ETIAS Portugal: Requirements, How to Apply & More

Last updated: June 2022

Visiting the beautiful country of Portugal for tourism, business, or transit? This country has many tourist attractions to explore. However, before you depart, you should check if you have to apply for the Portugal ETIAS visa waiver (European Travel Information and Authentication System).

This electronic travel pre-approval by the local authorities will go into effect by the end of 2022. At iVisa.com, we can help you obtain your Portugal ETIAS once it has been implemented. In the meantime, check out all visa requirements for Portugal here.

On this page, you'll find more information about:

• What the ETIAS for Portugal is
• If you need an ETIAS to visit Portugal
• How to apply for the ETIAS for Portugal
• What the difference is between the ETIAS and a Schengen visa
• COVID-19 entry requirements for Portugal
• More information about Portugal visas and travel documents
• Frequently asked questions about the ETIAS

Whether you're going on a holiday or are visiting Portugal for a relaxing holiday, at iVisa.com, we will help you get all the documents needed.

What is the ETIAS Portugal?

The ETIAS visa waiver for Portugal is expected to work similarly to the ESTA system currently in place for the United States. Some nationalities will have to obtain one before entering Portugal or another Schengen member state in the European Union.

The ETIAS Portugal allows eligible passport holders to visit Portugal and the European Union without a visa.

Do I need an ETIAS visa waiver to visit Portugal?

If you're from a non-Schengen state, and currently have visa-free access to the Schengen zone, you may soon have to apply for a visa waiver under the ETIAS authorization system before arrival to show to the Portuguese immigration authorities.

The new ETIAS could apply to you if:

• You are not from an EU country.
• You are not from a country that currently needs a visa to enter mainland Portugal or the Schengen zone.
• You are from a Schengen country that's not an EU member, such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Our expert team at iVisa.com can also help you get another visa to enter Portugal, European countries, or the Schengen zone.

How long is the Portugal ETIAS valid for?

You can apply for the ETIAS for Portugal online in just a couple of minutes, and it lasts for three years. Within this period, you are allowed multiple entries for tourism, family visits, transit, or medical treatment, and stay up to 90 days each time.

Documents required for the ETIAS to enter mainland Portugal and other countries

To obtain an ETIAS to enter Portugal, you must provide the following:

• A passport from an authorized-issuing country with passport validity of at least 3 months from the date of arrival in Portugal.
• Bank card (credit or debit) for payment of the ETIAS fee.
• A current email address to which the approved ETIAS to enter Portugal will be sent.

Information requested during the ETIAS application

On the ETIAS application form, you will be asked to fill out different sections depending on the country of citizenship you have chosen. The following information must be provided:

• Biometric or passport details such as your first and last name
• First EU country you wish to visit
• Education and work experience
• Eligibility and background information, such as medical insurance, travel to countries at war, countries from which you have been deported or denied entry, and criminal record.

How does the ETIAS work if I'm transiting?

If you are only transiting through Portugal, you will still need to apply for an ETIAS under Portuguese law.

How to obtain the ETIAS for your trip to Portugal

To get your valid ETIAS visa waiver to enter Portugal, simply follow the iVisa.com online application process and provide the necessary information and travel documents. Once applied, all data will be safely cross-checked across various security databases with local authorities.

Pricing and processing options to obtain your ETIAS

As the ETIAS has not yet been launched, there are still no confirmed prices available, but in the meantime, iVisa.com has decided to offer three options of payment and processing times for you to choose from. Depending on how fast you need the document or your available budget, we have an alternative to suit most needs.

• Standard Processing Time: This option is for travelers on a budget, who do not have their trip coming soon and can wait for their travel documents to be processed.
• Rush Processing Time: You will get your ETIAS faster than standard if you'd like to get the required documents ahead of time for an extra fee.
• Super Rush Processing Time: This process is perfect for those who need the document urgently and travel as soon as possible, for a rush fee.

If the information is correct, and you meet the eligibility requirements for ETIAS without posing a risk to European countries, the system should be able to accept your application. The entire process usually only takes a few minutes.

I'm traveling with children. Do they also need to apply for an ETIAS?

Please note that a parent or legal guardian must also apply for ETIAS for minors. Furthermore, family members of EU nationals who are eligible citizens of other countries must submit proof of relationship and other relevant documents, such as a residence card.

What happens after applying for the ETIAS Portugal?

Your application should be finalized within a maximum of 96 hours.

However, if you receive a rejection from the ETIAS system for some reason, your application will have to be processed manually. You can expect the manual process to take at least 96 hours (4 days) or a maximum of 2 weeks.

Once your application is processed, you'll receive your approved ETIAS travel documents for Portugal via email. It is recommended to download your approved ETIAS visa waiver digitally on a mobile device and print a copy to let local authorities scan it prior to boarding.

COVID-19 restrictions and entry requirements for Portugal

Just like some other popular European countries, Portugal continues to require all incoming travelers to follow all COVID-19 entry rules. In addition, Portuguese authorities have been taking all necessary COVID-19 public health measures to protect the personal safety of citizens as well as temporary visitors. Of course, no matter the entry rules, it is always wise to exercise normal precautions with international travel to popular European cities.

COVID-19 passenger locator form for Portugal

A passenger locator form is no longer required to visit mainland Portugal, Madeira, and the Azores for both essential and non-essential travel.

Local laws on COVID-19 vaccination certificates

According to the Portuguese health authorities, all travelers that want to enter Portugal are required to present a valid vaccination proof, in the form of an EU Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate or equivalent upon arrival in Portugal.

Portuguese authorities accept a COVID-19 vaccine proof (completed within the last nine months) or a recovery certificate (less than six months old). In addition, COVID-19 vaccination certificates indicating that the traveler has received one booster shot are also valid.

Testing requirements for COVID-19

Visitors whose vaccination status is not complete or who have recovered from COVID-19 can enter Portugal as long as they present a negative COVID test result taken within 72 hours before arrival or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before arrival.

The testing requirements as stated above, (for example, to present a negative test result), apply only to travelers over the age of 12. Children under 12 years old are exempt from all entry rules by local authorities.

COVID-19 rules for visiting Portuguese islands

Similar to mainland Portugal and Portuguese law, the local laws in the Azores still require passengers on international travel flights to present a valid proof of vaccination, recovery certificate, or negative test result to the local authorities upon arrival.

The island of Madeira has dropped all COVID-19 entry rules. All travelers, regardless of their country of origin or vaccine status, are permitted free entry without restrictions or negative tests.

Visas and other entry requirements to enter Portugal

If you are from one of the countries that have a visa-free agreement with Portugal, then you currently do not need a Portuguese tourist visa. Citizens of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, Australia, the UAE, and many other countries are free to travel to Portugal and the other Schengen States without a visa for up to 90 days.

However, please see the info above for the new upcoming ETIAS visa waiver, as you will soon have to register with local authorities to visit some European countries.

Get further information about Portugal visas here

Differences between the ETIAS and the Schengen visa

The local laws around the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is due to be introduced at the end of 2022, can be complex if you want to visit European countries. You might wonder which specific documents you need for your trip. Here's some further information!

More about the ETIAS and the European Union entry rules

The European Commission has been working on the ETIAS international travel authorization system for quite some time. The European Union has created this system to protect and strengthen its border control system.

The main goal of creating the ETIAS is to identify possible threats or risks associated with visitors traveling to any of the Schengen area countries. It helps to protect your personal safety and that of others. The Portuguese government will check your visa and/or ETIAS upon arrival.

More about Schengen visas

The Schengen area is often confused with the EU, but there is a significant difference. Many countries belong to the Schengen area, and many of these member states are also a part of the European Union.

A Schengen visa allows travel within the 26 member states of the Schengen area, and it is specific to the country applied for. It is not necessarily valid to visit other Schengen countries, so please check the entry and exit requirements for each EU country you'll visit on your trip. The Schengen area visa allows a maximum stay of 90 days.

Do you need a Schengen visa instead? Apply here with iVisa.com.

Who can I speak to if I have more questions?

If you need any emergency consular assistance or would like to chat to one of our experts about your application, COVID-19 entry rules, or any travel documents you need to discover Portugal's tourist attractions, you can contact our customer service team 24 hours per day, 7 days a week via [email protected].

Don't hesitate to ask for all the travel advice you need about the entry requirements to visit Portugal!