Visa Request Process
Delegates travelling to Portugal from countries outside the Schengen Area may require to obtain a visa to attend the International Congress of Health Workforce Education and Research. Some may also request a letter from the International Network for Health Workforce Education to verify the attendance at the event. Embassies may need to verify that registration fees have been paid in full and may require applicants to appear in person for an interview, causing delays in the application process. We strongly recommend interested parties to apply for a visa no later than three months prior to the event.
As the Congress organiser, we are keen to provide delegates with a visa invitation letter to verify their intent to attend the event.
Travelling to Porto, Portugal
Porto is a major infrastructural hub of north Portugal, which is why it can be easily reached by a variety of means of transport.
By Plane: Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is approx. 10 kilometers far from the city centre. Over 20 airline companies operate both business class and low cost flights. The airport transfer means are highly reliable, Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport being accessible by both public means of transport (buses and metros) and private means: Porto's taxi fares actually beat those of most European capitals. Both the Congress Centre and the city centre are easily reachable from the Airport either by metro, bus, taxi, or shuttle service. For details, please check out the Presenters Guideline by clicking here (only members have access to this area).
By Train: Porto is the most important railway hub of northern Portugal. It is services by two main train stations. Estacao de Sao Bento (Sao Bento Train Station) is located in central Porto, in Praca Almeida Garrett, being the terminal of regional trains which travel between Porto and Braga, Viana do Castelo and Duoro. Estacao de Campanha (Campanha Train Station) is the terminal of trains leaving for and arriving from the south (Lisbon included). A train trip between Porto and Lisbon takes about three hours. In order to learn more about the railway routes between Porto and sundry other national and international destinations, train schedules, ticket prices and the like, please visit: http://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/.
Accommodation
The International Network for Health Workforce Education will block rooms and negotiate special rates at a number of hotels in Porto to facilitate the participation in the International Congress of Health Workforce Education and Research. The discounted rooms will be available on first come, first served basis.
Ibis Porto Sao Joao
Hotel Malaposta
Quality Inn (UPDATE: FULLY BOOKED)
Reservation Quality Inn Porto