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Portugal · Europe
U.S. visas issued to nationals of Portugal
The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics.
In September 2025, 749 nonimmigrant visas were issued to nationals of Portugal, the 76th largest count among 203 nationalities that month; that is close to September 2024 (789, -5%).
For the full fiscal year the Department's Report of the Visa Office lists 11,495 nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of Portugal in FY2024, 0.1% of the 10,969,936 issued worldwide and the 81st largest nationality of 197. The previous year's figure was 8,259 (FY2023).
The largest classes in September 2025 were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 295, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 109 and P1 (internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group) with 82. 13 immigrant visas were issued to applicants chargeable to Portugal in the same month, led by CR1 (4) and IR1 (3).
The Department's adjusted refusal rate for B (visitor) visa applicants who are nationals of Portugal was 8.19% in FY2025, below the Europe median of 15.20%; it was 7.91% in FY2024. The rate covers B visas only and is the Department's own calculation, counting each applicant once by their final status in the year.
In the Diversity Visa program, 40 entrants chargeable to Portugal were selected for DV-2026, 0% of all selectees that year; the count was 38 for DV-2025. Selection is not a visa; the Department's pages explain that selectees must still qualify and that more are selected than there are visas.
2 U.S. posts in Portugal (Lisbon and Ponta Delgada) issued 899 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, to applicants of all nationalities.
Nonimmigrant issuances by month
Compared with the Europe region and the world
| Measure | Portugal | Europe (55 nationalities) | All nationalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office | 11,495 | 1,012,314 | 10,969,936 |
| Median nationality, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office | — | 8,239 | 7,901 |
| Nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025 | 749 | 68,373 | 823,557 |
| Change on Sep 2024 | -5% | — | -11% |
| Immigrant visas, Sep 2025 | 13 | — | 45,966 |
| B-visa adjusted refusal rate, FY2025 | 8.19% | 15.20% | 31.28% |
| DV-2026 selectees | 40 | — | 129,516 |
Fiscal-year rows are the Department's Report of the Visa Office tables; monthly rows are the September 2025 report alone. Region and world refusal figures are medians across the nationalities listed in the Department's table for that year; regions follow the Report of the Visa Office grouping.
Visa classes, FY2024, Report of the Visa Office
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued, FY2024 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 4,854 | 42.2% |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 3,124 | 27.2% |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 801 | 7% |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 645 | 5.6% |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 345 | 3% |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 250 | 2.2% |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 185 | 1.6% |
| NATO2 | Other representative of member state to NATO and immediate family; dependents of member of a force entering under the NATO agreements; members of such a force if issued visas | 116 | 1% |
| O1 | Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics | 116 | 1% |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 110 | 1% |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 100 | 0.9% |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 96 | 0.8% |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 91 | 0.8% |
| H2B | Temporary worker performing other services | 84 | 0.7% |
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 75 | 0.7% |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 58 | 0.5% |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 58 | 0.5% |
| K1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | 52 | 0.5% |
| O2 | Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-1 | 46 | 0.4% |
| F2 | Spouse or child of F1 | 41 | 0.4% |
| H4 | Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3 | 37 | 0.3% |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 28 | 0.2% |
| O3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 | 24 | 0.2% |
| P3 | Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program | 24 | 0.2% |
| A1 | Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family | 23 | 0.2% |
| G1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family | 14 | 0.1% |
| M1 | Vocational student and other nonacademic student | 13 | 0.1% |
| C3 | Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit | 11 | 0.1% |
| P4 | Spouse or child of P-1, P-2, or P-3 | 11 | 0.1% |
| R1 | Alien in a religious occupation | 11 | 0.1% |
From the Department's annual NIV detail table (nationality by class). Older symbol spellings in the table (B-1,2; H-1B) are shown in the current form.
Visa classes, September 2025
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 295 | 39.4% |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 109 | 14.6% |
| P1 | Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group | 82 | 10.9% |
| L1 | Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation) | 45 | 6% |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 44 | 5.9% |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 23 | 3.1% |
| E2 | Treaty investor, spouse or child | 17 | 2.3% |
| H2B | Temporary worker performing other services | 16 | 2.1% |
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 15 | 2% |
| L2 | Spouse or child of intracompany transferee | 15 | 2% |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 12 | 1.6% |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 11 | 1.5% |
| G4 | International organization officer or employee, and immediate family | 9 | 1.2% |
| O1 | Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics | 9 | 1.2% |
| O2 | Person accompanying and assisting in the artistic or athletic performance by O-1 | 8 | 1.1% |
| H4 | Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3 | 6 | 0.8% |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 4 | 0.5% |
| C3 | Foreign government official, immediate family, attendant, servant or personal employee, in transit | 4 | 0.5% |
| G3 | Representative of nonrecognized or nonmember foreign government to international organization, and immediate family | 4 | 0.5% |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 4 | 0.5% |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 3 | 0.4% |
| G1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family | 2 | 0.3% |
| M1 | Vocational student and other nonacademic student | 2 | 0.3% |
| NATO2 | Other representative of member state to NATO and immediate family; dependents of member of a force entering under the NATO agreements; members of such a force if issued visas | 2 | 0.3% |
| O3 | Spouse or child of O-1 or O-2 | 2 | 0.3% |
| R1 | Alien in a religious occupation | 2 | 0.3% |
| E1 | Treaty trader, spouse or child | 1 | 0.1% |
| H3 | Trainee | 1 | 0.1% |
| P3 | Artist or entertainer in a culturally unique program | 1 | 0.1% |
| Q1 | Participant in an international cultural exchange program | 1 | 0.1% |
Immigrant visa classes, September 2025 (foreign state of chargeability)
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| CR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 4 | 30.8% |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 3 | 23.1% |
| F2B | Family second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter of lawful permanent resident, and child (F24, F25, C24, C25, B24, B25) | 2 | 15.4% |
| F1 | Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12) | 1 | 7.7% |
| FX | Family second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3) | 1 | 7.7% |
| IR2 | Child of U.S. citizen | 1 | 7.7% |
| SB1 | Returning resident | 1 | 7.7% |
Nonimmigrant issuances by fiscal year, Report of the Visa Office
| Fiscal year | All classes | Visitors (B) | Students, exchange (F, M, J) | Temporary workers | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2015 | 5,704 | 1,476 | 1,401 | 1,143 | — |
| FY2016 | 6,372 | 1,894 | 1,399 | 1,184 | +12% |
| FY2017 | 6,507 | 2,017 | 1,315 | 1,115 | +2% |
| FY2018 | 7,386 | 2,450 | 1,259 | 1,227 | +14% |
| FY2019 | 9,589 | 3,548 | 1,279 | 1,182 | +30% |
| FY2020 | 3,875 | 1,207 | 592 | 599 | -60% |
| FY2021 | 2,831 | 95 | 1,125 | 386 | -27% |
| FY2022 | 6,700 | 1,693 | 1,416 | 1,393 | +137% |
| FY2023 | 8,259 | 2,999 | 1,541 | 1,130 | +23% |
| FY2024 | 11,495 | 4,956 | 1,559 | 1,328 | +39% |
Fiscal years run October to September. Every row is the Department's final annual detail table for that year; the visitor, student and worker columns add the table's class columns within one year. No monthly reports are summed.
Adjusted B-visa refusal rate by fiscal year
Dark bar: Portugal. Grey bar: Europe median for the same year. The Department's rate covers B visas only; it counts each applicant once, in the status in which the fiscal year ended, so an applicant refused and later issued in the same year counts as an issuance. Source tables: FY2023, FY2024, FY2025.
Diversity Visa selectees by program year
| Program year | Selectees chargeable to Portugal | Share of all selectees | All selectees |
|---|---|---|---|
| DV-2016 | 58 | 0.1% | 91,563 |
| DV-2017 | 36 | 0% | 83,910 |
| DV-2018 | 84 | 0.1% | 115,968 |
| DV-2019 | 30 | 0% | 87,610 |
| DV-2020 | 12 | 0% | 83,884 |
| DV-2021 | 24 | 0% | 132,404 |
| DV-2022 | 20 | 0% | 119,021 |
| DV-2023 | 10 | 0% | 119,262 |
| DV-2024 | 39 | 0% | 142,947 |
| DV-2025 | 38 | 0% | 131,060 |
| DV-2026 | 40 | 0% | 129,516 |
Counts of selected entrants as published on the Department's "selected entrants" pages; no names are published or held. Selection is not a visa: the Department selects more entrants than visas available, and DV visas are issued only to selectees who qualify before the program year ends.
U.S. posts in Portugal
- Lisbon: 899 nonimmigrant visas issued in Sep 2025, to applicants of all nationalities
- Ponta Delgada: 0 nonimmigrant visas issued in Sep 2025, to applicants of all nationalities
Questions and answers
What is the U.S. visa refusal rate for nationals of Portugal?
The State Department's adjusted refusal rate for B (business and tourist) visas was 8.19% in FY2025 against a Europe median of 15.20%. The Department publishes this rate only for B visas and only by nationality; it counts each applicant once, by the status in which the year ended.
How many U.S. visas were issued to nationals of Portugal last year?
11,495 nonimmigrant visas in FY2024, Report of the Visa Office, the Department's final annual figure. In September 2025, the latest monthly report, 749 were issued.
How does September 2025 compare with a year earlier for Portugal?
749 nonimmigrant visas, close to September 2024 (789, -5%). Months are compared one to one; the Department says its monthly reports should not be added together.
Which visa classes do nationals of Portugal receive most?
B1/B2 (4,854), C1/D (3,124), F1 (801), J1 (645) and L1 (345) in FY2024, Report of the Visa Office.
How many DV lottery selectees did Portugal have?
40 for DV-2026, 0% of all selectees. Earlier years: DV-2022 20, DV-2023 10, DV-2024 39, DV-2025 38. Being selected is not a visa; the Department selects more entrants than there are visas available.
Where do nationals of Portugal apply?
Lisbon and Ponta Delgada are the U.S. posts in Portugal. Nationals may also apply at posts elsewhere, subject to each post's rules, so the nationality figures on this page and the post figures are different counts.
Where does this data come from?
The State Department's monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by nationality, the annual Report of the Visa Office detail tables, the annual adjusted B-visa refusal rate tables and the Diversity Visa selectee pages. Data through 30 Sep 2025.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Nationality and Visa Class; Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Foreign State of Chargeability or Place of Birth and Visa Class; Report of the Visa Office NIV detail tables (workbook); Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality; Diversity Visa selected entrants pages. All public domain. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.