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Portugal
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June 26, 2009
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Portugal is a developed and stable democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. Read the Department
of State Background Notes on Portugal for additional information.
REGISTRATION: Americans living or traveling in Portugal are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Portugal. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Portugal is a party to the Schengen agreement. As such, U.S. citizens may enter Portugal for up to 90 days for tourist or
business purposes without a visa. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. For further
details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our fact sheet.
Portuguese law requires some non-European Union foreign nationals to register with immigration officials within three working
days of entering Portugal. The law affects those who transit another Schengen area country by air en route to Portugal and
stay at noncommercial accommodations. If an American citizen would like to ensure that his or her entry is properly documented,
it may be necessary to request a stamp at an official point of entry, or download a “declaracão de entrada” from the Portuguese
Immigration Service’s website, and submit it to a local SEF office or police station within 3 days of entry. Travelers without
a stamp in their passport may be questioned about or asked to document the length of their stay in Schengen countries. If
unable to do so, they could face possible fines.
Travelers may also contact the Embassy of Portugal at 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, tel. (202) 350-5400,
or the Portuguese Consulates in Boston, MA; New Bedford, MA; Providence, RI; New York, NY; Newark, NJ; San Francisco, CA;
or Los Angeles, CA. Visit the Government of Portugal’s website for the most current visa information.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Portugal.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Portugal remains largely free of terrorist incidents. However, like other countries in the Schengen area, Portugal’s open
borders with its Western European neighbors allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity.
Americans are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution.
Brief general strikes and public protests by public sector employees, industrial workers and/or university student groups
take place with some frequency, but are usually publicized in advance and are rarely violent.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s
Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada
or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m.
to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For
general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the
Department of State’s A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Portugal has a relatively low rate of violent crime, though this has been on the increase over the past year. Travelers may
become targets of pickpockets and purse snatchers, particularly at popular tourist sites, restaurants, or on public transportation. Rental
cars and vehicles with non-local license plates can be targets for break-ins; travelers should remove visible luggage from
vehicles upon parking. Travelers should also avoid using automatic teller machines in isolated or poorly lit areas. Drivers
in Portugal should keep car doors locked when stopped at intersections. In general, visitors to Portugal should carry limited
cash and credit cards on their person, and leave extra cash, credit cards, and personal documents at home or in a hotel safe. While
thieves may operate anywhere, the U.S. Embassy receives most reports of theft from the following areas:
Lisbon: Pickpocketing and purse snatchings in the Lisbon area sometimes occur in buses, restaurants, the airport, trains,
train stations (in particular, the Oriente train station), and trams, especially aboard tram number 28 to the Castle of São
Jorge. Theft of purses, briefcases, and wallets also occurs in hotel lobbies, restaurants and elevators. At restaurants, items
hung over the backs of chairs or placed on the floor may be stolen. There have been incidents of theft of unattended luggage
from the Lisbon Airport. Special care should be taken in the Santa Apolonia and Rossio train stations, the Alfama and Bairro
Alto districts, the Castle of São Jorge and the area of Belém.
Outside Lisbon: Thefts have been reported in the towns of Sintra, Cascais, Mafra, Fatima and in the Algarve. Automobile break-ins
sometimes occur in parking areas at tourist attractions and near restaurants. Special care should be taken in parking at the
Moorish Castle and Pena Palace in Sintra and at the beachfront areas of Guincho, Cabo da Roca, and Boca do Inferno.
Azores: Pickpocketing and purse snatchings are not common in the Azores. There are no reports of organized crime or gangs.
Madeira: Pickpocketing, while infrequent, may occur in the Old Town and Santa Catarina Park areas of Funchal.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy
or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the
nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate
medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution
of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal
justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
Portugal has a crime victim’s assistance program, administered through an organization known by its acronym, "APAV." Office
hours are weekdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 – 5 p.m. Phone: [351] 707 20 00 77. To learn about possible sources of American
compensation, see our information on Victims of Crime.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Portugal is: 1-1-2. English-speaking operators are normally available.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Portugal’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Portugal are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Portuguese customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Portugal of such items as firearms, antiquities, medications, business equipment, sales samples and other items. It is advisable to contact a Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. Portugal's customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/ Temporary Admission) carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of The Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA carnet in the United States. For additional information, please telephone (212) 354-4480, e-mail, or visit The United States Council for International Business for details. Please see our Customs Information.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Good medical care is available, but facilities may be limited outside urban areas. Public hospitals offer services at a lower cost generally than private hospitals but sometimes do not maintain the same standards as hospitals in the United States. Travelers are encouraged to obtain insurance that would cover medical services from a private Portuguese hospital or clinic. Private hospitals will ask for a credit card or other form of payment upon admission. In a life-threatening emergency, an ambulance can be requested by calling the national emergency response telephone number 1-1-2. On the other hand, private ambulances should only be used for transport, not life-threatening emergencies, and usually require on-the-spot payment. Note that the responsiveness of emergency services is often not up to U.S. standards.
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES: Travelers sometimes request that relatives or friends in the U.S. mail prescription medicines to them
in Portugal, but doing so violates Portuguese law and usually results in the shipment of medications being impounded by Portuguese
Customs. When this occurs, the medications may not be released. Travelers who use prescription medicine should bring a sufficient
supply with them to cover their anticipated stay in Portugal, along with a copy of their physician's prescription. Should
an unforeseen need for prescription refills or new medications arise, Portuguese pharmacies generally carry equivalent medications
to those found in the United States, however, they may be sold under a different brand, may not be available in the same dosage,
and may require a prescription from a local doctor.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection,
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s websitee. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization (WHO). Further information
is available at the WHO’s International Travel and Health report
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Portugal is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate
in a particular location or circumstance.
Portugal has one of the highest rates of automobile accidents and related fatalities in Europe. Drivers should use extreme
caution, as local driving habits, high speeds, and poorly marked roads pose special hazards. In Portugal, fines for traffic
violations are substantial and usually must be paid on the spot. Taxis are a reliable means of transportation, though travelers
should be alert to possible discrepancies between the meter fare and the amount requested by the driver. Buses are reliable
and inexpensive.
In the Azores, driving can be treacherous due to narrow cobblestone streets, blind curves, unprotected embankments, herds
of cows in the countryside roads, and the high speeds of other drivers. In contrast to the situation on the Portuguese mainland,
traffic violations are registered by radar and later forwarded to the offender via the postal service; payments are not made
on the spot. Taxis do not have meters. The fare consists of a base fee plus a posted rate per kilometer traveled. Public buses
are inexpensive. Bus services begin at 7:00 a.m. and generally operate until 8:00 p.m. depending on the destination.
U.S. visitors to Portugal may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license for up to six months. For international driving permits,
please contact AAA or the National Auto Club. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. For specific information concerning Portuguese driver's permits, road safety, vehicle inspection
and mandatory insurance, please contact the Portuguese National Tourist Office by telephone at 1-800-767-8842 or visit the
website for the Portuguese Directorate-General for Traffic.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Portugal's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Portugal’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
EMBASSY LOCATION: The U.S. Embassy is located on Avenida das Forças Armadas, in the neighborhood of Sete Rios. Telephone 351-21-727-3300,
fax 351-21-727-2354.
The U.S. Consulate in the Azores is located in the city of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel. The address is Av. Principe
do Monaco, 6-2o, telephone 351-296-282-216, fax 351-296-28-72-16.
There is a part-time U.S. Consular Agency in Funchal, on the island of Madeira, on Rua Alfandega, no. 10-2, Room A-B, telephone
351-291-235-636, fax 351-291-229-360. The Consular Agency is open Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
* * *
This replaces the Country Specific Information for Portugal dated November 18, 2008, to update sections on Entry/Exit Requirements, Crime, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.
