Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Visiting Family / FriendsVerified 2026-05-12Portugal Visa for Visiting Family & Friends (Schengen Type C)
The Portugal Family & Friends Visit Visa is a Schengen Type C visa for Indian visitors with a host (relative or friend) legally resident in Portugal. The host typically provides an invitation letter (Termo de Responsabilidade if formal) and residence proof.
Reply within 5 minutes · 5★ from 90 Google reviews
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
€90
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
- Indian citizens visiting relatives or friends legally resident in Portugal
- Spouses / parents / children of Indians on Portuguese D-visas (short visit only)
- Visitors invited by EU/EEA/Swiss/UK family members (fee-exempt route)
Not eligible under this visa:
- Anyone seeking permanent reunification — use D6/D8 Family Reunification D-visa
- Visitors with no clear relationship/invitation
Previously refused?
Same feeWe rebuild refused Portugal cases — and win them.
Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult visa (Schengen Type C) — Embassy fee | €90 |
| Children 6–12 years — Embassy fee | €45 |
| Children under 6 years — Embassy fee | FREE |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,052 |
| Courier (outside Delhi) | ₹432 |
Embassy fees set in EUR by the Portuguese Consulate; INR charged at VFS based on daily exchange rate. All fees non-refundable regardless of outcome. Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationals are exempt from the embassy fee. EU/EEA/Swiss/UK family members exempt from fee.
Documents Required
Invitation & Relationship
- !Invitation letter from Portuguese host
Host's address, contact details, intended period of stay
- ○Termo de Responsabilidade (formal sponsorship from Portuguese host)
Notarised at AIMA — strengthens the application when sponsor covers accommodation/costs
- !Host's residence proof in Portugal
Portuguese ID card / residence permit (Autorização de Residência) / passport copy
- !Proof of relationship (marriage / birth certificate if family)
Core Documents
- !Schengen application form (signed)
- !Valid passport + previous passports
- !Passport-size photos
- !Travel medical insurance €30,000
- !Return flight reservation
- !Accommodation proof — host's address or hotel
- !Bank statement (3 months) + ITR (2 years)
- !Employment / studies proof + leave approval
For Minors (Under 18)
- ○Notarised parental consent if travelling alone or with one parent
- ○Birth certificate + parents' ID copies
! = 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
Portuguese host prepares invitation
Invitation letter + residence proof copy. Optionally, Termo de Responsabilidade at AIMA.
- 02
Fill Schengen application
From Portuguese MFA visa portal.
- 03
Book VFS appointment + submit
visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/prt.
- 04
Decision
15 days standard.
What works
5 levers that flip a borderline case.
- A Portugal Schengen visa lets you travel to all 29 Schengen countries within the validity printed.
- Portugal is one of the easiest Schengen countries to visit for first-time Indian applicants — low refusal rate vs France / Germany.
- If combining Portugal with Spain, mark Portugal as main destination only if most nights are in Portugal.
- Apply via VFS Global only — no BLS/GVCW for Portugal in India.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Invitation lacks host's residence proof / purpose details
- 2Relationship undocumented
- 3Applicant's finances weak AND no host sponsorship
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
Is Termo de Responsabilidade mandatory?+
Who counts as 'family'?+
EU/EEA family member fee exemption?+
Can my host pick me up at Lisbon airport?+
Before you apply
Two ways to apply for your Portugal portugal visa for visiting family & friends (schengen type c).
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 visiting family & friends (schengen type c) 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 visiting family & friends (schengen type c) 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 visiting family & friends (schengen type c) 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 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 Visa for EU/EEA/CH/UK Family Members (Schengen Type C — Fee-Exempt)
Fee-exempt Schengen short-stay visa for Indian close family members of EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizens travelling to or in Portugal.
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.
Ready?
We'll handle the Portugal portugal visa for visiting family & friends (schengen type c) file end-to-end.
₹199 · refundable · honest Yes / Maybe / No in 24h · credited to any service you book.