International Students

studying in portugal

International Students

We’re glad you’re interested in joining our growing community of international students from more than 70 countries.

You’ll feel amazed by our friendly and supportive academic environment, where everyone will strive to make you feel at home.


International Student Status

In Portugal being a non-Portuguese student doesn’t make you necessarily an international student.

In 2014, the Portuguese government created the International Student Status, a mechanism that allows non-Portuguese or non-European Union students (with some exceptions) to apply for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

With the International Student Status, you will get special higher education entry requirements, applications and registrations procedures, as well as fees and places.


You can get the International Student Status:

  • If you do not have Portuguese nationality;
  • If you are not a national from a Member State of the European Union;
  • If you are not legally residing in Portugal until the 31st of August of the year in which you intend to enrol in higher education for more than two years, continuously, and if you are not family of foreign citizens that hold a resident permit for more than two years;
  • If you don’t intend to enrol in higher education through special regimes;

Note: If you register with the International Student Status, you will keep it until the end of your study programme.


You can’t get the International Student Status:

  • If you’re a citizen from a member state of the UE and a legal resident in Portugal on 31 August of the year in which you intend to enrol in higher education for more than two years;
  • Or if you’re family member of foreign citizens that hold a Portuguese resident permit for more than two years.

In this case, you should apply through the National Contest or any other special regime or national contest. 


international students

Bachelor’s Programmes Applications

  • Browse our programmes and consider which one suits you better
  • Then check out our international student’s advice and see if you’re eligible and review the admission requirements to make sure you have the right qualifications. Here you may also find the vacancies available as well as the required documents.
  • Application deadlines vary so check out the application calendars.
  • You may also be eligible for a scholarship available.

International Student Regulation – Portuguese

  • If you are not a Portuguese native speaker check out Portuguese language courses
  • Start your application on our Applications Portal
  • Confirm you have received an automatic confirmation email
  • Answer all the questions and prepare to pay the €50 application fee
  • Check the results of your application on the announced date

For more information, please contact the Academic Services but first visit our page.


international students

Master’s Programmes Applications

  • Browse our programmes and consider which one suits you better
  • See how to apply to a master’s degree and whether you’re eligible. Review the admission requirements to make sure you have the right qualifications. There you’ll find the vacancies available as well as the required documents
  • Confirm your application deadlines
  • You may also be eligible for a scholarship available.
  • If you are not a Portuguese native speaker check out Portuguese language courses
  • Start your application on our Applications Portal
  • Assure that you have received an automatic confirmation email
  • Answer all the questions prepare to pay the €60 application fee
  • Check the results of your application on the announced date

International Student Regulation


studying in portugal

Scholarships

For international students who want to attend a degree/undergraduate or master’s degree at Politécnico de Leiria  the institution has available three types of scholarships :

  • Merit Award
  • Incentive for Cooperation to the Development
  • AUIP Scholarships

politécnico de leiria

Before arriving

Students from outside the EU

Before coming to Portugal, students from outside the EU need to obtain a study visa at their home country Portuguese Consulate.

 Documents required to obtain a study visa:

  • Online application
  • Valid travel document (more than three months after the expiry of the visa)
  • Three passport photos
  • Criminal record
  • Medical certificate or health insurance
  • Proof of housing conditions in Portugal
  • Proof of finance survival in Portugal
  • Certificate of enrolment in the Politécnico de Leiria.
  • An updated Vaccination Plan is also required as well as a Transcript of Records, which must be authenticated by the Portuguese Consulate in the country of origin, in order to be able to see their qualifications recognized in Portugal.

Tips

  1. Apply for your student visa as soon as possible. You’ll have to apply for a visa at least one month in advance before coming to Portugal.
  2. Check with the relevant embassies/consulates regarding which documents you need to obtain a visa.
  3. Double-check all forms and the information you fill in.
  4. Always keep copies of the originals you submit! You may need them later.

In case of doubt about the visa request, go to the Immigration and Borders Service or send an email to ACIDI (estudante@acidi.gov.pt). 

EU students

You do not need a visa to come to Portugal. However, you need to obtain a residence permit if your stay exceeds 90 days. If this is your case, you must present your ID (e.g. passport), a statement of financial support and a guarantee of health care at the Immigration and Borders Service.

More information

For further information about Portuguese public services, visit ePortugal.


politécnico de leiria

After arriving

Students from outside the EU

At the airport

  • If you arrive in Portugal through a border not subject to border control (with no passport stamp), you must contact the Department for Foreigners and Border Control Immigration and Borders Service within three days after you’ve arrived in Portugal to declare entry.
  • If you arrive in Portugal by plane, you must declare your entry in the airport at the Customs Service.
  • The entry declaration must be delivered to the Immigration and Borders Service. You may be fined if you don’t meet this requirement.

At Politécnico de Leiria

  • Enrol at Politécnico de Leiria.
  • Register at the nearest health centre.
  • Renew your student visa at the Immigration and Borders Service.

Other Information

  • Once you have enrolled at Politécnico de Leiria, you’ll be entitled to a personal accident insurance coverage (on-campus).
  • Citizens of the European Union must present their EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) guaranteeing health care coverage to the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde – SNS).
  • Entrance in Portugal does not require specific vaccinations unless students are arriving from a geographical risk area.

international students

By place of origin

Our international student communities are growing fast, which means we can provide specialist advice to our international applicants considering their place of origin.

Know more about living in Portugal