How to apply for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia

Every year, Portugal welcomes thousands of travelers from Saudi Arabia. Saudi citizens and residents who travel to Lisbon and other Portuguese destinations need a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia in order to enter the country. The vast majority of those travelers end up applying for a Schengen visa to Portugal. The Schengen visa for the Saudi citizens and residents allows holders 90 days in the entire Schengen area, a group of 27 European countries (including Portugal). You can spend all 90 days in Portugal, or choose to travel throughout the other 26 countries in the zone. Obtaining a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia is relatively quick, easy, and inexpensive. If you are considering applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia, you likely have questions about the process. Questions like, “Where do you apply for Schengen visa in KSA,” and “How much does a Portugal visa cost? And finally, “What are the available Portugal visas and types for Saudi passport holders and residents?” This blog will answer these and other frequently asked questions (FAQs) in the context of a step by step guide to applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia. 

Step 1 for applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia: Choose when to travel

• Apply for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia no earlier than six months before your trip, and no later than two weeks before (apply too early and your application won’t be accepted, apply too late and you may not receive your visa in time for your trip).

Step 2: Find out where you do apply for a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia

• Where do you apply for a Schengen visa? A Schengen visa for the Saudi citizens and residents who are looking to apply for one is available through the Portuguese Embassy in Riyadh, via an affiliated visa application center. To get your Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia, contact us to help booking an interview appointment and submitting your visa application.

Step 3: Select your Schengen Portugal visas and types for Saudi passport holders

• The Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia comes in various different types, each of which relates to a reason for traveling. Choose your Portuguese Schengen visa type based on your main reason for visiting Portugal. If you are looking to attend a short-term educational program in Lisbon, you should apply for a Student visa, whereas if you’re traveling only to surf at Nazaré, you should apply for a Tourist visa (for example). Browse all of the available Schengen visa types here.

Step 4 for applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia: Determine your Schengen area entry category

• The Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia comes in single, double, and multiple entry categories. If you need to fly back and forth between Lisbon and Riyadh during your visa period, you should select the multiple entry Schengen Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia, as this will allow you an unlimited number of entries and exits to the zone. If you anticipate needing to leave and return to the zone only one time, you should apply for a double entry Schengen visa, which will grant you one exit (and therefore one re-entry) to the Schengen area. Finally, if you are quite certain that you will only need one entry to the zone (meaning you do not intend to re-inter it in the event that you have to leave it) you should apply for a single-entry Schengen visa. However, bear in mind that if you select a single-entry Schengen, you will not be allowed back into Portugal (or anywhere else in the Schengen area) if you leave—even if time remains on your visa. 

Step 5: Required documents to Travel to a Portugal from Saudi Arabia

• Applicants for the Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia are required to submit a complete visa application and meet various in-person requirements in order to be eligible for a Schengen visa (the in-person requirements are discussed in the visa appointment section below). 
• Application requirements include the submission of various supplemental documents relating to the applicant’s visa type (for example, if you are applying for a Medical visa to Portugal in order to have surgery there, you will likely need an invitation letter from the hospital/doctor who is performing the procedure). 
• Aside from the supplemental documents, all applicants for Schengen visas from Portugal—regardless of the type of visa they are applying for, will need to submit the following required documents and materials: 
  • Saudi Passport (or valid passport from another country).
  • Two passport photos.
  • Basic visa application form.
  • Schengen visa fee.
    • How much does a Portugal visa cost? The majority of applicants will be charged 80 EUR, although some may be exempt from paying that complete fee. For more information about Schengen visa costs for the Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia click here.
  • Proof of accommodation (address in Portugal where you will be staying).
  • Proof of return (plane ticket / flight reservation out of Portugal / the Schengen area).
  • Proof of travel medical insurance (evidence that you have required travel medical insurance).  

Step 6 for applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia: Access the application for the Schengen visa for the Saudi citizens

• Applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia mainly involves accessing the basic application form. If you are applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia from Riyadh, you may access the online Schengen visa form here. However, if you’re applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia from either Jeddah or Al Khobar, you should print out and submit (in person) the basic Schengen visa form, available here.
• Please note that there may be Portugal requirements for Saudi citizens and residents regarding the language you use on your Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia application. You will likely need to fill out your Schengen visa application form in either English or Portuguese. Additionally, if you have required or supplemental documents/materials in Arabic or another language, you will likely have to have them translated into Portuguese or English in order for them to be accepted.

Step 7: Schedule your Portugal visa appointment from Saudi Arabia

• You must make a Schengen visa appointment for your Schengen Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia at your application destination in KSA. Contact us to schedule your interview for your Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia. 

Step 8 for applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia: Attend your Schengen visa appointment

• Your visa appointment is where you will meet the in-person Portugal requirements for Saudi citizens discussed above. These include: 
  • Payment of Portuguese visa fees (80 EUR).
  • Collection of biometric data (fingerprints and photos).
  • Short visa interview.
  • Submission of all documents and materials pertaining to your complete visa application.

Step 9: Portugal visa processing time

• The processing time for applying for a Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia is typically 15 days, although it’s possible to receive a decision before then. However, some applicants are forced to wait anywhere from 30-60 days to receive their Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia. 
• If your Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia application is rejected, you may choose to appeal the decision (this is your right under the Schengen visa terms and conditions). For help appealing a rejected Schengen Portugal visa from Saudi Arabia, click here.