Entering Portugal from the United Kingdom — a complete guide

Visa: UK citizens do not need a visa for short stays (tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings) of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days spent in other Schengen countries count towards the same limit; GOV.UK warns that overstaying the 90 days can lead to a ban from the Schengen area of up to 3 years.

Passport: you need a passport; national ID cards are not accepted for non-EU travellers. It must have a date of issue less than 10 years before the day you arrive and an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. Passports renewed before 1 October 2018 may have a date of issue more than 10 years ago, so check the issue date as well as the expiry date.

EES (Entry/Exit System): fully operational at all external Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. It replaces the passport stamp: at your first crossing, 4 fingerprints and a facial photo are registered at a kiosk or by an officer. There is no advance application or form; registration happens at border control. Children aged 11 and under do not give fingerprints (a photo may still be taken). Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports can be busy at peak times, so allow extra time.

ETIAS: not yet mandatory and no start date is confirmed; the EU will announce the date several months in advance. When it begins it will be an online authorisation (not a visa) costing €20, free for under-18s and over-70s, valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, followed by a transitional period of at least 6 months during which travellers without ETIAS are not refused entry. Apply only on the official EU site or app (travel-europe.europa.eu) and beware paid look-alike sites.

What border officers may ask for: a return or onward ticket, proof of sufficient means and possibly proof of accommodation. The Portuguese reference amount is €75 per entry plus €40 per day of stay, or alternatively a declaration of responsibility signed by a resident; it is a reference figure, not a cash check.

Children: according to GOV.UK, a child travelling without their parents (or with only one of them) must carry a letter of authorisation signed and dated by a parent or legal guardian, with the signature certified by a notary or solicitor and legalised by the Legalisation Office, together with a copy of the parent's passport; without it, entry may be delayed or refused.

Source: GOV.UK (FCDO Portugal entry requirements), European Commission (travel-europe.europa.eu, Your Europe), MNE/AIMA (means of subsistence). Always check the official sites before you travel.

GHIC / EHIC: a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a still-valid UK-issued EHIC gives access to medically necessary state healthcare in Portugal on the same terms as residents, through the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS). It does not guarantee free care: you may be charged the same user fees (taxas moderadoras) a resident would pay. Apply only through the official NHS website, where the card is free.

What the GHIC does not cover: private hospitals and clinics, care that is not medically necessary (such as planned treatment) and medical repatriation to the UK. It is not a substitute for travel insurance, so we recommend a policy covering medical costs and repatriation, especially if you have a pre-existing condition or are pregnant.

Medicines: UK prescriptions are not recognised in Portugal, so bring enough medication for the whole trip in its original container with the prescription label, plus a few days' supply in your hand luggage. Most medicines are bought at a pharmacy.

Emergencies: 112 (free, 24 hours, nationwide). The SNS 24 health line, 808 24 24 24, offers clinical advice 24 hours a day at the cost of a call to a landline; GOV.UK notes that on the mainland you can press 9 for English.

Source: GOV.UK (FCDO Portugal health), NHS (GHIC), gov.pt (healthcare in Portugal). Check the official sites before travelling.

Currency: the euro (€), not sterling. We do not quote an exchange rate here; check the live rate on this page or with your bank.

Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere and contactless payment is very common. Cash machines (the Multibanco network) generally accept international cards; check with your bank about foreign payment and withdrawal fees and that your card is enabled for use outside the UK.

Pay in euros: if a terminal or cash machine offers to charge you in pounds, it is generally better to choose euros, because the terminal conversion tends to be less favourable. Compare with your bank rate.

Cash: handy in small cafés, markets and some taxis, though cards are the norm.

Tipping: optional. Around 5–10% in restaurants is generous, and nothing is expected in cafés or taxis.

Cash at the border: amounts of €10,000 or more (or equivalent, including traveller's cheques) must be declared to customs when entering or leaving the EU.

Source: European Commission (euro; EU cash controls), Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (cash declaration). Check charges with your own bank.

UK licence: a UK photocard driving licence can be used in Portugal by visitors without an International Driving Permit for periods of up to 185 days from entry (the UK is on the IMT's list of recognised convention countries). If you still hold a paper licence, update it to a photocard or get the 1968 IDP, which is only valid when presented together with your national licence. Check GOV.UK and the IMT.

Residents: if you take up residence in Portugal, the IMT's regime for OECD-country licences applies: a UK licence can go on being used in Portugal subject to conditions (holder under 60, licence issued or renewed less than 15 years ago) or be exchanged. Confirm the rules and deadlines with the IMT (imt-ip.pt).

Side of the road: drive on the right, as in the rest of continental Europe. Take extra care at roundabouts, which are driven anti-clockwise, giving way to traffic already on them. The Highway Code (Código da Estrada) requires you to carry ID, your driving licence and your insurance certificate.

Alcohol: the legal limit is 0.5 g/l of blood alcohol (0.2 g/l for probationary and professional drivers), the same as Scotland's 50 mg/100 ml and lower than the 80 mg/100 ml limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Tolls: many motorways have electronic-only tolls. If you hire a car, ask for a toll transponder (Via Verde); in your own car you can link a Visa/Mastercard to your number plate (Easytoll) or use a prepaid Tollcard. Unpaid passages can be settled at CTT post offices or Payshop agents from 48 hours after the journey and within 15 working days.

Your own car: you can bring your vehicle for up to 183 days in any 12-month period, for tourism only and without lending it to others (GOV.UK). Carry the V5C log book showing your current UK address and check that your UK insurance covers Portugal.

Source: GOV.UK (FCDO Portugal; driving abroad / IDP; taking a vehicle abroad), IMT, Código da Estrada (ANSR), Infraestruturas de Portugal (tolls). Check speed limits on official sources before driving.

Time: mainland Portugal and Madeira are on the same time as the UK (UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer, with the clocks changing on the same Sundays in March and October). The Azores are one hour behind Lisbon all year. A direct London–Lisbon flight takes roughly 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours, and there are direct routes to several Portuguese cities.

Meals: lunch is around 12:30–15:00 and dinner from about 19:30; many restaurant kitchens close between services. Breakfast is light (coffee with a pastel de nata or toast).

Pubs vs cafés: social life revolves around the café and the pastelaria, open from morning to night. There is no tradition of buying rounds at the bar.

Plugs: Portugal uses 230 V / 50 Hz with type F (and C) plugs. Your UK type G plugs will not fit, so bring an adapter.

Water and shops: tap water is safe to drink: in 2025 the regulator ERSAR rated 98.84% of water at the consumer's tap as "safe water" (mainland Portugal). Many shops close on Sundays.

Couvert: many restaurants bring bread, olives and cheese to your table; you are only charged if you eat them, and you may politely decline.

Allow extra time at airports: with the EES in place, build in extra time on arrival and departure, especially at Lisbon, Porto and Faro at peak times.

Passport: check the issue date (under 10 years) and the validity before you book.

Mobile phone: the UK is not covered by the EU "roam like at home" rules; since 2021 surcharge-free roaming in the EU is no longer guaranteed and depends on your operator and plan. Check your tariff for Portugal before you travel, or consider a local eSIM.

Insurance: the GHIC is a useful safety net, but take out a full travel insurance policy as well.

Plug adapter: pack a type F/C adapter to charge phones and laptops.

Always double-check: rules change; consult GOV.UK and travel-europe.europa.eu before you go.