Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Family of EU/EEA/CH/UK National (Fee-Exempt)Verified 2026-05-12Portugal Visa for EU/EEA/CH/UK Family Members (Schengen Type C — Fee-Exempt)
Under EU Free Movement rules, close family members of EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizens benefit from a simplified, fee-exempt visa route. The applicant must travel WITH or to JOIN the EU/EEA national in Portugal.
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Processing
15 calendar days from when the Consular Section receives your complete application
Stay Duration
90 days in any 180-day period (Schengen-wide)
Starting Fee
FREE
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Portugal visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1Apply at least 15 days before travel — up to 6 months ahead accepted.
- 2Passport must be valid 3+ months beyond stay, 2 blank pages, ≤10 years old.
- 3Travel medical insurance €30,000 minimum, Schengen-wide, covers full trip + medical evacuation.
- 4Documents not in English or Portuguese must be translated by an authorised translator.
- 5Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents and/or personal interview.
- 6Do NOT purchase flight tickets until visa is approved — only reservations needed.
- 7Refusal of the visa application does not entail reimbursement of visa fees.
Who Can Apply
- Spouse, registered partner, cohabitant of an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizen
- Children under 21 of an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizen
- Children over 21 financially supported by an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizen
- Parents financially supported by their EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizen child
Not eligible under this visa:
- Travellers without a confirmed EU/EEA/Swiss/UK family member to accompany or join
- Permanent family reunification — use D6/D8 D-visa
Previously refused?
Same feeWe rebuild refused Portugal cases — and win them.
Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Embassy visa fee | FREE |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,052 |
| Courier (outside Delhi) | ₹432 |
EU Free Movement: embassy fee waived for close family members. VFS service fee still applies — paid in INR.
Documents Required
Family Relationship Documents
- !Marriage certificate (if spouse)
Apostilled by India MEA, translated to English/Portuguese by authorised translator
- !Birth certificate (if parent / child)
Apostilled + translated
- ○Proof of cohabitation (if partner / cohabitant)
Joint lease, bank account, utility bills
- ○Proof of financial dependence (if child >21 OR parent)
Money transfers, joint accounts, declarations
EU/EEA/Swiss/UK Citizen Documents
- !EU/EEA/Swiss/UK passport copy of the family member
- !Proof EU/EEA national is residing in / moving to Portugal
Portuguese registration certificate (CRC), work contract, university enrolment, etc.
Travel & Core Documents
- !Schengen application form (signed)
- !Valid passport + previous passports
- !Passport-size photos
- !Flight ticket showing travel WITH EU national OR proof of joining them in Portugal
- !Travel medical insurance €30,000
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
The journey.
4 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Gather relationship + EU-citizenship documents
Apostille marriage/birth certificates; get EU/EEA/Swiss/UK family member's passport + Portuguese residence proof.
- 02
Fill Schengen application — mark as EU Family Member
From Portuguese MFA visa portal — select the EU Family Member route.
- 03
Book VFS appointment + submit
visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/prt. Pay only VFS service fee — embassy fee is waived.
- 04
Decision
Often faster than standard Type C — EU Free Movement rules prioritise family unity.
What works
3 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Embassy fee waived but VFS service fee still applies (~₹2,052).
- Marriage / birth certificates MUST be apostilled by India MEA — generic notarisation will be rejected.
- Cohabitant route needs 2+ years of documented joint life — start gathering proof early.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Relationship documents not apostilled
- 2EU/EEA national's Portuguese residence proof missing
- 3No flight ticket showing 'with' / 'joining' the EU national
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Schengen Visa Application Form (Embassy of Portugal)
Portuguese MFA visa portal. Download the Schengen / National Visa application form, complete in English/Portuguese, sign.
VFS Global Portugal (India)
Book biometrics appointment, view checklists, track application status.
AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
Successor to SEF (since Oct 2023). Handles substantive decisions on Portugal long-term residence permits.
VFS Application Centres
Schengen Tourist Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 quick questions to see your likelihood of approval. This is not a guarantee — final decision is always with the Embassy — but it flags common weak spots so you can address them before applying.
What's the primary purpose of your trip?
How long do you plan to stay?
Have you previously visited any Schengen country?
Have you ever been refused a Schengen (or any country's) visa?
Past refusals must be disclosed — they show up in VIS database across Schengen countries.
Do you have confirmed travel bookings?
Reservations are enough — don't buy tickets until visa approval.
What's your current employment status?
What's your typical 3-month bank balance?
Schengen needs ~₹700/day covered. For a 10-day trip, minimum ₹70,000 stable balance.
How many years of Income Tax Returns (ITR) can you show?
What are your strongest ties to India (return-intent)?
Embassies want evidence you'll come back — not overstay.
Who are you travelling with?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a 'close family member'?+
Do I need to travel with the EU/EEA family member?+
Is the VFS fee waived too?+
What if I'm not yet married but engaged?+
Before you apply
Two ways to apply for your Portugal portugal visa for eu/eea/ch/uk family members (schengen type c — fee-exempt).
Do it yourself
the risky route
- You guess which papers Portugal actually wants — one missing or wrongly-framed document triggers a refusal.
- You copy a cover letter off YouTube or Google — often the exact template embassies already flag as weak.
- You apply during a known peak-rejection window without realising it.
- Embassy & VFS fees are non-refundable — refused means your money, flights and leave are gone.
- One refusal stamp follows you for life — every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.
With SureshotVisa
the approved route
- A licensed consultant checks your case honestly before you spend a rupee on embassy fees.
- We build your Portugal portugal visa for eu/eea/ch/uk family members (schengen type c — fee-exempt) file the way the embassy approves — documents, cover letter, financials.
- We catch the weak-ties, funding and intent issues behind 70% of Indian refusals — and fix them first.
- We've rescued hundreds of files that were already refused once and got them approved.
- Govt of Punjab licensed (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024) · 1200+ approvals.
Why DIY goes wrong
How a self-filed application turns into a refusal.
- 1
You feel ready
A few YouTube videos make the process look simple.
- 2
You file it yourself
You submit a sensitive portugal visa for eu/eea/ch/uk family members (schengen type c — fee-exempt) on your own.
- 3
One detail misreads
A small framing slip looks like weak ties or unclear intent.
- 4
Refusal
Now every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.
Once you've been refused, you learn the hard way how much the small details mattered. We'd rather you never collect that first stamp.
Trusted by families
We've helped many families get their Portugal visa — the easy way.
From first-time portugal visa for eu/eea/ch/uk family members (schengen type c — fee-exempt) applicants to cases that were refused elsewhere, our licensed team has guided families through Portugal's exact requirements — so the file is approved the first time, without the stress, guesswork or risk of a refusal.
Other Portugal Visa Types
Portugal Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting Portugal for tourism — Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Madeira, Azores — up to 90 days.
Portugal Business / Conference Visa (Schengen Type C)
Short-stay Schengen visa for Indian business professionals attending meetings, conferences, training, or trade events in Portugal.
Portugal Visa for Visiting Family & Friends (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends resident in Portugal — up to 90 days.
Portugal Film Crew Visa (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian film crew members on shooting assignments in Portugal — up to 90 days.
Portugal D1 Subordinate Work Residence Visa (Long-Stay — Informational)
Informational guide to the Portugal D1 Residence Visa for Indian employees with a job offer from a Portuguese employer.
Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Professional Residence Visa (Informational)
Informational guide to the Portugal D2 Residence Visa for Indian entrepreneurs, startup founders, and independent professionals.
Portugal D3 Highly Qualified / Teaching / Cultural Activity Residence Visa (Informational)
Informational guide to the Portugal D3 Residence Visa for highly qualified professionals, teachers, researchers, and cultural professionals.
Portugal D4 Research / Study Long-Stay Visa (Informational)
Informational guide to the Portugal D4 Residence Visa for Indian students, exchange students, and unpaid trainees.
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Portugal website and Embassy of Portugal. Last verified 2026-05-12. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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