Travelers from the United States are still permitted to enter Portugal, even for non-essential purposes such as tourism, despite the Council of the European Union’s recommendations.

EU Council has urged its 27 Member States to impose stricter entry rules for travelers from the United States, due to a recently recorded a higher number of COVID’19 infections. 

Portugal has decided not to follow the EU recommendations, permitting US travelers to enter the country if they present a negative result test taken 48 hours before departure. Ireland and Croatia also declined to apply the EU Council recommendations.

“Portugal has confirmed that discretionary, non-essential travel is still allowed, provided visitors present a negative COVID’19 test result at boarding and entry into the country,” according to a statement published by Portugal’s tourism authority, Visit Portugal.

Currently, 85% of the population in Portugal are fully vaccinated, one of the highest rates of vaccination in Europe.

Recently, the EU Council has removed five countries, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, and the United States of America, from the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.

However, the council recommended that member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions from Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, and China.

Requirements for mainland Portugal and the islands are different. Before booking, travelers from the US are advised to check COVID’19 guidelines by visiting the United States Embassy in Portugal website updated daily.

PAJ/Staff

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