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Before embarking on the adventure of coming to study in Portugal, there are a few procedures and documents that you need to prepare so that your trip can go ahead as you wish.

Please read the following tips about what you need to do to undertake a period of study in Portugal.

Visa matters

TAll foreign students coming from non-EU countries must hold a student visa obtained from the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in their home countries. Extension of the visa is limited to the time required to fulfil the study programme or research work.

You must register at the Immigration Office (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) within three days after your arrival.

If you come from an EU member State, you are allowed to enter the country upon presentation of a valid ID card or Passport. However, the law states that for stays of over three months, you must obtain a residence card from the Immigration Office (Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) within three months of your arrival.

Health Insurance

One of the issues students face when they decide to study abroad is health care.

The European Health Care Insurance Card (CESD) allows students from another member country of the European Economic Area (EEA), or from Switzerland, to obtain medical assistance in the event of sickness or accident, thus providing them wide coverage in terms of health care. You should request a CESD card from the social security service in your country, as it is proof that you are registered with that social security service and allows you to benefit from the Portuguese public health care system.

Students from other countries outside the EEA should ask for further information in their own country before travelling to Portugal.

It is very important that during their stay in Portugal all students should have valid health insurance.

Do not forget to bring with you the following documents:

• ID Document ( Passport/ ID card)
• Letter of Acceptance from the Faculty
• Confirmation of accommodation, even if it is temporary (Hotel or Hostel)
• Two passport-size photos
• Student Visa (when requested)
• European Health Insurance Card (CESD) or Private Insurance

How to get to Porto

Located in the North of Portugal, Porto is easy to reach, whether by plane or overland.

By Plane

Porto´s airport is called Francisco Sá Carneiro International Airport – OPO (+351 707 205 700), and is located 11 km north of the city.

The best way to get from the airport to the city centre is by metro, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Line E (purple) connects the airport Metro station to the city centre and operates from 6 am to 1.30 am.

Airport – Casa da Música > 23 minutes

Airport – Trindade Station > 28 minutes

Airport – Campanhã Station > 33 minutes

Airport – Dragão Stadium > 35 minutes

Airport -FEUP> 40 minutes

Tickets, costing 1.80¤ are purchased from machines, and have to be validated before you board the metro. For more information, please visit: www.metrodoporto.pt.

There are three bus lines that connect the airport to Porto city centre: 601, 602 and 604. The ticket fare is 1.50¤. For further information, please visit: www.stcp.pt.

Taxi services are available at the airport. The taximeter should be set to 1.80¤ at the beginning of the trip. A surcharge of 20% is paid at the following times: weekends and public holidays; during the week between 9 pm and 6 am. When you call a taxi by telephone, there is an additional fee of 0.80¤, and a fee of 1.60¤ will be charged for transportation of any luggage exceeding 55cm x 35cm x 20cm.

By Train

O You can also get to Porto by train from almost anywhere in Europe. Porto has two main railway stations: Campanhã, which provides international connections and connections to Lisbon, Douro and Minho; and S. Bento, which provides connections to Galicia, Douro, Minho, as well as Aveiro and Coimbra.

Public Transport

The best way to travel within the city is by bus or by metro. A bus ticket costs 0.90¤ (if you buy it in advance) or 1.80¤ (if you buy it on the bus). The metro service has five lines, which via their connections with other forms of public transport make it easy to travel around the city.

Useful Links

Support during your stay

Housing

Stay in Porto