Brits heading on Portugal holidays this summer need to make sure their documents are in order or they risk being turned away, especially with post-Brexit passport rules.
The good news is that the popular holiday hotspot has lifted all of its Covid restrictions for travellers coming from the UK.
That means there are no Covid vaccination, testing or passenger locator form requirements for entry to mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
If you’re travelling to Portugal via other countries, such as France and Spain, it is important that you check the entry requirements for those countries before you travel.
On mainland Portugal, masks must be worn when on public transport and and in taxis, as well as in hospitals and care homes, with slightly different rules in force in Madeira.
While the coronavirus restrictions have now been eased, it is important to make sure your passport is in order post-Brexit.
This summer many Brits have found themselves on the wrong side of new rules which require travel documents to be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country.
They must also be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Portugal is now a relatively safe country when it comes to avoiding the coronavirus.
While it has had more than 5.3 million cases and over 24,600 deaths as of the beginning of August, cases have now dropped to close to their lowest level since the pandemic began.
More than 87% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
Other countries are continuing to join Portugal in dropping their Covid entry requirements, with France scrapping all Covid entry rules last week.
Previously the holiday hotspot had entry requirements including needing to show proof of vaccination or negative Covid tests such as PCR and antigen tests.
The Foreign Office has subsequently changed its travel advice for France, with the new rules having come into force as of August 1.
Travel advice can change quickly, always check the Foreign Office's latest advice for a destination before booking or going on a trip.
