Embassy
Embassy of Portugal in South Africa
599, Leyds Street, Muckleneuk
Portugal visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens need a visa for Portugal, from its embassy or consulate.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
PRT
Portugal
Visa needed
This visa is for tourists who cannot visit visa-free.
- Visa
- Required
- Fee
- €90
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Find Portugal's embassy or consulate that covers where you live.
Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
Book an appointment early; processing can take several weeks.
Get your Portugal visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Portugal
Visit visa-free if eligible, or apply for a short-stay visa.
Visa on arrivalExceptional border visaBorder staff may grant this visa when unexpected events prevented an earlier application.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Valid for
- 15 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Explain why unexpected events stopped you applying earlier.
- Show your travel document, funds and onward travel evidence.
- Wait for the border staff's decision.
Documents required
- Valid travel document
- Proof of unexpected events, if needed
- Proof of funds
- Proof of return or onward travel
- Permission to enter your next destination
- Approval is not guaranteed; do not plan an ordinary trip around this option.
- The visa lasts at most 15 days; follow the stay you are given.
Visa requiredTourist short-stay visaThis visa is for tourists who cannot visit visa-free.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Apply to Portugal if it is your main destination.
- For equal stays, apply to your first Schengen country.
- Contact the consulate serving the country where you legally live.
- Submit your form, documents and fee.
- Give fingerprints if required.
Documents required
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Completed application form
- Passport photo
- Travel medical insurance
- Proof of accommodation and funds
- Visit purpose and return plans
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- Your visa sets your dates, allowed stay and number of entries.
- Stay at most 90 days per 180 days across all Schengen countries.
Other routeOnline application and trackingThis service lets applicants submit documents and track a visa application online.
- Fee
- Depends on the visa you apply for
How to apply
- Open Portugal's official e-VISA application portal.
- Fill in the form and upload documents where available.
- Use your personal access code to track progress.
- Complete any remaining consulate steps.
- This service is an application tool, not a separate visa or permission to travel.
- Current portal functions could not be checked.
Sources (30)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Portuguese government: Apply for a Schengen short-stay visa
- Portuguese government: Entering and leaving Portugal
- Portuguese government: Visas and residence; page carries an outdated-information warning
- Portuguese Internal Security System: Travel to Europe and border registration
- AIMA: Employment residence permit after a residence visa
- AIMA: Law 37/2006 on free movement
- Portuguese government: European citizen residence registration
- European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa
- Visa-required and visa-exempt nationalities, including passport restrictions
- Current visa-list legislation and 2026 Georgian passport suspension
- Schengen Borders Code
- Visa Code: Application requirements, airport transit exemptions and border visas
- Common airport transit visa nationality list
- Country-specific airport transit requirements
- European Commission: Business visitors and service providers in Portugal
- Portuguese immigration law; consolidation marked as being updated
- September 2026 immigration-law amendments
- Foreign ministry order setting Schengen and national visa fees
- Study, exchange, internship and volunteering residence visa; outdated-information warning
- Detailed government student-visa checklist; older service page
- Employment residence visa
- Working and starting a business in Portugal
- Self-employment and entrepreneur visa supporting documents
- Government economic office: Remote-work residence visa
- Family-reunification visa; outdated-information warning
- Medical-treatment temporary-stay visa
- Retirement, own-income and religious residence visa
- Detailed retirement, own-income and religious visa checklist
- Government notice identifying the official e-VISA portal and its purpose
- Official ETIAS status and frequently asked questions
Embassies for this trip
Book an appointment before you go.
Trips to Portugal
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs C E FAdapter for some
- MoneyEUR €
- Time−3h
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguagePortuguese
- Emergency112 police
Planning your Portugal trip
Best time to go: Spring and summer are usually sunny. July and August can be very hot inland, while autumn and winter are often rainy and windy.
- Pena National Palace, SintraA major example of 19th-century Romantic architecture.
- CascaisA luxurious coastal village on the Portuguese Riviera.
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of FátimaOne of the world's largest pilgrimage sites devoted to Mary.
Scams to watch for in Portugal
- Pickpocketing and bag theftThieves take money, documents or bags while visitors are distracted or squeezed into crowds. Some blend in by looking and acting like other tourists. Crowded metro carriages in Lisbon are a particular risk.
- Theft from rental carsThieves steal belongings from rental cars. This is listed among the most common crimes against tourists in Lisbon.
- High ATM fees and poor exchange ratesSome areas have many Euronet ATMs. These charge high fees and offer poor exchange rates. This is a cost trap rather than a claim that the machines steal card details.
About Portugal
Portugal is a republic on the western edge of Iberia, with two archipelagos in the Atlantic.
- Capital
- Lisbon
- Money
- Euro (€)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Time zone
- 2 time zones
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +351
Other Africa passports
Going to Portugal
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Portugal with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Portugal?
South African citizens need a visa for Portugal, from its embassy or consulate.
Where do I apply for a Portugal visa?
At Portugal's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Book an appointment early, as it can take several weeks.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help south african citizens enter Portugal?
We have no record of Portugal relaxing its rules for south african citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do portuguese citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for South Africa. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Portugal?
Mauritius and Seychelles can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Portugal are easier for south african citizens?
Kosovo, Russia, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Portugal?
Find Portugal's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
What money is used in Portugal?
Euro (€). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Portugal?
Portuguese.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
It ranks #51 and reaches 91 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck