Chapter IV · Visas · Section I · Visas granted abroad

Article 49 Airport transit visa

Artigo 49.º · Visto de escala aeroportuária

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. The airport transit visa is intended to allow its holder, when using an international connection, to pass through an airport of a State party to the Implementing Convention.

1 - O visto de escala aeroportuária destina-se a permitir ao seu titular, quando utilize uma ligação internacional, a passagem por um aeroporto de um Estado parte na Convenção de Aplicação.

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2. The holder of an airport transit visa has access only to the international zone of the airport and must continue the journey on the same or another aircraft, in accordance with their ticket.

2 - O titular do visto de escala aeroportuária apenas tem acesso à zona internacional do aeroporto, devendo prosseguir a viagem na mesma ou em outra aeronave, de harmonia com o título de transporte.

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3. Nationals of States identified in an order (despacho) of the members of the Government responsible for foreign affairs, internal administration and migration, or holders of travel documents issued by those States, require an airport transit visa.

3 - Estão sujeitos a visto de escala os nacionais de Estados identificados em despacho dos membros do Governo responsáveis pelas áreas dos negócios estrangeiros, da administração interna e das migrações ou titulares de documentos de viagem emitidos pelos referidos Estados.

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4. The order provided for in the preceding paragraph lays down the exceptions to the requirement for this type of visa.

4 - O despacho previsto no número anterior fixa as excepções à exigência deste tipo de visto.

What we checked in this article

Check the limitation to the international zone, the ministers who issue the order determining which nationals require the visa, and that the order also sets the exceptions.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 49 may decide what you can apply for.

We map the visa and residence route that fits your activity, prepare the company side (contracts, payroll, registrations) and coordinate with immigration lawyers for the application itself. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Visas and residence in Portugal, planned together with the company

The permit depends on what you will do here: employment, your own company, remote work for a foreign employer or investment. Tell us the plan, and we will set out which route the Act gives you and what the company needs to have in place.

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