United States
Portugal
Portugal visa for US citizens
Entry requirement
US citizens can visit Portugal without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Portugal: visa decisions in the United States
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,497 | 4,343 | 164 | 3.6% | 60.8% |
| 2024 | 6,243 | 6,030 | 34 | 0.6% | 52.0% |
| 2025 | 4,925 | 4,695 | 230 | 4.7% | 62.4% |
In 2025, Portugal’s embassy and consulates in the United States (Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Newark and New York) received 4,925 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 4,695. 4.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 0.6%: the rate rose by 4.1 points. Applications fell by 21% compared with 2024 (6,243).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.9% of the applications lodged in the United States that year, from 0.4% at the consulates of Greece to 20.5% at those of Sweden. Portugal’s consulates worldwide refused 23.3%. Portugal was the 10th most applied-for Schengen state in the United States.
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 States, 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 States
PortugalUnited States Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United States 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.
Before travelling from the United States to Portugal, it helps to know the official travel advice: 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). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long US citizens can stay in Portugal
US 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 US 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 US citizens
Spain admits US citizens visa-free.
Portuguese citizens travelling to the United States
Portuguese citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for the United States, obtained online before travel, for stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Portugal?
US citizens can visit Portugal without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can US citizens stay in Portugal?
US 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 States?
Portuguese citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for the United States, obtained online before travel, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can US citizens enter Portugal visa-free?
Yes, US 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.