The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon informs U.S. citizens that strikes are expected to take place at every international airport in Portugal for 48 hours beginning at midnight on August 24, 2017 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on August 25, 2017. The Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) will be striking with the stated purpose of advocating for additional personnel and protesting the proposed removal of certain criminal oversight authorities from its purview. Passengers departing Portugal on intercontinental or non-Schengen flights during the strike should arrive at the airport earlier than normal. Passengers arriving in Portugal during the strike should expect significantly longer lines while waiting for SEF admission review. SEF has not announced any planned demonstrations associated with this strike.
Additional information about the strike can be found at:
- http://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/transportes/aviacao/detalhe/greve-do-sef-ameaca-30-mil-passageiros-no-aeroporto-de-lisboa
- http://expresso.sapo.pt/economia/2017-08-14-Turismo-lanca-apelo-para-evitar-greve-do-SEF
For further information about security in Portugal:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Portugal’s Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Portugal, located at Avenida das Forças Armadas, in the neighborhood of Sete Rios near the Jardim Zoológico, at + (351) 217-702-122, 08:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(351) 21-727-3300.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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