---
title: "Portugal Tourist Visa Success Rate from Zambia (2026)"
description: "88.8% of Schengen short-stay applications lodged in Zambia were issued — 2,614 decisions, 2025. Portugal tourist rules, costs and a free odds check."
url: "https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa"
---

1. [Home](https://getvisaodds.com/)
2. [Portugal visas](https://getvisaodds.com/portugal-visa-odds)
3. [Tourist / Visitor](https://getvisaodds.com/portugal/tourist-visa-odds)
4. Zambian citizens

🇿🇲 Zambian citizens · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Tourist / Visitor

# Portugal tourist / visitor visa success rate for Zambian citizens

88.8% of Schengen short-stay applications lodged in Zambia were issued across 2,614 decisions in 2025. A Portugal tourist visa is one of those — a uniform Schengen visa, valid across the whole area whichever state decides it. The European Commission's per-consulate table carries no separate row for Portugal in Zambia, so this area-wide rate is the closest published measure for this exact route, not a Portugal-specific one. For the same nationality the UK approved 70.5% of tourist applications across 3,615 decisions. Officers assess whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time, and the biggest single lever is return intent. On the money side: €75 per entry plus €40 per day. Portugal asks for €75 on entry plus €40 for each day spent in the country. Applicants who can prove board and lodging are guaranteed for the whole stay may be exempted. The estimator below weighs your own finances, ties, travel history and refusal record against that.

Last reviewed August 2026 per our [editorial standards](https://getvisaodds.com/editorial-standards). Source: [European Commission — Annex 25 of the Visa Code Practical Handbook: reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border, fixed by national authorities ](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/7130e21d-c1c8-41fd-9c83-b6fe312d4f5c_en).

For Zambian citizens applying, a tourist visa to Portugal is decided mainly on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. Public statistics point to an approximate base approval of around 77% for this route — but your own profile can move that figure a lot in either direction. Published approval rates for Zambia run at 47.5% on US visitor visas in FY2025 and 88.8% on Schengen short-stay applications in 2025.

[Estimate my personal odds](#estimate)

Modelled estimate — not official

77%

Modelled estimate, not a published statistic — no Zambian-specific rate is published for this route. Derived from EU/Schengen visa statistics (Portugal) & national long-stay visa patterns; see the methodology page for every parameter.

Your personal odds can be much higher or lower — estimate them below.

## Estimate your personal odds

Pre-filled for this route. A few taps and it’s done — privately, in your browser.

## Key requirements

- Passport valid 3+ months beyond departure and issued within the last 10 years
- Completed application, photo, and biometrics
- Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000
- Round-trip itinerary and confirmed accommodation
- Proof of sufficient funds; €90 visa fee (2026)

### Visa fee (cost)

€90 per adult, €45 for children 6–12, free under 6 — plus a service fee (typically €30–45) where an external centre (VFS/TLS) handles the application.

### Money & funds

€75 per entry plus €40 per day. Portugal asks for €75 on entry plus €40 for each day spent in the country. Applicants who can prove board and lodging are guaranteed for the whole stay may be exempted.

### Typical timeline

Apply up to 6 months ahead and at least 15 days before travel; standard decisions take about 15 calendar days, occasionally up to 45.

## Common refusal reasons

- Insufficient or unclear means of subsistence
- Doubt about the purpose or intent to leave
- Missing or insufficient travel medical insurance
- Unjustified or inconsistent itinerary
- Previous Schengen overstay or visa misuse

## Where Zambia sits in the official data

Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how Zambian applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from Zambia.

### UK tourist visas — year to March 2026

The UK is the only government that publishes outcomes by nationality _and_ visa type, so it is the one place a tourist-visa figure for Zambia actually exists. **29.5%** of Zambian tourist applications were refused across 3,615 decisions , against 23% the year before. That volume makes Zambia the 56th-largest source of UK tourist applicants, of 110 countries with meaningful numbers. Different country, different rules — a reference point, not your odds here.

### US visitor visas — FY2025

A **52.5%** adjusted refusal rate places Zambia **150th of 199** nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 25% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so Zambia is 20.7 points above it.

### Schengen short-stay visas — 2025

Across all Schengen consulates in Zambia, **11.2%** of short-stay applications were not issued — **54th of 127** countries with a meaningful application volume, and 4.4 points below the 15.6% median.

|Destination|Refused|Issued|Decided|
|-|-|-|-|
|Germany|7.7%|92.3%|1,265|
|Italy|11.8%|88.2%|1,124|

Among Schengen states, applications lodged in Zambia were refused least often by Germany at 7.7% and most often by Italy at 11.8% — a gap of 4.1 points on a like-for-like basis. That gap reflects who applies where as much as how strictly each state decides, so it is a starting point for choosing a main destination, not a ranking of leniency. You must still apply to the state where you will spend the most nights.

Sources: [U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-b-visa-adjusted-refusal-rates-by-nationality.html) and [European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/short-stay-visas-issued-schengen-countries_en) . Schengen figures are grouped by the country an application was lodged in, not by passport.

## What actually moves the needle

### Strong ties to home — a stable job, family, or property

This is the heart of tourist decisions for Portugal. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.

### Funds that clearly cover the whole trip

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

### A specific, time-limited plan with bookings

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

### Context for Zambia applicants

Published approval rates for Zambia run at 47.5% on US visitor visas in FY2025 and 88.8% on Schengen short-stay applications in 2025. Your personal profile matters far more than any nationality-level pattern, so focus on the levers above.

### Avoid the common pitfall

The most frequent reason this route fails is a vague itinerary or thin finances that make your return look uncertain. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.

## Frequently asked questions

Is there an official Portugal tourist visa success rate for Zambian citizens?

Not one we currently carry. We only print a rate when we hold the publisher's own figure for this nationality and this visa category, and we do not hold one for Portugal tourist visas. The figure shown on this page is a modelled estimate built from published route-level data and your answers — we label it as such rather than presenting it as a government statistic. What you can act on is the documented requirement set below, which is what the decision actually turns on.

What matters most for a Portugal tourist visa?

Officers focus on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. In practice the single biggest lever is return intent, so make that part of your application as strong and well-documented as possible.

Does a previous visa refusal affect my chances?

Yes. A prior refusal weighs on new applications until its underlying reason is addressed. Find out exactly why you were refused, fix what caused it, and clearly show what is different this time.

Is this a guarantee of approval?

No. GetVisaOdds is an educational planning tool, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application. We show approximate odds and the reasons behind them so you can prepare better.

Is my information private?

Completely. The estimate runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or stored — there is no sign-up and nothing to leak.

How much is a Schengen visa in 2026?

€90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6–12, and free for under-6s — the same across all Schengen countries. Service centres (e.g. VFS) may add a service fee.

Which country do I apply to for a Schengen visa?

The country of your main destination (most nights), or your first point of entry if the trip is evenly split.

Is travel insurance mandatory for a Schengen visa?

Yes. You need travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for the whole Schengen area and stay.

How long can I stay on a Schengen visa?

Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.

## Explore related visa odds

### Official data

- [How much money you need, by country](https://getvisaodds.com/data/schengen-visa-money-requirements)
- [Schengen refusal rates by nationality](https://getvisaodds.com/data/schengen-visa-refusal-rates)

### Other visas to Portugal for Zambian citizens

- [Portugal student visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/student-visa)
- [Portugal work visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/work-visa)
- [Portugal business visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/business-visa)
- [Portugal family visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/family-visa)
- [Portugal residence visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/residence-visa)
- [Portugal digital nomad visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/digital-nomad-visa)
- [Portugal golden visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/portugal/golden-visa)

### Tourist / Visitor visa odds for Zambian citizens elsewhere

- [USA tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/usa/tourist-visa)
- [UK tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/uk/tourist-visa)
- [Canada tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/canada/tourist-visa)
- [Australia tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/australia/tourist-visa)
- [Germany tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/germany/tourist-visa)
- [France tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/france/tourist-visa)
- [Netherlands tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/netherlands/tourist-visa)
- [Italy tourist visa success rate](https://getvisaodds.com/zambian-citizens/italy/tourist-visa)
- [Compare all tourist visa destinations](https://getvisaodds.com/tourist-visa-odds)

### Portugal tourist visa odds for other nationalities

- [from Turkey](https://getvisaodds.com/turkish-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from the Philippines](https://getvisaodds.com/filipino-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Egypt](https://getvisaodds.com/egyptian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Sri Lanka](https://getvisaodds.com/sri-lankan-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Ghana](https://getvisaodds.com/ghanaian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Kenya](https://getvisaodds.com/kenyan-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Ethiopia](https://getvisaodds.com/ethiopian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Algeria](https://getvisaodds.com/algerian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Uganda](https://getvisaodds.com/ugandan-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Senegal](https://getvisaodds.com/senegalese-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Tanzania](https://getvisaodds.com/tanzanian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from China](https://getvisaodds.com/chinese-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Thailand](https://getvisaodds.com/thai-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from South Africa](https://getvisaodds.com/south-african-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Lebanon](https://getvisaodds.com/lebanese-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Armenia](https://getvisaodds.com/armenian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Ecuador](https://getvisaodds.com/ecuadorian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Angola](https://getvisaodds.com/angolan-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Mozambique](https://getvisaodds.com/mozambican-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Bolivia](https://getvisaodds.com/bolivian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Cambodia](https://getvisaodds.com/cambodian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Zimbabwe](https://getvisaodds.com/zimbabwean-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Cape Verde](https://getvisaodds.com/cape-verdean-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Afghanistan](https://getvisaodds.com/afghan-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Botswana](https://getvisaodds.com/botswanan-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Burkina Faso](https://getvisaodds.com/burkinabe-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Burundi](https://getvisaodds.com/burundian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Central African Republic](https://getvisaodds.com/central-african-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Chad](https://getvisaodds.com/chadian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Comoros](https://getvisaodds.com/comorian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Djibouti](https://getvisaodds.com/djiboutian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Equatorial Guinea](https://getvisaodds.com/equatorial-guinean-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Eritrea](https://getvisaodds.com/eritrean-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Fiji](https://getvisaodds.com/fijian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Guinea-Bissau](https://getvisaodds.com/bissau-guinean-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Haiti](https://getvisaodds.com/haitian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Jamaica](https://getvisaodds.com/jamaican-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Laos](https://getvisaodds.com/laotian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Madagascar](https://getvisaodds.com/malagasy-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Malawi](https://getvisaodds.com/malawian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Mauritania](https://getvisaodds.com/mauritanian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Niger](https://getvisaodds.com/nigerien-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Russia](https://getvisaodds.com/russian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
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- [from Sierra Leone](https://getvisaodds.com/sierra-leonean-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Somalia](https://getvisaodds.com/somali-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Sudan](https://getvisaodds.com/sudanese-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Suriname](https://getvisaodds.com/surinamese-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Syria](https://getvisaodds.com/syrian-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Tajikistan](https://getvisaodds.com/tajik-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Togo](https://getvisaodds.com/togolese-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Turkmenistan](https://getvisaodds.com/turkmen-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)
- [from Yemen](https://getvisaodds.com/yemeni-citizens/portugal/tourist-visa)

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This is an educational estimate for planning only — not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application.