Frequently Asked Questions

You should apply for a residence permit to attend a higher education study program in Portugal at the Portuguese Consulate/Embassy closest to your area of residence. Then, in Portugal, you can apply for a Residence Permit at the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).

Students can apply if they don't hold Portuguese nationality and are not citizens of a member state of the European Union; if they have not legally resided in Portugal, nor their children who live with them, for more than two years continuously, counted with reference to January 1st of the year they wish to enter higher education; if they have not applied for higher education under the special access and entry regimes regulated by Decree-Law no. 393-A/99, of October 2nd, as amended by Decree-Law no. 272/2009, of October 1st. Applicants in the following situations are excluded:

• Holder of a residence visa for a family member of an EU national
• Holder of equal status
• If you have been living in Portugal for more than two years, but hold a study visa, you are considered an international student, and can apply for international student places on undergraduate courses.

Students can apply if they don't hold Portuguese nationality and are not citizens of a member state of the European Union; if they have not legally resided in Portugal, nor their children who live with them, for more than two years continuously, counted with reference to January 1st of the year they wish to enter higher education; if they have not applied for higher education under the special access and entry regimes regulated by Decree-Law no. 393-A/99, of October 2nd, as amended by Decree-Law no. 272/2009, of October 1st. Applicants in the following situations are excluded:

• Holder of a residence visa for a family member of an EU national
• Holder of equal status
• If you have been living in Portugal for more than two years, but hold a study visa, you are considered an international student, and can apply for international student places on undergraduate courses.

Yes, if he or she has the equivalent of Portuguese secondary education, recognized as such by a public secondary school.

Yes, if he/she holds a higher education degree equivalent to a bachelor degree recognized by the DGES or by a public higher education institution.

The application period opens at the beginning of each calendar year and is published on our website and on ISPGAYA's social networks.

Yes, it is necessary to recognize/apostill the documents for the purposes of applying/enrolling at ISPGAYA. Documents can be certified/validated through:

• Portuguese Comunities Portal
• Hague Apostille

Yes, however ISPGAYA strongly recommends that students travel on a student visa, as it is not possible to change the type of visa they entered with for a different one, nor is it possible to apply for a new one, unless country of origin. Although you cannot change your “Visa”, you can later obtain a residence permit (title) as a student. Note that different entry visas have different characteristics and deadlines!

No, if the area of secondary education training is equivalent to the training area of the higher professional technical course.

Yes, it does, as long as it has been carried out in the 3 calendar years prior to the application.

You can present the document issued by the official education services of your country, which contains a breakdown of the syllabus of the subjects corresponding to the entrance exams required for the degree you intend to apply for and in which you passed secondary education or take the ISPGAYA exams for International Students, under the terms defined in the call for proposals.

All documents can be submitted in digital format, through an electronic application, as well as being delivered in person at the services.

After you have enrolled, you can request an analysis of the syllabus and verify whether or not it is equivalent for crediting purposes. In this case, you will have to present your qualifications certificate, as well as the syllabus of the subjects of each course unit you intend to apply for crediting.

• Go to ISPGAYA to complete your academic process and learn about the procedures related to the course;
• Request a tax identification number (NIF) from the Tax Authority;
• Register with the National Health Service in your area of residence;

Yes, you can work. The student visa is not a work visa, but after you are residing in Portugal with a student visa, you can apply for a work visa with the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).

Students who enter higher education through the special competition for international students, maintain the quality of international student until the end of the cycle of studies in which they enroll or for which course they change within the scope of the same cycle of studies, even if they be granted the status of equal rights and duties under an international treaty granted between the Portuguese State and the State of which they are nationals.

If you have already obtained the status of equal rights and duties before January 1 of the year in which you intend to apply for admission, you will not be able to do so through the special competition for international students, as you do not have international student status, therefore, you should apply for competitions aimed at national students.