Original document : https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal

Change description : 2024-09-17 14:48:00: New hazard warning of current forest fires in Portugal (‘Warnings and insurance’ page). [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-09-05 12:59:12.661587409 +00:00..2024-09-17 13:49:21.594065628 +00:00

Foreign travel advice

Portugal

Warnings and insurance

Still current at:: 517 September 2024
Updated:: 517 September 2024
Latest update:: ~~Information~~New onhazard ~~the~~warning ~~new~~of EUcurrent ~~Entry/Exit~~forest ~~System~~fires ~~(EES),~~in ~~planned~~Portugal to('Warnings beand ~~introduced~~insurance' ~~from~~ ~~November~~ ~~2024~~ ~~(‘Entry~~ ~~requirements’~~ page).

This travel advice also covers Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores.

Forest fires

There are currently a significant number of forest fires burning in several parts of Portugal. The Portuguese government has declared a state of Alert until 11:59pm on Thursday 19 September. Access to forests and activities in rural areas may be restricted. Roads may be closed due to smoke and ash.

The situation is fast-moving and could change rapidly. Keep up-to-date with developments and follow the advice of the Civil Protection Authority.

Check our Safety and Security page for more information.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

see general advice for women travellers
read our guide on disability and travel abroad
see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
read about safety for solo and independent travel
see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about the risks of travel, to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Update history

2024-10-31 15:53
New information about how people who are hard of hearing can contact the Portuguese Healthline (see ‘Health’ page)

2024-09-23 15:29
Removal of information on forest fires in Portugal (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-09-20 09:40
Updated information on forest fires in Portugal (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-09-17 14:48
New hazard warning of current forest fires in Portugal (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-09-05 13:23
Information on the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), planned to be introduced from November 2024 (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2024-07-23 14:58
Updated information on travelling with children and hiking in Madeira and the Azores (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2024-05-15 16:36
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.

2024-01-19 16:11
Removal of information on wearing masks in Madeira; addition of information on paying road tolls; revised wording on the consequences of possession of drugs for personal use and correction and addition of several hyperlinks (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2023-08-09 10:16
Removal of information on World Youth Day 2023 gatherings (‘Warnings and insurance’ page) and update on non-resident children travelling out of Portugal (‘Entry Requirements’ page).

2023-07-28 13:57
Updated information on border controls and restrictions on travelling around Lisbon during the Pope’s visit and World Youth Day 2023 gatherings (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-07-18 13:26
Information on border controls and restrictions on travelling around Lisbon during the Pope’s visit and World Youth Day 2023 gatherings (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-07-05 14:15
Information on travelling to Lisbon for and during World Youth Day 2023 (‘Safety and security’ page).

2023-06-27 15:06
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.

2023-06-22 10:46
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.

2023-06-09 10:52
Removal of information on Storm Oscar weather warnings in Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores (‘Summary’ page).

2023-06-05 18:53
Updated information on Storm Oscar weather warnings in Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores (‘Summary’ page).

2023-05-24 13:13
Updated information on industrial action affecting Portuguese borders (‘Summary’ page); lifting of the requirement to use a face covering in mainland Portugal and the Azores (‘Coronavirus’ page).

2023-04-14 10:15
Removal of information on industrial action affecting Portuguese borders (‘Summary’ page).

2023-04-03 17:59
Updated information on forest fires, industrial action affecting Portuguese borders, the use of masks in Madeira and beach safety (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’, and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).

2023-01-25 15:51
Updated information on road safety statistics and that most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in Madeira (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Local laws and customs’ pages).

2022-12-19 09:47
Updated information following a period of adverse weather (‘Natural disasters’ page).

2022-12-13 14:42
Addition of information about weather warning for mainland Portugal (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural disasters’ pages).

2022-11-25 18:09
Updated information on the easing of COVID-19 measures in Madeira and the Azores (‘Coronavirus’ page).

2022-10-04 13:15
Updated information on the end of the state of alert in mainland Portugal (‘Coronavirus’ page).

2022-09-23 16:18
Updated information on the use of masks in mainland Portugal (‘Coronavirus’ page).

2022-09-07 13:43
Updated information on the use of masks in the Azores and addition of information on Portuguese health services (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Health’ page).

2022-09-01 16:33
Updated information on the use of masks in mainland Portugal and the Azores (‘Coronavirus’ page) and on the need to show proof of residence when applying for an emergency travel document if your final destination is not the UK

2022-08-03 11:04
Updated information on the removal of the requirement to wear masks on public transport in Madeira (‘Coronavirus’ page)

2022-07-18 17:11
Updated information on measures in place due to heightened risk of forest fires in mainland Portugal (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural Disasters’ pages), update to information on COVID-19 boosters (‘Coronavirus’ page) and an update to reflect the removal of COVID-19 entry requirements for the Azores.

2022-07-15 17:56
Updated information on contingency measures relating to heightened risk of forest fires in mainland Portugal (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural Disasters’ pages).

2022-07-11 18:02
Information on contingency measures relating to heightened risk of forest fires in mainland Portugal (‘Summary’ and ‘Natural Disasters’ pages)

2022-07-01 16:11
Updated information on COVID-related entry requirements to mainland Portugal (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-06-23 10:42
Updated information on the requirement to wear a face mask in Madeira and Porto Santo (‘Coronavirus’ page)

2022-06-22 10:23
Further clarification on passport stamping at Portuguese border control (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-05-27 16:34
Further clarification on passport stamping at Portuguese border control (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-05-19 16:33
Further clarification on passport stamping at Portuguese border control (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-05-12 15:33
Clarification about current passport validity (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-05-06 16:14
Updated information on entry to mainland Portugal and the Azores and on travelling with children (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-04-29 11:35
Updated information on passport stamping following the recent introduction of new generation e-gates at Portuguese airports, and clarification of timing of Covid-19 tests for travellers that are not fully vaccinated (‘Entry requirements’ page). Full review of the rest of this travel advice with minor editorial amendments.

2022-04-25 16:50
Updated information on COVID restrictions in mainland Portugal and the Azores and the rules for completing a Passenger Locator Form for travel to mainland Portugal (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages). Updated information on seismic activity in São Jorge (‘Natural Disasters‘ page)

2022-03-30 15:28
Update to evacuation information covering the Velas municipality, and link provided to the ‘Prociv Azores’ app (‘Natural Disasters’ section).

2022-03-25 18:08
Updated information on increased seismic activity on the island of São Jorge in the Azores (‘Natural disasters’ page)

2022-03-24 12:06
Addition of information on increased seismic activity on the island of São Jorge in the Azores (‘Natural disasters’ page)

2022-03-18 16:10
Updated information on the remaining COVID-19 restrictions in the Azores and getting vaccinated in Madeira if you are a resident (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)

2022-02-21 14:56
Updated information on the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in mainland Portugal (‘Coronavirus’ page)

2022-02-18 17:12
Updated information on entry requirements for the Azores (‘Entry requirements’ page)