This guide covers the UK visa from Portugal in 2026: the ETA now required for Portuguese passport entry, current fees in euros, and the visa routes for work, study, and non-EU residents holding a TRC. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance dates to the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 — the oldest active alliance in the world — and around 268,000 Portuguese nationals live in the UK today. Since Brexit, though, Portuguese travellers need an ETA before boarding. This guide sets out the requirements, costs, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office ETA datasets and entry clearance visa fees, year ending March 2026.
Portuguese citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, and it is now fully enforced — no ETA, no boarding. In the year to March 2026 the UK issued about 387,000 ETAs to Portuguese nationals at a 99.4% approval rate. The ETA costs €19 and lasts two years; only non-EU residents of Portugal need an actual visa. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status need neither an ETA nor a visa.
UK Visa from Portugal: Requirements and Fees 2026
Portugal and Britain share the oldest active alliance in the world, sealed by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 and unbroken since. Around 268,000 Portuguese nationals live in the UK, with long-rooted communities in London's "Little Portugal" in Stockwell and in Thetford, Norfolk. Since Brexit, though, Portuguese travellers face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals, and it must be approved before boarding.
Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (€19, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Portugal need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead. For work, study, or family stays, Portuguese nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
UK Entry Requirements for Portuguese Citizens
Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic. Portuguese nationals can no longer use EU lanes and pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors. The core requirement is a valid passport plus an approved ETA before travel — the ETA is checked at boarding, so it must be in hand before you leave Portugal.
- A valid passport for the duration of the stay
- An approved ETA (€19, valid two years, via the UK ETA App)
- Evidence of return or onward travel
- Accommodation details or a host's address
- Enough funds to support the visit without working
- Genuine intention to leave within six months
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for Portuguese visitors. Keeping your booking and return ticket on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those covered by our France ETA guidance.
Do Portuguese Citizens Need a Visa for the UK?
It depends on your nationality, not your residence. Portuguese citizens need only an ETA (€19) for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Portugal — Indian, Pakistani, or Brazilian passport holders with a TRC, for example — need a Standard Visitor visa (€152). Those with EU Settlement Scheme status need neither. For work or study beyond six months, the appropriate visa is required.
Free movement between the EU and UK ended on 31 December 2020, so Portuguese citizens are now visa-exempt nationals for short visits — they can visit without a visa but cannot work, study courses over six months, or access public funds. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Portuguese citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, with a 99.4% issue rate in the latest Home Office figures — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
Can a Portuguese Citizen Live in the UK?
Yes, but a stay beyond six months needs a visa — Skilled Worker, Student, or Family route. Portuguese citizens who lived in the UK before 31 December 2020 were eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme, and those with settled status hold permanent residence rights and can live in the UK indefinitely without further immigration applications.
| Your Situation | What You Need | Cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist or business visit (up to 6 months) | ETA (UK ETA App) | €19 |
| Work in the UK | Skilled Worker visa (ID Check App) | €924–€1,825 |
| Study in the UK | Student visa (ID Check App) | €671 |
| Join family in the UK | Family visa (ID Check App) | €2,481 |
| EU Settlement Scheme holder | No ETA or visa needed | N/A |
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. The same ETA route applies to German citizens travelling to the UK.
UK Visa Fees from Portugal 2026
Portuguese citizens pay only €19 for an ETA. Non-EU residents of Portugal pay from €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner/family visa is €2,481. All fees are paid in euros and are non-refundable. These figures reflect the fee schedule current in 2026.
Home Office fees are set in pounds and shown in euros for applicants in Portugal and the eurozone. The figures below are pulled from the official fee calculator and apply identically across euro-currency countries.
Visitor and Short-Stay Fees
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Portuguese citizens) | €19 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,015 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,268 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €152 | 6 months |
| Private Medical Treatment | €263 | 11 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €47 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €84 | 48 hours |
Portuguese citizens use the €19 ETA for ordinary tourism, business meetings, and family visits. The €152 Standard Visitor visa is only relevant to non-EU residents of Portugal, or for specific purposes like marrying in the UK or private medical treatment beyond six months. For most Portuguese travellers, the ETA is all that is needed.
Work, Study and Family Fees
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €924 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €383 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,370 |
| Priority service | +€597 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to euros. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Tourist Visa from Portugal
Portuguese citizens need no tourist visa — only the €19 ETA for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Portugal (Indian, Pakistani, or Brazilian passport holders with a TRC) need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) for any trip. Both cover tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends or family. Portuguese nationals apply via the ETA app; non-EU residents apply through the visa centre in Lisbon.
"UK tourist visa from Portugal" means different things by nationality. A Portuguese passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs an ETA. A non-EU national living in Portugal must apply for a Standard Visitor visa, regardless of how long they have lived there.
For repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
Can I Work in the UK with a Portuguese Passport?
Yes, but Portuguese citizens need a sponsored work visa since Brexit ended free movement. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing employer sponsorship and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Portuguese nationals give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status keep the right to work without a visa.
Since Brexit, Portuguese workers need the same permissions as other non-British nationals. The upside is convenience: as an EU national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre. UK visa grant rates for Portuguese applicants are high across all routes.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for Portuguese nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €924 for up to three years or €1,825 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to settlement after five years.
Youth Mobility, Student and Family Routes
Portuguese citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years; the fee is €383. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €671 and allows part-time work; after a degree the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Portuguese nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa (€2,481), with a minimum income requirement of £29,000.
UK Visa from Portugal for Non-EU Residents (TRC Card)
A Portuguese TRC (Título de Residência) does not exempt visa nationals from UK visa requirements. Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Brazilian, and other visa-national citizens living in Portugal must apply for a Standard Visitor visa (€152) to visit the UK — not the ETA. The application goes through the visa centre in Lisbon. The TRC serves as supporting evidence of ties to Portugal.
Non-EU nationals holding a Portuguese residence card must apply for a Standard Visitor visa for any UK trip. Unlike Portuguese citizens, who use the ETA, residents with Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, or other visa-national passports need a full visitor visa application — the TRC alone does not grant UK access.
Legal residence in Portugal — especially permanent residence — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your TRC, employment contract, and evidence of settled life such as property, bank accounts, or family in Portugal alongside the standard documents.
Build the file using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's invitation letter shows what to include. If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Portugal
Portuguese citizens have an advantage: as EU nationals they can use the ID Check App to apply without visiting a visa centre. Non-EU residents of Portugal use the Lisbon centre for biometrics.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee in euros at gov.uk
- Portuguese citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at the Lisbon visa centre
- Upload your supporting documents
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay. If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics.
- Portuguese citizens need an ETA (€19), applied for via the UK ETA App — issue rate 99.4%
- For visas, Portuguese nationals use the ID Check App — no visa centre visit
- Non-EU residents with a TRC pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa
- EU Settlement Scheme holders need neither an ETA nor a visa
- Work visas need sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold
- The health surcharge (£1,035/year, £776 students) applies to visas over six months
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover the Italy ETA guide, Spanish citizens and the UK, travellers from Greece, Maltese citizens and the UK, and travellers from Cyprus.
No visa is needed for short visits up to six months, but Portuguese citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs €19, lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. For work, study, or long-term residence, the appropriate visa is required. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status (settled or pre-settled) need neither an ETA nor a visa.
Since 2 April 2025, Portuguese passport holders need an ETA to enter the UK, and it is checked at boarding. Portuguese citizens can no longer use EU/EEA lanes and pass through standard control. Free movement ended on 31 December 2020, so work, study, and long-term stays now need specific visas. The ETA costs €19 and is obtained via the UK ETA App.
The ETA is €19. A six-month Standard Visitor visa is €152, a two-year visitor visa €569, the Student visa €671, the Skilled Worker visa €924–€1,825, and a partner visa €2,481. Priority processing adds €597 and super priority €1,194. The health surcharge (£1,035/year, £776 students) is charged separately for visas over six months.
Yes, with a work visa since Brexit. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Portuguese nationals give biometrics through the ID Check App. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status keep the right to work without a visa. Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
A Portuguese TRC does not exempt visa nationals from UK visa requirements. If you hold a passport from a visa-national country such as India, Pakistan, Brazil, or Nigeria, you must apply for a Standard Visitor visa (€152), regardless of your Portuguese residence. The TRC can be included as supporting evidence of ties to Portugal. Applications go through the visa centre in Lisbon.
Yes. Portuguese and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€597) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,194) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which Portuguese citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.