Which countries are visa‑free for Portuguese citizens
The list of 187 countries includes states that allow entry without a visa for Portuguese passport holders, as well as countries that issue a visa on arrival or online. The latter states are included in the list because to visit them, Portuguese citizens do not have to go to the consulate, queue, or make appointments, that is, handle all the visa hassles people want to avoid so much.
The difference between entry conditions
- Visa-free entry allows passing the country's border just on your passport without any additional entry permit. Portugal has visa waiver agreements with all European countries. Overall the list of visa-free countries for a Portugal passport includes 142 states.
- eTA, or Electronic Travel Authorization, is a visa type you apply for and receive online. The process can take a couple of minutes to 2—3 days, depending on the country. 10 countries issue an eTA for Portuguese citizens.
- Visa on arrival is a type of visa one gets immediately after crossing the border of the host country – for example, at the airport or the checkpoint. 35 states grant such visas to the Portuguese.
The freedom of travel that a Portuguese passport provides is one of the reasons so many people are looking to obtain citizenship of Portugal.
Complete list of visa-free countries for citizens of Portugal
# | Country | Entry conditions | Duration of stay |
EUROPE | |||
1 | Albania | Visa-free | 90 days |
2 | Andorra | Visa-free | 90 days |
3 | Armenia | Visa-free | 180 days |
4 | Austria | Visa-free | 90 days |
5 | Belarus | Visa-free | 30 days |
6 | Belgium | Visa-free | 90 days |
7 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa-free | 90 days |
8 | Bulgaria | Visa-free | 3 months |
9 | Croatia | Visa-free | 3 months |
10 | Cyprus | Visa-free | 3 months |
11 | Czech Republic | Visa-free | 90 days |
12 | Denmark | Visa-free | 90 days |
13 | Estonia | Visa-free | 90 days |
14 | Faroe Islands | Visa-free | 90 days |
15 | Finland | Visa-free | 90 days |
16 | France | Visa-free | 90 days |
17 | Georgia | Visa-free | 1 year |
18 | Germany | Visa-free | 90 days |
19 | Gibraltar | Visa-free | n/d |
20 | Greece | Visa-free | 90 days |
21 | Greenland | Visa-free | 90 days |
22 | Hungary | Visa-free | 90 days |
23 | Iceland | Visa-free | 90 days |
24 | Ireland | Visa-free | 3 months |
25 | Italy | Visa-free | 90 days |
26 | Kosovo | Visa-free | 90 days |
27 | Latvia | Visa-free | 90 days |
28 | Liechtenstein | Visa-free | 3 months |
29 | Lithuania | Visa-free | 90 days |
30 | Luxembourg | Visa-free | 90 days |
31 | Malta | Visa-free | 90 days |
32 | Moldova | Visa-free | 90 days |
33 | Monaco | Visa-free | 90 days |
34 | Montenegro | Visa-free | 90 days |
35 | Netherlands | Visa-free | 90 days |
36 | North Macedonia | Visa-free | 3 months |
37 | Norway | Visa-free | 3 months |
38 | Poland | Visa-free | 90 days |
39 | Romania | Visa-free | 3 months |
40 | San Marino | Visa-free | 90 days |
41 | Serbia | Visa-free | 90 days |
42 | Slovakia | Visa-free | 90 days |
43 | Slovenia | Visa-free | 90 days |
44 | Spain | Visa-free | 90 days |
45 | Sweden | Visa-free | 90 days |
46 | Switzerland | Visa-free | 90 days |
47 | Turkey | Visa-free | 90 days |
48 | Ukraine | Visa-free | 90 days |
49 | United Kingdom | Visa-free | 6 months |
50 | Vatican City | Visa-free | 90 days |
OCEANIA | |||
1 | American Samoa | eTA | n/d |
2 | Australia | eTA | 3 months |
3 | Cook Islands | Visa-free | 31 days |
4 | Fiji | Visa-free | 120 days |
5 | French Polynesia | Visa-free | 3 months |
6 | Guam | eTA | 90 days |
7 | Kiribati | Visa-free | 90 days |
8 | Marshall Islands | Visa-free | 90 days |
9 | Micronesia | Visa-free | n/d |
10 | New Caledonia | Visa-free | 3 months |
11 | New Zealand | eTA | 3 months |
12 | Niue | Visa-free | 30 days |
13 | Northern Mariana Islands | eTA | 90 days |
14 | Palau Islands | Visa-free | 90 days |
15 | Papua New Guinea | Visa on arrival | 60 days |
16 | Samoa | Visa-free | 90 days |
17 | Solomon Islands | Visa-free | 90 days |
18 | Tonga | Visa-free | 90 days |
19 | Tuvalu | Visa-free | 90 days |
20 | Vanuatu | Visa-free | n/d |
MIDDLE EAST | |||
1 | Bahrain | Visa on arrival | 2 weeks |
2 | Iran | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
3 | Iraq | Visa-free | 30 days |
4 | Israel | Visa-free | 90 days |
5 | Jordan | Visa on arrival | 6 months |
6 | Kuwait | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
7 | Lebanon | Visa on arrival | 1 month |
8 | Oman | Visa-free | 14 days |
9 | Palestinian Territory | Visa-free | n/d |
10 | Qatar | Visa-free | 60 days |
11 | Saudi Arabia | Visa on arrival | 3 months |
12 | United Arab Emirates | Visa-free | 90 days |
CARIBBEAN | |||
1 | Anguilla | Visa-free | 90 days |
2 | Antigua and Barbuda | Visa-free | 90 days |
3 | Aruba | Visa-free | 90 days |
4 | Bahamas | Visa-free | 90 days |
5 | Barbados | Visa-free | 3 months |
6 | Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba | Visa-free | 90 days |
7 | British Virgin Islands | Visa-free | 1 month |
8 | Cayman Islands | Visa-free | 6 months |
9 | Curacao | Visa-free | 90 days |
10 | Dominica | Visa-free | 3 months |
11 | Dominican Republic | Visa-free | 30 days |
12 | French West Indies | Visa-free | 90 days |
13 | Grenada | Visa-free | 90 days |
14 | Haiti | Visa-free | 90 days |
15 | Jamaica | Visa-free | 30 days |
16 | Montserrat | Visa-free | n/d |
17 | Puerto Rico | eTA | n/d |
18 | St. Kitts and Nevis | Visa-free | 90 days |
19 | St. Lucia | Visa-free | 90 days |
20 | St. Maarten | Visa-free | 90 days |
21 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa-free | 90 days |
22 | Trinidad and Tobago | Visa-free | 90 days |
23 | Turks and Caicos Islands | Visa-free | 90 days |
24 | US Virgin Islands | eTA | n/d |
ASIA | |||
1 | Bangladesh | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
2 | Brunei | Visa-free | 90 days |
3 | Cambodia | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
4 | Hong Kong (SAR China) | Visa-free | 90 days |
5 | Indonesia | Visa-free | 30 days |
6 | Japan | Visa-free | 90 days |
7 | Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days |
8 | Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free | 60 days |
9 | Laos | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
10 | Macao (SAR China) | Visa-free | n/d |
11 | Malaysia | Visa-free | 90 days |
12 | Maldives | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
13 | Mongolia | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
14 | Nepal | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
15 | Philippines | Visa-free | 30 days |
16 | Singapore | Visa-free | 90 days |
17 | South Korea | Visa-free | 90 days |
18 | Sri Lanka | eTA | 30 days |
19 | Taiwan | Visa-free | 90 days |
20 | Tajikistan | Visa on arrival | 45 days |
21 | Thailand | Visa-free | 30 days |
22 | Timor-Leste | Visa-free | 90 days |
23 | Uzbekistan | Visa-free | 30 days |
AMERICAS | |||
1 | Argentina | Visa-free | 90 days |
2 | Belize | Visa-free | 30 days |
3 | Bermuda | Visa-free | n/d |
4 | Bolivia | Visa-free | 90 days |
5 | Brazil | Visa-free | 90 days |
6 | Canada | eTA | 6 months |
7 | Chile | Visa-free | 90 days |
8 | Colombia | Visa-free | 90 days |
9 | Costa Rica | Visa-free | 90 days |
10 | Ecuador | Visa-free | 90 days |
11 | El Salvador | Visa-free | 90 days |
12 | Falkland Islands | Visa-free | n/d |
13 | French Guiana | Visa-free | 90 days |
14 | Guatemala | Visa-free | 90 days |
15 | Guyana | Visa-free | 90 days |
16 | Honduras | Visa-free | 90 days |
17 | Mexico | Visa-free | 180 days |
18 | Nicaragua | Visa-free | 90 days |
19 | Panama | Visa-free | 3 months |
20 | Paraguay | Visa-free | 90 days |
21 | Peru | Visa-free | 90 days |
22 | United States | eTA | 90 days |
23 | Uruguay | Visa-free | 90 days |
24 | Venezuela | Visa-free | 90 days |
AFRICA | |||
1 | Botswana | Visa-free | 90 days |
2 | Burkina Faso | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
3 | Cape Verde Islands | Visa-free | 30 days |
4 | Comores Islands | Visa on arrival | 45 days |
5 | Egypt | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
6 | Eswatini (Swaziland) | Visa-free | 30 days |
7 | Ethiopia | Visa on arrival | 3 months |
8 | Gabon | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
9 | Gambia | Visa on arrival | n/d |
10 | Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
11 | Lesotho | Visa-free | 14 days |
12 | Madagascar | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
13 | Malawi | Visa on arrival | 3 months |
14 | Mauritania | Visa on arrival | n/d |
15 | Mauritius | Visa-free | 90 days |
16 | Mayotte | Visa-free | 90 days |
17 | Morocco | Visa-free | 90 days |
18 | Mozambique | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
19 | Namibia | Visa-free | 90 days |
20 | Reunion | Visa-free | n/d |
21 | Rwanda | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
22 | Sao Tome and Principe | Visa-free | 15 days |
23 | Senegal | Visa-free | 3 months |
24 | Seychelles | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
25 | Sierra Leone | Visa on arrival | 1 month |
26 | Somalia | Visa on arrival | 30 days |
27 | South Africa | Visa-free | 90 days |
28 | St. Helena | Visa on arrival | 182 days |
29 | Tanzania | Visa on arrival | 3 months |
30 | Togo | Visa on arrival | 7 days |
31 | Tunisia | Visa-free | 90 days |
32 | Uganda | Visa on arrival | n/d |
33 | Zambia | Visa on arrival | 90 days |
34 | Zimbabwe | Visa on arrival | 3 months |
Entry requirements to popular travel destinations for citizens of Portugal
The EU and Schengen Area. As Portugal is a part of the Schengen agreement, its citizens and residents can travel visa-free to all the Schengen countries and stay there for a maximum of 90 days in total within every 6 months.
EU states that are not part of the Schengen Area, namely, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, and Ireland, also allow visa-free entry for citizens of Portugal. They can stay in each country for 90 days every 6 months. Stays in these countries are calculated individually. If one spends 90 days in Croatia, they can immediately travel to Romania and spend another 90 days there.
The UK. Portuguese citizens who visit the UK for tourism can stay there for up to 6 months without a visa. For that, they need only a passport valid for the whole duration of their stay in the country.
The United States. To visit the USA, holders of Portuguese passports need to apply for an eTA. The application process takes around 20 minutes, and the document is ready within several minutes. ETA allows only short-time visits for up to 90 days. The application fee is $21.
Canada. For Canada, an eTA is also required. The document is valid for 6 months. The application process is straightforward and won’t take more than half an hour. Another thirty minutes after submission takes the issuance of an eTA.
Those who enter Canada from the USA by land or sea do not need an eTA.
Australia. For short stays in Australia, EU citizens, including the Portuguese, need an eVisitor visa. It’s a type of visa to apply for online. An eVisitor entry permit is valid for one year and allows multiple entries to the country. Each stay should not exceed 90 days.
Singapore. To enter Singapore, citizens of Portugal need to apply for an SG Arrival Card which can be obtained online. After that, it’s possible to stay in the country for 90 days.
Hong Kong. For EU citizens, including the Portuguese, Hong Kong allows visa-free entry for short stays of up to 3 months.
Japan. Short visits to Japan for up to 90 days are visa-free for Portuguese citizens.
Portugal. Portuguese citizens are not obliged to live in Portugal, but many choose to relocate or at least travel around the country. The country has something for anyone: ocean and surfing places, mountains and spectacular hiking trails, old castles and vibrant cities. On top of that, Portugal can brag about warm sunny weather all year long.
How to get a Portuguese passport
There are several ways to obtain a Portuguese passport. A marriage to a Portuguese citizen or employment by a local company can lead to citizenship by naturalisation. Besides, the residence by investment program operates for those willing to invest in the country’s economy and get citizenship in the future.
The investment path to a Portuguese passport
Portugal golden visa obtainment. To be eligible for the Golden Visa, one needs to invest in the economy of Portugal. Investment options include purchasing real estate or investment fund units, capital transfer, funding a company, as well as investing in the country’s culture, business or research. The minimal investment one has to make is €250,000.
Residence permit renewals. A year after obtaining the Golden Visa, the investor needs to renew his residence permit for the first time. After that, the residence permit is to be renewed every two years. To be eligible for renewal, golden visa holders must spend at least 7 days a year in Portugal.
Application for citizenship. To apply for citizenship, one must hold a Portuguese golden visa for at least five years. The applicant also has to prove their knowledge of Portuguese. Consideration of the application usually takes about 7 months.
Andrew wanted to obtain citizenship in one of the EU states because he had planned to expand his company to Europe.
The Portuguese Golden Visa program was the best suitable option for him as it offered affordable investment options while providing all the benefits of legal residence in an EU country.
How to obtain a Portugal golden visa by purchasing real estate
Purchase of real estate is the most popular investment option with Portuguese golden visa applicants. Here’s how the process of the golden visa obtainment goes in case of that kind of investment.
Step-by-step procedure
Preliminary Due Diligence. Before signing a contract with an investor, we run a Due Diligence check on them to ensure they meet the Golden Visa program requirements and eliminate potential issues.
Selection of real estate. Focusing on the investor’s requirements, our real estate experts select properties for them to consider. After creating a shortlist of preferable options, we negotiate the terms with the sellers.
First trip to Portugal. During this trip, the investor makes the final decision on the real estate they want to purchase, opens a bank account, gets an individual taxpayer number, and draws up a power of attorney for the lawyer to become their personal representative in Portugal.
Purchase and sale transactions. Immigrant Invest lawyers accompany the deal until the issuance of the real estate ownership certificate.
Preparation for the application. Our lawyers provide the investor with a list of necessary documents for the golden visa application. When the documents are collected, the lawyers fill out government forms, translate and notarise the papers.
Second trip to Portugal: fingerprinting. The investor travels to Portugal to submit the documents and biometric data for residence permit cards. This has to be done in person.
Approval and the residence permit issuance. The investor’s documents will be checked within 6 months after application. After approval, the investor pays the fee for a residence permit card and receives it two weeks after.
Visa-free countries for Portuguese Golden Visa holders
A golden visa holder doesn’t have the same travel opportunities as a citizen. While the list of visa-free countries narrows down, it still includes all the Schengen states, as well as Cyprus, Croatia, and Romania. These are usually the most desired travel destinations. In total, 28 countries are visa-free for Portuguese golden visa holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Portuguese passports provide free entry to their holders to 187 countries. Visa-free countries for Portugal citizens include 142 states. Plus, 10 countries require an eTA, and 35 states issue a visa on arrival.
Portuguese passports allow visa-free entry to 187 countries. This is the 5th strongest passport in the world.
Yes, Portuguese citizens can travel visa-free to the UK and stay there for up to 6 months. They are required to have only a passport valid for the whole duration of their stay in the country.
Portuguese citizens can travel to the USA with an e-visa.Visa requirements for Portuguese citizens include only eTA. The application process is very quick and takes less than half an hour. Travellers have to pay a fee of $21. ETA allows only short-time visits to the USA: 90 days or less.
Canada’s requirements for Portugal passport holders are similar to those of the USA. Portuguese citizens who travel to Canada by plane also need an eTA. If they enter Canada by land from the territory of the US, eTA is not required.
ETA for Canada is valid for half a year. The application costs CAD7 and usually takes a few minutes to be issued. However, in some cases, the processing of the application can take up to several days.
The golden visa does not provide the investor with the same travelling opportunities as Portuguese citizenship. It does, however, allow visa‑free travel through the whole Schengen area. Golden Visa holders have free entry to the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Tax optimization. New tax residents of Portugal can apply for Non‑Habitual Resident tax status, which allows them to skip the tax on global income legally. For non‑habitual residents, the tax rate for the income earned in Portugal reduces to 20% instead of the potential 48%. NHR can be given to a person only once and cannot be renewed.
NHR is available to citizens and residents of Portugal who have lived within the country for at least 183 days in the last year. Once one becomes a resident of this country, they can apply for the status at a Portuguese tax office.
Business and work opportunities. Portuguese citizens can open a business in Portugal or any other European country. Plus, being a citizen of Portugal, one can apply for a local or EU‑based job without any work permits required.