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Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution.

U.S. Visa Services
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Notice

Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality.  Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.  For more information, visit travel.state.gov.

All individuals applying for an A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker), G-5, H1-B, H-3, H-4 dependent of H-1B and H-3, F, M, J, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, or U nonimmigrant visa are instructed to adjust the privacy setting on all social media accounts to “public” or “open” to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law. More information is available at travel.state.gov.

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998 on Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026, the United States is suspending or limiting entry and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries as well as individuals applying using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.  Applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.  For additional details, visit travel.state.gov.

Effective immediately, the Department of State has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants. For additional details, visit travel.state.gov here.

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Do I need a visa to travel to the U.S.?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport.

However, the Visa Waiver Program enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

Portugal is a participant in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) so most Portuguese citizens do not need a visa to travel.  To travel to the United States you must have a valid ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization and passport.

ESTA applications, managed by the U.S. Customs and Border protection, may be submitted at any time prior to travel. However, it is recommended that travelers apply as soon as they begin preparing travel plans or prior to purchasing airline tickets. It takes on average 72 hours/3 days to receive approval but given wait times for visa appointments, we strongly recommend submitting the application as early as possible.

You may also contact the CBP contact center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7), except Federal Holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a third country national apply in Lisbon?

Effective immediately, applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas are required to schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.

Fees paid for applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence will not be refunded.

Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.  See the website for your country of nationality to determine the designated location for NIV applications.

How to schedule a visa appointment?

To schedule a visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon please visit How to Schedule a Visa Interview Appointment.

How to apply for a visa by mail?

Effective August 15, 2025, you may apply for a B1/B2 and a H2A visa by mail if:

  1. You are not a citizen of any of the following countries:
    • Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen;
    • Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela;
    • Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  2. If your previous B1/B2 and H2A visa is still valid or will expire within the next 12 months.
  3. If you were 18 years old or older at the time of the issuance of your last B1/B2 or H2A visa.

To apply for a B1/B2 or H2A visa by mail please visit How to Apply for a Visa by Mail.

What type of Visa do you need?

For short-term visits to the United States (tourism, business, medical treatment, study or exchange, crew members, media and journalists, treaty trader and investor, employment and more) visit Nonimmigrant Visas.

Visa Types

Tourism & Visit

Study & Exchange

Business

Immigrate

Employment

Treaty Trader and Investor Visas

Other Types of Visas

How to Prepare for your Interview Appointment

Visa Announcements – Did you know?

New Requirement for Visa Interviews / Matching Barcode Numbers
Starting April 15, 2025, all visa applicants must bring a DS-160 visa application form with a confirmation/barcode number (starting with AA) that matches the one used to make their appointment online.

If the confirmation/barcode number on your DS-160 form does not match the one you used to book your appointment, you will not be allowed to interview.

If your barcode numbers do not match, you will

need to book a new appointment to proceed with your visa application. You may book a new appointment by https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-pt/niv.

Before your interview, please double-check that the barcode number on your DS-160 form matches the one you used to schedule your appointment.

Ensuring that your barcode numbers match will help avoid delays and ensure a smooth interview process.

If you have any questions or need help, please contact Portugal.Visas@gdit-gss.com for assistance.

 

E1 or E2 Visas

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMIGOS ACT

Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing our Success AMIGOS Act 

U.S. Embassy Lisbon is pleased to announce the full implementation of the Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing our Success AMIGOS Act, signed by President Joseph Biden in December 2022.

The AMIGOS ACT is designed to facilitate business and commerce, through a nonimmigrant category new for Portuguese nationals and foreign residents, the E1 and E2 trade and investment visas.

The E1 visa allows nationals of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade, principally between the United States and the treaty country.

The E2 visa allows a national of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States when investing a substantial amount of capital in a U.S. business.

For full details on how to qualify and apply for E1 or E2 visas, eligible Portuguese citizens and residents should visit HERE.

IMMIGRANT VISA INFORMATION

The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon and U.S. Consulate General in Ponta Delgada NO longer process Immigrant Visas (IV) or diversity visa (DV) applications. Foreign citizens wishing to immigrate and live permanently in the United States must follow specific procedures to apply for an immigrant visa.

ALL immigrant and diversity visa interviews and adjudications for residents of Portugal will take place at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. For more complete information, please visit the Embassy Paris website

For more information on immigrant visas, visit Immigrant Visas.

Green Cards

Lost, Stolen, or Expired Green Cards

Information for permanent residents of the U.S. with a lost, stolen, or expired Green Card and who have been outside the U.S. for less than 1 year, please visit Lost, Stolen or Expired Green Cards. 

 

Returning Residents

Information for permanent residents of the U.S. who have been outside the U.S. for more than 1 year, please visit Returning Resident.

 

Abandoning your Lawful Permanent Resident Status

If you are a permanent resident of the United States who NO longer resides in the U.S., or if you are otherwise subject to loss of your lawful permanent resident status (LPR), you must abandon your claim to that status by filing form I-407. This form states that you voluntarily abandon your LPR status.

For more information, please visit Abandoning your LPR Status.

Lost, Stolen, or Expired Green Cards

Information for permanent residents of the U.S. with a lost, stolen, or expired Green Card and who have been outside the U.S. for less than 1 year, please visit the Lost, Stolen or Expired Green Cards link below.  

Lost, Stolen or Expired Green Cards

Returning Residents

Information for permanent residents of the U.S. who have been outside the U.S. for more than 1 year, please visit Returning Resident link below.

Returning Resident Information

Abandoning your Lawful Permanent Resident Status

If you are a permanent resident of the United States who NO longer resides in the U.S., or if you are otherwise subject to loss of your lawful permanent resident status (LPR), you must abandon your claim to that status by filing form I-407. This form states that you voluntarily abandon your LPR status.

More Information Abandoning your LPR Status

Contact Us

For all questions about visas, please use our VISA NAVIGATOR.

To apply for a visa, please consult Schedule your Appointment.

For general visa Information or visa application, please direct your inquiries to GSS (or our customer service):

Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 17:00

Tel.: +351-308803811

Email: Portugal.Visas@gdit-gss.com

Our Locations
The map below shows where we provide consular services.

Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers

This pamphlet informs you of your legal rights in the United States as a nonimmigrant visa holder in certain employment- and education-based categories.

Temporary Workers Rights & Protections Info

Rights and Protections for Visa Applicants

This pamphlet informs applicants applying for K-1 visas, K-3, IR-1/CR-1 immigrant visas, and F2A immigrant visas of their legal rights in the United States relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Visa Applicants Rights & Protections Info

Other Resources

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Fraud Prevention

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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