Madeira Islands

Passport validity requirements

Portugal follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area

• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has either been reported lost or stolen or is damaged.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Portugal, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in Portugal are different.  

If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

At Portuguese border control you may need to show:

• an onward or return ticket
• proof you have enough money for your visit

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period

If you’re visiting Portugal and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to AIMA using their contact form (access is only available to users in Portugal). This does not apply  to you if you’re the holder of a residence permit or long stay visa.

Read about entry processes if you live in Portugal.

New Schengen entry requirements 

The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area.  

This means that when you travel into the Schengen area for short stays, you may need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo. There is no cost for EES registration.  

On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk. Follow directions from your travel operator or the staff at your port of entry. You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken.  

You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border on entry to the Schengen area, but EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border and to allow more time for immigration controls when you depart the Schengen area. If you are departing the Schengen area by plane, allow extra time to reach your departure gate as EES checks may take place before boarding.  

EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays. You may be asked to input biometric details every time you enter or exit. 

If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, any information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK.  

Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. 

Read more information on the EU Entry/Exit System and to understand which countries are in the Schengen area. 

If you are long-term resident in a Schengen country, you are exempt from EES in all Schengen countries. The full list of EES exemptions is on the EU’s official Travel Europe website. 

If you believe you have been incorrectly entered into EES or your record of time spent in the Schengen area is incorrect, approach border officials when you next cross the Schengen border and request a correction. If you are exempt, carry documentation confirming your status. If you believe your time spent in the Schengen area has been recorded incorrectly, raise this with border officials and be prepared to provide supporting evidence if requested.

Prior to travelling to Portugal, you can use the EU’s Travel to Europe mobile application to complete an entry questionnaire. The application is optional, but it can help you save time and speed up border checks.

Travelling with children

Non-resident children travelling to Portugal

Children aged 17 and under travelling to Portugal alone, or with a person who is not their parent or legal guardian, must carry a letter of authorisation to travel.

The Portuguese authorities have advised that the letter must:

• be signed and dated by the child’s parent or legal guardian
• have the parent or guardian’s signature certified by a notary or solicitor
• have the notary or solicitor’s signature legalised by the Legalisation Office
• be accompanied by a copy of the child’s parent’s or guardian’s passport

Make sure the letter includes:

• the child’s full name, date of birth and passport number
• the child’s dates of arrival and departure
• the purpose of the visit
• the address where the child will be staying
• the name and passport number of the adult in Portugal who will be responsible for them during their stay
• the full name, date of birth, passport number and contact details of the parent or guardian

Be prepared to show the letter of authorisation to border officials on arrival and departure from Portugal.

If you bring a child to Portugal without a letter of authorisation, your entry will be delayed and may be refused.

Teenagers aged 17 and under who travel alone, or with friends of the same age, and who are not being met on arrival by a parent or guardian, may be refused entry if they do not have a letter of authorisation.

Resident children leaving Portugal

A child aged 17 or under who is resident in Portugal must carry a properly certified letter of authorisation if travelling without their parent or legal guardian. See more details in the Living in Portugal guide.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s guides for Portugal, The Azores, Madeira and Porto Santo.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Portugal. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Portugal

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Portugal. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Portugal

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

Emergency services in Portugal

Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Portugal
• dealing with a death in Portugal
• being arrested in Portugal
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• getting help if you’re a victim of rape or sexual assault
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you are affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Portugal on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Wildfires in Portugal

There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about the risks of travel, to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

You must provide photo ID if asked by a police officer. The police have the right to hold you at a police station until they have confirmed your identity. It is mandatory to carry ID when driving.

Gambling

Gambling is only legal in places licensed by the government, such as official casinos. Games of chance, including bingo, are illegal if they’re held on unlicensed premises.

The police may act on reports of illegal gambling in unauthorised premises without warning. You could be arrested, charged and fined or given a prison sentence. If in doubt, ask if the venue is licensed.

Illegal drugs

Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.

Airports in Portugal have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

Local laws governing public behaviour in Albufeira

The municipality of Albufeira has introduced a Code of Conduct which bans inappropriate behaviour in public places. Check out the rules that are now in force. If you break the rules, you could be fined on the spot from between 150 and 1800 euros.