Portugal’s immigration is managed by the Service de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF), which stands for Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service. The immigration laws in Portugal are comparable to those in several other EU members. If they meet specific requirements, Pakistani residents are allowed to relocate to Portugal to work, study, be with family, or retire. A program called Golden Visa also exists, and it is designed to draw foreigners who have money to invest in the nation. Portugal gives good access to residency, welfare, and educational services, according to its UN migration governance profile.
Portuguese visa types
Portugal offers three different types of visas:
Portugal’s brief stay visa
The Schengen Visa, often known as the Short Stay Visa, is valid for stays up to 90 days in any 180 days. It may be issued for brief or irregular stays in Portugal for business, vacation, family visits, temporary employment, airport transit, or other reasons. For as long as your Schengen Visa is valid, you are free to travel throughout the Schengen Area nations. You must apply for a Schengen visa at the Portuguese embassy or consulate in Pakistan no later than 15 days and no more than six months before your planned travel. Schengen short-stay permits generally cost €80. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 pay a discounted rate of €40. The following people do not need to pay for a Schengen Visa:
- children under six years old
- Students, recent graduates, and teachers who are on academic or professional training trips
- Science-related travel by researchers
- Nonprofit event representatives under 25 years old
Portugal’s temporary stay visa
A Portuguese temporary stay visa can allow you entry into Portugal and remain there for up to a year. You can leave the nation for brief periods because the visa permits multiple entrances. All nationals of third countries, including Pakistanis, who intend to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days but less than a year must apply for a Temporary Stay visa. The Portuguese embassy or consulate in Pakistan is where you should submit your visa application. Although you can apply months in advance, Portugal’s immigration authorities must issue decisions on requests for temporary visas 30 days before the date of travel. The price for a Temporary Stay visa in Portugal is €75.
Portugal’s long-term visa
This Portuguese national visa is for visits longer than a year and is also known as the residency visa. You must apply for a Portuguese residency permit through the Portugal Immigration Service (SEF) if you have this visa. This type of Visa must be issued 60 days before the date of travel. The application fee for Portugal’s long-term visa is €90.
Golden visa program
This unique Portuguese visa scheme aims to draw in foreign investment into Portugal. If international investors from non-EU nations, like Pakistan, purchase Portuguese real estate or make investments up to a particular amount, the Portuguese golden visa program expedites the procedure. Pakistani citizens will be granted a Portuguese residency permit under this plan, and after fulfilling the requirements, they can apply for full Portuguese citizenship. A Pakistani investor must decide one of the following investments to make in Portugal to be granted the Golden Visa:
- purchasing houses in some locations of Portugal for more than €500,000
- at least €1.5 million in the capital was transferred to your name in a Portuguese bank account
- at least €500,000 invested in a Portuguese fund
- the establishment of a Portuguese company with at least 10 new employees
- Investing at least €500,000 in small and medium-sized businesses
The Portuguese Immigration Service (SEF) manages the golden visa process rather than the Portuguese Embassy in Pakistan, as is the case with visas. In addition to providing evidence of your investment, you must have established a Portuguese bank account, obtained a Tax Identification Number (NIF), obtained health insurance, and completed several other crucial bureaucratic requirements.
Applying for a Portugal residence visa from Pakistan
The long-term Visa application must be submitted in person by Pakistani nationals at the Portugal Embassy in Islamabad. There is a €90 charge associated with each application for a residence visa. Following the submission of all required paperwork, the embassy will review your application and decide whether to accept it or reject it.
