South Africa
Portugal
Portugal visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens need a visa for Portugal, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 2 missions
- Visa guide
- Portugal visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at embaixadaportugal.org.za
Which Portugal visa?
Schengen short-stay visa (type C) – tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Decision within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, extendable to 45 days
Apply on E-VISA – Portuguese MFA appointment and application portal
For the tourist visa, Portugal’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on pedidodevistos.mne.gov.pt. Processing time, as Portugal states it: Decision within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, extendable to 45 days. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Portuguese missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Portugal in Pretoria
Leyds Street 595, Pretoria
- Consulate General of Portugal in Johannesburg
Ernest Oppenheimer Avenue 11, 2198 Johannesburg
Today 08:00–13:00
All missions of Portugal in South Africa
Portugal has 2 missions in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria. Consulates: Johannesburg.
Portugal: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11,131 | 10,490 | 528 | 4.8% | 88.9% |
| 2024 | 10,414 | 9,214 | 438 | 4.5% | 86.1% |
| 2025 | 10,787 | 10,008 | 779 | 7.2% | 93.7% |
In 2025, Portugal’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town) received 10,787 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 10,008. The refusal rate was 7.2%. The refusal rate rose by 2.7 points from 4.5% in 2024. Applications rose by 4% compared with 2024 (10,414).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Portugal’s consulates worldwide refused 23.3%. Portugal was the 7th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Portuguese citizens travelling to South Africa
PortugalSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Portugal
Travel advice for Portugal
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
South African citizens planning a trip to Portugal can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Portugal at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 22 December 2025), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Portugal (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Portugal (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Portugal
How long South African citizens may stay in Portugal is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Portuguese embassy in Pretoria and the consulate in Johannesburg, or to a visa centre acting for Portugal; fees, documents and processing times are published by Portugal.
Portugal and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Portugal lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Portugal when it is the main destination of the trip.
Portugal’s neighbours for South African citizens
Spain requires South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Portuguese citizens travelling to South Africa
No visa is needed by Portuguese citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Portugal?
South African citizens need a visa for Portugal, obtained before travel.
Where is the Portuguese embassy in South Africa?
The Portuguese embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria; there is also a consulate in Johannesburg.
How much does the Portugal tourist visa cost?
Portugal’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Decision within 15 calendar days of an admissible application, extendable to 45 days.
Do Portuguese citizens need a visa for South Africa?
No visa is needed by Portuguese citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South African citizens enter Portugal visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Portugal obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.