Lagos in December

Visa needed before you fly for up to 90 days, about ₹12,974

1. Apply for a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa at a VFS Global Portugal centre in India, at least 6 weeks before you fly, and 8 weeks ahead for trips from April to August and in December (no earlier than 6 months). Apply to Portugal if it is your only or longest stay in Schengen. The fee is €90 (about ₹9,600; €45 for children 6-11) plus VFS's service charge of ₹3,384, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused.
2. Book the appointment early: in Delhi and Mumbai slots can be 3-8 weeks out in the busy months, and another city's centre may be sooner. At the appointment give your fingerprints and photo (skipped if you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months). The decision usually takes about 15 days, up to 45 if other Schengen states are consulted, and VFS takes a few more days to return the passport.
3. If you have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the last three years, ask for a multiple-entry visa: under the EU's 2024 cascade rules for Indians you can be given a two-year visa, then a five-year one.
4. On your first arrival in the Schengen Area your fingerprints and face are scanned at passport control (the EU Entry/Exit System, in full use since April 2026) instead of a stamp. Allow extra time: queues at Lisbon airport's passport control can be long at peak times.

Carry: Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen Area, with two blank pages; Completed visa application form and two recent photos (35 x 45 mm); Travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen country for the whole trip; Return flight booking and a day-by-day itinerary, with the trains or flights inside Portugal (Madeira and the Azores included); Hotel bookings for every night; Bank statements for the last 3-6 months, income-tax returns, and a leave letter from your employer (or business or college papers).

One Schengen visa covers Portugal and every other Schengen country (Spain, France, Italy and more) for up to 90 days in any 180, Madeira and the Azores included, but not the United Kingdom, which needs its own visa. The Embassy in New Delhi handles most of India; the Consulate General in Panaji, Goa, covers Goa, Maharashtra, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. ETIAS is only for visa-free travellers, so it does not affect you. VFS centres and waits vary: check visa.vfsglobal.com for your city before you book flights.

Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.