Suport Legislation 1. (D.L. 60/93 de 03 Março); (Despacho 4/94) de S. Ex.a Secretário de Estado Adjunto do Ministro da Administração Interna de 12/7.  For staying periods up to 90 days, students must request to the Foreign and Immigration Services (SEF - Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) residence permission (residence card). To do so, students need the following documents:   

•    Passport or national identity card

•    2 photos

•    Statement from its host institution in Portugal confirming its condition of scholarship holder

Suport Legislation 2. (D.L. 244/98) com alterações introduzidas pelo 34/2003 de 25 de Fevereiro, e pelo D. Regulamentar 6/2004 de 26/4.  They must apply for a studies visa to the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy in its home country or permanent residence country, needing the following documents:   

•    Passport

•    Photos

•    A statement from its Higher Education Institution in its home or residence country, proving its student condition.

•    A statement proving the existence of a cooperation agreement with the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra and attesting the acceptance of the student in one of its colleges.

Students holding a studies visa that cross a Portuguese non controlled border, coming from another European Union member state, are obliged to declare its entrance, within 3 days from its arrival in Portugal, to the Foreign and Immigration Services (SEF - Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras).    

If traveling from outside the Iberian Peninsula, studnets will probably fly to Lisbon or Oporto, from where there are good train and bus connections to Coimbra.   For a listing of flights servicing Lisbon and Oporto, students should check the Portuguese airports authority (www.ana-aeroportos.pt) for arrival and departure timetables, or alternatively you can search an online travel booking service.  

Railway travel from both Lisbon and Oporto is regular and fast, especially if students take the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades services.  Portuguese railways website (www.cp.pt) gives timetables and fare information for the Lisboa - Porto line on which Coimbra is located.  

For Train timetables and prices click on “Horários e Preços” (Timetables and Prices). Bus network is also a good option. Connections between Lisbon and Oporto to Coimbra are very regular.  Bus travel is usually cheaper than train, but always depends on traffic. For further information, please visit the National Bus Service at http://www.rede-expressos.pt.  

For Bus timetables click on “Horários” (Timetables). Students can also buy their bus ticket online (http://www.rede-expressos.pt/0040.asp)   

Take a taxi from the arrivals area to the Oriente railway station (about 10 minutes and should cost around 10 €). Both the airport and Oriente station lie to the north east of the town centre.  Go to the upper ticketing level at the station and find the ticket kiosk for the Lisboa-Porto line. Buy a ticket, preferably for an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train (these require reservations) from Lisboa to Porto or Braga. The cost is between 35 € and 50 € for a return journey. Trains depart Lisbon Oriente station for Coimbra approximately every hour, with journey duration of around two hours. (Check timetables at Portuguese railways)   Get off the train when you arrive at Coimbra B (the main railway station). You can take another train for Coimbra A station on the same ticket from where many hotels are within walking distance.  However, if you are staying at the Meliá/ TRIP Hotel or the Residencial Botânico or Pensão Alentejana, then it is best to get off at Coimbra B station and take a taxi to the hotel (approximately 6 €). Please note that InterCity trains do not stop at Coimbra A station, so you must get off at Coimbra B.  

 If you arrive at Lisbon airport and you want come by bus, you must take a taxi to the “bus station” (around 17 €). Price from Lisbon to Coimbra is 12 €, single fare.     

From the airport which lies to the north of the town, students can take a taxi to the main railway station of Porto Campanha (this should cost 20-25 €) or can go from the airport to the station by underground (http://www.metrodoporto.pt/). This will take approximately 35 minutes and cost 1,35 €.  Underground station is at the airport which means you don’t have to leave the airport to get to it. Trains depart station hourly with a journey time of one and quarter hours for Alfa Pendular and InterCity trains, and approximately two hours for regional trains. Rail fares cost between 17-25 €. Get off at Coimbra B. You can take another train for Coimbra A station on the same ticket from where many hotels are within walking distance. Please note that Intercidades trains do not stop at Coimbra A station, so you must get off at Coimbra B.   

If you arrive at Oporto airport and you want to come by bus, you must take a taxi to the “bus station” (around 17€). Price from Oporto to Coimbra is 10.20€, single fare.