Congratulations! You are now one step closer to obtaining your Portugal Schengen Visa. It’s time for the appointment. Don’t worry. We have you covered!

Things you should do at the appointment

• Demonstrate your economic or family attachment to your country and employment.

• Listen carefully to the visa officers and give answers with context.

• Give answers in coherence to what you stated in the application.

Things you shouldn’t do at the appointment

• Don’t lie or hide information, the embassy knows your background.

• Don’t guess when you don’t know the answer and ask the officer to clarify the question.

• Be polite and don’t interrupt the officer, so the interview can finish quickly.

Don’t forget your documents

Arriving at the appointment with the required documents in a manila transparent plastic folder is one of the most important things to do. The Visa Application Center will keep your passport and documents while they process your application. Sometimes you will need to have your appointment in a different country. The documents you will need to bring are the following:

• Completed and signed application form.

• Passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your visa expiring date and needs to have at least 2 blank pages.

• Applicant’s Photo. Bring a passport-size photo. We advise you to bring an extra photo just in case. Check the government requirements for the Schengen Visa photos. If you want to get the perfect picture, you can use our iVisa Photos service that delivers your photos directly to your home.

• Payment of the Visa Government Fee. Depending on your request location, you would be able to pay online or in cash.

• Travel Health Insurance. Bring a confirmation letter of your Travel Health Insurance that should cover hospitalizations or repatriation in the Schengen Area of at least €30,000.

• Fingerprints. Your fingerprints will be collected during the appointment if you haven't registered them in the Visa Information System in the past 5 years (59 months). Children under 12 years old are exempt from this requirement.

• Medical certificate from the institution receiving you (if needed).

• Proof of accommodation or sponsorship. In case you are invited by a family member, friend, company, or organization, fill out this statement of responsibility.

If you are going to an event, you will need a registration, entry ticket, or proof of attendance.

If not, then please bring your Hotel/Hostel/Airbnb booking confirmation.

• Bank or credit card statements from the last 3 months, work certificate, and salary.

In case a company or another person is paying for your trip, you should bring the Bank Statements from the last 3 months of that company/person, and include a copy of their ID or Tax Identification Number as a supporting document.

• Employment proof. We recommend bringing documents that can support your current employment situation as well as your professional background, like your curriculum vitae, job contract, etc.

• School acceptance or enrollment letter.

• Travel Itinerary. If you have your travel itinerary in a document, bring it to the appointment, so you can continue supporting the reason for your trip and the activities you are going to do.

• Return Tickets. This helps to support the fact that you can afford your trip and that you have reasons to go back to your country.

• For minors:

Their completed visa application form, signed by both parents or legal guardians.

Their birth certificate.

If they are traveling alone, they will need a notarized parental authorization signed by both parents or legal guardians.

If they are traveling with only one parent, they will have to bring a notarized authorization signed by the other parent.

If only one parent has full custody of the minors, a family court order might be required.

The ID or passport copies of both parents.

If they are students, they will need to have a school certificate of enrollment/attendance/absence.

Dresscode

You should look for a balance between formality and comfort.

Keep it simple by using basics in neutral colors like shirts, trousers, or tailored suits. Hygiene is highly important. Make sure to arrive well-groomed with a clean haircut and makeup. Avoid party clothes, flashy nail polish, or tattoos.