Measures Implemented in Portugal
[Updated on november 1st]
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), Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and special administrative 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, or
a valid Vaccination or recovery certificate issued by a third country, under reciprocal conditions: Albania, Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Israel, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Monaco, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, San Marino, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, The Vatican. - 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
AZORES
ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel)
- RT-PCR Test – 72h before boarding, or
Rapid Antigen Test – 48h before boarding (according to the European Commission list based on the Council Recommendation of 21 January 2021), 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 aged 12 and under can travel without a certificate or test.
- All passengers need to fill Questionnaire at https://mysafeazores.com, with exception of EU Digital COVID Certificate of vaccination or recovery holders.
More information at www.visitazores.com
MADEIRA
ALLOWED (Essential and non-essential travel)
- RT-PCR Test – 72h before boarding, or
Rapid Antigen Test – 48h 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, or
- Perform voluntary isolation, for a period of 10 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 Land
No restrictions of entrance.
3) Arriving to Portugal by Sea
Same rules as arriving by air apply.
Important: The information available on this page is a summary of the measures published by the Portuguese government during COVID-19 pandemic. Before traveling, it is important to confirm the entry formalities and procedures with the airline company and the Portuguese border service – SEF (www.sef.pt / gricrp.cc@sef.pt), the entity responsible for the border control.
II – MOBILITY
1. Public Transports:
a. The use of face masks is mandatory.
b. Public transports without occupancy limit
c. Taxis and similar passenger transports without occupancy limit.
III – GENERAL RULES
1. GENERAL RULES in the entire country, from October 1st:
– Restaurants with no maximum limit of people per group;
– End of requirement for digital certificate or negative test for access to restaurants;
– End of timetable restrictions;
– End of capacity limits, namely in local commerce establishments, in weddings and baptisms and in cultural shows;
– Opening of bars and clubs;
– End of limitation on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
It is mandatory to present EU COVID Digital Certificate in:
– Major cultural and sporting events (check the event website for more info);
– Bars and clubs;
– Visits to health facilities;
– Travel by air or sea
IV – BEHAVIOR RULES
- General behavior guidelines
– Social distancing;
– Frequent hand washing;
– Respiratory etiquette. - Mandatory use of mask
√ In public transport (including air transport and taxis or TVDE), concert halls and events, large commercial surfaces, residential structures for the elderly, health establishments and services.
√ By workers in bars, clubs, restaurants and commercial and service establishments.
On the beaches: on the accesses, walkways and sanitary facilities it is no longer mandatory to wear a mask, but the physical distance of 1.5m between each user is maintained. It remains mandatory for street vendors. - 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
Vaccination
The vaccination schedule is considered complete after taking:
a) From a single-dose vaccine, for vaccines with a one-dose vaccine schedule;
b) The second dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 with a two-dose vaccine schedule, even if doses of two different vaccines have been administered; or
c) A single dose of a vaccine against COVID -19 with a two-dose vaccination schedule for people who have recovered from the disease, if it is indicated in the vaccination certificate that the vaccination schedule was completed after administration of one dose.
The complete vaccination schedule is valid 14 days after the last dose has been taken.
Only vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency are valid in Portugal: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/treatments- vaccines/vaccines-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-authorised
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
More information at https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en
Certificates issued by third countries, under reciprocal conditions
Vaccination certificates must include:
– Given name(s) and surname(s) of the holder;
– Date of birth;
– Disease or agent targeted: COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 or one of its variants);
– Vaccine against COVID-19 or prophylaxis;
– Name of the vaccine against COVID-19;
– Marketing authorization holder or manufacturer of the vaccine against COVID-19;
– Number in a series of doses as well as the total number of doses in the series;
– Date of vaccination, indicating the date of the last dose administered;
– Member State or third country where the vaccine was administered;
– Entity issuing the certificate.
Recovery certificates must include:
– Given name(s) and surname(s) of the holder;
– Date of birth;
– Disease or agent from which the holder recovered: COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 or one of its variants);
– Date of the first positiveresult of the diagnostic test;
– Member State or third country in which the diagnostic test was performed;
– Entity issuing the certificate;
– Valid certificate
Non-reciprocity in the recognition by third countries of the validity of the EU COVID Digital Certificate issued by Portugal, in the modalities of vaccination or recovery certificates, prevents the recognition of the validity of certificates issued by these third countries.
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