European Union (EU) Citizens: No visa needed. EU citizens only need to travel with a valid National Identity Card or a valid Passport and the European Health Insurance Card. For stays longer than 3 months, EU citizens must also register at the Lisbon City Hall or the City Hall of the students' residence in Portugal. More information about this registration can be found here (Portuguese only).


Non-European (Non-EU) Citizens:
For stays longer than 3 months and up to 1 year: non-EU students need to apply for a Student Visa at a Portuguese Embassy or Portuguese Consulate in their home country or in their country of residence before entering Portugal. A Student Visa may take up to 3 months to be issued. While staying in our country students may be required to extend their Student Visas.
 
For stays longer than 1 year: non-EU students will need a Residence Permit. Firstly, in order to apply for a Residence Permit, students need to have completed and entered a Residence Visa into their passports before entering Portugal (valid for a period of 4 months). Non-Eu students can apply for the Residence Visa at a Portuguese Embassy or Portuguese Consulate in their home country or in their country of residence. Afterwards, the application for a Residence Permit is automatically appointed at the Integration, Migration and Asylum Agency (AIMA, Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo) and it must be submitted personally on a standard form signed by the applicant. The application can be submitted at any AIMA’s directorate or regional delegation and it may take up to 90 working days to be issued by our authorities. Residence permits are valid according to the duration of the student's program.
 
Non-EU students that are holders of a Residence Permit for study purposes in a higher education institution of an EU member state, that intend to participate in an international mobility program, like Erasmus+, can inform the Integration, Migration and Asylum Agency, within a maximum of 30 days before the beginning of their program, that they will be traveling to Portugal to participate in the aforementioned program. This communication can be made by e-mail, including additional documentation, plus the corresponding travel tickets (arrival and departure) for the period of mobility. After you comply with this procedure, AIMA will issue you an official entry form stating that you are allowed to stay until a maximum of 360 days.
Important: Non-EU students who already have an European Residence Permit from another country must keep it valid throughout their stay in Portugal.  

The authority in Portugal responsible for these issues is the  Integration, Migration and Asylum Agency (Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo, AIMA).

If you require additional assistance, please contact our Student Experience team at we.are.clsbe@ucp.pt.

We collaborate closely with a dedicated team of legal experts who will support you every step of the way through the process.

 

Documentation

Depending on your nationality, duration of your stay, and the type of service you are applying for, some or all of the following standard documents may be required for a Residence Visa. Please note that obtaining a Residence Visa is mandatory before applying for a Residence Permit, which can only be completed upon arrival in Portugal.

  • Passport valid for 3 months after your date of return and with at least one blank page
  • National Visa application
  • Two passport-size color photographs
  • Acceptance Letter (issued by CATÓLICA-LISBON)
  • Proof of address (issued by CATÓLICA-LISBON upon request)
  • Proof of departure arrangements
  • Proof of sufficient means of support
  • Proof of health insurance coverage
  • Criminal record certificate issued by the competent authority

 

Useful links

 

If you require additional assistance, please contact our Student Experience team at we.are.clsbe@ucp.pt. We collaborate closely with a dedicated team of legal experts who will support you every step of the way through the process.

 

Students coming to study at CATÓLICA-LISBON should have a health insurance policy to cover their full period of stay.

  • If you are a citizen of an European Union (EU) country, or from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, you can access the Portuguese National Health System (public hospitals and health centers) by showing a valid European Health Insurance Card. You will be charged the same fee as a Portuguese citizen.
  • If you are a Non-European Union (Non-EU) citizen, valid International Insurance is necessary and you should check with your healthcare service provider which health units you can use during your stay. However, as a norm, you should always confirm what type of coverage your national health insurance provider gives you.


The health insurance policy should be purchased at the students’ country of origin before departure.

In case you need further assistance with this, you can contact our team. They will provide all the necessary clarifications and options: we.are.clsbe@ucp.pt

 

Upon arrival, international students usually stay in a hostel/hotel or other kinds of provisional accommodation while they look for a permanent location to live in Lisbon. To help, and upon confirmation of enrollment, our team provides students with a shortlist of provisional and permanent accommodation in Lisbon where they can stay for the search period.

IMPORTANT: We have not visited the apartments/facilities. Therefore, CATÓLICA-LISBON is not liable for any lost, damage or injury that may occur while you are visiting or renting the facilities. Before renting a property, the International Office strongly advises you to check if it meets all necessary requirements. 

 

It is important to guarantee that your previous academic journey is formally recognized by our Academic Services. As such please consider the following, according to your case:

For undergraduate students:

  • Upon admission, undergraduate students must submit their Certificates with final grades in their Application Status Page. As all  original documentation must be delivered at the University Academic Services after classes start, it is important that students confirm how to proceed in each case. All details are available here.

 

For graduate students:

  • Upon admission, graduate students must present  an original or an authenticated copy in English of their Undergraduate Diploma/Certificate of Degree Completion at the Academic Services.
  • In case  of non-European students, this Undergraduate Diploma/Certificate of Degree Completion must have an Apostille Certificate from their home country. According to Portuguese and EU regulations, continuing an MSc program depends on providing adequate proof of having previously completed studies in an Undergraduate program. Failure to do so creates an illegal situation for both students and the school. It is therefore of utmost importance that students present their Undergraduate Diploma/Certificate of Degree Completion.

 

  • Undergraduate - International Programs: all information available here. 

 

  • Undergraduate - National Programs: all information available here.

 

  • Masters of Science: all information available here.

FAQs

Read the answers to our Frequently Asked Questions about student accommodation. Please click on the question to expand the content.
keyboard_arrow_up FAQs - Before arrival
keyboard_arrow_up 1. Will CATÓLICA-LISBON provide me with any help to find suitable accommodation?
The Student Experience team provides help to all students to find permanent accommodation in Lisbon: useful accommodation search links and a list of our accommodation partners that offer special discounts is sent by e-mail to all students. A shortlist of provisional and permanent accommodation search links can also be downloaded from our website. If necessary, during the first days of classes, the Student Experience team can help students to find suitable accommodation offers and provide help to schedule visits. 
keyboard_arrow_up 2. Which are the best neighbourhoods to rent accommodation?
First, you have to decide if you want to live near the University or near the nightlife or city center. The neighbourhoods closest to the University are “Sete Rios”, “Laranjeiras”, “Alto dos Moinhos”, “S. Domingos de Benfica” and “Entre Campos”. If you want to be near the city's old center and nightlife the best neighbourhoods are “Chiado”, “Bairro Alto”, “Principe Real” and “Graça”. 
keyboard_arrow_up 3. Which neighbourhood should I avoid?
Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world according to the Global Peace Index (over the last few years it has been in the top 10, out of 163 countries) and Lisbon is also considered one of the safest cities when it comes to personal safety, for example according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Nevertheless, common sense is always applicable (for example, if possible, choose an accommodation that is well served with public transportation, closer to services or, ideally, close to the University).  
keyboard_arrow_up 4. Is it wiser to book provisional accommodation for the first days and seek for permanent housing during the welcoming week?
It depends on what you are seeking. For example, some students like to already be settled in their apartments and rooms as soon as classes begin, other students, find provisional accommodation for the first days and only after their arrival start to find permanent accommodation because they want to see the apartments in-person or share it with other students.
keyboard_arrow_up 5. With how many days in advance do I need to book a provisional accommodation before finding a permanent one?
The latest day for arrival is usually a day before the welcome day, we leave it to your consideration if you want or not to arrive earlier than this date. However, please be advised that CATÓLICA-LISBON usually closes the last 15 days of August and during Christmas time. Nevertheless, you can always enjoy these days exploring the city and its outskirts!       
keyboard_arrow_up 6. What do I need to have in consideration when searching for accommodation?
  • Try your best to have access to pictures of the room or house in which you are interested in before committing to anything. Be thorough about getting details such as what is included in the price, if the house has weekly cleaning, linen change, the ratio bathrooms/flat mates, how kind and liberal the neighbors are, if it has parking spaces, etc.;
  • Be aware that in case you rent a room or apartment that does not include running bills (internet, cable tv, water, electricity, gas) expenses may go from as low as 15€ to as high as 75€ or higher per person;  
  • Always try to have a rental contract, so that your rights and duties are fully covered. Read the contract very carefully and do not sign anything you are not comfortable with, if necessary show it to a person of your trust and ask for their inputs. In case your landlord does not provide you with a written contract, rest assured that this will not get you in any trouble and is a common practice;
  • Usually landlords request for one month deposit and also for the first month’s rent, there is no need to pay more than 2 months of rent in advance;
  • Be extra careful with online accommodation offers and to whom you transfer your money to. If it doesn’t seems trustworthy don’t rent it! 
keyboard_arrow_up 7. Will CATÓLICA-LISBON be able to store my luggage until I find permanent accommodation?

At CATÓLICA-LISBON we do not have lockers or any specific space to safely store students´ luggage. If you are staying in a hotel, hostel, or guesthouse there is a good chance that they can store your luggage free of charge. So before you start looking for something else question them about this. Here are some options where you can store your luggage: