Many tourists come to Portugal every year, from all over Europe, from Israel and other countries. In recent years, not only tourists have come to visit the country, but also Jews who want to get to know the country, which grants citizenship in a special procedure to the descendants of those deported from Portugal (and some of those deported from Spain). In light of the great interest that Portugal arouses, with its magnificent beaches and pleasant weather, we will review all the important facts on the subject - who is allowed to enter the country and what preparations should be made before arrival.
Prepare a passport, you don't need a visa
Tourists coming to Portugal from Israel only need to prepare a passport, as a visa is not required. This is true both for those who come to the country for the purpose of a trip and for those who want to complete the procedures for realization Eligibility for a Portuguese passport. It is only important to make sure that the Israeli passport is valid for at least six months from the moment of arrival and that you have permission to stay in the country for up to three months.
Entry in the future - with a visa only
According to the decision of the authorities in the country, it appears that in the near future those arriving in the country who are not residents of the European Union will have to have a visa. In order to issue the visa that will be required for adults only, it will be necessary to submit an application, but the processing will be quick and without bureaucracy. Obtaining the visa will allow you to enter the country without the need for renewal, for 3 years. Children, apparently, as well as the elderly will be exempt from the need for an entry visa. Entry may be granted to those who present a round trip ticket.
Entry to Portugal for businessmen and investors
At this stage there is no need to issue a visa even if the purpose of the trip is business. The stay without a special visa is possible for 3 months. Portugal actually welcomes foreign investors, including real estate investors. According to the government's decision, the purchase of a property in certain areas almost automatically results in a one-year residence permit, which is renewed as long as the owner of the property does not sell it. In this way, investors receive a special residence visa, called a visa Gold. After some time, an application for permanent residency can be submitted based on a gold visa, in addition to a parallel procedure of obtaining local citizenship for everything.
Entry for citizenship purposes
Entry into the country as tourists is for three months, but you can submit a request for an extension for a fixed period. However, when it comes to entering the country in order to obtain citizenship, you need to understand a little more than that. The process of obtaining citizenship should go through a regulated bureaucratic process. Those who come to the country with the expectation of receiving citizenship on the spot, even based on family roots such as Portuguese deportees, are likely to find out that it doesn't work that way. The application for citizenship must be submitted in advance (possibly from Israel), in coordination with the Jewish community in one of the main cities (Porto or Lisbon). If the community approves, you can continue the process with the authorities and end up with an excellent chance of local citizenship for life.
In conclusion, at this stage (2022) there are no special restrictions for entering Portugal. All this, with the exception of updates related to Corona and changing from time to time. Updates on closures due to Corona can be obtained on the website of the Embassy of Israel in Portugal. A good trip!
