Visa and Equity Fund Support

From TCU Wiki
IMPORTANT NOTE: Even if you have previously been able to travel to Portugal without applying for a Schengen visa, you will most likely need to apply for ETIAS Travel Authorization as of 2025. Fully review the information below to ensure you are able to join us at the 2025 Global Gathering.

Equity Fund Support

Due to the ongoing impact of the foreign aid freeze, Team CommUNITY will not have an open application process for travel support. This is to ensure that critical visa, security, and well-being support remain available for 2025 event attendees. We remain committed to helping all participants explore alternative funding options.

Applying for a Schengen Visa

Depending on the passport that you hold, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa through a Portuguese consulate or visa center in your country of residence. To start the process:

  1. Determine if you need to apply for a Schengen visa to travel to Portugal;
  2. Review the documents you will need for your visa application (Please note that this is a list of generally required documents. Be sure to check with your specific embassy or consulate for a list of necessary documents as well.);
  3. Request a visa appointment through the local consulate or embassy processing visas to visit Portugal.

The Team CommUNITY staff is here to help you through the visa application process and can provide you with an official letter of invitation to the Global Gathering and other visa support. Contact us at visa@digitalrights.community for more information.

Applying for ETIAS Travel Authorization

Starting in 2025, travelers from over 60 visa-exempt countries will be required by the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) to apply for ETIAS Travel Authorization to enter Portugal for a short-term stay.

This means that even if you don't need to apply for a Schengen visa, there is a high likelihood that you will need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization to join the 2025 Global Gathering. Please visit the official ETIAS website for information about who needs to apply, payment, and process information.

Have questions about the new ETIAS Travel Authorization process? Contact us at visa@digitalrights.community for more information.