| Topic | What to know (Oct. 2026) |
|---|---|
| Entry | EU citizens: ID card or passport. Other countries: passport; stays of up to 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area for many nationalities (check yours) |
| EES | Photo and fingerprints recorded at the border for non-EU travellers; queues possible at Porto airport |
| ETIAS | Not yet required in October 2026; announced fee of €20; date to confirm on the official EU website |
| Health | European Health Insurance Card for EU residents; travel insurance for others |
| Tourist tax | €3 per night per person aged 13 and over, 7 nights maximum, according to the local press; a rise to €4 is under review |
| Time | Lisbon time (UTC+0, UTC+1 in summer); one hour behind France and Spain |
| Plugs | 230 V, type C/F sockets as in France |
| Emergencies | 112 |
Passport, EES and ETIAS
EU nationals enter with a valid ID card or passport. Other nationalities must show a passport; most Schengen rules also require it to be valid for at least three months after your planned departure and to have been issued within the last ten years. These conditions vary by nationality: check with your embassy or your foreign ministry's official website.
The EES replaces passport stamping for non-EU travellers. It records your face and fingerprints on first entry. Queues have been reported at Portuguese airports in 2026: allow extra time on arrival and departure. ETIAS is an online travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers; its launch has been postponed several times and sources disagree on the date. Never pay on a site that is not the official EU website.
Health and insurance
For EU residents, the European Health Insurance Card gives access to public healthcare on the same terms as Portuguese insured persons; it does not cover repatriation or private clinics. Other travellers need travel insurance with repatriation. Keep your prescriptions and the active ingredient names of your medicines with you. In an emergency, dial 112.
Rules to know
- Drugs: using and holding small amounts for personal use have not been criminal offences in Portugal since 2001, but remain illegal: the substance is seized and you appear before an administrative commission, which can impose a fine. Trafficking is a criminal offence. Cannabis is not legal for recreational use.
- Alcohol: sale is forbidden to under-18s. Municipal rules apply to drinking in the street: do not count on tolerance, drink on a terrace.
- Smoking: banned in enclosed public places; follow the signs in bars and restaurants.
- Beaches: Atlantic beaches are dangerous under a red flag; follow the lifeguards (see Porto and Matosinhos beaches).
- ID: carry a copy of your passport or ID card; police may ask for it.
For pickpockets, fake petitions and emergency numbers, see scams and safety in Porto.
What changes when you arrive
- Time: Porto is on Lisbon time, one hour behind France, Spain and Germany.
- Money: the euro, as in France; see paying, money and tipping in Porto.
- Mobile: EU plans allow roaming at no extra cost; outside the EU, an eSIM avoids roaming fees.
- Tourist tax: paid at the hotel or accommodation, on top of the room price.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa or ETIAS for Porto?
EU nationals need neither. For others it depends on nationality: ETIAS was not yet required in October 2026; check the official EU website.
Is cannabis legal in Portugal?
No. Holding small amounts for personal use is decriminalised but remains illegal: seizure and an appearance before a commission, with a possible fine.
What is the emergency number?
112, free, valid across the EU.
What is the tourist tax in Porto?
€3 per night per person aged 13 and over, for 7 nights maximum, according to the local press (rr.pt, December 2024); an increase is under review. Check with your accommodation.
Will my phone work in Porto?
In the EU, yes at no extra cost. Outside the EU, buy an eSIM before leaving.
Going further
For your arrival, see from the airport to central Porto and the budget for a stay in Porto.
The Porto Authority editorial team
