A small question about Schengen visa to Portugal?

Traveling to Portugal on a French Schengen Visa?

• Hi All, I have a general inquiry regarding a schengen visa application. I want to travel to Portugal, but getting a Schengen visa through them is a very complicated & long-drawn procedure. My old Schengen issued by the French embassy in London is about to expire & I need a new one. I am contemplating getting it from the French embassy again because of the convenience factor (6-month, multiple entries). However, I do not plan on traveling to France. Portugal will be my first destination. Do I have to visit France at some point during the validity of my visa? What are the consequences if I don’t? FYI, I am an Indian National living in London with a work permit valid until 2012. Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers, Rusty

• Answer:

  Technically speaking the French embassy will not issue you a visa unless France is the main destination of your trip, so you will have to go through the Portuguese embassy. Usually you have to document your planned stay in some manner (e.g. by plane tickets, hotel reservations etc), and if none if your documentation shows any connection to France they are unlikely to issue you a visa. However if you can somehow convince the French to give you a visa, then that is valid for entry to all Schengen states and no one will care if you ever actually visited France.