Eligibility
Program Description
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 15 years 0 months and 18 years 0 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be in good mental, physical, and emotional health in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Program Description
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family while attending a local host school. Learn more about life in Portugal.
Students are placed throughout the Portugal. You may be placed in an urban or suburban areas but AFS Portugal has increasingly been placing a number of students in more rural areas. Rarely are participants placed on the islands of Azores or Madeira. Additionally, it is unlikely that participants will be hosted in Algarve (south coast of Portugal) , which is mostly a tourist region.
The ability to speak Portuguese is not a prerequisite for the program but we strongly suggest that you learn as much as possible prior to departure.
Vegetarians can be particularly difficult to place, since meat and fish is a fundamental part of the Portuguese cuisine.
Visa and Travel Documents
In order to participate in this program, you must have a U.S. passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay.
In addition to your passport, you also need a student visa to enter and reside in your host country.
The visa process for Portugal is detailed, time-consuming, and costly and includes collecting a number of documents, including a police letter of Good Conduct, a doctor’s letter of Good Health, proof of sufficient funds, and many others.
Some Portugal consulates require an in-person appointment in order to apply for a visa. Be prepared to travel to your regional consulate if necessary.
The current visa fee is $70.50, not including the cost of obtaining, translating, notarizing, and mailing the required documents, nor the cost of traveling to the consulate. Please note that these fees and requirements are determined by the consulates and are subject to change.
AFS USA will provide you with detailed visa application instructions in the months prior to your departure.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from one of the gateway cities in the United States. You all will arrive in Lisbon, collect your baggage and pass through customs. You will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and will participate in a welcome orientation together. You will then travel to your host community, which may be some distance away.
After the orientation, you will be picked up by your host family or travel by bus, train or plane (for students placed in the islands of Azores and Madeira) to your new host community.
AFS Orientations and Activities
AFS will provide you with several orientations throughout your experience. These orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS teens from around the world, to share experiences and make friends. These group activities give you a chance to understand and process your intercultural learning experience during your time abroad as well as when you are returning home.
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Lisbon. This will be a 3 day orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective.
Within the first 6 weeks, you will have another orientation, organized at the local level. This will last for 3 days and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will also meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first weeks and be offered guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp two-to-three weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Spain. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize the AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
Local chapters may arrange events such as local orientations, excursions and picnics. Between February and June, some chapters organize a four-day activity in their area. Students stay with host families and participate in intercultural activities, visit sites of cultural interest, visit local schools and practice sports among other activities. Students choose which chapter to join for this experience.
