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Portugal
Country Specific Information
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January 04, 2010
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 / EMBASSY LOCATION: U.S. citizens living or traveling in Portugal are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at the Department of State’s travel registration page in order to obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Registration is important; it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency.
Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.
U.S. Embassy Lisbon, Portugal
American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy Lisbon
Av. das Forças Armadas, Sete-Rios
1600-081 Lisbon, Portugal
Telephone: 351-21-770-2122 (available 2 – 4PM Monday – Friday)
Emergency after-hours telephone: 351-21-727-2222
Facsimile: 351-21-727-2354
E-mail: conslisbon@state.gov
U.S. Consulate Ponta Delgada
Av. Príncipe do Mónaco No, 6-2 F
9500-237 Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal
Telephone: 351 296-282-216
Facsimile: 351 296-287-216
E-mail: ConsPontaDelgada@state.gov
U.S. Consular Agency Funchal
Open Monday-Friday, 9AM – 1PM, excluding Portuguese and U.S. holidays
Rua da Alfandega 10-2 F, Room A-B
9000-059 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Telephone: 351-291-235-636
Facsimile: 351-291-229-360
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Contact the Embassy of Portugal for the most current visa information. 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; or San Francisco, CA.. Visit Government of Portugal's website for the most current contact information for Portuguese Embassies and Consulates.
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 Schengen 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 only affects those who transit another Schengen area country by air en route to Portugal
and stay at noncommercial accommodations. If a U.S. 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.
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 website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.
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.
U.S. citizens 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, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains current the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. 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 U.S. 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 extensive tips and advice on traveling safely abroad.
CRIME: Portugal has a relatively low rate of violent crime, though this rate has been increasing 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; it cannot be emphasized enough that travelers
should remove visible luggage or personal items from vehicles upon parking, especially near popular tourist sites. Travelers
should also avoid using automatic teller machines (ATMs) in isolated or poorly lighted 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 are particularly vulnerable. 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 tourist area of Belém.
Outside Lisbon: Thefts have been reported in the towns of Sintra, Cascais, Mafra, Fatima, and in the Algarve, all popular
tourist destinations. 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.
In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you are the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). This includes the loss or theft of a U.S. passport. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are 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. Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
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. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.
Persons violating Portugal’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Portugal are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
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 thethe United States Council for International Business for details.
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, 112. 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 (CDC) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to consult their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to determine whether the policy applies overseas and whether it covers emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.
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.
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 mainland 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. citizen 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 Ministry of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications.
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. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Portugal dated June 26, 2009, to update sections on Registration/Embassy Location, Entry/Exit Requirements, Threats to Safety and Security, Victims of Crime, Criminal Penalties, Medical Facilities and Health Information, Medical Insurance, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.
