Location – Portugal, Countrywide
Event – Enhanced Mandatory Quarantine for Travel to/from Portugal
Recent updates by Portuguese airport authorities have resulted in stricter testing requirements and mandatory quarantines. Attempting to cross immigration or board a plane with a positive COVID test will result in a 10-day quarantine at the traveler’s expense.
- Rapid Tests at Airports strongly discouraged. We have seen increased instances of travelers attempting to complete a rapid test at the airport, only to receive a positive test result and be detained, sometimes for hours, and forced to quarantine for the mandatory 10 days at the traveler’s expense.
- Positive tests can result in detention/quarantine: There have also been several instances of positive tests from vaccinated individuals. Despite being asymptomatic, individuals have been forced to take an ambulance to quarantine facilities to wait the required 10 days, at the traveler’s expense.
Recommendation: US Embassy Lisbon recommends that travelers take any required COVID test at least one day prior to any trip at an authorized laboratory.
Assistance: U.S. Embassy Lisbon is unable to help travelers avoid or shorten government-mandated quarantine.
- Though tourist travel is permitted by Portugal, the Travel Advisory for Portugal is a Level 4 – Do Not Travel due to Covid-19. Visit the Embassy’s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Portuga
If you decide to travel to Portugal:
- See the S. Embassy’s web page regarding COVID-19.
- Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
- Have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Assistance:
American Citizen Services, U.S. Embassy, Lisbon, Portugal
Website: https://pt.usembassy.gov/
Email: conslisbon@state.gov
Emergency during Business hours: (+351) 21 727 3300
Emergency outside of business hours: (+351) 21-727-3300
Register and request your Absentee Ballot: www.fvap.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs – (888)-407-4747 or (202)-501-4444
