Portugal holiday warning update for Brits heading abroad this summer

BRITS heading to Portugal have been issued fresh advice when travelling through the airport.

The country recently confirmed that UK travellers will be able to use their e-gates when entering and leaving the country.

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They are one of the few countries to allow Brits to use them since the UK left the EU, and travellers now have to use non-EU queues at security.

However, the UK Foreign Office has updated their advice for Brits, as some rules remain in place.

Earlier this month, they told holidaymakers to be aware that they will still need to have their passports stamped when leaving the country, or face problems later on.

This means travellers will still have to go to a person to get their passport stamped even if they use the e-gates – so will still have to queue.

The advice states: “E-gates are in operation at Lisbon, Faro, Porto and Funchal (Madeira) airports for use by British and some other non-EU passport holders.

“Check your passport is stamped by the border officer when you enter and exit Portugal as a visitor.

“If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport or visible to a border officer on the computer system, a border officer will may presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.”

This was recently updated as the previous advice said passengers only needed to get their passport stamped if they used a manned booth.

However, the new advice has scrapped this – it no longer states: “If you use a manned booth, check that your passport is stamped by the border officer when you enter or exit as a visitor.”

Passports much be stamped to show you are abiding by the new 90-day visa-free travel rules.

If you don’t get it stamped, you could find yourself being banned from entering the country again.

Last year, Brit Linda was stopped from entering Spain due to her passport not having a Spanish exit stamp from a previous trip.

You should also check your passport dates before travelling as – it must also be no more than ten years since it was issued and you’ll need a minimum of three or six months to gain entry.

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