Applying Portugal Schengen visa in Vancouver
Just had my appointment yesterday and want to share some of my experience to reduce the confusion in your visa application process :)
1: create an account on their website and get an appointment
>Their website is extremely hard to navigate and there’s no “save” feature, meaning if you can’t get to the last step (appointment page) you gotta fill out everything over and over again.
>My tip: fill out all the information accurately except uploading the supporting documents (if you don’t have them already prepared yet) and just secure an appointment spot asap. The only documents that I uploaded online was my passport and a picture of my photo. The most important thing here is to get a spot (I got an appointment for May 13 when I submitted my online application on Feb 22. You can see how hard it is to get an appointment so please do this step as early as possible).
>There will be NO confirmation email or any reminder email for your appointment, please make sure you mark the date, time, and location of the appointment on your calendar so you don’t miss it.
2: Prepare all the documents
>I prepared way more supporting documents than what they needed, they only took away the following during my appointment:
a. Your signed application form
b. Copy of your passport photo page and your original passport (valid for at least 6mon from the day of your appointment)
c. PR card photocopy
d. Travel itinerary, plane tickets, hotel confirmations
e. Travel insurance
f. Last three months bank statement
g. Passport size photo of you (please use the European passport photo size, it’s NOT the Canadian passport size. Euro passport photos are smaller than Canadian it follows a 35mm * 45mm dimension). They didn’t specify it must be taken in the past 6mon but I suggest you to do so to avoid unnecessary delays in the application process.
h. Employment letter and your pay stubs (I am going to Portugal as my grad trip so I provided them my enrolment letter from UBC and program completion letter for this part)
- Attend your appointment
>Google search Consulate General of Portugal in Vancouver and it will lead you to the correct way. When you arrive 9th floor, their door is always locked so please press the red buzzer on the left side of the door to let them know you are there
>submit your documents to the staff, they will charge you the application fee (around $150 - only cash or debit) and collect a quick photo and all the fingerprints.
>They will return your passport if you live locally, once it’s approved they will email you and have you bring your passport there to get the visa sticker. If you live far away from the lower mainland, please bring a prepaid envelope so they can mail it to you.
>The people there are very nice so ask all your questions when you are there, they told me the processing time is around 7 business days.