Updated: July 29, 2025

 

It’s no secret that Portuguese citizens enjoy the benefits of having one of the strongest passports in the world. The Portugal passport visa free countries total 181 destinations in 2025 (including visa-free entry, eVisa, visa-on-arrival, or Electronic Travel Authorization).

Because of the high number of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries, the Portuguese passport ranks 13th on the Global Citizen Solutions Enhanced Mobility Index and 24th on the Global Passport Index.

In this article, you’ll find the full list of countries Portugal passport holders have access to, whether passport or visa-free, or via visa-on-arrival, eVisas, eTAs, or regular visas.

We’ll also explore the other benefits of the Portuguese passport and some of the best ways to secure one as a second passport.

Portuguese Passport Visa Free Countries

These are the countries that allow visa free access to Portugal passport holders in 2025:

Antigua and Barbuda Guatemala Saint Kitts and Nevis
Argentina Haiti Saint Lucia
Armenia Honduras Sao Tome and Principe
Austria Hong Kong Seychelles
Bahamas Israel Singapore
Barbados Jamaica Solomon Islands
Belarus Japan South Africa
Belize Kazakhstan Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Bolivia Kosovo Switzerland
Botswana Kyrgyzstan Taiwan
Brazil Macao Tanzania
Brunei Malaysia Timor-Leste
Cabo Verde Marshall Islands Tonga
Chile Mauritius Trinidad and Tobago
Colombia Mexico Tunisia
Costa Rica Micronesia Tuvalu
Czech Republic Mongolia Uganda
Dominica Morocco Ukraine
Dominican Republic Mozambique United Arab Emirates
Ecuador Nicaragua United Kingdom
El Salvador Palau Uruguay
Eswatini Palestine Uzbekistan
Fiji Panama Vanuatu
Gabon Paraguay Vatican
Gambia Peru Venezuela
Grenada Philippines Zambia

Passport Free Countries for Portugal Passport Holders

These are the countries that allow passport free access to Portuguese citizens in 2025 (they can enter with only an ID card):

Albania Georgia Netherlands
Andorra Germany North Macedonia
Austria Greece Poland
Belgium Hungary Portugal
Bosnia and Herzegovina Iceland Romania
Bulgaria Ireland San Marino
Croatia Italy Slovakia
Cyprus Latvia Slovenia
Czech Republic Liechtenstein Spain
Denmark Lithuania Sweden
Estonia Luxembourg Switzerland
Finland Monaco Turkey
France Montenegro

Visa on Arrival Countries for Portugal Passport Holders

These are the countries that grant Portugal passport holders a visa on arrival in 2025:

Bahrain Jordan Qatar
Bangladesh Kuwait Rwanda
Burkina Faso Lao Saudi Arabia
Burundi Lebanon Sierra Leone
Cambodia Madagascar Somalia
Comoros Malawi Tajikistan
Egypt Maldives Thailand
Ethiopia Mauritania Togo
Guinea-Bissau Nepal Zimbabwe
Indonesia Oman
Iraq Pakistan

eTA Countries for Portugal Passport Holders

These are the countries that allow Portugal passport holders to enter with an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization):

Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
United States

Countries that Require an eVisa for Portugal Passport Holders

These countries allow entry to Portugal passport holders with an eVisa:

Angola Guinea Papua New Guinea
Azerbaijan India Russia
Benin Iran South Sudan
Bhutan Kenya Sri Lanka
Djibouti Myanmar Suriname
Ethiopia Nigeria Vietnam

Countries with Visa Requirements for Portugal Passport Holders

These countries require Portugal passport holders to obtain a visa before entering:

Afghanistan Cuba Namibia
Algeria Equatorial Guinea Nauru
Bhutan Eritrea Niger
Burundi Ghana North Korea
Cameroon Guyana Sudan
Central African Republic Kiribati Suriname
Chad Lesotho Syria
China Liberia Turkmenistan
DR Congo Libya Yemen
Congo Mali

Other entry requirements for Portugal passport holders

Each country will have its own set of requirements before allowing entry to its borders. This could include:

  • Extra documentation, such as an invitation letter, proof of employment or accommodation, or a health certificate
  • Financial requirements, such as proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay

It’s important to be aware that countries can change their visa requirements, so be sure to double check the latest travel advisories before making travel plans.

A Closer Look at the Portuguese Passport

The Portuguese passport is the travel document issued to Portuguese citizens, granting them the right to enter and exit Portugal and other countries that allow access via its own visa rules. 

The passport serves as identification for Portuguese citizens, and it grants free movement and residence within the European Union, where Portugal is a member state.

Portugal is also part of the Schengen Area, a group of 29 European countries that have abolished passport and other border controls at their mutual borders, allowing for passport-free movement.

Apart from passport-free privileges, Portuguese passport holders also enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most countries worldwide, including the USA, the UK, Canada, the UAE, and New Zealand.

Benefits of a Portuguese Passport

Because of Portugal’s outstanding worldwide travel connections, passport holders enjoy the following benefits:

  • Passport-free travel: Allows travel without a passport to various countries, including EU and Schengen member states, and other non-EU countries through bilateral agreements (such as Turkey, Montenegro, and North Macedonia).
  • EU citizenship: Grants freedom of movement, residence, and extended stays in other EU countries without needing an EU residence permit. It also provides access to social services, healthcare, and educational opportunities across the EU.
  • Maximum visa-free travel: The Portuguese passport consistently ranks highly globally for visa-free travel due to Portugal’s diplomatic relations and EU membership, offering broad international access.
  • Excellent quality of life: Holders can benefit from Portugal’s excellent Mediterranean climate, beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, welcoming population, relatively low cost of living, and an emphasis on work-life balance.

How can Portuguese passport holders travel visa free?

For Portuguese passport holders, enjoying visa-free travel largely comes down to three main ways:

  1. Completely visa-free: Many countries simply don’t require Portuguese citizens to get a visa at all. 
  2. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): For some destinations, you’ll need a quick online approval (an eTA) before you travel. 
  3. Visa on arrival: In certain countries, you can get your visa right at the airport or border crossing when you arrive. 

Always remember to double-check the latest travel rules of a destination country before you visit another country, as they can change.

Portugal has access to 181 destinations via visa-free entry, eVisa, visa-on-arrival, or Electronic Travel Authorization. This allows Portuguese citizens to enjoy remarkable ease of access to a vast number of countries worldwide, saving considerable time and hassle on visa applications.

Apart from the ease of access to European countries, as we have already mentioned, other popular Portugal visa free countries are included in the following regions:

  • Americas: Portuguese citizens enjoy visa-free access to most countries in the Americas, including major destinations like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. An eTA is needed for countries such as the United States and Canada.
  • Asia: Popular Asian destinations like Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates offer various forms of visa-free access or simplified entry procedures.
  • Oceania: Even countries with typically stringent entry requirements, such as Australia and New Zealand, are accessible to Portuguese citizens with an eTA.

Discover how to get a Portuguese passport in our full guide

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How to Get a Portugal Passport

If you are considering pursuing a second passport and the Portuguese passport is your goal, the process is quite straightforward. Working with migration professionals like our partner, Global Citizen Solutions, can also help to avoid delays and speed up the process.

The main pathways to citizenship in Portugal are:

  • By naturalization: Maintain residency in Portugal for five years
  • Through marriage: Be married to a Portuguese citizen for three years and prove a genuine connection to the Portuguese community 
  • By descent: You may be eligible if a parent or grandparent (or, possibly, a great-grandparent) was born in Portugal. You’ll need documents proving your parental lineage, like a birth certificate
  • By investment: Invest in Portugal via the Golden Visa and apply for citizenship by naturalization after five years

Portugal passport by investment

One of the more popular pathways to Portuguese citizenship is through the Portugal Golden Visa program. This residency-by-investment program allows investors and their family members to live, work, and study in Portugal and provides free movement within Europe’s Schengen Area. 

Although the Golden Visa program does not automatically grant citizenship, if you maintain the visa for five years, you will be eligible to apply for citizenship by naturalization. 

The current investment program options are:

  • Investment fund subscription: Contribute to qualified venture capital funds worth at least €500,000
  • Investment or donation in the arts or reconstruction of national heritage with a minimum investment of at least €250,000
  • Scientific Research: Science or technology research, with a minimum investment of at least €500,000
  • Creation of ten jobs: Creation and maintenance of ten jobs during the required period
  • Share capital and job creation: Incorporation of a company or reinforcement of a company’s share capital, in either case with an investment of €500,000, combined with the creation of five or maintaining ten jobs (five of them permanent)

Portuguese Nationality Law Update: June 2025

New changes to Portugal’s Nationality Laws have been proposed, where the residency requirement before applying for nationality may increase from five to ten years (or seven years for CPLP nationals). This is currently a draft proposal and is not yet officially law. Read the latest updates on the Portugeuse Nationality Law.

Goldcrest: How We Can Help You 

Goldcrest is a buyer’s agent that is based in Lisbon. We provide expert, impartial advice on real estate investments and how to buy property in Portugal. From scouting out the perfect property through to property acquisition, we have you covered throughout the process.

If you are looking to purchase property in Portugal, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team of skilled experts is available to solve all your real estate doubts, helping you with the property search and offering insightful expertise and strategic advice.

Why choose Goldcrest?

  • Local knowledge: With offices located across Portugal, our presence nationwide allows us to assist you personally across the country.
  • Independent service: As an independent buying agent, we do not represent any development or project. Our service is entirely tailored toward each individual client, providing you with everything you need to secure the perfect property at the best possible price. As an impartial advisor on the market, we work solely on behalf of our client and provide a service tailored to your needs and requirements.
  • Streamlined process: Our real estate agents speak English and Portuguese, and our service is completely focused on providing you with a hassle-free buying experience, saving you time.
  • Experienced team: Our expert real estate team has a vast local knowledge of the Portuguese property market. We have cutting-edge technology and metasearch tools at your disposal to provide full market coverage, ensuring the best investment choices and negotiated prices.
  • Network of partners: We have a close network of partners, including lawyers, property management services, builders, architects, designers, and landscape gardeners, again saving you time and hassle by providing you with trusted experts in their field of work.

Frequently Asked Questions about Portugal Passport Visa Free Countries

Yes, the Portuguese passport is considered strong. It ranks 24th globally on the Global Passport Index and offers enhanced mobility to its holders. Portugal enjoys access to 181 destinations via visa-free entry, eVisa, visa-on-arrival, or Electronic Travel Authorization, removing the need to apply for a regular visa for most countries worldwide.

No, Portuguese citizens do not need a traditional visa for the USA for short visits (up to 90 days) for tourism, business, or transit purposes. They need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) under the USA’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) prior to travel.

Portugal passport visa-free countries include 181 destinations (including visa-free entry, eVisa, visa-on-arrival, or Electronic Travel Authorization).

Permanent residents of Portugal can enter all 27 EU countries without a visa, as well as EU microstates, EU territories, and non-EU countries, including Monaco, San Marino, Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkey, and the Dutch and French Caribbean.

No, Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for Serbia. They are able to travel to the country visa-free.