PortugalBusiness and self-employment
Portugal business visa (Schengen type C)
Schengen short-stay visa (type C) – business
In short
Business meetings, negotiations and trade fairs in Portugal of up to 90 days need a Schengen visa, if your nationality requires one, from the Portuguese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence. You add an invitation from the Portuguese host stating the purpose, dates and responsible person, or fair participation documents, to the standard checklist.
Apply on E-VISA – Portuguese MFA appointment and application portal checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Validity
- Single or multiple entry; a multiple-entry visa for frequent travellers can be valid for one year and, exceptionally, longer
- Fee
- €90EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6–11, free under 6; paid in the way the mission sets; not refunded on refusal
- Funds required
- €40 per dayEUR 75 per entry plus EUR 40 for each day in Portugal; can be replaced by a Term of Responsibility signed by a Portuguese citizen or legal resident who covers your stay
- Processing time
- Decision within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, extendable to 45 days
- Work
- No paid work
- Family
- Each family member needs their own application and visa
- Path to permanent residence
- No; a short-stay visa cannot be converted into residence
- Where to apply
- In person at the Portuguese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or at the consulate of another Schengen state that represents Portugal there
What counts as a business trip
The business category covers meetings, contract negotiations, visits to suppliers or clients, and attending trade fairs. It does not allow you to take up employment or provide paid services in Portugal; that requires a work or temporary stay visa.
Business documents
The MFA asks for an invitation that explains the purpose of the trip, the arrival and departure dates, and identifies the host organisation and the person responsible. For trade fairs, the fair entry card or participation documents serve as proof. Company owners add their company registration and tax documents; employees add an employer letter and proof of employment.
Required documents
Identity
- Schengen application form, completed and signed, plus one recent passport photo
Travel
- Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages, plus copies of previous Schengen, UK, US and Canada visas
- Return flight or other transport reservation
Money
- Bank statements for the last 3 months and proof of regular income, for example the last 3 payslips
Work
- Proof of occupation: employees – employer letter or leave approval and proof of employment and social insurance; company owners – company registration and tax documents; farmers – proof of farming activity; pensioners – pension document; students – student certificate
- Invitation from the Portuguese company stating purpose, dates, host and responsible person, or trade-fair entry card/participation documents
Insurance
- Travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay, minimum cover EUR 30,000, including emergency care and repatriation
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Identity
- If you are not a national of the country where you apply: proof of legal residence there
Work
- Letter from your employer confirming the business purpose and who pays the costs
Family
- Minors travelling without both parents: notarised consent of the absent parent(s) or a court decision
Fee
EUR 90 per adult, paid in the way the mission sets. Frequent business travellers with a good visa history may receive a multiple-entry visa valid for one year or longer.
Timing
Apply at least 15 days and at most six months before departure; in justified urgent cases the consulate may accept a later application. A decision normally follows within 15 calendar days.
Refusal and appeal
A refusal is notified with the reasons on the standard EU form. Under Portuguese administrative law you can file a complaint with the consulate that decided within 15 days, a hierarchical appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs within three months (lodged at the consulate), or a court action at the Administrative Court of Lisbon within three months. The routes can be combined.
Each appeal procedure costs EUR 75 in administrative fees. A new application with stronger documents is often faster than an appeal.
How to apply, step by step
- Check that Portugal is your main destination (longest stay) or, if stays are equal, your first point of entry; otherwise apply to the other Schengen country.
- Book an appointment with the Portuguese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence as it instructs; the MFA E-VISA portal (pedidodevistos.mne.gov.pt) is the online application platform. Apply no earlier than 6 months and, as a rule, no later than 15 days before travel.
- Get the invitation from the Portuguese host or your fair registration, plus company and employment documents, and have documents translated where required.
- Attend in person with originals and copies; documents in other languages may need a certified translation into a language the mission accepts. Your fingerprints and photo are recorded for the Visa Information System.
- Pay EUR 90 (EUR 45 for ages 6–11) in the way the mission sets.
- Wait for the decision, normally within 15 calendar days; collect your passport as the mission instructs.
Forms
- Schengen visa application form (Portuguese MFA) · Required for every short-stay application; sign it yourself (a parent or guardian signs for a minor).
Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Portugal on a business visa?
No. A Schengen business visa covers meetings and fairs, not employment or paid service provision. Temporary work requires a temporary stay visa, and longer work a residence visa.
Is a fair entry ticket enough as proof of purpose?
The fair entry card or participation documents serve as the business-purpose proof for fairs. Your occupation and funding documents are still required.
Can I get a multiple-entry business visa for Portugal?
Yes, the MFA issues multiple-entry visas to frequent travellers, valid for up to one year and exceptionally longer, each stay counting towards 90 days in 180.
Official sources
- Embassy of Portugal in Ankara – Consular section: visas, fees, documents
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Short-stay visa: required documentation
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Types of Schengen visas
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Schengen visa fees
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Deadlines for filing and deciding Schengen applications
- Portuguese MFA Visa Portal – Appeal mechanisms (Schengen visas)
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Portugal
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Transit visa Maximum stay: Up to 5 days per transit
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Schengen visa: up to 90 days in 180; temporary stay visa: the duration of treatment, under one year
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, 4 months; a temporary stay visa exists for temporary independent work under one year
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months, two entries, to apply for the permit; temporary stay visa: the programme, under one year
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to apply for the AIMA permit; temporary stay visa: under one year
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to obtain the permit; temporary stay visa: the programme, over 3 months and under one year
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months, to apply for the AIMA permit
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months; a temporary stay visa covers highly qualified work under one year
- EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Residence visa: 4 months to apply for the card
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: ICT permit: up to 3 years in total for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainee employees
- Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Short stay: up to 90 days; temporary stay: more than 90 days and up to 270 days (9 months)
- Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Temporary stay visa: under one year, multiple entries; residence visa: two entries, 4 months to apply for the permit
Family
- Family reunification visa Maximum stay: D6 residence visa: two entries, 4 months; must be applied for within 90 days of the AIMA approval
- Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: Temporary stay visa for family of Portuguese citizens: stays over 3 months, under one year
Residence
- Retirement visa Maximum stay: Residence visa: two entries, valid 4 months, to apply for the AIMA permit
- Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: Temporary ARI permit valid 2 years from issue, then renewable while the investment is maintained
- Residence permit Validity: 2 years from issue, renewable for successive 3-year periods (unless a specific rule sets other periods)
- Permanent residence Validity: Permanent; the EU long-term resident card is valid at least five years and renewable
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Urgent card: issued by the second working day after the approval decision; returning seasonal workers: decision within 15 days
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Validity: Refugee status: residence permit for 5 years, renewable; subsidiary protection: 3 years, renewable after review