🇵🇹 Portugal · Study Abroad
How to study in Portugal as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Quick answer
To study in Portugal you apply to the university, then, once admitted, apply for a student residence visa at the Portuguese consulate and, after arrival, complete your residence permit through the immigration authority (AIMA). Explore options on the Study in Portugal and university sites and apply by the deadline.
Portugal hosts public and private universities and polytechnics, with a growing range of English-taught programmes and relatively moderate tuition. International students apply to the institution; non-EU students then obtain a student visa and residence permit. The Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) oversees higher education and the recognition of foreign qualifications.
- Public and private universities/polytechnics, with growing English-taught programmes and moderate tuition.
- Apply to the institution; non-EU students obtain a student visa and residence permit.
- DGES oversees higher education and recognition of foreign qualifications.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your course and institution
Choose your program and apply to the university; explore options on Study in Portugal and the university sites.
- 2
Meet academic and language requirements
Meet the academic entry requirements and prove language ability (e.g. an English or local-language test) at the level the course demands.
- 3
Apply for admission
Apply for admission through the relevant application route by the deadline, with transcripts, test scores and supporting documents.
- 4
Receive offer and enrollment document
On acceptance, obtain your official enrollment/acceptance document, which you will need for the visa application.
- 5
Apply for your student visa
Apply for a student residence visa at the Portuguese consulate; after arrival, complete your residence permit through AIMA.
- 6
Arrive, enroll and know the rules
Arrive before the term, complete enrollment and any residence registration, and note the rules on part-time work and post-study stay.
Checklist
- Course, level and institution chosen
- Academic + language requirements met
- Admission application submitted by deadline
- Offer + enrollment/acceptance document received
- Proof of funds + health cover prepared
- Student visa applied for + granted
- Arrival, enrollment + registration done
- Work-hours and post-study stay rules understood
Official authorities
- Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES)
Official higher-education and recognition authority.
Frequently asked questions
What is AIMA?
Portugal’s immigration agency (which replaced SEF), where you complete your residence permit after arriving on a student visa.
Do I need Portuguese?
Many undergraduate programs are in Portuguese, but there is a growing range of English-taught master’s; check each program.
Can I work while studying in Portugal?
Student residence-permit holders can generally work part-time within set limits; check the current conditions.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- ePortugal — Citizen and business services incl. residence and foreign-resident matters
- Tax Portal (Portal das Finanças) — Portuguese income tax (IRS), VAT (IVA), and tax number (NIF)
- AICEP Portugal Global — Foreign investment and trade promotion