If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Portugal visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Portugal may ask you to show €75 per entry plus €40 per day. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Portugal, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Portugal can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Portugal can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €75 for each entry plus €40 for each day of stay. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Portugal
Main international airports in Portugal: Lisboa (LIS), Porto (OPO), Faro (FAO), Funchal (FNC).
If Portugal is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Portugal is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Portugal's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Portugal
In Portugal, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Lisboa (LIS) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Portugal no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Portugal in depth: Azores, Madeira and who checks your passport
The Azores and Madeira are Portuguese autonomous regions inside Schengen, so flights from Lisbon or Porto to Ponta Delgada or Funchal are domestic. Direct flights from outside Europe to Funchal or the Azores, however, are external borders with full checks.
Since the old border service (SEF) was dissolved in 2023, passport control at Portuguese airports is carried out by the Public Security Police (PSP), while the migration agency AIMA handles residence permits and visas for longer stays. As a rule, living, studying or working in Portugal requires a national visa obtained before you travel, not a tourist entry.
If you stay with someone who lives in Portugal, they can sign a termo de responsabilidade confirming they will host you and cover your costs, which you can show at the border.
Good to know about Portugal
- The Azores and Madeira are part of the Schengen Area.
- Termo de responsabilidade: a host in Portugal can sign this document to cover your accommodation and costs.
- To live or work in Portugal you need a national visa: ETIAS is only for short stays.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Portugal add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Portugal after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for 10 days in Portugal?
As a guide: €75 for the entry + €40 × 10 days = €475 per person.
Do US citizens need a visa for Portugal?
No. US citizens can visit Portugal visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Portugal?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Portugal, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: reference amounts (08/06/2026)
- European Commission: who should apply for ETIAS
- AIMA (Portugal): foreigners' entry
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.