Latest Travel advice Portugal

August 4, 2021: Information on entry restrictions, testing and quarantine regulations in Portugal

Portuguese government has been taking all necessary public health measures to protect the entire population as well as our visitors.

Measures in force may be reviewed in accordance to the evolution of the pandemic.

I – ACCESSIBILITY   

1) Arriving to Portugal by Plane

MAINLAND Portugal

ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel)
Countries of the European Union, Schengen Associated countries (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland), Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, China, South Korea, United States of America, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Northern Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, Ukraine and special admnistrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao

• • • • RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) – 72h before boarding, or
        Rapid Antigen Test – 48h before boarding, or
        a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate
      • Children under 12 do not need to present test.
      • All passengers need to fill a Passenger Locator Card (individually) before departure to Portugal or on board at https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card

LIMITED
Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa (Only essential travel)

• • • • RT-PCR Test (or similar NAAT test) – 72h before boarding, or
        Rapid Antigen Test – 48h before boarding, or
      • Need to comply with quarantine of 14 days after arrival in Portugal;
      • Children under 12 don’t need to present test.
      • All passengers need to fill a Passenger Locator Card (individually) before departure to Portugal or on board at https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card

Passengers from the UK (Essential and non-essential travel) 

• • • • All travellers to mainland Portugal (aged 12 or older) are required to show a negative Covid-19 test:
        – RT-PCR taken within 72 hours of departure or
        – Lateral flow test taken 48 hours prior to departure
      • Comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or
        Have complete vaccination for 14 days, of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
      • Children and young people that are yet to complete 18 years old at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunised as per EU directives  
        * Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements
        * Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements
      • All passengers must complete the Passenger Locator Card (individually), prior to departure to Portugal or on board, available at: https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/passenger-locator-card
      • Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

AZORES     

ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel)

• • • • RT-PCR Test – 72h before boarding, or
        Imunity declaration (for those who already had COVID-19, for example), or
        a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate 
      • Passengers may perform free test on arrival and wait the result in prophylactic isolation (between 12 to 24 hours for the result).
      • Children under 12 don’t need to present test.
      • Passengers without a valid EU COVID Digital Vaccination or Recovery Certificate: if the stay is longer than seven days, on the 6th day from the date SARS-CoV-2 first test was performed, the passenger must contact the health services of the county where is staying so that a second test can be performed.
      • All passengers need to fill Questionnaire at https://mysafeazores.com. More information at www.visitazores.com

MADEIRA    

ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel)

• • • • RT-PCR Test – 72h before boarding, or
        Vaccination certificate (2 shots 14 days prior to entrance in PT) or,
        Imunity declaration (for those who already had COVID-19, for example), or
        a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate .
      • Perform free test on arrival and wait the result in prophylactic isolation (between 12 to 24 hours for the result), or
      • Perform voluntary isolation, for a period of 14 days, at home or in a hotel accommodation.
      • Children under 12 don’t need to present test.
      • Passengers need to register at https://madeirasafe.com. More information at www.visitmadeira.pt

2) Arriving to Portugal by Road

No restrictions of entrance, except for citizens coming from Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa in the last 14 days, only for essential travel:

• • • Must comply 14-day quarantine period at home or at a place indicated by the health authorities;
    • Must register before entering the country at https://travel.sef.pt

Passengers from the UK

• • • Comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or
      Have complete vaccination for 14 days, of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
    • Children and young people that are yet to complete 18 years old at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunised as per EU directives  
      * Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements
      * Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements
    • Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

3) Arriving to Portugal by Train

No restrictions of entrance except for citizens coming from Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa in the last 14 days, only for essential travel:

• • • Must comply 14-day quarantine period at home or at a place indicated by the health authorities;
    • Must register before entering the country at https://travel.sef.pt

Passengers from the UK

• • • All travellers to mainland Portugal (aged 12 or older) are required to show a negative Covid-19 test:
      – RT-PCR taken within 72 hours or
      – Lateral flow test taken 48 hours before
    • Comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or
      Have complete vaccination for 14 days, of a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
    • Children and young people that are yet to complete 18 years old at the time of their departure flight are exempt from quarantine as long as they travel accompanied by their parents, parent or responsible adult that are fully vaccinated/immunised as per EU directives  
      * Children under 12 years old are exempt of testing requirements
      * Young people from 12 to 18 years old must comply with testing requirements
    • Passengers required to undergo prophylactic isolation must register at https://travel.sef.pt

4) Arriving to Portugal by Sea

Same rules as arriving by air apply.

 II – MOBILITY                

1. Public Transports:

a. The use of face masks is mandatory.
b. Public transports are limited to 2/3 of the capacity, when there are sitting and standing places. No limitation if all places are seated.
c. Taxis and similar passenger transport, the front seats must be used only by the drive.

2. Rent-a-Car

a. Vehicles with capacity of 5 seats or less can be fully occupied if they belong to the same household.
b. Vehicles with capacity of more than 5 seats, its capacity is limited to 2/3 of the total, unless they are part of the same household.

III – GENERAL RULES     

1. GENERAL RULES in the entire country:

– Restaurants, cafés, and pastry shops with no restrictions on opening and closing hours until 2 am. Limited to groups of 6 people inside and 10 people on the terrace;
– Bars with the same rules as restaurants;
– Shops and shopping centres are open, without time restrictions;
– Cultural facilities with 66% of the capacity;
– Weddings and baptisms with 50% of the capacity;
– Outdoor events possible with specific rules (check the event website for more info);
– Amateur sports and training events possible with specific rules (check the event website for more info). 33% capacity limit;
– Alcoholic beverages sale is prohibited in service areas or gas stations; 
– The consumption of alcoholic beverages in outdoor spaces and on public roads is prohibited;
– Golf courses are fully operational. The specific measures established by the Portuguese Golf Federation are available at www.fpg.pt;
– Accommodation has been adopting the “Clean & Safe”, which allows the identification of establishments and services that have implemented enhanced hygiene and safety measures. More info at www.portugalcleanandsafe.com.

It is mandatory to present EU COVID Digital Certificate or a negative test* in:
– Tourist accommodation, upon check-in;
– Meal service inside the restaurants, on Fridays from 7 pm, at weekends and on public holidays;
– Thermal baths and spas;
– Casinos and bingos;
– Group classes in gyms;
– Cultural and sporting events with over 1000 people, outdoors, or over 500 people, indoors;
– Eeddings and baptisms with over 10 people

* The types of tests allowed are:
– RT-PCR carried out within 72 hours prior to submission;
– Antigen test with laboratory report, carried out within 48 hours prior to its submission;
– Rapid antigen test using the self-test method, carried out within the 24 hours prior to submission in the presence of a health or pharmaceutical professional who certifies its performance and result;
– Rapid self-test antigen test carried out on the spot, at the door of the establishment to be visited, under the supervision of the persons in charge of these premises.

Children under 12 years old accompanied by an adult are exempt of testing requirements and are free to access places or establishments, to participate in events and to travel in the country.
 

IV – BEHAVIOR RULES     

• General behavior guidelines
  – Social distancing;
  – Frequent hand washing;
  – Mandatory use of mask;
  – Respiratory etiquette.
  
  
• Clean & Safe
  In tourism, the “Clean & Safe” seal was implemented  allowing tourists to have increased security and confidence in the use of accommodation establishments, in the various tourist services and tourist attractions.
  
  National measures –  https://covid19estamoson.gov.pt/ (in Portuguese)
  Azores –  www.visitazores.com / https://www.visitazores.com/en/trip-info / https://destinoseguro.azores.gov.pt
  Madeira – www.visitmadeira.pt / www.madeira.gov.pt/Covid19 / https://covidmadeira.pt
  Updated information on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal at WHO – World Health Organization (https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/pt) or at DGS – Portuguese General Directorate of Health (https://covid19.min-saude.pt/).

V – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION     

Essential Travel definition
“Essential travel” is defined as trips allowing the transit, entry into and departure from Portugal for professional purposes, study, family reunions, health and humanitarian reasons and under the reciprocity principle.

Tests
a. Controls might be undertaken upon arrival to airport;

b. The test result must include:
– type of test taken;
– passenger name (as per passport);
– date of birth;
– clear identification of the laboratory including the certification;
– the date and time the sample was collected and the explicit negative test result;
SMS is not a valid format

c. Passengers who present tests that do not comply with the requirements must undergo a new test on arrival, before entering Portuguese territory, at their own expense, and must wait in a designated place, inside the airport, until the result is notified.

d. If you are a foreigner visitor and want to do the test for Covid-19 shortly after arrival, before departure or at any time in mainland Portugal or Madeira you can do it:

– at the Airport. Information at https://www.ana.pt/en/corporate/ana/faq;
– in a laboratory approved by the Portuguese Health General Directorate. Find the list at https://covid19.min-saude.pt/infoadrpcc/;
– in one of the hospitals and clinics included in the Portugal Health Passport that can provide you personalized support in your language. The test for Covid-19 must be scheduled with a consultation and the results will be available in up to 72 hours. More information is available at test.covid19@portugalhealthpassport.com;
– if you are in the Algarve, you find information about testing points at www.visitalgarve.pt 

Quarantine
Quarantine does not apply to:

√ Passengers traveling on essential trips and whose period of stay in national territory, attested by a return ticket, does not exceed 48 hours;
√ Passengers traveling exclusively to participate in international professional competitions, listed in Annex IV of the official governmental document Despacho nº 7374-E/2021 (in Portuguese);

EU Digital COVID Certificate
The EU Digital COVID Certificate, accepted from 1 july at European border services, will facilitate free movement of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a digital proof that a person:

√ Has been vaccinated against COVID-19, or
√ Has received a negative test result (NAAT test or Rapid Antigen test), or
√ Has recovered from COVID-19.

* Children under 12 years old are exempt of presenting the EU Digital COVID Certificate or testing requirements
* Young people (under 18) do not need to comply with 14 days of isolation when accompanying adults have proof of complete vaccination

More information at https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en

More Travel Information
At the European Union website – https://reopen.europa.eu – you can find information on each country about borders, available means of transport, travel restrictions, health and public safety measures, as well as other practical information.

To know which are the travel regulations all around the world, check the map at the IATA Travel Centre.

The Portuguese airports (Lisboa, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada e Funchal) have implemented several initiatives to keep staff and passengers safer. A body temperature measurement system was implemented on arrival. More information at https://www.ana.pt/en/passenger-guide/what-you-need-to-know/covid-19

Portuguese Travellers
If you are Portuguese or you live in Portugal, in case you have a scheduled trip, you should consult the restrictions in each country on the Portal das Comunidades:
www.portaldascomunidades.mne.pt/pt/conselhos-aos-viajantes 

If you are travelling and you need support on your return to Portugal, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Portuguese travellers line – gec@mne.pt/ +351 217 929 714 / +351 961 706 472

For more travel advise on other countries

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