1. The Government has approved a new set of measures
To regulate the extension of the State of Emergency which will be in force between 00:00 on January 31, 2021 and 23:59 on February 14, 2021, the Council of Ministers determined some changes to the measures already in force, namely:
- The suspension of educational and teaching activities of all educational establishments is in force until February 5, 2021. These activities will be resumed from February 8 in a non-physical presence regime;
- The suspension of these activities and the non-attendance regime do not prevent the performance of tests or examinations of international curricula;
- Whenever necessary, therapeutic support provided in special education establishments, schools, resource centers for inclusion, as well as reception in the units integrated in the learning support centers, may be provided in person for those students for whom additional measures have been implemented;
- Limitation to movements of Portuguese citizens out of continental territory, carried out by any means, without prejudice to the exceptions provided for in the Decree;
- Replacement of the control of persons at the land borders, under the terms foreseen in the Decree;
- Possibility of suspending flights and determining mandatory confinement of passengers on arrival;
- Possibility of health care institutions of the National Health Service being able, exceptionally, to contract, up to a maximum of one year, holders of academic degrees granted by foreign higher education institutions in the areas of medicine and nursing, provided that certain requirements are met.
The Decree Law that establishes exceptional mechanisms for the management of health professionals to carry out care activities in the scope of the COVID-19 disease pandemic in the National Health Service was also approved. It allows the hiring of doctors without the complete specialty, the additional hiring of retired doctors and nurses, the extra payment of overtime work and the salary reinforcement of nurses and operational assistants with increased hours.
- General confinement measures
There will be a general duty of home retreat. It will not be allowed to travel on public spaces and roads, except for authorized travel, in which the following stand out:
– acquisition of essential goods and services;
– access to public services;
– professional activities (if accompanied by a statement);
– health reasons;
– assistance to vulnerable people;
– attendance of school establishments;
– short walks for the purpose of physical activity, individually or with members of the same household;
– pet walk;
– travel required for entering and leaving mainland, including those necessary to travel to and from the accommodation;
– homecoming within the scope of permitted situations;
– refuelling at fuel stations within the scope of permitted travel. - Gatherings
The movement and concentration of groups of more than 5 people is prohibited, in private or public spaces, unless they belong to the same household. - Establishments and services open to the public
– Essential goods stores, grocery stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets may operate without time restrictions;
– Health services, offices, dentists and pharmacies;
– Restaurants and cafes may only operate on a take-away or home delivery basis;
– Fairs and markets are only allowed to sell food products. - Establishments and services closed to the public
– Hairdressers / barber shops;
– Gyms closed;
– Museums, cultural and leisure spaces;
– Prohibited events. - Religious ceremonies
Religious celebrations must follow the rules of capacity reduction, community distancing and the mandatory use of a mask.
More information can be found here.
2. Travelling to Portugal
There are no specific restrictions on mobility to cross land borders. More information can be found here.
Before travelling, visitors should obtain and confirm information about procedures and restrictions in the countries of origin and destination, from the airline company and from the foreign and border services.
For trips to Portugal, passengers must fill in a form from the Health Authorities – Passenger Locator Card – available here.
This information should be used to contact passengers in case of any COVID-19 cases on board. It can be filled in online, but if there are any difficulties, the form can be handed in by the airline on paper and filled in during the flight.
Passengers flying to the Madeira archipelago
Have to present a negative test to COVID-19 carried out within 72 hours before embarkation or they will be able to take it upon arrival. More information can be found here and here.
Passengers flying to the Azores archipelago
- Passengers wishing to travel to the territory of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, by air or by sea, and who come from areas considered by the World Health Organization to be areas of active community transmission or with active transmission chains of the SARS-CoV- 2 virus, are required to present, prior to boarding, a certificate, in digital or paper format, of a document issued by an recognized laboratory, national or international, to carry out a diagnostic test to SARS-CoV-2 with negative result.
- Extending the stay on any of the islands of the archipelago for seven or more days, or for thirteen or more days, the passenger must, on the 6th and 12th days, respectively, counting from the date of the SARS-CoV-2 screening test, contact the Health Authority of the municipality where one resides or is staying, with the objective of carrying out a new SARS-CoV-2 screening test, supported by the local Health Authority, which result will be communicated by the means assumed by that entity.
Exceptions to the mandatory presentation of the test:
Passengers aged 12 years or less (You can check other exceptions here)
General travel information:
The report of the examination carried out up to 72 hours before the flight departs, must contain the following information:
- Passenger identification;
- Name of the laboratory where it was carried out with reference to the respective certification;
- Reference to the use of the RT-PCR methodology; d) Date of the test;
- Test result as “negative”
If your result is negative, you can travel and must register your trip on the My Safe Azores platform to allow faster control on arrival in the Azores.
You must present the exam result at the time of check-in in digital or physical format, excluding the SMS format.
Inter-islands trips departing from S.Miguel and Terceira to one of the other seven islands
In the case of an inter-island trip departing from São Miguel or Terceira to one of the other seven islands, you must perform the COVID19 test, using the RT-PCR methodology, up to 72 hours before departure and only with a negative result you can travel.
Flights to and from the European Union and Schengen Area
Air travel to and from Portugal is allowed to:
– European Union countries;
– Schengen Associated Countries – Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland – and the United Kingdom;
– Australia, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), South Korea, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, Thailand, Uruguay.
Passengers from countries with an incidence rate of 500 cases or more per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days – Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia – must present a negative test to COVID-19 (RT-PCR), carried out within 72 hours before boarding time and must comply, after entry in mainland Portugal, a period of prophylactic isolation of 14 days, at home or in a place indicated by health authorities. Prophylactic isolation does not apply to passengers on essential travels and whose length of stay in national territory, certified by return ticket, does not exceed 48 hours.
Passengers coming from countries that have a incidence between 150 and 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days – Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland – must present a negative test to COVID-19 (RT-PCR), carried out within 72 hours before boarding time.
Flights from the United Kingdom
– Only passengers on flights from the United Kingdom who are nationals or citizens legally resident in Portugal are allowed to enter Portugal. All passengers must present a negative test to COVID 19.
– Upon arrival in the national territory, citizens who do not have proof of negative test results will be sent by the competent authorities to be carried out inside the airport. In this case, citizens will have to remain in isolation, under the terms defined by health authorities.
Flights between Portugal and other destinations
will only be permitted for essential travel. In this case, passengers must present a negative test to COVID-19 (RT-PCR), carried out within 72 hours before departure time. This test is not asked in Portugal for those who are in transit and do not have to leave the airport facilities. “Essential travel” is defined as trips allowing the transit, entry into and departure from Portugal for the following persons:
– citizens of a European Union member state, Schengen Associated countries and their family members;
– citizens repatriated through consular assistance;
– third-country nationals travelling for professional purposes, study, family reunions, health and humanitarian reasons and under the reciprocity principle.In essential travels, national and foreign citizens with legal residence in Portugal and also diplomatic personnel accredited in Portugal who, exceptionally, do not present the test, will have to do it on arrival, at the airport, and at their own expense. Foreign passengers who embark without the test performed, will be refused entry into national territory, with the airline being the subject of a fine.
More information can be found here
Before planning your trip, consult the European Union website where you can find information on each country about borders, available means of transport, travel restrictions, health and public safety measures, as well as as well as other practical information for travellers.
To know which are the travel regulations all around the world, check the map at the IATA Travel Centre.
3. Can I travel to Portugal?
Travelers arriving from the following countries can enter Portugal. There are currently no quarantine measures imposed
- 🇪🇺 European Union
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
- 🇦🇹 Australia
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇳 China
- 🇬🇪 Georgia
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
4. What air connections are permitted to and from Portugal ?
Air connections between Portugal and the following countries are permitted:
- 🇪🇺 European Union
- 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
From August 1st onwards, flights from and from the following countries are permitted:
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia
- 🇨🇳 China
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- 🇬🇪 Georgia
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
Flights to and from destinations other than those mentioned will be permitted only for essential travel.
5. Special requirements
Passengers on flights to the Portuguese islands of the Azores and Madeira are required to have a negative Covid-19 test carried out in the 72 hours prior to the trip or submit to testing at the airport one in Portugal. Only Portuguese passengers are allowed to disembark from cruise ships.
6. Third country nationals
Essential travel from Lusofone countries and the United States is allowed but passengers must have a negative COVID-19 test carried out 72 hours prior to the trip.
7. Essential travel
Essential travel is the one intended to permit transit into or out of Portugal:
- Citizens of the European Union, nationals of States associated with the Schengen area (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland) and the United Kingdom, and members of their families
- Third-country nationals legally resident in a Member State of the European Union
- Third-country nationals travelling for business, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons and in accordance with the principle of reciprocity
8. Travel Registration Form
Travelers need to fill out a Travel Registration available here or via the App available for IOS or Android
9. Arriving by land
The border between Portugal and Spain was reopened on July 1, 2020. However, the Borders Service and the GNR (Portuguese police) will remain on the border with Spain to ensure that citizens entering national territory are fully informed of the measures in place in Portugal to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Random and temporary mobile controls will be carried out on public passenger transport vehicles, motor caravans and light vehicles in Valença, Quintanilha, Vilar Formoso, Caia and Castro Marim.
