COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Portugal (21 July Update)

Can a citizen enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Travellers from the following countries are allowed to enter: Countries of the European Union, Schengen Associated countries (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland), the United Kingdom, 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, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and special admnistrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

• Only essential travel is allowed from Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa.

• Travel between Portugal and other third-country destinations is permitted only for essential reasons. Essential reason is defined as trips allowing the transit, entry into, and departure from Portugal for the following: (1) citizens of a European Union member state, Schengen Associated countries and their family members; (2) citizens repatriated through consular assistance; and (3) third-country nationals travelling for professional purposes, study, family reunions, health and humanitarian reasons and under the reciprocity principle.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Madeira is available here or here.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Azores is available here.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Transit through Portugal is possible for any reason for travellers from approved countries on the list and only for essential reasons for countries not on the list. Travellers over the age of 12 must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test (RT-PCR, NAATM, NEAR, LAMP, HDA, CRISPR, SDA, or Rapid Antigen test) to travel to or through mainland Portugal.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• Arriving travellers are subject to health screening on arrival. Travellers who have a temperature of 38ºC or over or showing signs of being unwell may be required to take a further COVID-19 test and remain at the airport until receiving the test result.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Madeira is available here or here.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Azores is available here.

Test certificate required?

• Yes, with exceptions

• All passengers, over the age of 12 years, must submit a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test or similar nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) test certificate (RT-PCR, NEAR, TMA, LAMP, HDA, CRISPR, SDA, etc) issued within 72 hours prior to departure or a Rapid Antigen test performed within 48 hours prior to departure for Portugal. Only Rapid Antigen tests that are on the list agreed by the European Union Health Committee are allowed. Passengers who present tests that do not comply with the requirements must undergo a new test on arrival at their own expense and must wait at a designated place inside the airport until the test result is available. The list can be found here.

• Passengers who present tests that do not comply with the requirements must undergo a new test on arrival, at their own cost, and must wait at a designated place inside the airport until the result is notified. Children under 12 years old are exempted from the testing requirement.

• Portugal accepts the “EU Digital COVID Certificates” (EUDCC). Holders of EUDCC will be allowed to enter Portugal without being subject to further restrictions (testing or quarantine), on the condition that their certificate contains either: proof of vaccination; proof of recovery from COVID-19; or negative result to a COVID-19 test. Children under 12 years old are exempted from the testing or quarantine requirements. Details regarding EUDCC can be found here.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Madeira is available here or here.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Azores is available here.

• Testing results are preferably presented in English or in the languages required by the countries. Fully handwritten COVID-19 tests are not accepted, but prepopulated certificates, with some handwritten information, are valid with the following: (1) All mandatory data are included, and (2) There is a stamp of the entity that performed the certificate (just a signature is not accepted).

• Further information, including country designations, can be found here.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• Passengers who complete a COVID-19 test at the airport must quarantine until the results are available.

• All inbound passengers from or who have transited through Brazil, India, Nepal, and South Africa must comply with a 14-day quarantine period at home or place of residence or at a place indicated by the health authorities.

• All arriving passengers from the United Kingdom must comply with 14 days of prophylactic isolation on arrival in Portugal, or have complete vaccination for (2 shots of double dose vaccine or 1 shot of single dose 14 days prior to entrance).

• All un-vaccinated persons including young people under 18 years old arriving in mainland Portugal from the United Kingdom must comply with a 14-day quarantine period at home or place of residence or at a place indicated by the health authorities. Children under 12 years old are exempted from isolation.

• Travellers arriving from high-risk countries with COVID-19 incidence rates exceeding 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants must quarantine for 14 days at home or in a location indicated by health authorities. The list of exempted countries is regularly updated, and additional information may be found here.

• Portugal accepts the “EU Digital COVID Certificates” (EUDCC). Holders of EUDCC will be allowed to enter Portugal without being subject to further restrictions (testing or quarantine), on the condition that their certificate contains either: proof of vaccination; proof of recovery from COVID-19; or negative result to a COVID-19 test. Children under 12 years old are exempted from the testing or quarantine requirements.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Madeira is available here or here.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Azores is available here.

• Travellers who refuse testing must self-quarantine for a period of 14-days. If they choose not to self-quarantine, they have the option to return to their point of origin.

• Based on the above restrictions, the traveller should be prepared to spend between 0 to a maximum of 14 days in quarantine, unless they test positive.

Is an entry form required?

• Yes

• Travellers need to complete an online passenger locator card before arrival. It can be found here.

• Portugal is accepting “EU Digital COVID certificates'' (EUDCC). Holders of EUDCC will be allowed to enter Portugal without being subject to further restrictions (testing or quarantine), on the condition that their certificate contains either: proof of vaccination; proof of recovery from COVID-19; or negative result to a COVID-19 test. Children under 12 years old are exempted from the testing or quarantine requirements.

• All travellers who are obliged to comply with the 14-day isolation in Portugal must register with SEF - Foreigners and Borders Service before entering the country, at this link.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Madeira is available here or here.

• Specific information for the autonomous region of Azores is available here.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into the country.

Is insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• A COVID-19 tracing app, “StayAway COVID”, is available here.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• International commercial flights are available. Domestic flights are operating.

• Restrictions on flights from countries outside the EU remain in effect, with some exceptions.

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Borders are open with some entry restrictions. Land borders between Spain and Portugal are currently open. Full details for incoming travellers to Portugal via road, train, and sea can be accessed here

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• Currently, there is no nationwide lockdown in effect. Authorities have placed restrictions on the basis of the number of COVID-19 cases. Full details of current measures can be found here.

• There may be a different set of restrictions for each county. The full information can be found here.

Social restrictions

• Moderate

• Social distancing is required along with frequent hand washing, mandatory use of masks, and respiratory etiquette.

• The lockdown will be lifted in 4 phases. Based on the number of the infection rates, authorities have categorized the municipalities into three categories, viz: red, orange, and green. The list of counties and their current restrictions can be found here.

• Teleworking is mandatory whenever possible. The full list of restrictions can be found here.

• Public services are available by appointment only.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Public transports are operating in limited capacity. Full details can be found in the mobility section here.

• Face masks are required in public transportation. Taxis and Uber are allowed to operate with two-thirds of passenger capacity.

**Non-essential shops

• Yes

• Food shops, pharmacies, and other essentials shops, including gas stations and supermarkets, are open without time restrictions.

• All shops, retail stores, shopping centres, and malls are open.

Accommodations

• Yes

• Hotels, private villas, campsites, and holiday apartments have reopened. Hotels may require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

*Restaurants open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Restaurants are open for takeaway and home delivery services, as well as indoor and outdoor services in low-risk regions. Groups of 6 people are allowed inside. However, restaurants having terraces can serve groups of up to 10. Full details can be found here.

• Generally, all restaurants must close by 01:00 (local time) daily. Exceptions can be found in III – GENERAL RULES.

**Bars and cafes

• Yes

• Bars are open. Cafes may operate delivery and takeaway services, as well as indoor and outdoor services. Groups of up to 6 people are allowed inside. However, cafes having terraces can serve groups of up to 10 people.

• All cafes must close by 01:00 (local time) daily. Exceptions can be found in III – GENERAL RULES.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Monuments, palaces, art galleries, and similar establishments are allowed to open.

Museums and heritage sites open

• Yes

• Museums are open with limited capacity and will close at 01:00 (local time) daily.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Personal care services are allowed to open by appointment only.

• Gyms are allowed to open.

Places of worship open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Religious services may resume in keeping with directives by health authorities.

Events allowed?

• Yes

• Sports activities are allowed, including outdoor exercises.

• Large outdoor and indoor events are allowed with reduced capacity. Cultural events are allowed until 01:00 (local time).

• Weddings and baptisms are allowed with limited capacity and adherence to health protocols.

• Auditoriums and concert halls are open.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• The use of face masks is mandatory on all public transportation and in public places.

• Masks are mandatory whenever social distancing is not possible. Those in the same household do not need to wear a mask when social distancing from third parties is possible. These measures apply to everyone over the age of 10 in mainland Portugal and in the Azores and over the age of 5 in Madeira and Porto Santo.

Others Restrictions

• Bookstores, libraries, and archives are allowed to open.

• Schools, high schools, and universities are open for in-person classes, with safety protocols.

• Cinemas and theatres are open.

• Parks, gardens, and other leisure areas and green spaces are allowed to open.

• Swimming pools and golf courses are open.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.