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, Portuguese travellers need a €24 ETA before boarding.
UK Visas from Portugal
UK Visa from Portugal 2026: ETA Requirements, Fees & Portuguese Passport Entry
UK Entry Requirements for Portuguese Citizens
Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (€24, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Portugal — including TRC holders — need a Standard Visitor visa (€164) instead. For work, study, or family stays, Portuguese nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App.
Few countries share a longer history with Britain than Portugal, and the 268,000-strong Portuguese community in the UK keeps travel busy in both directions. Since Brexit, though, Portuguese travellers face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals — and it must be approved before boarding, as it is checked at check-in. Portuguese nationals can no longer use EU lanes and pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors.
- A valid passport: covering the duration of the stay.
- An approved ETA: €24, valid two years, via the UK ETA App.
- Evidence of return or onward travel.
- Accommodation details: a booking 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 guide.
Do Portuguese Citizens Need a Visa for the UK?
It depends on your nationality, not your residence. 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 99.6% issue rate — approval is effectively automatic. Those settled before Brexit may hold status under the settled and pre-settled status and need neither.
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The same ETA route applies to German nationals visiting the UK.
UK Visa Fees from Portugal 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, apply identically across euro-currency countries, and are non-refundable.
UK visitor and short-stay fees from Portugal (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Portuguese citizens) | €24 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €164 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €615 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,097 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,371 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €164 | 6 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €50 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €91 | 48 hours |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros; ETA per GOV.UK.
UK work, study and family visa fees from Portugal (2026)
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €678 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €995 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,966 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €394 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €413 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,508 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,417 |
| Priority service | +€608 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,215 |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
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
“UK tourist visa from Portugal” means different things by nationality. A Portuguese passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs the €24 ETA — covering tourism, family visits, business meetings and negotiations (never paid work), short courses up to 30 days, private medical treatment, and transit. 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 multi-year visit visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months — it spreads the cost for frequent travellers.
Can I Work in the UK with a Portuguese Passport?
Not without a visa, since Brexit ended free movement on 31 December 2020. 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, and UK visa grant rates for Portuguese applicants are high across all routes.
Skilled Worker, Youth Mobility and Student Routes
The Skilled Worker route needs a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the £41,700 general threshold; the fee is €995 for up to three years or €1,966 beyond, leading to indefinite leave to remain after five years. Portuguese citizens aged 18 to 35 can use the Youth Mobility Scheme (€413, two years). For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €678; after a degree the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. A partner visa (€2,508) carries a £29,000 income requirement.
Moving to the UK from Portugal
The “moving to the UK” question splits three ways. Portuguese citizens moving for work or family need the relevant visa before departure. British citizens returning from the Algarve or elsewhere need nothing for themselves — a British passport is enough — though a non-British partner or family member needs the appropriate family route. And EU Settlement Scheme holders returning within their permitted absence keep their status.
UK Visa from Portugal for Non-EU Residents (TRC Card)
Portugal's growing Brazilian, Indian, and Pakistani communities often hold a TRC (Título de Residência). A TRC proves residence in Portugal but carries no UK travel rights: visa-national passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa (€164) for any UK trip, applied for online with biometrics at the visa centre in Lisbon, with processing of about three weeks.
Portuguese Residence Strengthens Your Application
Legal residence in Portugal 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 in our UK visa supporting documents checklist. If a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's supporting letter shows what to include; if a visit was refused before, see why UK visas are refused and the odds when reapplying.
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. For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay.
- 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.
Processing Times and Delays
Standard processing is about three weeks for non-settlement visas and up to twelve weeks for settlement routes; ETAs are usually decided within minutes. If a decision runs late, our guide on UKVI delays explains how to chase it, priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available, and you can track timelines with our guide to decision times after biometrics.
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover Italian citizens, the Spain ETA guide, the UK visa from Greece, travellers from Malta, and the Cyprus ETA guide. Sources: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; GOV.UK ETA guidance. Figures verified August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas from Portugal
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Portuguese citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs €24, lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let Portuguese travellers board transport to the UK. For work or study, the appropriate visa is required.
For Portuguese citizens the price of a UK visit is simply the €24 ETA — there is no visit visa to buy. Non-EU residents of Portugal pay €164 for the six-month Standard Visitor visa, with longer options at €615 for two years, €1,097 for five, and €1,371 for ten. Those applications run through the Lisbon centre and take about three weeks.
Not without a work visa. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€995–€1,966), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Portuguese nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme (€413). Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
It depends who you are. Portuguese citizens need the relevant visa before moving — Skilled Worker for a job, Student for a course, or a partner visa for family. British citizens returning from Portugal need nothing for themselves, though non-British family members need the appropriate route. EU Settlement Scheme holders keep their status within permitted absences.
No. The TRC (Título de Residência) proves your status in Portugal but carries no UK travel rights. Visa-national passport holders — Brazilian, Indian, Pakistani, and others — still need a Standard Visitor visa (€164) for any UK trip, while visa-exempt nationals need an ETA. Only your passport nationality decides the requirement.
A Portuguese citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
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 (€608) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,215) 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.
Não — para visitas até seis meses basta a ETA, que custa €24 (£20), vale dois anos e obtém-se pela app UK ETA. A exigência aplica-se desde 2 de abril de 2025 e é verificada no embarque. Para trabalhar, estudar mais de seis meses ou juntar-se à família é preciso o visto correspondente; quem tem estatuto do EU Settlement Scheme não precisa de ETA nem de visto.
A ETA para visitas custa €24. Os vistos completos: Standard Visitor €164 (seis meses), visto de estudante €678, Skilled Worker €995 (até 3 anos), Youth Mobility €413 e visto de parceiro €2,508. As taxas pagam-se online ao submeter o pedido, e os cidadãos portugueses verificam a identidade pela app UK Immigration: ID Check — sem ir ao centro de vistos. Residentes não europeus com TRC dão biometria no centro de Lisboa.