COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Portugal (15 November 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 Portugal for any purpose: European Union States, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, UK, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Uruguay.

• Foreigners from countries other than those specified above may be allowed entry only for essential purposes, such as family reunification, or for professional, educational, health or humanitarian reasons.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Transit through Portugal is possible for any reason for approved countries on the list, and only for essential reasons for countries not on the list. A negative PCR certificate is not required as long as travellers remain airside.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• All arriving passengers will have their temperature checked and may be required to undergo secondary health screening or COVID-19 testing at airports or other ports of arrival.

• Returning residents or citizens of Portugal without a COVID-19 test certificate will be required to have a test done at the airport or within 48 hours upon arrival and at the traveller’s expense.

• Madeira and Port Santo:

• Travellers arriving without a test certificate must have a COVID-19 test done upon arrival and self-quarantine until the results are available.

• Azores:

• Travellers staying more than seven days will be required to have a test done on the 6th day of their stay. Travellers who fail to fulfill the requirements will be required to return to their point of origin, and the passengers will be required to self isolate until their return flight.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Travellers to Portugal from any country other than those specified on the approved list above must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to airline staff prior to boarding. The test must have been carried out within 72 hours of departure. The airline can refuse to board passengers without the test certificate. Passengers arriving in Portugal without these test results may be refused entry.

• Portuguese nationals or legal residents in Portugal are not required to arrive with a test certificate. However, if residents or citizens arrive without a COVID-19 negative test certificate, they will need to take the test on arrival at the airport or independently within 48 hours of arrival.

• Azores

• A negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours before arrival in the Azores will be required.

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.

• Madeira and Port Santo:

• 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.

Entry form required?

• Yes

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

• Madeira:

• A travel questionnaire must be completed and submitted 12-48 hours before departing from the point of origin. The travel questionnaire can be found here. Travellers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate taken in the last 72 hours before arriving in Madeira.

• Azores:

• All travellers entering the Azores must complete a health form 72 hours before departing from the point of origin. After completing the form, the traveller will receive a code for presentation to the medical authorities upon arrival.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• A COVID-19 tracing app is available in the country known as “StayAway COVID”.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

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

Border restrictions

• Moderate

• Air and land borders are open with some entry restrictions. Non-residents from Spain will only be allowed entry for essential purposes, such as work, study and health care.

• Cruise ships may dock at Portuguese ports, however, only Portuguese citizens and official residents will be allowed to disembark.

• Cruise ships are allowed to dock in Madeira and Porto Santo, but passengers and crew can only embark or disembark with the consent of the health authorities.

• Other vessels can dock, and crew and passengers can disembark subject to health screening, completion of a Traveller Registration form, and proof of a negative COVID-19 test carried out 72 hours before departure from the last port of call. Anyone without proof of COVID-19 testing must have a test on arrival and await the results on board the vessel.

• Anyone who has been at sea for more than 14 days will be exempt from a COVID-19 test unless showing signs of being unwell or with a fever.

• Yachts are permitted to dock in the Azores, but crew members will be subject to the same health screening and voluntary quarantine measures as airline passengers.

• Passengers on flights diverted from Madeira to Porto Santo airport due to adverse weather conditions must stay and self-isolate themselves in the airport until flights to connect to Funchal are available.

Curfew restrictions

• Moderate

• As of 6 November, mainland Portugal is under a nationwide “State of Emergency.”

• As of 16 November, 191 municipalities are under partial lockdown. Based on criteria established by the European Centre for Disease Control, municipalities that exceed 240 cases per 100,000 population in the last 14 days should be under partial lockdown.

• Updated information on which municipalities are in partial lockdown can be found here.

• As of 16 November, a curfew will be imposed in the 191 municipalities, during the weekdays from 23:00 to 5:00 and on weekends from 13:00 to 5:00 (Saturday and Sunday). Exceptions will be made for essential work or emergencies. The curfew is in place until at least 23 November and could be extended.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• There is a mandatory quarantine for anyone who feels sick, anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and anyone under active observation by a public health department.

• People must keep a physical distance of 2 meters.

• Partial teleworking is no longer mandatory. Teleworking will depend on the agreement between the employer and the employee.

• Gatherings/groups of more than five people are banned in private settings and cafes. Gatherings/meetings of more than four people in any establishments within 300 meters of schools will be strictly prohibited during the workweek until 20:00.

• In the municipalities under partial lockdown, there are special restrictions, including the requirement to stay-at-home, except for pre-authorized travel for essential reasons (grocery shopping, work or education, family, or health purposes). Work-from-home is compulsory whenever possible.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Masks are compulsory for everyone over the age of 10.

• Public transportation (rail, bus) across the country operates with a limited seat capacity. People are encouraged to avoid public transportation if other options are available.

• The capital, Lisbon, is accessible from most parts of the country by bus, taxis, and trains.

• Taxis are still operating, however, front seats will be occupied only by the driver.

• In the municipalities under partial lockdown, private vehicles are allowed to operate only for authorized or essential purposes, including refuelling.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Shopping malls, stores, and other shops are open.

• All commercial establishments will only be allowed to open from 10:00 and must close by 20:00 or 23:00 (local time) based on the restrictions in different municipalities.

• In the municipalities under partial lockdown, all retail establishments must close by 22:00, except for take-away and essential businesses, such as pharmacies, fuel stations, and medical establishments.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Most hotels, private villas, campsites, and holiday apartments have reopened.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open with reduced capacity. They must close by 01:00. Restaurants may not entertain customers after midnight. There is a maximum of six people per group, unless they are from the same household.

• In the municipalities under partial lockdown, restaurants must close by 22:30. A maximum of six people per group is allowed unless they are from the same household.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Bars and discos may open. The use of dance floors remains prohibited. There is a ban on drinking alcohol in public places, except for on pavement cafés and restaurants. After 20:00, alcohol may only be served outdoors if accompanied by a meal.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Access to beaches is allowed subject to social distancing measures and capacity limits. The occupancy status system for beaches has been implemented, which has three colours: Green (only one-third of the beach is occupied), Yellow (two-thirds are occupied) and Red (fully occupied).

• The information regarding the occupancy limit will be updated in real-time on the “Info Praia” app (available for both Android and IOS). The app can be downloaded here.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums, art galleries, and monuments are open.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Gyms (under safety and health protocols) are open.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Religious ceremonies are allowed, if following health and social distancing protocols.

Events allowed?

• No with exceptions

• Most events are banned, including at colleges and universities (except for strictly academic events).

• Open-air events or outdoor shows will be permitted in a delimited venue to allow access control. Social distancing must be followed.

• Weddings and baptisms can have an attendance of up to 50 people.

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 who are in the same household do not need to wear a mask when social distancing from third parties is possible.

Other

• Alcohol consumption is banned in public and open-air spaces, except for in restaurants and cafes. Gas stations are not allowed to sell alcohol. The sale of alcohol in shops and markets is banned after 20:00.

• Daycare centres, preschools, after-school activities, and language schools are open. Use of protective masks is mandatory except for children in kindergarten and daycare centres.

• Cinemas, concert halls, and theatres are open with reduced capacity, reserved seats, and physical distancing guidelines.

• On the island of São Miguel in the Azores, tighter restrictions are in place until further notice due to localized outbreaks of COVID-19. Nightclubs are closed, and bars and pubs close by 22:00.

• In the municipalities under partial lockdown, markets and fairs are prohibited or must get approval from the local authority to operate.

Sfaturi

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.