Portugal travel advice

Travel Summary

• There have been confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus - swine flu in Portugal. If you are concerned about the outbreak, there is a dedicated freephone number for British nationals overseas: (+44) 207 928 1010. There are also reports of confirmed human cases in Spain, which shares a border with Portugal. The Portuguese Health authorities are advising anyone who has flu symptoms to contact the Ministry of Health helpline, Saúde 24, on 808 24 24 24. See the Health section for further information.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• A number of British nationals have been the victim of a serious sexual offence in the Algarve this summer. For more information see the section on Crime.
  
  
• Around 2,254,300 British tourists visit Portugal every year (Source: Portuguese National Statistical Office (www.ine.pt). Most visits are trouble-free. 397 British nationals required consular assistance in Portugal in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (208 cases); hospitalisations (91 cases); and arrests, for a variety of reasons (22 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (612 cases). You should be alert to the risk of petty theft. See the Crime section of this advice for more details. If you need to contact the emergency services in Portugal call 112.
  
  
• There is a legal requirement for you to show some form of identification (i.e., your passport) if requested by the police or judicial authorities, especially if you intend to drive in Portugal. See the General section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

Crime remains comparatively low in Portugal but pickpocketing, handbag snatching and theft from cars are increasingly common in major tourist areas. Take care of your belongings at all times. Do not leave your bag on the chair beside you while eating or having a drink in a café or restaurant. Do not hang it on the back of your chair or leave it unattended under the table. Thieves often work in groups and create distractions with the aim of stealing.

There has also been an increase in the number of reported passport thefts. Remember your passport is a valuable document. It is expensive to replace and can lead to serious complications if your identity is later used fraudulently. You should report the loss or theft of your passport immediately to the local police and obtain a police report. You will need the report for insurance purposes and to obtain a replacement travel document from the Consulate. For further information on replacing a lost or stolen passport, see the Passport page of the FCO website.

Passports, credit cards, travel tickets and money should not be carried together in handbags or pockets. Leave spare cash and valuables in a safe place. Do not leave any valuables in an unattended car. Remember that foreign-registered and hire cars are often targeted by thieves. Groups of thieves in the Lisbon area are reported to be damaging tyres, especially those of hire cars, and then stealing personal belongings from cars after the driver has stopped to change the tyre. If you are approached by anyone alerting you that you have a puncture, do not stop, lock the car doors and call the car hire company for assistance.

Portuguese police recommend car windows and doors are closed and locked at all times while driving at night in urban centres. Pedestrians are advised not to wear valuable jewellery or watches in public areas.

Personal attacks, including sexual assaults are infrequent. Nevertheless, you should be alert to the availability and possible use of "date rape and other drugs, including "GHB" and liquid ecstasy. You should purchase your own drinks and keep sight of them at all times to make sure they cannot be spiked. Female travellers in particular should maintain a high state of personal awareness during their time in Portugal. Be aware that alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment. If you are going to drink, know your limit and remember that drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK. Avoid splitting up from your friends, and don't go off with people you don't know. For more general information see Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Portugal Country Profile

Local Travel

In addition to this general travel advice for Portugal, please also see the local travel advice for the region you are visiting, which can be found on the website of the British Embassy in Lisbon at http://ukinportugal.fco.gov.uk:

• Lisbon Area
• Portimao (Algarve) area
• Funchai (Madeira) area

Emergencies

In case of a consular emergency you should call the British Embassy on (+351) 213 924 000.

Forest Fires

Forest fires occur frequently in Portugal during the summer months. There have been many serious outbreaks, especially in northern and central parts of the country. There is a danger that these will become more frequent whilst the weather remains hot and dry. Please take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas; ensure that cigarette ends are properly extinguished, do not light barbecues and do not leave empty bottles behind. If you see the on-set of a forest fire, please call 112 or 117. For up-to-date information, please consult the Portuguese Fire and Civil Protection Service's website: http://www.proteccaocivil.pt/Pages/default.aspx.

Road Travel

If hiring a car, you should ensure that the vehicle insurance is fully comprehensive and covers you and your passengers for all eventualities.

As a holidaymaker, you can bring your own vehicle to Portugal for a maximum of 183 days in any 12-month period. You must not use your vehicle for any other purpose or loan it to anyone else during that time. If you intend to stay longer, you must apply to the Portuguese Customs authority to have the car legally imported. You will be fined if you leave the country without your car.

The minimum age for driving is 18. You must possess a UK driving licence or an International Driving Permit. UK-issued provisional licences are not valid for driving in Portugal. In addition to your licence, you must also carry your vehicle logbook or rental contract, proof of insurance and MOT certificate (if appropriate) together with all other relevant documentation. There are heavy on-the-spot fines for those who fail to do so.

You must carry a red warning triangle to place behind the vehicle in case of accident or breakdown and a reflective vest for use if you have to get out of your car. The wearing of seatbelts is compulsory in the front and rear of vehicles. Children under 12 must not travel in the front passenger seat. You must not carry spare (full) petrol cans in the vehicle.

Fines for traffic offences are substantial in Portugal. Such infringements as speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, the use of mobile phones whilst driving and illegal parking are heavily penalised. The use of appropriate child safety seats and seat belts in the rear of the vehicle is compulsory. The police have the authority to fine on-the-spot and most of their vehicles are equipped with portable ATM machines to facilitate immediate payment. The Portuguese Highway Code can be found (in Portuguese) at: http://www.prp.pt/informacao/actualidades/act_00107.asp.

As in many other European countries, there is a toll system in operation on Portuguese motorways. Heavy fines are imposed on those who do not or cannot pay toll fees. You should take care not to use the green lanes reserved for motorists who subscribe to the automatic pay system.

Driving regulations and customs are different from those in the UK and the accident rate is higher.

In 2007 there were 854 road deaths in Portugal (source: Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária – http://www.ansr.pt). This equates to eight road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2007 (DfT).

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Beaches & Swimming

Death by drowning occurs every year on Portuguese beaches and in swimming pools. The Maritime Police have the authority to fine bathers who disobey the lifeguard's warning flags.

Warning flags on beaches should be taken seriously. The red flag indicates danger. Never enter the water when the red flag is flying. If there is a yellow flag, you may paddle at the water's edge, but you may not swim. The green flag indicates that it is safe to swim, and the chequered flag means that the beach is temporarily unmanned.

Do not swim at fluvial beaches or beaches without lifeguards. Do not dive into unknown bodies of water, because hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death.

For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Air Travel

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Portugal. For more details about this see Airline Security.

Local laws and customs

Under Portuguese drug legislation, if you are caught consuming or in possession of drugs for personal use you may be subject to a fine or other sanction (including the seizure of personal belongings). Selling or trafficking of drugs is a criminal offence and subject to severe penalties.

There is a legal requirement for foreign nationals to be able to show some form of identification if requested by the police or judicial authorities. For UK nationals this means a passport. This requirement is rigorously enforced in the case of those driving cars in Portugal. In other cases, it should be sufficient to carry a photocopy of the data page of your passport, but you should be prepared to produce the original document, if necessary. This may mean being accompanied by the police to collect it from your hotel. All UK visitors are in any case advised to keep a photocopy of the data page separate from the original.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas

As an EU national, you may remain in Portugal as a tourist for a period not exceeding three months. If you intend to settle, you must apply for a Registration Certificate from the local Camara Municipal (Town Hall) or from the nearest office of the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (Portuguese immigration authority).

Passport validity

A valid British passport must be held for entry to and exit from Portugal. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.

Travelling with children

A minor under the age of 18 travelling to Portugal must either:

• be accompanied by a parent or guardian,
• be met at the airport or point of entry by a parent or guardian, or
• carry a letter of authorisation to travel from a parent or guardian. The letter should name the adult responsible for the minor during his/her stay.

A minor who is resident in Portugal may be prevented from leaving the country if he/she is travelling unaccompanied and is not carrying a notarised letter of authority from a parent or guardian. This is particularly important for children returning to school in the UK.

Similarly, a resident minor travelling with just one of his/her parents, must have a notarised letter of authority to leave the country from the parent who is staying behind. A standard form of words (in Portuguese) covering both of these cases, may be downloaded from the Portuguese immigration service website in Portuguese.

Health

There have been confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus - swine flu in Portugal. If you are concerned about the outbreak, there is a dedicated freephone number for British nationals overseas: (+44) 207 928 1010. There are also reports of confirmed human cases in Spain, which shares a border with Portugal. The Portuguese authorities are advising anyone who has flu symptoms to stay at home and contact the Ministry of Health helpline, Saúde 24, on 808 24 24 24. Portuguese Health Authority officials are meeting any flights arriving from Mexico in order to provide advice passengers should they develop flu symptoms, and to obtain contact details for monitoring purposes. You can keep up-to-date with the situation in Portugal through the Portuguese Ministry of Health website: http://www.portaldasaude.pt/portal (in Portuguese). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. If you wish to check for updates on the number of cases in Spain, you may consult the Spanish Ministry of Health website: www.msc.es/en/home.htm (in Spanish). There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk. tel: 0800 1 513 513 (from UK only).

If you are visiting Portugal, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Portuguese nationals. It does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. For more general information see EHIC.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 34,000 adults aged 15 or over in Portugal were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Portugal and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been no cases of human avian flu infections in Portugal.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. No human infections or deaths have been reported. But, as a precaution, you should avoid places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with the FCO's Avian & Pandemic Influenza page on the FCO website, which gives more detailed advice and information.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

General

Insurance

You are advised to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

You are reminded that the currency of Portugal is the Euro.

Since 15 June 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU applies in all Member States. Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers’ cheques, money orders, etc. This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.

In Portugal, such declarations should be made to the Customs authorities on entry or departure.