Portugal Visa From Thailand

Portugal Visa From Thailand: An Overview

To visit or move to Portugal as a Thai citizen or resident, you must apply for a visa—the Portugal visa Thailand permits Thai citizens and residents to visit or move to Portugal.

With this visa, Thai citizens can access Portugal and other countries in the Schengen area. Know that even though you can move around the Schengen area with this visa, you must enter through Portugal first.

The Schengen visa is one of the most common visas to apply for as a Thai citizen. It is also called the Type C Schengen visa. A short-stay visa permits you to visit Portugal and other Schengen countries for 90 days.

Asides from the visit visa to Portugal, there are other visas that you can apply for as a Thailand citizen. These other visas cost more and require longer processing time.

Whether you are applying for the Schengen visa or any other type of visa, you must show you meet all the financial and eligibility requirements to get visa approval.

Types Of Portugal Visas Available For Citizens Of Thailand

Overview

There are different types of Portugal visas available for citizens of Thailand. The type of visa you need to apply for depends on the reason for your travel to Portugal. Your purpose must be in tandem with the visa you are applying for.

Here are the types of Portuguese visas you can apply for as a Thai citizen:

• Schengen Visa
• Golden Visa
• Portugal D7 Visa
• Study Visa
• Work Visa

Schengen Visa

Overview

The Portuguese Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that enables Thai citizens to visit Portugal as tourists. You can apply for the short-stay visa if you want to visit friends and family in Portugal or visit the country.

It is also the visa to apply for if you are going for medical care, for business or to attend a conference.

The visa is valid for 90 days and grants access to other Schengen countries.

This is one of the fastest Portuguese visas to process and requires the least proof of funds. It is vital to note that this visa does not permit you to do any work. Working in Portugal while on a Schengen visa is a violation of immigration rules.

When applying for the short-stay visa, you must prove to the Portuguese visa officers that you have enough funds to cater to your stay in Portugal. You must also prove you have somewhere to stay and will return to Thailand once your permit expires. This means you have to show them proof of your ties to Thailand.

Portugal Schengen Visa Application: Requirements And Eligibility

To apply for the Schengen visa, you must submit documents proving you meet the eligibility requirement. Here are the Portugal visa requirements:

Thailand Passport

You have to present your passport during your application. This proves your nationality and identity. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave Portugal. There must also be at least 2 pages free for the attachment of your visa.

Evidence of Accommodation

If you are applying for a Portuguese visa, you must show you have a place to stay. You can show this by presenting:

• Hotel or Airbnb bookings that cover the length of your stay.
• Rental agreement between you and a Portuguese landlord, showing you rented a house or an apartment for your stay in Portugal.
• Deed of outright property purchase.
• Invitation letter from someone in Portugal.

If you present an invitation letter as proof of accommodation, your host must sign and notarise the document and add a copy of his ID for the document to be valid.

Medical Insurance Policy Certificate

To enter Portugal, you must prove you have medical insurance worth at least €30,000. This is non-negotiable, and you must show that your family members have this, too, if you are travelling with them.

Schengen Visa Application Form

You are required to complete a Portugal visa application form. A signed copy should be attached to your supporting documents.

Passport Photograph

You have to attach 2 passport photographs to your supporting documents.

Proof of Funds

The Portuguese consulate wants to be sure you can cater to yourself throughout your stay in Portugal without burdening the government. As such, you must prove you have enough funds for your trip. While no specific amount is stipulated for this, it is always safe to show that you have €45-75 per day.

Cover Letter

The authenticity of your travel must be verified; hence you must address a letter to the Consulate, stating why you want to visit Portugal, how long you are staying and what you intend to do while you are there.

Flight Itinerary

This is one way to prove to the consulate officers that you intend to leave once your visa expires. You must present a booked flight ticket to and from Portugal.

Ties to Home Country

You have to prove that you intend to go back to Thailand by presenting any of these documents:

• Employment letter with the company’s letterhead, address and contact.
• Letter that shows you are on leave and will return on a particular date to resume work.
• Business licence that shows you have a business to return to in Thailand.
• Admission letter indicating you have a degree to complete.
• Proof of visa fee payment.
• Birth certificates of children if you are travelling with them.
• Marriage certificate if you are travelling with your spouse.

If your documents are not in English, you must translate them at the consulate.

Portuguese Schengen Visa From Thailand Costs Breakdown

Here is a breakdown of what it will cost you to apply for the Schengen visa:

• €80 for anyone above the age of 12.
• €40 for anyone between the ages of 6 and 12.

The Portuguese embassy does not charge visa fees for any child under 6.

If you are going to Portugal with a close relative, like a parent, child or sibling, who is a national of an EU-member state, you do not have to pay visa fees.

Applying for a Portuguese Schengen Visa to Portugal From Thailand

Below is the Portugal visa application process.

Prepare Your Supporting Documents

The first thing you should do when applying for a Schengen visa is to gather your documents. Study the checklist above and select the documents that apply to you. If you are still confused about what document to present, our team at Immigration Advice Service would be glad to help you with that.

Make an Appointment

The Portuguese embassy outsources Schengen visa applications from Thailand to TSLcontact. They receive many applications per day and, as such, do not handle walk-in submissions. So, if you would like to make a submission, you must schedule an appointment with them.

Complete the Application Form

After gathering your supporting documents, completing the application form online is next. You can get this form at the website of the Portuguese embassy in Thailand. There are two ways to fill out this form. You can complete it online or print and fill it out by hand. After filling it out by hand, you must sign and mail the form and supporting document to TLS.

Pay the Visa Fees

You can pay for your visa fees once you get to TLS  on the day of your appointment. You can also save yourself the stress and pay the fees online. If you do so, ensure you attach the receipt to your documents.

Submit Your Documents

Ensure you go to the TLS centre on the day of your appointment so your documents can be accepted and for visa processing to begin.

Pick up Your Visa

The consulate will tell you when and where to pick your visa if your application is successful.

Portuguese Schengen Visa Processing Time

Typically, it takes approximately 15 working days for a decision to be made on your visa application. However, there have been cases of the Schengen visa taking up to 30 days.

There are many reasons why the processing time would be longer than 15 days. It could be the workload of the visa application centre or that they are trying to verify all of the information you supplied.

It is often important to plan ahead. The earliest time you can apply for a Schengen visa is 3 months before the date you marked for your travel. However, it is often advised you apply 1 month before the day you intend to travel.

Golden Visa

Overview

Thai citizens who want to move to Portugal permanently can utilise the chance that Portugal’s Golden visa offers. This visa is one of the fastest routes to naturalising in Portugal.

The Golden visa program targets people who can create and maintain an investment in Portugal for 5 years. After that 5 years, you can choose to either apply for permanent residence or citizenship.

While the other permanent residence or naturalisation routes demand you spend some weeks or months in a year, the golden visa offers you a chance to stay outside the country and only visit whenever you want. The minimum stay requirement is just 7 days a year.

This visa is also sought after because it gives you the right to visit any other Schengen country for 90 days without a visa.

There are many benefits you stand to gain if you plan to apply for the golden visa:

Family Reunion

You and your family can move to Portugal from Thailand when you apply for the golden visa. You are permitted to bring:

• Your partner or spouse.
• Your unmarried child is still under your care and is enrolled to study a full-time course at a university in Portugal.
• Your siblings who are below 18, if you are their legal guardian.
• Your children below the age of 18.
• Your spouse’s siblings who are below 18 and have you or your spouse as their legal guardian.
• Your parents, if they are financially dependent on you and are above 64.
• Your spouse’s parents if they are financially dependent on your or your spouse and are above 64.

Route to Citizenship

The Golden visa is a route to citizenship, giving you the right to live, work and study freely in the country without restrictions. You also get access to public benefits and an EU passport. In addition, you can also vote and be voted for during Portuguese elections.

Affordable Cost of Living

One thing that attracts foreign nationals to Portugal is that it is one of the most affordable countries in Europe. You get to live in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe without paying too much for a decent living lifestyle.

Visa-Free Access to Schengen Zone

As a golden visa holder, you and your family can visit the Schengen zone for at least 90 days without applying for a visa.

Tax Exemption

As a golden visa holder, you can be a non-habitual resident. This means you do not need to spend up to 183 days in Portugal yearly. Non-habitual residents do not pay taxes on any money earned outside Portugal. However, if you make income in Portugal, you will only pay 20% tax instead of the standard 48%.

Eligibility Criteria for the Golden Visa

You have to meet the following eligibility requirements before you apply for the golden visa:

• You must be at least 18 to apply.
• You are eligible for the golden visa as a Thai citizen.
• You must make an investment worth between €280,000 and €500,000 in Portugal.
• You must have a clean criminal record. You prove this by presenting Thai Police clearance from the Royal Thai Police.
• You must stay in Portugal for at least 7 consecutive days each year.
• You must invest in Portugal with funds that are yours. You cannot borrow money in Portugal to invest in Portugal.
• You must swear an affidavit that you will commit 5 years to maintain your investment.
• You must have a NIF number. Without the NIF number, you cannot open a bank account or do any financial transactions in Portugal.
• You must have a Portuguese bank account. This requirement is already met if your bank in Thailand has a branch in Portugal.
• You must have medical insurance worth at least €30,000.

Investment Options for the Golden Visa

Your €280,000 to €500,000 must be used for an eligible investment; otherwise, you would have invested in vain. Here are the suitable investments you can make toward the golden visa:

• You can purchase real estate in Portugal. It must be a commercial property if you invest in Lisbon, Porto or any other coastal city. Note that this route has been closed.
• You can invest in a business with €500,000. Ensure that the business is not a real estate business.
• You can donate to restore or maintain cultural heritage.
• You can donate towards scientific or tech research.
• You can transfer the sum of €1,500,000. This route has also been closed.
• You can set up a business in Portugal that can create at least 10 permanent jobs.

Fees and Processing Times for the Golden Visa

As a principal applicant, you are required to pay €533 processing fee. You will need to repay this fee at every renewal.

You will pay €83 for each family member you are travelling with. This will also be repaid for every renewal.

The application fee for the golden visa is €5325 per person.

The renewal fee is €2663 per person.

It can take 6 to 24 months for a golden visa application to be approved.

Portugal D7 Visa

Overview

The D7 visa permits digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, self-employed and passive income earners. This visa allows you to live and work remotely in Portugal for 1 or 2 years.

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

If you apply for the former, you get to spend up to 1 year in Portugal. It can also be renewed for another 2 years. You can also visit any country in the EU while on a temporary stay visa. It also permits you to leave and re-enter Portugal as often as you want.

On the other hand, the residency visa allows you to spend 2 years in Portugal and renew for 3. It is also a pathway to Portuguese permanent residence. With the residency visa, you only get double entry into Portugal.

This visa, however, permits you to come to Portugal with your family. The residency visa is not granted in Thailand. When you apply in Thailand, you get a visa that permits you to enter Portugal and stay for 120 days. You are expected to get a residency visa on arrival in Portugal.

Before applying for the D7 visa, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, and one of those is to prove you earn up to €3,040 every month.

Eligibility Requirements for Portugal D7 Visa

Here are the requirements you must meet when applying for the D7 visa:

• You are eligible for the D7 visa as a citizen of Thailand.
• You must be at least 18 to apply for the visa. You will need to prove this by showing a government-issued birth certificate.
• You must present a bank statement showing you earn up to €3,040 monthly. You need to have this amount for 12 months. Passive income earners need to show they have €8460 per year.
• You need to show proof of employment or a source of income that will last beyond the date your visa expires.
• You must present a NIF number obtained from any of the tax offices in Portugal.
• You must have a valid Portuguese bank account.
• You must show you have a place to stay. This can be done by showing you rented an apartment or property, bought a property or have an invitation letter from someone in Portugal.
• You must present a criminal history certificate from every country you have lived in for at least 3 months in the past 5 years.
• You must have a health insurance policy worth at least €30,000.
• You must have a passport that is still valid 3 months after the visa you intend to apply for expires.
• You must present a cover letter outlining why you want to move to Portugal.
• You will present a marriage and birth certificate if you are moving to Portugal with your family.

Fees and Processing Time

It will cost you €180 to apply for the visa and €320 for the residence permit.

You should get a decision on your visa anywhere from 3 to 6 months. It could take longer, depending on the workload of the embassy.

On getting to Portugal, it could take 60 days to get an appointment with SEF and 14 days to get a decision after your interview.

Study Visa

Overview

As a citizen of a non-European country looking to do long-term study in Portugal, you must apply for a Portuguese study visa.  This visa is also known as the Type D visa. The visa permits you to study in Portugal for 1 year but can be renewed depending on the duration of your study.

Eligibility Requirements

You have to meet the requirements below when applying for a Portugal student visa:

• Valid Thai passport.
• Filled visa application form for students.
• Admission letter from a Portuguese university.
• Digital passports.
• Proof of funds to pay your school fees and cater to your living expenses. You can submit a bank statement, letter of sponsorship or evidence of scholarship.
• Criminal history certificate from Thailand.
• Proof of accommodation. You can prove this by showing a sponsorship or invitation letter, proof you have a place in the university dormitory or a rental agreement between you and a Portuguese landlord.
• Health insurance policy worth at least €30,000.

Fees and Processing Time

• You will pay €90 as an application fee.
• You will pay €83 for your residence permit.
• You will pay €72 for residence permit issuance.

It will take 1 to 3 months for you to decide on your study visa. It is advised you apply for the visa immediately when you get your admission letter from the university.

Work Visa

Overview

As a Thai citizen who wants to work in Portugal long-term, you must apply for a work visa. This visa is valid for 1 year but renewable for up to 5 years. To apply for this visa, you must already have a job offer from a Portuguese company.

Also, note that your employer does the first phase of your application process in Portugal. Only after this phase is successful can you proceed to apply for a work visa from Thailand.

The work visa is also a route to permanent residence. If you work in Portugal for 5 years, you can then apply for citizenship or permanent residence. Again, this visa grants you multiple entries into Portugal, and you can come with your family.

If you have a work visa, your family members can study, live and work in Portugal without immigration restrictions.

Types of Portugal Work Visas

There are different kinds of work visas depending on the type of job contract you got. There are:

• Skilled worker visa for professionals like doctors, engineers or IT professionals.
• Independent worker visa for self-employed people.
• Tech visa for those who have job contracts with tech companies.
• Teacher work visa for those into education and research.
• Cultural work visa for people who want to carry out a cultural activity in Portugal.

Eligibility Requirements

Below are the eligibility requirements for a Portugal work visa:

• Valid Thailand passport.
• Proof you have enough funds to stay in Portugal for at least 1 year.
• Proof you have a health insurance policy worth up to €30,000.
• Criminal history certificate from the Royal Thai Police.
• Signed consent form giving SEF the right to conduct a background check on you.
• Proof you have a place to stay.
• Job offer or contract.
• Birth and marriage certificates, if applicable.

Fees and Processing Time

• You will pay €90 as an application fee.
• You will pay €83 for your residence permit.
• You will pay €72 for residence permit issuance.

How Can IAS Help?

If you need to apply for a Portuguese visa and do not know how to go about it, IAS can help. We can assist you in gathering all the documents that you need, check your immigration situation to know which visa is the best fit for you, estimate what it will cost you to get a particular type of visa and guide you throughout the application process.

Applying for a Portuguese visa can be strenuous due to the many documents required and the phases of the application. This often deters many. We have a competent team that can help make your immigration dreams to Portugal come true.

If you need more information about our services and what we can help you with, do not hesitate to reach out to us on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us online today.