Intermunicipal travel ban between November 27 and December 2

Travel between municipalities in mainland Portugal is prohibited between 11 pm on Friday and 5 am on Wednesday, with 10 exceptions to the measure provided for in the state of emergency, decreed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ban will again apply between 11 pm on December 4 and 11.59 pm on December 8.

In Portugal, December 1 and 8 are public holidays and as they fall on Tuesdays this year, they would have expected to make long weekends with many companies closing on the Mondays.

The decree establishes 10 exceptions to the ban on movement between municipalities in mainland Portugal, namely travelling to work with a declaration issued by the employer or by the employer himself, in the case of self-employed workers and sole proprietors.

Health professionals and workers from health and social support institutions, teachers and non-teaching staff in schools, civil protection agents, security forces, the military and inspectors from the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) do not need a declaration from the employer to travel.

Members of sovereign bodies, leaders of the social partners and political parties represented in the Portuguese parliament and persons with passes issued by the law, as well as ministers of religion, staff of diplomatic and consular missions and international organisations located in Portugal may also circulate between municipalities.

It is also permitted to travel to schools, day centres, to participate in procedural acts and to attend public services, provided that proof of the respective scheduling is provided.

Travel necessary for departure from mainland Portugal and non-resident citizens to places of proven stay may also go ahead, such as journeys for other compelling family reasons, namely the fulfilment of shared parental responsibilities.

Return to home is also permitted.

The measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic for the new period of the state of emergency, which will be in force between 12 am on Tuesday, November 24, and 11.59 pm on December 8, were announced by the government last Saturday.