This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Updated 10 February 2021
After months of dormancy due to the raging pandemic, the travel industry is gearing up for a return to small normalcy with borders reopening, easing of quarantine requirements, and creation of travel bubbles. Travelers around the world are now keen to find out if, when and where they can travel abroad. One country that’s been on many travel wishlist is Portugal. Can anyone travel to Portugal now?
Who can travel to Portugal?
Citizens from a select list of countries
Passengers are not allowed to enter until 14 February 2021. This does not apply to:
- nationals and residents of Portugal and their family members;
- nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, and their family members;
- passengers with a long term visa issued by Portugal;
- passengers arriving from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China (People’s Rep.), Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR China), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR China), Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand or Uruguay;
- passengers with a residence permit issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Sweden, returning via Portugal to their country of residence;
- passengers with a long term visa issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Sweden, returning via Portugal to their country of residence
According to Portugal’s official tourism website, air travel to and from the country is allowed for citizens from:
- European Union countries;
- Schengen Associated Countries – Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland;
- Australia, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), South Korea, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, Thailand and 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.
All commercial or private flights between Portugal and the United Kingdom and between Portugal and Brazil are suspended.
- Except for the right of entry for national citizens and their families and holders of residence permits in Portugal, only on flights of a humanitarian nature for the purpose of repatriation of those citizens.
- These passengers will have to present, at the time of departure, proof of a RT-PCR test with a negative result, carried out within 72 hours prior to departure time.
- Upon arriving in the national territory, they must comply with a period of 14 days of quarantine at home, or in a place indicated by the health authorities.
Citizens from other destinations, only for essential travel
Citizens from other destinations are allowed to fly to Portugal only for essential travel and they must present a negative RT-PCR test result, carried out within 72 hours before boarding. If you are in transit and will not leave the airport facilities, then you do not need to carry this test result.
Essential travel here 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.
National and foreign citizens with legal residence in Portugal and also diplomatic personnel accredited in Portugal who do not present the test before boarding 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.
The Portuguese airports (Lisboa, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada, and Funchal) have implemented several initiatives to keep staff and passengers safer. A body temperature measurement system is implacable on arrival. Passengers will be requested to fill out a form from the Health Authorities (Passenger Locator Form), provided by the Airline Company, during the flight. This information will be helpful to reach passengers in case someone develops COVID-19 symptoms within the same plane.
Are there different rules for travels to Azores and Madeira?
Yes, anyone travelling to the Madeira islands will have to present a negative RT-PCR test result, conducted within 72 hours prior to departure or to take the test upon arrival. Those who haven’t taken the test before departure must take it at the airport, and have to wait for around 12 hours in confinement, until they receive the results.
Passengers traveling to Madeira must complete an epidemiological survey before departure at https://madeirasafe.com . This will generate a QR code which must be presented upon arrival.
Passengers travelling to the Azores islands, except those aged 12 or under, are now required to submit proof of testing to COVID-19 up to 72 hours prior to the flight departure. Alternatively, they can take the test on arrival but will have to stay in isolation till results are confirmed negative. Any traveller not satisying either of these conditions will have to return to the destination of origin or any other destination outside the region, and will have remain in isolation till then. Travellers from mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Region of Madeira can undergo these screening tests free of cost in laboratories agreed by the Government of the Azores.
Passengers traveling to Azores must complete a “Health Form upon arrival at the Azores” and a “Draft statement for inter-island travel” upon arrival; or submit a “Questionnaire for Risk Assessment and Early Detection” before departure at https://mysafeazores.com/ .
Do I need to quarantine if I travel to Portugal?
Upon arriving in the national territory, they must comply with a period of 14 days of quarantine at home, or in a place indicated by the health authorities. As of 15 January, a new lockdown is in place in Portugal to control COVID-19, in force until 14 February. Movement between municipalities at the weekend will be prohibited, between 8pm on friday to 5am on Monday.
Check the lockdown restrictions here. Cross-border rail traffic is suspended, except for the transport of goods,
Are there flights to Portugal now?
There are flights to Lisbon and Porto on Wego. A slew of protective measures has been taken by airports in Portugal that include mandatory mask usage inside the airport for passengers and staff, disinfection kits made available in vending machines, among others.
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