🇵🇹 Portugal Tourist Visa
Turkish citizens holding an Ordinary (Bordo) passport who wish to travel to Portugal for tourism purposes are required to obtain a Portugal Tourist Schengen Visa. This visa allows the holder to stay in Portugal for up to 90 days within a 6-month period. Holders of Special (Green), Service (Grey), and Diplomatic (Black) passports, however, are exempt from visa requirements for stays not exceeding 90 days. Foreign nationals legally residing in Turkey with a residence permit valid for at least two months beyond the return date must also obtain a Portugal Schengen visa for tourism purposes.
In Portugal tourist visa applications, the required documents are divided into two categories: personal documents, which are the same for every applicant, and additional documents depending on the applicant’s professional or social status. Since the Portuguese consulate evaluates applications solely based on documentation, it is extremely important that all documents are accurate, complete, and up to date. For this reason, obtaining professional assistance can significantly improve the chances of approval and help avoid delays.
📝 Required Documents for Portugal Tourist Visa
The personal documents required for a Portugal tourist visa include a valid passport, biometric photographs, identity card copies, a full population registration certificate, financial proof such as bank statements, and travel health insurance. The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, remain valid for at least 3 months beyond the end of the trip, and contain at least two blank visa pages. Bank statements must show transactions for the last three months and must be stamped and signed by the bank. Flight and hotel reservations are also required; however, these do not need to be purchased tickets — confirmed reservations are sufficient.
Documents proving professional status are also mandatory. For employees, an employer’s leave letter, SGK employment entry declaration, and payroll slips are required. For business owners, company documents such as the activity certificate, tax certificate, and trade registry gazette must be provided. Students must submit a current student certificate, and if expenses will be covered by someone else, a sponsor letter must be included along with the sponsor’s financial documents. Retirees must submit proof of retirement and pension payment documents. Housewives must include a sponsor’s official letter along with the sponsor’s financial evidence such as title deeds or bank account records. Minors traveling without their parents must provide a notarized parental consent letter.
📌 Documents for Employees, Employers, and Students
For employees and public servants, Portugal tourist visa applications require an official leave letter from the employer, payroll slips, and SGK service records. Business owners must provide company registration documents, a tax certificate, trade registry documents, and bank statements showing sufficient funds. Students must provide a valid student certificate along with a sponsorship letter if their expenses will be covered by parents or another individual, as well as the sponsor’s supporting financial documents.
Retirees must provide pension records and bank statements showing pension payments. Housewives must provide a sponsor letter written by a first-degree relative, as well as documents proving family ties such as marriage certificates and population registration certificates. Supporting financial evidence such as property deeds and bank account statements must also be submitted.
🕒 How Long Does It Take to Get a Portugal Tourist Visa?
Portugal tourist visa applications are generally finalized within 7 to 15 business days. However, this period may be extended due to Portuguese national holidays, Turkish holidays such as Ramadan or Kurban Bayram, or consular workload. To ensure your visa is issued in time for your trip, you are strongly advised to apply at least one month before your travel date. Applications submitted more than three months prior to travel are not accepted.
Even if your documents are complete, this does not guarantee approval, as visa decisions are at the sole discretion of the Portuguese authorities. If your application is refused, you have the right to appeal within 8 days of receiving the decision. Failure to appeal within this legal timeframe means you lose your right to challenge the decision.
📝 Portugal Tourist Visa Application Process
The first step in applying for a Portugal tourist visa is preparing your documents in full. Once you have completed the required documentation according to your professional status, you may send them to the authorized visa center or to us by courier for review. Since visa officials base their assessment solely on submitted documents, any missing or incorrect documents may result in refusal or delay.
Once your documents are received, our specialists will carefully review them. If anything is missing or incorrect, you will be notified immediately so that corrections can be made without delay.
Your appointment will then be scheduled with the Portugal Embassy in Ankara or the Hungarian Consulate General in Istanbul, both of which handle Portugal visa applications without regional restrictions. Applicants who have not had their fingerprints recorded for a Schengen visa in the last five years must appear in person to provide biometric data. Due to high demand, appointment slots may be limited, but we will ensure your appointment is arranged at the earliest available time.
🛫 Entering Portugal with a Tourist Schengen Visa
After receiving your approved Portugal tourist visa, the first step is to carefully check the visa page in your passport. Ensure that your name, surname, dates, and photograph are correct. If there are any mistakes, you must immediately contact the consulate to have them corrected. Please note that even with an approved visa, entry into Portugal is not guaranteed. The final decision regarding your entry and the duration of your stay will be made by the border police upon arrival.
📌 Important Notes
Some third-country nationals residing in Turkey are required to attend a personal interview with Portuguese consular officials as part of the application process. These interviews are conducted only on specific days, and applications may take at least 15 business days to process. Countries subject to this requirement include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, and several others.
Identity card copies submitted with the application must include the applicant’s Turkish ID number. Applicants traveling to multiple Schengen countries must enter first through Portugal if they obtained their visa from Portugal. Applicants who have changed their surname after marriage must renew their passport before applying, as applications with outdated surnames are not accepted. Additionally, all information provided on the application form, including phone number and address details, must belong directly to the applicant.