United Kingdom
Portugal
Portugal visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
British citizens do not need a visa for Portugal: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at londres.embaixadaportugal.mne.pt
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Portugal: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16,024 | 15,416 | 210 | 1.3% | 77.8% |
| 2024 | 18,171 | 17,134 | 611 | 3.4% | 78.1% |
| 2025 | 21,015 | 19,482 | 1,533 | 7.3% | 75.5% |
In 2025, Portugal’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London and Manchester) received 21,015 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 19,482. The refusal rate was 7.3%. The refusal rate rose by 3.8 points from 3.4% in 2024. Applications rose by 16% compared with 2024 (18,171).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Portugal’s consulates worldwide refused 23.3%. Portugal was the 6th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
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 the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom
PortugalUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom 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.
For a trip from the United Kingdom to Portugal, the published travel advice reads as follows: 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 British citizens can stay in Portugal
British citizens may stay in Portugal for up to 90 days. Days in Portugal count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Portugal and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of British citizens in Portugal count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Portugal’s neighbours for British citizens
Spain admits British citizens visa-free.
Portuguese citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Portugal?
British citizens do not need a visa for Portugal: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can British citizens stay in Portugal?
British citizens can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Portuguese citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Can British citizens enter Portugal visa-free?
Yes, British citizens can enter Portugal without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.