Portugal holidays: Foreign Office issues update as nation ‘eases lockdown’ restrictions

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Portugal is a popular tourist destination and one which many Britons may be itching to get back to. However, travel between the UK and Portugal has been on hold for some time due to concerns over COVID-19 variants.

Today, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued a new update on its travel advice page following news Portugal is beginning to “ease lockdown” restrictions across the country.

However, in order to do so, the nation is actually ramping up rules over the Easter period.

According to the FCDO: “There will be a ban on travelling between municipalities from 12:01am on March 26 to midnight on April 5.

“If you have to travel for essential purposes, such as to go to work or for medical treatment, be prepared to show evidence of the essential nature of your journey, if required to do so by the police.”

In mainland Portugal, public gatherings are “banned” and access to beaches and promenades is “restricted”.

Parks remain open “for short walks only”.

It adds: “Shops and other commercial premises, with the exception of supermarkets, grocery and hardware stores, pharmacies and petrol stations, are closed.”

Shops that are permitted to remain open must do so during certain hours.

On weekdays, they close at 8pm and on weekends at 1pm with the exception of supermarkets and grocery stores which can remain open until 1pm.

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Restaurants and cafés are closed, except for takeaways and food delivery services. Food that is collected must be eaten at home. The sale of alcohol and other drinks is prohibited.

However, there is good news ahead.

The FCDO states: “The Portuguese government has announced a plan for easing lockdown measures.

“Between March 15 and May 3, and providing the virus remains under control, shops and services will open and restrictions on sporting activities and events will be gradually lifted.”

It has not yet been announced when UK travellers will be able to return.

At the time of writing, flights between the UK and Portugal remain suspended.

“Visitors who have been in or transited through Portugal (including the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores) in the previous 10 days cannot enter England,” warns the FCDO.

“British and Irish nationals and third-country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in England from Portugal (including the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores) will be required to quarantine in a hotel.”

Meanwhile, travel to Portugal, including Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores, is limited to “EU/EEA nationals and their family members; UK and other non-EU/EEA nationals who are officially resident in Portugal or another EU member state; and UK and other third-country nationals who are travelling for essential purposes.”

Essential purposes include living with immediate family members, or for professional, educational, health or humanitarian reasons.

Those who meet these requirements hoping to travel to Portugal are instructed to ensure they have “evidence” of their residence status or reason for travel.

All arrivals must also present a negative COVID-19 PCR test which was taken within 72 hours prior to departure.

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