Data Last Updated: May 17, 2021
General Information
Portugal has reopened its borders to tourists last June of 2020, but closed it again at the start of 2021 after the second wave of Covid-19 infections hit the country.
As of May 2021, Portugal is once again allowing the entry of tourists from EU and Schengen countries as well as citizens and residents of some third-party countries including Australia, China, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. All travelers must fill in a passenger locator form and provide a negative test result taken within the past 72 hours.
The autonomous archipelago of Madeira has opened a ‘green corridor’ for international visitors who have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 within the previous 90 days.
Mask Requirement
Mask is required to be worn in all public indoor, public transport and certain outdoor areas where social distancing is not possible.
Internal Restrictions/Closures
Due to an increase in Covid-19 infection rates, authorities In Portugal will tighten restrictions in the municipalities of Lousada, Felgueiras e Pacos de Ferreira on Oct. 23. In these locations, citizens are to remain at home and avoid public spaces and roads, except for certain preapproved activities, including grocery shopping, attending work-related functions, seeking medical help, assisting vulnerable people, going to school, exercising outdoors, and walking pets.
In addition, all retail and service entities except for pharmacies and gas stations, are to close at 22:00. Celebrations and other gatherings are limited to five people unless they belong to the same household. Working from home is mandatory whenever possible. Existing nationwide measures remain in place.
Locals and visitors are required to social-distance at all times and wear face coverings on public transport and enclosed public spaces.
It’s worth noting that island provinces outside mainland Portugal such as Azores and Madeira will apply stricter rules.
Passengers flying to the Madeira archipelago have to present a negative test to COVID-19 carried out within 72 hours prior to departure or they can perform it upon arrival.
Passengers flying to the Azores archipelago will be subject to one of the following options:
1. Submit proof of testing to COVID-19 up to 72 hours prior to flight departure;
2. Perform test on arrival and stay in prophylactic isolation until the result is obtained;
3. Perform voluntary quarantine for a period of 14 days in a hotel indicated for the purpose;
4. Return to the destination of origin or travel to any destination outside the Region, fulfilling, until the time of the flight, prophylactic isolation in a hotel indicated for this purpose.
More information for Azores are available at covid19.azores.gov.pt
Airlines & Transport
Portugal is open for air travel for EU and Schengen citizens and residents, except for Italy and Spain. Flights are already running to Portugal’s three major airports and more airlines are resuming routes soon.
Land border with Spain remains closed.
Flights to and from Portugal
Air travel to and from Portugal is allowed to:
- European Union countries;
- Schengen Associated Countries - Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland – and the United Kingdom;
- Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay.
It is not necessary to present the COVID-19 Test on these flights unless the destinations are the archipelagos of Madeira or the Azores.
Status of Opening to Tourists
Information based on tourists place of residence being in that country for the last 14 days
Select Country of Residence
Test Required For Tourists From:
37 Countries
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
China
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Not Allowing Tourists From:
206 Countries
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Israel
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Congo
Réunion
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos
Tuvalu
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
More Details
Last Updated: October 28, 2020
Since June, Portugal has reopened its doors for tourists from selected countries. The country opened its borders in different stages, and travel restrictions would vary from region to region. Health checks will be provided at airports, but there will be no mandatory quarantine for visitors at the Mainland region.
Portugal first reopened its doors to tourists from the EU countries. Then on July 3rd, the country has welcomed a few more third-party countries, as recommended by the EU council.
Who Can Enter Portugal?
Portugal is open to tourists from the EU countries, as well as Portuguese-speaking countries and those with large Portuguese communities. It has also opened its doors to a few third-party countries.
Here’s a list of countries that can enter Portugal:
- Algeria
- Austria
- Belgium
- China
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tunisia
Starting October 31, 2020, visitors coming from Canada will no longer be allowed entry into Portugal except if they are visiting for essential reasons.
Travel Entry Requirements to Portugal
If you came from countries that are eligible to travel to Portugal, here are the travel entry requirements, rules, and procedures. Take note that this will vary by region.
Mainland Portugal
The Mainland region includes most of Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, right next to Spain. Currently, there’s no mandatory testing or quarantine required when entering the Mainland.
Temperature checks are in place at the airports using thermal scanners. Border agents are monitoring these, and anyone who will show symptoms of Covid-19 may be asked to do a test or go on quarantine.
Madeira
Madeira is one of the regions in Portugal that had very low COVID-19 cases, and they are keen to maintain it. Thus, Madeira has imposed stricter rules of entry for all tourists visiting the region.
- First, travelers must present a negative Covid-19 test taken 72 hours before arrival. Otherwise, the passenger will have to undergo a Covid-19 test upon arrival.
- All visitors must download an app, the MADEIRA SAFE TO DISCOVER, and upload health documents into the app before entering Madeira. They can also download the documents through the website.
- A thermal screening will take place on arrival. Those who are carrying a negative Covid-19 test result will have expedited processing at the airport and will be the first to leave.
- Travelers can take advantage of a free test at the airport. However, it will take 12 hours for the result to be available, so you need to stay in isolation at your accommodation while waiting. If the result is negative, you will be allowed to go out and enjoy your holiday.
- For those who test positive, the health service will check you in at a confinement hotel along with your group. The local government may cover the cost. After a week, another test will be conducted. Only when you test negative will you be allowed to go out and explore the region.
The Azores
Just like Madeira, The Azores has very low cases of Covid-19 compared to the rest of Portugal. Thus, the local government has imposed stricter entry requirements to protect its residents.
- All visitors are required to submit health form information upon arrival. Those who can provide proof of a negative result that’s taken 72 hours before arrival will be cleared for entry.
- Travelers who cannot provide proof of a negative test before entering the Azores will be tested upon arrival at the airport. While waiting for results, the traveler must stay in isolation.
- Another test will be conducted on the 6th day for those who will stay for more than seven days in the Azores.
- If you will refuse another test, you will be asked to stay in isolation until you take your flight out of the region. Otherwise, you must go on a 14-day quarantine at a dedicated isolation facility at your own cost.
For the other regions in Portugal, the travel entry rules and requirements are pretty much similar to that of the Mainland. However, this can change very quickly, depending on the situation. It’s therefore important that you keep yourself updated with the latest news and be prepared for any changes.
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Information for Non-Tourists
All travelers are required to submit a negative COVID-19 test no older than 72 hours upon arrival. Portuguese citizens, permanent residents, and foreign diplomats accredited in the country who do not posses a negative test will have to take a test upon arrival, in facilities inside the airport at their own expense. All foreign travelers who are not in possession of a negative test upon arrival will be refused entry into the country.
856,740
Cases17,045
Deaths84,254
Cases Per Million
Graph of COVID-19 Cases In Last 30 Days
For Portugal