Before leaving

ID Card, Passport, Visa

Arriving at Portugal, European citizens only need to present their ID card. The non-EU students must always carry their passports. The citizens of some countries may also be requested a visa.

Students should try to arrive at Portugal during the day and preferably during the week, it will be easier to contact someone should you need help, especially at FCSH.

More information available at:
SEF – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras

Residence Permit

Students only need a residence permit if they wish to stay longer than three months in Portugal.

More information available at:
SEF – Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras

Accommodation

SASNOVA currently has three Halls of Residence for students of the University, with total of 452 beds. Priority is given to Portuguese scholarship students and foreign students on exchange programmes.

Halls of Residence

Alfredo de Sousa Halls
Campus de Campolide, P 1099-032 Lisbon
Telephone: 00 351 21 386 7000

Fraústo da Silva Halls
Azinhaga da Chanoca
2825-144 Caparica
Telephone: 00 351 21 294 5000

Lumiar Halls
Rua Rainha D. Luísa de Gusmão, 3, P 1600-003 Lisbon
Telephone: 00 351 21 754 3660

Not always the number of vacancies is sufficient to meet the needs of students of the University. Thus, it is suggested to international students to contact the Student’s Recruitment and Exchange Office (GRIA) and ask for details regarding housing and accommodation.

More information available at:
SASNOVA – The Social Welfare Services of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa
GRIA – Student’s Recruitment and Exchange Office
FCSH Student’s Union

If you need a short-term accommodation, Lisbon hostels are a pleasing and economic solution. Students can also stay in one of two Youth Hostels in Lisbon:

Pousada de Juventude de Lisboa
R. Andrade Corvo, 46, P 1050-009 Lisbon
Telephone: 00 351 21 353 26 96
Fax: 00 351 21 353 7541
Email: lisboa@movijovem.pt

Pousada de Juventude do Parque das Nações
R. de Moscavide, 47, P 1998-011 Lisbon
Telephone: 00 351 21 892 08 90
Fax: 00 351 21 892 0891
Email: lisboaparque@movijovem.pt

More information available at:
Pousadas da Juventude
Hostels em Lisboa

Health Care and Insurances

The European Union students are also included in the Portuguese National health System through the European Health Insurance Card. Foreign students must obtain this card before coming to Portugal. Students from countries outside the EU and EEA must make sure they have a health insurance before departure.

Universidade Nova de Lisboa provides school insurance for all students, which covers accidents occurred in and outside the University’s facilities (outdoor classes, excursions, etc.) and in the normal and direct route between the school and the student residence.

Hospital’s Emergency Services should only be used in severe situations (serious traumas, intoxications, burning injuries, breathing difficulties, and so on). In all other situations, Erasmus students are entitled to medical care at very low prices through our Social Services. The Social Welfare Services of Universidade Nova de Lisboa provide general medical consultations as well as psychology consultations and nutritional counselling.

More information available at:
SASNOVA – The Social Welfare Services of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Currency

The unit of currency in Portugal is the Euro (€). One euro is divided into 100 cents. The coins have eight values: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 euros. The banknotes have the following values: 5, 10, 20, 100, 200 and 500 euros.

Cost of Living

Below you will find the prices of some everyday articles, to give you an idea of how much things cost in Portugal.

Below you can find an average monthly budget.

Schedules - Working Hours

Shopping Centres: Every day 10 am - 12 midnight

Shops: Weekdays - 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm
Saturdays - 9 am to 7 pm

Banks: Weekdays - 8.30 am to 3 pm

Pharmacies: Weekdays - 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm
Saturdays - 9 am to 1 pm
Pharmacies keep the same opening hours as the rest of the shops but, in order to guarantee 24-hour service, some stay open after 7 p.m. All of them have information indicating the nearest 24 hours pharmacy.

Post Offices: Weekdays - 8.30 am to 6.30 pm

Electricity

Voltage: 220/380 volts at a frequency of 50 Hertz. All sockets follow European standards. To use American-type plugs, a 220-volt transformer should be used together with an adapter plug.

Climate

Due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon has a pleasant climate throughout the year. The agreeable temperatures in the summer months are an open invitation for a walk by the river, or to spend an afternoon in one of the many street cafés to be found all over the city. Although the temperatures may fall somewhat in the autumn and winter months, sunshine is almost always a constant feature.