What a Portugal visa is for
A Portugal visa lets a foreign national enter, stay in or pass through the country for a set period. The country is part of the Schengen Area, so a short-stay Portugal visa also covers travel to the other Schengen countries. Whatever the purpose of your trip, the visa photo follows the same Schengen photo rules: a 35×45 mm colour photo with a neutral face and a plain light background.
Types of Portugal visas
- Short-stay visa (Type C) for stays of up to 90 days: tourism, business or family visits.
- Long-stay visa (Type D) for stays longer than 90 days, usually for work, study or family reunification.
- Transit visa for travellers passing through the country to another destination.
Each of these visas asks for the same photo format, so one Portugal visa photo works for every visa type.
Portugal visa photo size explained
The Portugal visa photo size is 35×45 mm, or 3.5×4.5 cm: 35 mm wide and 45 mm high. In our template the head is about 34.5 mm from the chin to the top of the head, with about 3 mm of space between the top of the hair and the top edge of the photo. The face sits in the centre of the frame, and the shoulders are visible. A print at 600 DPI keeps the photo sharp at this small size. If the head is too small or too large in the frame, the photo does not meet the size rules, even when the paper size is right.
Background and colour
Use a plain, evenly lit light background with no shadows, patterns or objects behind you. Our online tool replaces the background with a light grey shade (#eeeeee) that suits the Schengen photo rules. The visa photo is a colour photo; keep it free of filters, beauty effects and heavy editing so your skin tone looks natural.
Documents you submit with the visa photo
Together with the photos, a Portugal visa application usually includes:
- A passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area and issued within the last ten years.
- A completed and signed visa application form.
- Travel insurance with cover of at least €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel bookings or an invitation letter from a host.
- Proof of financial means, such as bank statements, and a round-trip flight reservation.
Work, student and family reunification visas need extra documents, such as an employment contract, an acceptance letter from a local school or proof of the family relationship.
How to apply and when to take the photo
Choose the visa type, gather the documents and fill in the application form, which is usually available from the embassy or consulate website. Then book an appointment at the nearest embassy or consulate, which you can find in the official Portal Diplomático locator; in some countries you apply through a visa application centre. At the appointment you submit the application, the documents and the photos, and pay the visa fee where one applies; some applicants are also asked to attend an interview. Apply at least 15 days before your trip and no more than six months in advance, so take your visa photo shortly before you file the application to keep it recent.
Printing the Portugal visa photo
Download the photo online, then print it at 600 DPI on photo paper and cut two copies to the exact 35×45 mm size. Before you attach the photos, check that each print is sharp, in colour and the right size, with no shadows on the background and no marks on the face. The same photo file also suits online submission when a digital visa photo is requested.
Visa photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm for a printed visa photo.
- Plain light background, no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Correct head size: about 34.5 mm from chin to crown.
- Head straight and centred in the photo.
- No glasses; your full face stays inside the frame.
- Sharp, recent colour photo with no filters.
Photos for other documents
If you also need a photo for another document, see the passport photo and ID card photo pages for the same country. Each page uses the size and background of that document.
