Portugal internship and volunteer visa

Volunteers need a contract with the organisation running the programme that sets out its content and duration, timetable, supervision and a guarantee that food and accommodation are covered, including a minimum allowance or pocket money. The host must have civil liability insurance, except in the European Voluntary Service. For temporary stays a minimum age set by ministerial order applies.

AIMA grants an internship permit to a holder of a residence visa who has a higher-education degree, or is studying for one in a non-EU country, and has been admitted to an unpaid training programme in a work context. The host must be a certified institution, and the training must be in the field of your degree or current studies.

The training contract must describe the programme and its learning objectives, its duration and timetable, the place and supervision arrangements, the legal relationship between you and the host, and state that the internship does not replace a job and that the host will reimburse the State for any costs of stay and removal if you remain illegally.

EUR 110 for the visa. The residence permit itself is charged by AIMA: EUR 133.00 for receiving and analysing the request plus EUR 114.30 for granting a temporary permit (in-person rates in the fee table updated 26 February 2026; 25% less through a digital channel).

By law the consulate decides a residence visa within 60 days and a temporary stay visa within 30 days, so apply well before your start date.

Residence visa holders apply to AIMA for the internship (art. 93) or volunteer (art. 94) permit with the visa, passport, address declaration, proof of means, criminal record (not for under-16s), the training or volunteer contract and health cover.

A refused national visa can be challenged by a complaint to the consulate within 15 days, a hierarchical appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs within three months, or an action before the Administrative Court of Lisbon within three months. The routes are not mutually exclusive, and each appeal procedure costs EUR 75 (except for visas following a family reunification approval). Since Lei 61/2025, a visa is also refused to anyone who entered or stayed in Portugal illegally and is subject to an entry ban.