Portugal will soon require Brazilian nationals applying for Portuguese visas to submit their applications in person, marking the end of a postal submission system that had been introduced during the Covid 19 pandemic. The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that from 17 April 2026 all Brazilian applicants seeking either a Schengen short stay visa or a national long stay visa must appear at designated visa centres or diplomatic offices to complete the application process. The change represents a significant shift in Portugal’s visa procedures and is expected to affect thousands of applicants each year who previously relied on courier services to send their documentation.
Under the new rules, Brazilian applicants will need to visit one of nine VFS Global visa application centres operating across Brazil or submit their request directly through a Portuguese embassy or consulate. The postal submission option, which had been widely used over the past several years, will be discontinued entirely. Authorities say the policy adjustment is intended to strengthen verification procedures allowing officials to review original documents directly and collect biometric data from applicants. Officials also noted that the current postal system has led to frequent delays because incomplete applications represent more than thirty percent of the requests received from Brazilian nationals.
Brazil remains one of the largest sources of visa applications for Portugal. Government figures indicate that nearly 105000 visa requests were submitted Brazilian citizens during 2025 alone, making Brazil the second largest applicant group after India. Approximately forty percent of those applications were filed through the postal system that was implemented during the pandemic period. Portuguese authorities believe returning to in person submissions will streamline the process reducing administrative errors and ensuring that required documentation is verified at the initial stage of the application.
The decision is also expected to influence businesses and international employers that frequently relocate staff between Brazil and Portugal. Companies transferring employees may now need to plan for additional travel arrangements so workers can attend visa appointments in person. This could mean additional transportation costs and at least one full working day dedicated to the application process. For businesses with frequent travel or relocation needs, the new requirement could introduce additional planning considerations when preparing international assignments or project deployments.
Relocation consultants and immigration specialists say the policy could be particularly challenging for applicants who live far from major cities where visa centres are located. Individuals residing in areas such as Manaus or Fortaleza may need to take domestic flights to reach the nearest visa office, increasing the overall cost of the application process. Experts recommend that applicants prepare documents carefully in advance and schedule appointments early to avoid delays. Some visa centres in major cities including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro also offer premium appointment services that may help reduce waiting times for applicants with urgent travel needs.
Not all travelers will be affected the change. Brazilian citizens who also hold European Union passports will continue to enjoy freedom of movement within the EU without requiring a visa. In addition, Brazilian nationals visiting the Schengen area for short stays of up to ninety days under the European Union visa free travel arrangement will still be able to enter without applying for a visa. The new policy therefore mainly targets those seeking longer stays in Portugal for purposes such as work, study or residency.
Portugal’s decision brings its procedures closer to those already in place in several other Schengen countries. Nations such as Spain and Italy have long required visa applicants to appear in person when submitting applications in order to complete biometric registration and document verification. Immigration specialists believe the results of Portugal’s policy shift will be closely watched other European countries managing high volumes of Brazilian applicants. If the move successfully reduces fraud and processing delays, similar changes could eventually be introduced across more Schengen consulates dealing with large numbers of visa requests.
