Immigration update: Portugal | Air border control and Visa regulations
Air border control and Visa regulations
Following the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union of 30 June 2020, the Portuguese Government extended, on July 31st, the restrictive measures on air traffic to and from Portugal, that will be in force until August 15th. These measures foresee:
Authorisation for air traffic to and from Portugal for:
+ Flights to and from EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland (from some EU Countries only essential travels are recommended);
+ Flights with direct connections to Portugal from Australia, China, New Zealand, South Korea, Ruanda, Thailand and Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau;
+ Flights to and from Portugal for all flights and to countries that are not part of the European Union or that are not countries associated with the Schengen Area, exclusively for essential journeys;
+ Flights planned to allow the return to Portugal of nationals or foreign citizens holding a residence permit in Portugal; Flights to support the return of national citizens and holders of residence permits in Portugal, as well as humanitarian flights, which have been previously recognized by the government services of foreign affairs and civil aviation authorities;
+ Flights planned to allow foreign citizens who are in Portugal to return to their countries, if they are promoted by the competent authorities of such countries, subject to prior request and agreement, with respect for reciprocity.
Under the terms of the Order, and for the purposes of applying for authorizations for flights from third countries (other than those listed in the Order), are considered essential journeys the following:
+ Those carried out to allow the transit, entry or departure from Portugal of nationals of the EU, of states associated with the Schengen Area (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland), and members of their families, under the terms of Directive 2004/38 / EC of the Parliament and the Council, and third-country nationals legally resident in an EU Member State;
+ Those intended to allow the transit, entry, or departure from Portugal, of allowed third-country nationals traveling for professional reasons, for study, for family reunions (all must hold a National Visa), for health or humanitarian reasons, and on a reciprocal basis.
IMPORTANT: Since January 29 and until 11:59 pm on February 14, all flights, commercial or private, of all airlines, originating in Brazil or destined for Brazil and with originating in the United Kingdom or destined for the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, as of January 31, Portuguese citizens are also prohibited from traveling outside country, carried out by any means, except in legally exceptional situations.
Regarding processing of all national visas, restrictions to short-term visas processing still remain until 23:59 of February 14th, with the exception of visas for EU citizens’ relatives (within the meaning of Directive 2004/38) and for essential travels (third country nationals traveling for professional reasons, study, family reunion, for health or humanitarian reasons), in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of Order No. 1242-E/2021.
Short-stay visas for non-essential travel may only be issued to foreign citizens legally residing in the countries and Special Administrative Regions listed in Annex I of the above referred Order: Australia, China, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao.
IMPORTANT: Local circumstances resulting from the pandemic may prevent certain Consular Posts from being able to immediately resume the regular processing of visas
By rule, passengers of all flights must present, at the time of departure, a proof of Covid-19 test (only PCR test are accepted), with a negative result, obtained up to 72 hours prior to departure (very few Countries under exception) and passengers from some EU Countries and from repatriation flights from Brazil must be in a mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
Should you have any questions and for more details, please contact the following for assistance:
Luciana Zettel
Immigration Specialist
Santa Fe Relocation
Email: luciana.zettel@santaferelo.com
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