Visitors Guide to Portugal

Residency, Visas and Passports

Passports are required to enter Portugal, however EU citizens and those of a few select other nationalities do not require visas to enter the country for holiday purposes. EU citizens are also able to enter the country with only an official identity card, if entering with either a passport or an ID card they must be valid for at least 3 months. If intending to stay in Portugal for an extended period of time, visitor may be required to obtain residency, however, EU citizens do not require residency to live in Portugal.

Other nationalities do require visas to stay in Portugal and the type of visa will depend upon the length of the visit, whether it is up to 90 days, or a longer stay of residence up to 5 years. Long stay residency can be renewed, and all enquiries or clarification required for up to date information on visas and residency should be requested through an embassy.

Getting There

Travelling to Portugal takes around 2.5 hours flight time, depending on the destination region and various airline companies offer discounted fares. The main airport is in the capital Lisbon however, if travelling to the Algarve, the ideal airport to use is the Faro airport, which is the second main entrance port to Portugal after Lisbon. Faro is one of Europe’s leading low cost airline hubs with around 30 scheduled airlines and various other charter flights connecting to the location.

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Local Transport

Hire cars are the most popular form of transport for visitors in Portugal. Rental cars are available from various international companies at the airports.

Taxis are also common forms of transport for visitors, with taxis readily available at the airport upon arrival. Taxi fares are set, although it is ideal to confirm the price of the fare upon entering the car.

Coach transport is also readily available with routes between towns and buses are a cheap alternative to taxi’s and hire cars, although the buses do not connect to the airport. Some buses do connect with main train stations. There are train services along coastal areas, although they are not the most popular form of transport for tourists as the stations are often away from the preferred touristic areas.

Health and Safety

Portugal is a very safe location to visit with a low crime rate however petty theft is not uncommon in large major cities such as Lisbon. The medical facilities are very good and although English is widely spoken, visitors should be aware that if visiting the police or calling for medical assistance, there are no guarantees that the services will have English speaking staff available. Hotel staff can assist with any language barriers that may arise and pharmacies can also be a great help for minor medical enquiries, although it is possible that pharmacies may be closed for a few hours at lunch time. Visitors should take similar personal precautions when travelling to Portugal as they do when travelling to other locations.

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