Visas and passports
It is the responsibility of each WYD participant to obtain a visa. On the registration platform, for all those who need a visa, a personalized letter of confirmation of registration for WYD Lisbon 2023 will be made available for the participant to request the signature and stamp of their diocesan bishop (or someone on their behalf), as proof that they will be participating in the event. This letter will be the basis for the visa application and should be submitted to the consular office.
The information contained in this section is intended to provide a general, preliminary, and unofficial framework on visas, information subject to confirmation and/or updating. On this matter, it is recommended to consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Schengen Visa
The Schengen Visa is an authorization issued by a Member State for the purpose of an airport stopover, transit or short-term stay in the territory of one or more Member States, allowing the holder to present himself at the external border.
The Schengen visa is intended for short stays of up to 90 days in each 180-day period and can be granted for the purposes of tourism, family visit, business, seasonal work, transit, among others.
A short-stay visa does not automatically confer the right to enter the Schengen area. At the border (or at any other checkpoint) you may need to show your visa but also provide additional documentation, for example information showing that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay and return trip.
The visa application must be presented in person by the applicant at the Consular Office in the area of residence.
The visa application statement must justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay. If deemed appropriate, an interview may be arranged by the Consular Office with the mandatory presence of the visa applicant, to be held within two weeks from the date of submission of the application. The documents to be presented must be originals, accompanied by a copy.
Nationalities not subject to Schengen visa
To consult nationalities exempt from a Schengen visa, please click here.
Nationalities with a Schengen visa requirement
To consult the nationalities that are required to present a Schengen visa, please click here. Additionally, there are nationalities and categories of citizens that are subject to prior consultation for the issuance of a visa, so please consult the following link. Finally, the European Union concluded visa facilitation agreements, in order to establish simplified procedures for issuing visas with the countries indicated here.
How to apply?
Visa applications must be requested at the competent Consular Office for the analysis and decision of visa applications, in accordance with the Visa Code. They must be presented in the applicant's country of legal residence, and may, exceptionally, be presented in a country where they do not reside, provided that the applicant is in a legal situation. According to your nationality and/or residence, if this is different from your nationality, check here the Portuguese Consular Office of the country where you must apply for a short-stay Schengen visa.
Requests can be submitted up to six months in advance and, as a general
rule, up to 15 calendar days before the scheduled visit starts.
Seafarers in the exercise of their duties may submit the request up to nine months from the start of the scheduled visit date.
In duly justified individual cases, applications may be submitted less than 15 calendar days before the scheduled start date.
Applicants
may be required to arrange an appointment for the submission of the
application. As a general rule, this must be carried out within two
weeks from the date on which it was requested, and in justified cases of
urgency, the consulate may authorize its exemption or grant the
interview immediately.
Under Article 22 of the Visa Code, Member States, during the analysis of short-stay visa applications submitted by nationals of certain third countries or certain categories of citizens, may request consultation with their central authorities. In these cases, the analysis and decision of the request will take another 7 days.
A decision on applications is taken within 15 calendar days from the date of submission of an admissible application. This period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, in particular when a more in-depth examination of the application is required.
A fee is paid for each visa application, which refers only to the processing of the visa application and does not imply the issuing of a visa or refund of the amount charged in case of refusal. The visa application is considered admissible after charging the current fee.
The current rates are as follows:
- General rate is 80 euros.
- Reduced rate is 40 euros.
The reduced rate applies to children aged 6 and under 12 years old.
The fee is reduced to 35 euros for nationals of countries with which the European Union has facilitation agreements, namely Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.
The following are exempt from paying fees:
- Children under 6 years old (on the date of submission of the visa application).
- Students and teachers when traveling on study or training trips.
- Researchers who travel for the purpose of scientific research.
- Representatives of non-profit organizations up to 25 years old who participate in seminars, conferences, cultural/sporting events organized by non-profit organizations.
- Family members of nationals of EU, EEA or Switzerland member states.
The information contained in this section is intended to provide a general, preliminary and unofficial framework on visas, all the information is subject to confirmation and/or updating. On this matter, it is recommended to consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
*Information in accordance with current legislation, subject to confirmation.
