Application rates for Portuguese national visas have increased by 56 per cent in the first four months of 2025, with the consulates of Portugal in Brazil receiving 11,497 visa requests during this period.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE), this increase in visa applications is one of the drivers of long processing times, as currently it is estimated that 95 requests per day are handled, Schengen.News reports.
The ministry also noted that the delay in processing the requests is also partially due to the employee strike.
Portuguese Consulates Approved 75.8% of Brazilians’ Visa Requests
According to the MNE, from January to April 2025, consulates located in Brazil issued 8,721 visas for Portugal, which is 75.8 per cent of all visa requests recorded during this period.
Moreover, the number represents an increase of 29 per cent compared to the same period last year, showing that Brazilians are increasingly filing for visa applications to Portugal.
These numbers are the result of the efforts of the MNE and the Portuguese consular network in Brazil to adapt to the constant increase in visa applications in that country.
Brazil, together with eight countries, is part of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). In recent years, Portugal has discussed facilitating visas for nationals of these countries, but due to Schengen rules, there has not been much progress in this direction.
Delays in Visa Processing Prompt Protests in Brazil
The delay in analyzing requests and the lack of responses to applicants have caused distress among applicants, who took to the streets of Brazil to protest these delays.
Just recently, a group of people protested in front of the consulate in Rio de Janeiro, while cities such as São Paulo, Recife, and Belo Horizonte have also been affected by demonstrations for the same reason. A month-long strike by employees has also played a part in this situation.
As was reported by the local media, there are cases of applicants who have been waiting for nine months to receive a decision on their visa application.
This situation is not only emotionally challenging but also causes financial losses, in addition to being the reason for many visas being denied. For example, an application can receive a negative decision for the validity of the airline ticket, whereas accommodation has to be rescheduled successively with each delay. The legal deadline for the visa application to be processed is 60 days.