Portugal Ends Postal Visa Applications for Brazilians — In-Person Filing Required From April 17

Portuguese authorities will implement a new visa processing system for Brazilian nationals from April 17, 2026, ending the postal application route that has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic. Brazilians applying for Portuguese visas from within Brazil will be required to file their applications in person at designated Visa Application Centres, according to an advisory published by international immigration consultancy Newlandchase.

The change marks a significant shift in how Portugal handles visa applications from its largest non-EU immigration source. Brazil accounts for the single biggest share of foreign residents in Portugal, with more than 400,000 Brazilian nationals holding valid residency permits as of the end of 2025, according to AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) data.

What is changing

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Brazilian nationals have been able to submit Portuguese visa applications by post — a temporary measure introduced to reduce in-person contact during the health emergency. That accommodation persisted long after Portugal lifted its pandemic restrictions, becoming a de facto standard for the Brazilian market.

From April 17, applicants will instead be required to attend in person at Visa Application Centres operated by VFS Global, the outsourcing partner that handles consular logistics for numerous countries. The centres in Brazil process applications for D-type visas (long-stay visas for work, study, family reunification, and the D7 passive-income visa), as well as Schengen short-stay visas.

The requirement for physical attendance is expected to add processing time and logistical complexity for applicants, particularly those living in Brazil's interior regions far from the main VFS Global centres in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and other major cities.

Why the change matters

The timing of the announcement is notable for several reasons. First, it comes just days before Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to visit Portugal on April 21 for talks with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. Immigration policy is expected to dominate the agenda, with both governments under domestic pressure — Portugal to manage its integration backlog, Brazil to protect the rights of its diaspora.

Second, Portugal continues to grapple with a massive visa and residency processing backlog inherited from the chaotic transition from SEF (the former immigration service) to AIMA in 2023. As of early 2025, more than 55,000 applications were pending at various stages, and AIMA has extended the validity of expired residency permits and visas until April 15, 2026 — a deadline that is now imminent.

Third, the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) mobility agreement grants Brazilian nationals preferential access to Portuguese residency under certain conditions. The interplay between this special regime and the new in-person filing requirement has not yet been clarified by Portuguese authorities.

Impact on applicants

Immigration lawyers contacted by Newlandchase have flagged several practical concerns. Applicants who have already submitted postal applications should not be affected, but anyone whose application is still being prepared will need to book an in-person appointment at a VFS Global centre — and appointment availability has historically been a bottleneck in Brazil, where demand consistently outstrips capacity.

Portugal issued approximately 95,000 new residency permits to Brazilian nationals in 2025 alone, making the Brazil-Portugal corridor one of the busiest immigration routes in Europe. Any disruption to the application process could have immediate knock-on effects for employers in Portugal who rely on Brazilian workers, particularly in the hospitality, construction, and healthcare sectors.

The Portuguese consular network in Brazil has not yet published updated guidance on the new procedure. Applicants are advised to monitor the VFS Global and Portuguese embassy websites for appointment scheduling details as the April 17 implementation date approaches.