Entering Portugal from Switzerland — a complete guide

Documents: Switzerland has taken part in the Schengen area since 12 December 2008 (at airports since 29 March 2009). Swiss citizens can enter Portugal with a valid identity card (Identitätskarte) or passport; the FDFA recommends always carrying one of them when travelling within Schengen. No visa is needed.

No EES or ETIAS: Swiss citizens are not registered in the Entry/Exit System (EES) and do not need ETIAS, just like EU citizens. Beware of paid websites claiming otherwise.

Longer stays: you may stay in Portugal for up to 3 months without formalities; beyond that, apply for the certificate of registration at the local câmara municipal within 30 days after the three months have elapsed. AIMA applies this regime expressly to Swiss nationals.

Children: each child needs their own ID document or passport; check validity before you travel.

Cash: Switzerland is not in the EU, so amounts of €10,000 or more entering or leaving the EU must be declared to Customs.

Source: European Commission (Your Europe, travel-europe.europa.eu), AIMA, FDFA (Schengen/Dublin FAQ) and fedpol. For entry questions the FDFA refers to the Portuguese representations in Switzerland. Always check the official sites before travelling.

EHIC: the European Health Insurance Card gives access to medically necessary state healthcare in Portugal (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, SNS) on the same terms as residents. In Switzerland the EHIC is printed on the back of the insurance card (Versichertenkarte) issued by your health insurer; if you do not have it with you, the insurer can issue a provisional replacement certificate. According to the BAG, cost-sharing follows Portuguese rules (taxas moderadoras) and is usually paid on the spot; amounts paid abroad do not count towards your Swiss deductible (Franchise) or co-payment (Selbstbehalt).

What it does not cover: private clinics and hospitals, and repatriation. Supplementary travel insurance is advice, not a requirement.

Emergencies: the emergency number is 112, free nationwide. The SNS 24 line (808 24 24 24) gives clinical advice 24 hours a day at the cost of a call to a landline.

Medicines: bring your prescription and the name of the active ingredient, as brand names may differ.

Source: European Commission (EHIC), gov.pt portal (healthcare for European citizens), BAG (Federal Office of Public Health) and Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG. Confirm the conditions with your insurer before travelling.

Currency: Portugal uses the euro, not the Swiss franc (CHF). See the current rate in the converter on this page.

Paying by card: cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Ask your bank or card issuer about foreign-currency fees; if the terminal offers to charge you in Swiss francs, choosing to pay in euros is usually the better option.

Withdrawals: use Multibanco ATMs; ask your bank about fees.

Tipping: optional; leaving about 5–10 % in restaurants is customary when service was good.

Cash: amounts of €10,000 or more entering or leaving the EU must be declared to Customs (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira).

Source: European Union (euro-area countries) and Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (cash declaration). Check the official site before travelling.

Driving licence: Switzerland is on the IMT lists of Geneva/Vienna convention countries and of countries with a bilateral agreement with Portugal. As a tourist you may drive on your Swiss licence for up to 185 days counted from the day after entry, as long as you have not taken up residence. You do not need an international driving permit; if you have one, always present it together with your national licence.

Residents: Switzerland is also in the IMT OECD/CPLP regime, which lets you keep driving on your Swiss licence after taking up residence, subject to conditions (licence issued or renewed less than 15 years ago and holder under 60); otherwise exchange the licence at IMT.

Tolls: several motorways are electronic-only, with no toll booths. We recommend renting a car with a toll transponder (Via Verde); confirm the terms with the rental company. In your own car you can link a bank card to the number plate (Easytoll, valid 30 days), buy a prepaid Tollcard, or pay at a CTT post office or Payshop agent between 48 hours and 15 working days after the journey. Portugal has no motorway vignette, unlike Switzerland (annual vignette CHF 40).

Rules: you drive on the right, as in Switzerland. The general motorway speed limit for cars is 120 km/h; follow the signs.

Documents: carry your licence, ID and the vehicle or rental documents.

Source: IMT, I.P. (imt-ip.pt, convention and bilateral-agreement country lists, OECD/CPLP regime), Código da Estrada (ANSR republication), Infraestruturas de Portugal (pttolls.com), Via Verde and BAZG. Always check the official site before travelling.

Time zone: mainland Portugal is one hour behind Switzerland all year round; summer time changes on the same dates.

Meals: lunch is usually 12:30–15:00 and dinner from about 19:30 — later than you may be used to.

Shops: many shops close on Sundays, as in many parts of Switzerland, but shopping centres usually open.

Couvert: bread, olives and cheeses brought to the table before the meal are charged if you eat them; you can decline them.

Pace: restaurant service is more relaxed; ask for the bill when you are ready ("a conta, por favor").

Language: a simple "obrigado/obrigada" (thank you) is always appreciated; English is often spoken in tourist areas.

Sockets: Portugal uses type F sockets (also C), 230 V / 50 Hz. Swiss two-pin plugs (type C) fit; three-pin type J plugs may not, so bring an adapter.

Mobile: the EU "roam like at home" rule applies only to customers of EU/EEA operators — not to Swiss operators. According to BAKOM, your operator must set a roaming cost limit for you (which you can change) and bill per second and per kilobyte; check roaming rates and packages for Portugal before you travel.

Water: tap water is safe to drink; in 2025 the regulator ERSAR recorded 98.84 % "safe water" at the consumer tap on the mainland.

Airports: on flights within Schengen there is usually no passport control, but always carry ID, which the airline may ask for.

Transport: Lisbon and Porto have metro and suburban trains; for intercity trips, CP trains and express coaches are good alternatives to the car.

Emergencies: 112 (free). Non-urgent health advice: SNS 24, 808 24 24 24 (landline-rate call).