
Last modified on October 9th, 2023 at 11:49 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you need a visa to enter Portugal for business purposes, if you are a non-EU citizen. The type of visa designed to help you enter Portugal to engage in business activities is the Portugal Schengen Business visa. But Italian citizens and other EU nationals can enter Portugal for 90 days visa-free for business activities.
It takes about 15 working days to process a Portugal visa. On rare occasions, you may be asked to wait for about 30 to 60 days for it to be processed.
The Portugal visa costs about €80 for adults and €40 for children from 6 to 12 years old. Children below 6 years can enter the Schengen region for free.
Other people who can enter for free include EU/EEA nationals, teachers and students on a school trip, holders of diplomatic passports on an official trip, a representative of a nonprofit organisation (25 years or below), and researchers travelling for scientific research.