Dec 2, 20215 min read

Advice to Travelers

The Portuguese Communities Portal posted on its website the guidelines to be followed in order to avoid unpleasant situations and thus guide travelers on how to proceed at this delicate time and avoid the spread of diseases.

In case of need, the Consular Sections of Embassies and Portuguese Consulates can provide support to travelers. This support translates into:

issuance of a provisional travel document, for situations of loss of documentation;
facilitating contact with hospitals in case of accident or illness and with lawyers in case of detention.

Consular protection cannot, however, release you from prison, pay hotel, doctor, lawyer, travel or other bills.

In countries outside the European Union and where there is no Portuguese consular representation, you can request assistance from the Embassies and Consulates of other Member States of the European Union.

COVID UE Digital Certificate:

The certificate provides a standardized recognition of the holder's status related to vaccination, COVID-19 recovery or test result. However, each Member State remains responsible for defining its own entry requirements and rules, which are not uniform across the EU. This means that the rules regarding the use of the certificate vary between Member States, so it is recommended, before traveling, that you check the rules for entry into force at your destination through the Re-open EU portal and the websites of the respective authorities.

Click here to download it.

Travelers are advised to follow some general recommendations, which will apply to any country where they decide to travel:

A. Before departure:

1. Check if you have a valid passport. Some countries require an expiry date that can go up to 6 months after the end of the trip and others do not accept temporary passports, if possible leave a photocopy of the passport and the contact of the hotel where you will be staying for family members. Also check if your credit/debit cards are accepted in the destination country;

2. Purchase the ticket in good time and guarantee the conditions and the necessary means for the trip. Make sure you have sufficient means to stay in the country and to return in case your return ticket expires;

3. Check with your travel agent or at the Embassies and Consulates if you need a visa to enter the country of destination. If so, do not leave without obtaining a visa;

4. Find out about any medical assistance agreements that may exist with the countries of your destination;

5. Get your European Health Insurance Card - CESD if you are moving to a European Union country. Find out at the services or on the Social Security website or your health subsystem;

6. Inform yourself in advance of the need for special health care (eg vaccinations or special precautions). It is advisable to carry out a Traveler's Consultation (taking into account that some countries require the presentation of the international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever).

In this consultation, you are informed about preventive (or curative) measures to be adopted before, during and after the trip, depending on the destination, the trip and who is traveling. This consultation is extremely important for all travelers, in particular for pregnant women, children, the elderly and individuals with chronic illnesses.

This consultation includes vaccination or preventive medication against multiple low-risk or non-existent diseases in Portugal, information on individual hygiene and care with water and food intake, advice and prescription from the traveler's pharmacy that you can or should take with you and information about medical assistance and risks at the destinations you are traveling to.

The traveler's appointment must be made one to two months before the trip takes place. The patient must take with them their identification document (with the health service user number), the individual health/vaccination bulletin and the international vaccination certificate (if they already have it).

Traveler consultations and international vaccination centers are available throughout the country. You can find the one closest to your area of residence on the National Health Service website.

In addition to the information provided here, it is recommended to consult the portals of the European Union (EU), with recommendations for those preparing to travel in the European Space, and the Directorate-General for Health.

7. Take out travel insurance that preferably includes medical assistance, theft, theft and repatriation expenses. Check the contractual conditions and the most important data: age and territorial limits, notification of complaints and validity periods;

8. Inform a family member or friend of the departure date and predictable arrival time. Indicate the country or countries of destination, addresses and contact telephone numbers.

9. If you are going to travel to countries with precarious security conditions, try to obtain as much information as possible before your departure and inform the Portuguese Embassy(ies) and/or Consulate(s) of the country or countries you want to visit, the date of departure, the places where you will stay and the respective telephone contacts;

10. Register on the free mobile application “Registro Viajante”, available for Android and IOS devices, allowing you to be immediately located and contacted in case of emergency, such as natural disasters, accidents or attacks. You can also register on the Traveler Registration Form.

B. On arrival at destination:

1. In order to avoid the loss of documentation, it is advisable to deposit the originals and travel tickets in the hotel safes. In most countries, the display of a photocopy of the documents, authenticated with the hotel's oil seal, is sufficient;

2. Regardless of the country of destination, you must avoid displaying jewelry and valuables. Small thefts are a constant and every precaution is recommended;

3. Avoid frequenting poorly lit streets at night and do not resist an attempt at violent robbery;

4. Do not carry suitcases or packages that do not belong to you and always keep your luggage under surveillance;

5. Do not drive other people's vehicles across borders;

6. Refuse and avoid any type of contact, manipulation or drug use. You may face, depending on the law of each country, hefty fines, long prison sentences in difficult conditions, or even the death penalty;

7. In Muslim and eastern countries, the traveler will come across cultures very different from the western one, having to observe the local regulations regarding dress and behavior. The consumption of drugs and alcohol is generally punishable by severe prison terms.

8. Always bear in mind that your attitudes may benefit or harm Portugal's image.

TRAVELER REGISTRATION APP

Travelers who are away from Portugal are recommended to register their trips through the “Traveller Registration” application, which is voluntary and free of charge, facilitating the action of Portuguese authorities in the event of any emergency situations involving nationals abroad.

Registering in the “Registo Viajante” application allows you to receive information about security conditions, access the contacts of diplomatic and consular representations in Portugal and have a direct connection to the Consular Emergency Office.