Latest news and stories about government policy in travel in Portugal for expats and residents.
Home News Tourism in Portugal has growing potential Tourism in Portugal has growing potential The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion rejected the notion that the country is overly dependent on tourism or has “too much tourism,” arguing that the sector can still grow, mainly by enhancing
For the government official, it is not true that the country is too dependent on tourism or has too much tourism.
The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Emídio de Sousa, confirmed that approximately 700 citizens have returned to Portugal from the Middle East via state-sponsored flights. The repatriation efforts involved aircraft from TAP and the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa) to assist those fleeing the regional conflict. Residents with family in the region should note that additional commercial flights, including from Emirates, continue to bring more citizens home.
The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea) is Portugal’s military branch for defending national airspace and conducting aerial operations. Created in 1952, it also carries out search-and-rescue, aerial reconnaissance and disaster support such as photographing floods or moving emergency teams. Residents in affected regions may see its planes and helicopters used during storms and relief missions.
A military flight carrying 39 passengers, including 24 Portuguese nationals, has successfully arrived in Lisbon as part of efforts to evacuate citizens amid the ongoing conflict in Iran. In response to the situation, Portugal is contemplating a new repatriation flight from Saudi Arabia to ensure the safety of its citizens abroad.
Brazilian President Lula has signed an agreement that maintains the visa exemption for Brazilian citizens traveling to the European Union. Approved by the National Congress in 2025, this agreement allows Brazilians to stay in the 29 Schengen Area countries for up to 90 consecutive days within a 180-day period.
Home News Hoteliers call for suspending EES Hoteliers call for suspending EES Associations have been asking political authorities to suspend the Entry/Exist System (EES), namely during the peak season, to avoid damage of the tourism sector.
The party argues that passengers should pay the final ticket price, thereby doing away with the refund procedure used until now, which is considered “bureaucratic and unfair”.
Minister Paulo Rangel said that activation of the European emergency mechanism 'depends on technical rules and on a technical assessment'.
The government will exempt tolls for one week on four motorways in areas affected by Storm Kristin. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister during a visit to a company affected in Pombal.
Portugal’s government will waive tolls for one week on several motorway sections in areas affected by Storm Kristin, including stretches of the A8, A17, A14 and A19, Prime Minister Luís The post Government to waive tolls on A8, A17, A14 and A19 for one week appeared first on Portugal Resident.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has cancelled his planned visit to Madrid, Spain this week due to the state of public calamity declared in Portugal following recent storms and the The post President Marcelo cancels Madrid trip due to state of calamity and new storm appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The Prime Minister announced this Tuesday that the Government will exempt from tolls for one week the areas affected by Storm Kristin, in a perimeter that will include stretches of motorways A8, A17, A14 and A19. The exemption will begin at midnight this Tuesday and will run for one week, Luís Montenegro said in remarks to journalists during ...
The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will waive tolls for one week in areas affected by Storm Kristin, within a perimeter covering stretches of the A8, A17, A14 and A19.
The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will exempt the areas affected by depression Kristin from tolls for one week, within a perimeter that will include stretches of the A8, A17, A14 and A19.
The assessment of the costs of low-pressure system Kristin is already being carried out on the ground; some insurers are already paying out for less severe damage without requiring inspections, and the Government has announced a set of measures to support the population and businesses in the 69 municipalities declared in a state of calamity. But the weather gives no respite. This ...
The Government has extended the state of calamity until 8 February and activated the National Civil Protection Emergency Plan nationwide in anticipation of Storm Kristin and other adverse weather expected in the coming days. The measures are intended to pre-emptively mobilise emergency services, coordinate national and local authorities, protect critical infrastructure and streamline relief efforts. The decision reflects elevated forecast risk and highlights priorities for rapid response: targeted resource deployment, clear public guidance, and post-event assessment of vulnerabilities and policy effectiveness.
After being contacted by some local officials, the Government is now considering exempting tolls in areas affected by the bad weather and “will bring a solution in the next few hours”.
José Manuel Moura, president of Civil Protection, explains why the European mechanism to support the Portuguese against the effects of depression Kristin has not been activated and issues a warning: 'The European mechanism can be activated at any time.'
The Socialist Party will send the government a 12-point plan as a contribution to the emergency response prepared by Luís Montenegro's government. José Luís Carneiro insists the government must immediately activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism.
On Sunday, the Government decided in an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting to extend the state of calamity until 8 February 'to face the weather-related adversities that still lie ahead'. We update here, minute-by-minute, all information on the bad weather in Portugal.
The Government extended the state of calamity to nine more municipalities and prolonged its validity until 8 February, following damage caused by Storm Kristin and the extreme flood risk over the coming days. The decision was taken by an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting, which approved measures to respond to the effects of the storm ...
He urged the Government to provide the necessary means and support ahead of expected adverse weather over the coming hours.
With the country still in disbelief at the scene of devastation caused by the passage of Depression Kristin, and the population in the hardest-hit areas living through a genuine tragedy, the Minister of the Presidency staged an episode worthy of political communication manuals. “In emergency situations, every decision counts – and planning makes a difference. Yesterday ...”
Voting in presidential elections remains strictly in person, and the abstention rate among citizens abroad has consistently stayed above 90%.
Update: Reporting highlights that emigrants frequently must travel hundreds of kilometres to reach polling stations in order to vote — a distance many say they cannot afford or manage: “No love of country can withstand it,” one expatriate commented. Analysts and rights groups say the in‑person‑only requirement effectively disenfranchises large numbers of expats and helps explain the persistently high abstention rate, prompting renewed calls for policy changes such as expanded polling locations abroad, postal voting or secure electronic options; authorities acknowledge logistical and legal hurdles but have not set a timetable for reforms.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to New Delhi at the end of January for the EU–India summit with the explicit aim of finalising a long‑sought EU–India trade agreement. Having concluded the Mercosur talks, von der Leyen says the Commission is working intensively to wrap up negotiations, a move with significant economic and geopolitical implications for EU trade policy and relations with India.
