The Portuguese government have impose new restrictions on travel within the country, and Brits have been issued with fresh travel advice through the Foreign Office.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have issued a new warning to Brits as Portugal are to tighten travel restrictions across the country over the Easter period.
Portugal is home to some 50,000 British expats who are being warned not to travel to the country unless it is “essential travel.”
Over the weeks Brits who do travel to Portugal will be stopped by the Portuguese police, who will want to see “evidence” of your essential journey.
The British Foreign Office has said, “There will be a ban on travelling between municipalities from 12.01am on 26 March until 5am on 5 April.
“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.”
Portugal is currently in a “state of emergency”.
The FCDO added, “Measures are in place to control the spread the virus.
“These measures include a duty to stay at home, except to buy food and other essential items, to go to work if you cannot work from home, to go to a hospital, health centre or dental clinic, to go to a veterinary clinic or walk a pet, to carry out caring or similar duties or to take short periods of exercise outdoors [individually, not in groups].”
Under England’s rules it is illegal to travel abroad for a holiday and could face a £5,000 fine if they attempt to leave.
The Foreign Offie are warning all travellers, that they are only allowed to enter Portugal for a list of specific reasons.
The FCDO states, “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 residents in Portugal, or another EU member state; UK and other third-country nationals who are travelling for essential purposes, such as to live with immediate family members, or for professional, educational, health or humanitarian reasons.”
And Brit who are thinking of travelling to Portugal as a resident, are strongly being advised to ensure they have valid evidence of their “residence status,” which means you are legally allowed to travel from the UK to the country.
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