Travel to Portugal From the US: Portugal Entry and COVID-19 Requirements

"I'm about to travel to Portugal from the US. What do I need to know?"

What I'm about to share is technically "old news". However, if you're new to travel or have never traveled to Europe before, you'll be pleased to learn that US citizens don't need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area.

Basically, what it comes down to:

You do not need a visa to travel to Portugal from the US.

Yup! Traveling to Portugal from the US is almost as easy as traveling domestically. However, you must consider a few things before you travel from the US to Portugal.

This post will cover everything you need to know when traveling to Portugal from the US.

Here's what will be discussed:

• Who Needs A Visa To Travel To Portugal From The US?
• What Are The Document Requirements To Travel To Portugal From The US?
• How Do I Travel From The US To Portugal?
• What Can I Expect When Arriving In Portugal?
• What Are The COVID-19 Entry Requirements To Travel To Portugal From The US?
• How Long Can I Travel To Portugal From The US?

This post will specifically cover travelers from the US planning to visit Portugal.

If You're A US Citizen

If you plan to travel from the US to Portugal as a US citizen, you enjoy a little something visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. Simply put, it's an agreement that allows US citizens to travel to any one of the Schengen Member States without applying for a Schengen Visa.

The Schengen Countries you can travel to (visa-free) include:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

To sum up, you can travel to 26 Schengen Countries (including Portugal) without applying for a visa.

If You're A US Green Card Holder

If you're a US Green Card Holder planning to travel to Portugal from the US, you may need to apply for a Schengen Visa to visit Portugal.

Here's how the rule works:

Suppose you're from a country that enjoys visa-free travel to Portugal and the Schengen Area. In that case you do not need a Schengen Visa to enter Portugal. If your home country does not enjoy visa-free travel, you need to apply for a Schengen Visa to travel to Portugal from the US.

Quick note: The easiest way to get your Schengen Visa to Portugal is through Atlys. Atlys simplifies the application process and ensures that you get your visa before your trip.

US citizens who plan to travel to Portugal from the US don't need to spend days collecting specific documents to enter the country. The documents required are relatively straightforward and easily obtainable.

You will need to present the following documents when traveling to Portugal without a visa:

• A valid passport. It must have a validity of 3 months after your planned departure date back to the US. Be sure that your passport is in good condition and not close to its expiry date before you travel from the US to Portugal. Also, your passport must have 2 blank visa pages available to be stamped for entry.
• Proof of the purpose of travel to Portugal. In simpler terms, all you need to present is proof that you plan to travel to Portugal from the US as a tourist. Such documents include booked tours, hotel reservations, tickets to a show, or an invitation letter from a friend/relative in Portugal.
• Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your trip. For Portugal, you'll need a minimum of €45 (or 47.43 USD) per day when you visit Portugal. Generally, you can show your bank account statements as proof of sufficient funds.

If this is your first visa-free trip to the Schengen Area, you might feel concerned about the entire entry process. Don't be! It's relatively easy.

Follow these simple steps when you travel to Portugal from the US:

• 1. Book a flight ticket to travel from the US to Portugal,
• 2. Travel to Portugal from the US,
• 3. Upon arrival, follow the standard border protocols and provide your documents,
• 4. Enjoy your vacation in Portugal.

It's as simple as that. No additional requirements or hidden surprises.

Once you arrive in Portugal, you'll need to go through border protocols before entering the country. In most cases, you'll need to head over to a dedicated lane for foreign arrivals. Here, border authorities will ask you to present your valid passport so it can be stamped for entry.

In some cases, Portuguese border authorities will ask you for additional information surrounding your trip. Typically, they'll ask for the purpose of your trip and if you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay.

In both these instances, you'll need to present valid documents that prove the purpose of your trip and that you have sufficient funds.

Quick note: Border authorities won't always ask for additional information. In most cases, they only stamp your passport and allow you to enter. However, I highly recommend that you have all the required documents in person, just in case they ask these specific questions.

Once your passport has been stamped, you'll be free to enter Portugal and enjoy all its wonders.

To travel to Portugal from the US is not as easy as it used to be before COVID-19. The global pandemic has caused many countries to implement strict COVID-19 protocols and regulations. However, we've seen many countries lift their COVID-19 requirements in recent months.

With that said, always be mindful of the current COVID-19 requirements of the country you plan to visit, as such requirements can change without notice. Therefore, I recommend using a trusted COVID-19 tool before traveling. This will allow you to keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 information of your next destination.

Next, I'll discuss the current entry and exit protocols when you travel from the US to Portugal:

All passengers 12 years and older must present either:

• A valid vaccination EU Digital COVID Certificate (with a complete vaccination schedule or with a complete COVID-19 vaccination schedule and a vaccine booster)
• Or a valid test or recovery EU Digital COVID Certificate,
• Or a valid proof of vaccination certificate (with a complete vaccination schedule or a vaccine booster) or recovery certificate issued by a third country, under reciprocal conditions from the CDC
• Or a negative RT-PCR Test Result(or similar negative COVID-19 test result like a NAAT test) - 72h before boarding, or
• Or a negative Laboratorial Rapid Antigen Test- 24h before boarding

There are exemptions for passengers under the age of 12. There are currently no passenger locator form requirements for air travel.

Quick note: Health authorities require you to follow general hygine etiquite such as wearing a mask in public transportation, snatysing, etc.

Keep in mind that these entry requirements can change at any time and you should check the current travel restrictions before departing. Furthermore, there are many testing locations available should you need to test within Portugal.

You've finally arrived in Portugal - everything is great, and Portugal has exceeded your expectations. Next, you need to consider how long you're legally allowed to stay in Portugal as a US citizen.

As the rule stands, US citizens who enjoy visa-free travel can visit Portugal (or any other Schengen State) for a maximum of 90 days within every 180-day period. This is known as the 90/180-day rule.

It is not wise to overstay in the Schengen Area, as you'll be liable to pay a fine, or you may even get banned from entering.

This post has covered everything you need to know when traveling to Portugal from the US. You can now confidently enter Portugal and enjoy your trip (hassle-free). If you really enjoy your trip, and consider moving to Portugal, you may want to apply for the Portugal D7 Visa.